4 posts from June 2009

Failures:

There were many failures this year, but I'd like to view these as learning experiences that I could draw from to become a better teacher and better person.

My list includes:

classroom management struggles during 1st semester

not effectively managing 3 preps.(It was very difficult for me to transition from 1 lesson to another from period to period; to jump from teaching electronegativity 1st period, ionic trends 2nd period, to renewable/nonrenewable resources 3rd period)

still felt that at the end of the year I was working too hard

In particular, watching kids who showed light and potential at the beginning of the year, slowly fizzle and give up and eventually drop out.

I did not differentiate instruction very well. I essentially just inflated the grades of my special ed kids.

I also spent way too much time trying to reach students who were giving minimal effort. I had a lot of really great kids this year who were motivated and despite their surroundings, were quite intent on learning. I feel that I failed these students who could have benefitted from me the most.

I am intent on not making the mistake twice. Next year I'm going to focus more on these motivated students, doing everything I can to maximize their skills/abilities, as they are the most deserving in my mind.

Success story:

This year there were plenty of successes and failures this year, a few of my successes include:

-gaining a good rapport with my students, from what I attest to be pretty honest evaluations from Ben's "What is it like in Mr. McClish's room?" assignment

-having a good reputation with my fellow teachers and administration

-coaching baseball(This has been a real blast. I love baseball and it's an excuse to reconnect with something associated with so many wonderful childhood memories. Although I was the JV baseball coach and we only played home games so it didn't interfere much with my daily schedule )

-Note to first years. Coaching is a great opportunity to build positive relationships with your students and gain favor/support from administration that can transcend to discipline in the classroom. It also is a load of fun. The negatives are that if you have multiple preps/family it can be tough to juggle and may not be worth your time.

The single most notable successes were watching some of my more advanced chemistry students tackle and master some very complex college level material, and knowing that I had a hand in that. I just loved hearing things like "You made that stuff out of the book seem so simple."

Watching these students achieve and surpass some things that I was doing in high school was very rewarding, and probably when I felt I was making the greatest positive impact

This summer I would like to work on a number of things. Principally, three things will be on the forefront of my focus.

District Info:

5,000 students

1 high schools

2 middle schools

5 elementary schools

Budget : $30,000,000

District office

Superintendent: $150,000

Assistant Superintendent: $125,000

Staff(record/bookkeeping, secretary, insurance, support) of 6: $40,000/ employee

Salary total-$515,000

Administrators

High School Principals           Middle School Principals 

$110,000 (x 1)     $105,000 (x 2)    

Elementary School Principals

              $100,000 (x 5)

High School  Asst. Principals           Middle School Asst. Principals      

$85,000 (x 4)                                                 $80,000(x6)  

Elementary School Asst. Principals

$70,000(x 5)

Adminstration salaries : $1,990,000

Teacher Salary(Pay scale for bachelors/masters is attached on very back sheet)

-assume average salary of $50,000

-assume desired student teacher ratio of 15:1

-325 teachers($ 50,000 average)

Teacher Salaries($16,250,000)

Librarians + nurses(1 for each of the 8 schools)

-assume librarian salarary($50,000) x 8

-assume nurse salary($45,000) x 8

Librarian/nurse salaries=$760,000

School Resource officer/police

-1 at each of the 3 secondary schools

-assume salary($45,000)

School police salaries($135,000)

Custodial/Maintainance staff

-assume district wide custodial staff of 50

-assume Salary($30,000)

Custodial/Mainatainance staff salaries=($1,500,000)

Total salaries:21,150,000 + 15%=$24,322,500

Athletic Dept. budget: $ 2,000,000

Summer Pre-K program: $1,000,000

Security camera's on every classroom: $100,000

Total Budget: $  27,422,500

Rainy day fund: $ 2,577,500