It has been too long – a few months I think – since I have written a celebration post. I know why. The act of celebrating is about being in the moment and I am having a difficult time remaining firmly planted in the moment. I am looking behind. I am wandering ahead. When I stand in the middle, I don’t know how to be.
I have shared a little on the blog about leaving my school after 21 years and the strange in limbo feeling that gives me as I don’t yet know where I will be in September. Our district has a process for changing schools that isn’t very “friendly” to the teachers involved. To be competitive in the spring transfer round, we must vacate our position in the middle of March. This allows us to be a B candidate instead of a C candidate (someone with a continuing contract who didn’t vacate). Even though seniority is very important, your category (B or C) is more important and C candidates are not even supposed to be considered until B candidates have positions. Job postings don’t come out until May 31st and interviews begin a week after this. The soonest I will know about where I will be in the fall is mid June.
So . . . I have known since mid March that I am leaving my job. In fact, I have known since January when I made the decision. Why I am leaving is difficult to answer as I can’t be publicly candid. I was given some very good advice by a long time friend early on: “Despite the reasons that prompted your decision, find other reasons to go. Focus on those so that you can flip all of this into a positive move.” I repeat this advice often and I try to live by it.
The leaving is hard. It is emotional. It’s confusing. The knowing and not telling has been really challenging. My students are young and concepts of time are different for them. I didn’t want them to know too soon as I didn’t want them to think I was leaving them. Finally, on Friday, I told them that even though I am their teacher until the end of the year, I will be teaching somewhere else in the fall.
There are lots of questions and I can’t provide all of the answers. What I do repeat is the big and important truth – I am not leaving because of the children. Teachers never want to leave their students. My students mean everything to me.
And this, finally brings me to my celebration. One of my students ran outside and shared news of my leaving with a friend. This friend was a girl who I taught both last year and the year before. She came up and hugged me. “I don’t want you to go Ms. Gelson. I love you. The whole school loves you.”
I celebrate that I am loved. I celebrate that I love this whole school right back and then some. I celebrate that even though I stand in the middle of my long history here and somewhere new and unknown, I can now get on with saying goodbye. I can be, in the moment, sad and sentimental or happy and full of hope. I can enjoy these next five to six weeks with my students with all of us being a little extra gentle with each other because this is it for us and it means something.
It is time for big hugs. Bright smiles. Lots of gratitude and lots of care. It is time to celebrate what we have and how much we treasure it. Teaching is about relationships. These relationships have deep roots, strong branches and glowing leaves. Our metaphorical tree is especially beautiful.
Thank you to Ruth Ayres and the #celebratelu community!
Being part of a community that regularly shares gratitude and celebrations truly transforms my weeks.
There's a Book for That 
Being a teacher can be like being a parent – in the end, you know you’ve done your job when you have prepared the children in your care to thrive and grow and succeed in their lives without you, when you’ve prepared them to move forward and leave you behind. Change can be painful, and scary, and hard, but in the end, you know that you’ve given these wonderful children the love and support, skills and guidance they’ll need to move on to the next stages in their lives, without you, so you can move on to a helping new children and families in a new community.
Jane, I so appreciate this comment. Thank you.
I left my school and district after 12 years last year. It’s bittersweet and exciting and awful all rolled into one event. Your students will help the transition, and give yourself lots of grace. You will bloom wherever you get planted because it’s all about the students!
I know this is true. It is all about the students. But I sure will miss this community.
Thinking of you and the kids every day, Carrie. Although each of us who’ve said goodbye do so for different personal reasons, the best words to me that you wrote are “time to celebrate what we have and how much we treasure it”. So wise, each day, love that time together. I know you will, and wish you a position that will be a kind one, but full of challenges too, kind of what makes the world better as a teacher.
Thanks so much Linda. It helps that you are in my corner!
I know the feeling… but try to remember…
As you say goodbye a new beginning will offer another group of kids who will thrive under your care and benefit from your whole hearted teaching! You don’t know who they are yet… they don’t know you… but they will be the lucky ones to have you as their teacher!
This is what I am hoping for . . . 🙂
So glad to see you here. Being in the moment is where you are. Which isn’t seemingly in the moment. We give so much to students. Nothing but love. So glad you are getting it back.
I always do which is why I so love this school. Sigh.
Carrie, I am glad that you are celebrating despite your turmoil over the job change. Taking a positive spin is the right thing. Best of luck to you.
Many thanks.I am hopeful that soon I will have something to report.
Carrie….You have made a transition….gone through the stages of anger, despair, grief, etc….and now you are enjoying this period of resolution. Life can be hard but also full of joy as you know. Have a good few weeks in your classroom! We never really know what is ahead so relax and enjoy this interlude.
Love, May
Thanks May. Wise advice.
You have been a gift to your current students. You will be a gift to the students you will teach next year. I have learned that when you make a decision it is the right decision at that time. I wonder whether the district people even understand what they are doing to the teachers. Is it really in the best interest of the students to move the the teachers?
Wishing that the summer and fall will bring you only positive surprises and unexpected amazing opportunities. Have you considered becoming an international school teacher?
Terje – thank you for all of your support. No, I have not ever thought about teaching internationally. My children are 13 and very involved in life here so a move would not make sense for us.