Flying on a Trapeze

Shift...the internal struggle of meeting the needs of the Program Managers, Organizers, HRD, ERP...

I was never graceful at juggling three balls in the air so you can imagine how frustrating it is to “juggle” the needs of our clients. I need to anticipate all of their varying needs, train them, and provide ongoing support on an hourly basis. It certainly helps that our clients are all friendly, flexible, easy going and just as frustrated as we are.

Just like the clowns at the circus, I have the sensation of squishing all my responsibilities into a crowded vehicle and am expected to come out laughing and smiling! Often I feel like an acrobat flying on a trapeze. Never a dull moment!

What is the allure?...

Planning to move my brother Rob from Boston to Las Cruces, we mapped out all our stops around enticing places. Rob and I jumped in his beat up Ford Explorer (with a u-haul attached) and ventured out to find the largest ball of twine, a doll hospital, a Kansas City Barbecue, a recycled glass "museum" displayed in the foyer of a house and a couple of other unexplained phenomena.

Just as The Musee Du Louvre has the Venus De Milo and The Mona Lisa; Rome has the Coliseum; Florence has Michel Angelo's David in the Piazza della Signoria; Rio de Janeiro has Sugar Loaf (Pao d'acucar) and Copacabana.

The Broward County Math Department has Singapore Math, which is researched based and has proven strategies for success. The Broward County Teacher Development Department has the Developing Teacher Program to develop and strengthen the professional practice of educators.

What is your Piece de resistance? What brings participants to your training? Do you have a hook? Or how can you create a "hook"?

Commitment vs. Compliance

“Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one 
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.” http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/MALVINA/mr094.htm words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990.

As far back as toddler age, I remember having compliance issues. We had to follow family rules; we had to hug and kiss all family members (even the smelly ones, or the mustached ones (like Aunt Minnie), say please and thank you (even if I didn’t feel grateful).

As we got a bit older we had to color in the lines, stay focused, remain calm, never show too much emotion…you wouldn’t want anyone to know what you were really thinking!

Compliance verses Commitment… Compliance, does it always have to be negative? When does commitment come in?

Do you remember being told you HAD to take piano, swim or soccer classes? My parents forced me to take swim lessons in compliance for us to get a swimming pool in our back yard. I found that I actually liked swimming and became an instructor, life-guard, synchronized swimmer, diver, and competitive swimmer. In this case Compliance became Commitment.

In general terms, compliance can be defined as conforming or accepting a specific, standard or law that has been clearly defined. Commitment can be considered dedication or devotion to something you choose. So, I have to ask if compliance is a concern, can it still be a valid, valuable part of an educators growth?