It’s been a heck of a long time since I wrote a blogpost. I think it’s because I have been trying to squish everything (Junior Dance, Semi-formal, Culture Night, Grad Trip, coaching) into my last year at school; yes, you read that correctly. In June, I closed the chapter on being an educator for the York Catholic District School board and will move onto other things. I always promised myself that when I was eligible to retire, that I would. I have seen far too many young, dynamic teachers take on years of long term occasional teaching, while many veteran teachers continue well past their official retirement dates. No judgement! But for me, I am still young enough to pursue so many of the passions I just never had time for and so it is with a heavy heart, but also excitedly that I turn the page on this chapter to open up Part 2 of the book of JCT.
I will miss everything about being a TL at Cardinal Carter; the staff, the kids, and the incredible relationships I have built.
What I look forward to is:
➡ Having more time for family;
➡ Having time to nurture my passion for writing;
➡ Dedicating more time to @GlobalStudentChat and @GEG Ontario;
➡ More availability for speaking engagements during the day and throughout the year;
➡ Working with EduTravel Inc. occasionally to provide experiential learning experiences to students in Europe (and practice my Italian!);
➡ Working with the incredible folks at Canadian Library Association as a new Board member and helping to organize their Treasure Mountain Canada event;
➡ ???? Open to new opportunities and possibilities
For those of you in my life who were able to celebrate with me last week, thank you! If you were not able to make it because circumstances or distance didn’t allow it, I decided to add my speech here.
I realized, as I sat down to write this speech that my life has been forever touched by colleagues, family, friends and students and that it is impossible to capture the depth of emotion I am feeling in one speech, but I am going to try!
I decided to use the analogy of a book for this so all of you non-English types bear with me. For the English teachers in the room, try hard not to evaluate how well I execute the extended metaphor although I know you won’t be able to help yourselves. And also please note that Chat GPT or other AI platforms have not been referenced.
Let’s start with the draft; my childhood and adolescence; both which were messy and hard and helped create the skeleton for what the novel of me would be. I got lots of feedback and did a whole lot of self-editing in those years. The moment that stands out most is my grade 11 year, when a Mr. James Stewart, sitting here tonight made a lasting impression on me. His passion for literature, and his dry wit were astounding. I felt seen in that classroom and saw myself in the literature I was reading.
Friends, that’s the prologue-It was then that I knew that I wanted to inspire that same passion for literature and learning in others. I later go on to follow Jim everywhere-to St. Joan of Arc (twice) and then to St. Theresa.
Chapter 1: The rising action–the Long Term Occasional years at Holy Cross, St. Joan of Arc (the first time), and Cardinal Carter (the first time) were incredible in so many ways. They were characterized by “marking parties” –we actually did mark-I promise you–and lots of socializing both in and out of school.
Chapter 2: A new board and a call to adventure as a permanent teacher. The drive to Tottenham was not awesome, but meeting lifelong friends was well worth it. Oh the times we had at St. Thomas Aquinas. More “marking parties” and many shenanigans. We maybe took it a bit too far when we poured goldfish crackers and strategically placed frozen fish in the interior of Sean’s car before the guys camping trip! At the end of this chapter, I married Stewart, henceforth the deuteragonist of my story and my dear friends Darlene, Kate, and Karen who actually brought brownies to the hospital when I had Sydney remain main characters in my story to this day.
Chapter 3 & 4: The return to York Catholic. This is the chapter where I meet a medley of teachers who are professionals but also know how to have fun. Back then, our staffrooms had liquor licences-can you imagine? I remember Lee Venditti dressing up as Vana White for a silent auction and the many socials we were able to host right at the school.
It is also a time when I went part time for several years so I could volunteer in Sydney’s kindergarten class, become part of parent council, and go to Baby and me activities with Kelsey; as teachers we enjoy summers and Christmas holidays, but we miss alot in between. Thus enter into this chapter neighbourhood and mommy friends who continue to have a special and central role in my story.
STL was a wonderful place to teach and I value the administrators, teachers and students I got to meet. It may be worth mentioning that I followed Mike, Mike, Kevin and of course Jim from St Joan of Arc to St. Theresa of Lisieux. I remember times on the “balcony” and our regular POET nights which were necessary to get us through another week. It is also at STL where I also got to work in the Special Ed Department and with Michelle Kim who I would later work at the CEC with me. Being a part of that department gave me a reprieve from marking essays, but it also taught me how, with the right accommodations, all students can succeed.
Chapter 5: the CEC
I think that most people have a misconception of what happens at the Board. When I went towork there, I met the most dedicated and hardworking educators. I also met a few life long friends. Cathie Furfaro was the Literacy consultant when I was the Program Resource teacher. I wanted to be as wise and wonderful as Cathie. Her mantra, Go slow to go fast is one that I repeat students almost every day. She also taught me that “You are where you need to be” which has helped me immensely over the years. Our coordinator, Lori Lisi, made up our small but mighty team. Lori taught me how to lead with grace, empathy and humility. She always presumed positive intentions and was a ray of sunshine wherever she went-she was also coincidently a former Teacher-Librarian. I treasure her as a mentor in my journey. I was able to work with knowledgeable and passionate numeracy consultants including Diana Santos who I would later follow to Cardinal Carter. The elementary consultants and PRTs, Religious Ed consultants and Pathways consultants as well as Library services friends occupied the basement. We worked hard, experienced triumphs and tragedy and had many laughs along the way.
When I was at the board I was also a part of something really special–the 21 C team which allowed me to meet the IT team and develop powerful friendships: Darlene Clapham, Diane Murgaski, Carols Sousa, Scott Boland, Brian Arruda, and Michelle Bulger to name a few. In that capacity, I worked with K12 administrators, Teacher Librarians, and teachers from across the entire school board–many who helped shape this chapter and the rest of my story. It at the CEC that I submitted my first conference proposal and that has led to some unexpectedly cool opportunities for me and a new-found passion for public speaking.
Although I enjoyed my time at the Board, I was itching to get back to a school.
Chapter 6, the final chapter: Cardinal Carter. Take a moment to imagine this. I am introduced to the staff the June before I am to start at Carter and a charming Dwayne Samuel tells me how much I will enjoy the camp experience our school provides the grade 9s and grade 12 leaders. Oh and it’s the 2nd day of your new job at Cardinal Carter. In that first week, I experienced what we all call the Magic of Muskoka. I met a bunch of teachers and students and forged bonds with them while trying not to look too foolish rock climbing and ziplining. Dan & Jessica, what you do to mentor the next generation of leaders in that programme really is magical. Thanks for making me a part of it. I also got reunited with Darlene, who taught with me at St. Thomas Aquinas. Our daily chats were always the best part of the day!
I then had about 6 years of co-curricular activities to make up for! I loved running Student Council; first with Zach then Alex and most recently Melissa Miccoli. Fostering school spirit is important to me and with Council, these kids have school spirit in spades; they are also hard working and creative leaders who have made my time at Carter memorable and who I continue to stay in touch with because I can’t wait to see what they accomplish.
I also had several Library Technicians over the years and IT guys who were awesome, but perhaps none so powerful than the tremendous trio that was Matthew-Maria-Jen. We were in sync and had the same beliefs and values and work harder than we have to for the benefits of our students. I have been forever changed by our working relationship and friendship.
A book always includes Special Acknowledgements.
Thank you to my friends who are not teachers but who have known me only as a teacher over the last 30 years. Thanks for your friendship and support and for not being too annoyed at teacher talk.
Thank you to the educators I met online who continue to inspire me by sharing their ideas and wonderings with me.
Thank you to the many many many administrators at Carter and in particular the current team Charmaine, Dave, Julie and Sabrina. Being an admin is tough and you do it with grace. I have always felt supported and valued by you and for that I am truly grateful.
To the entire staff at Carter, thank you for allowing me into your classrooms, your workrooms and your inbox–you’d better delete those New and Notable emails now to save some space!
Thank you Jess, Jordan and Zach for being regular fixtures in the Library this year. During a time of supply ITs, having you there to greet students alongside me was so special. Jordan and Zach-it has been so amazing to see your love grow and I am so sad to miss your wedding this summer.
To the Department Heads of Library past and present: an incredible team of leaders and friends. I appreciate how much you challenged me and inspired me and I hope that the YCDSB will smarten up and continue to value your contributions to our schools.
To my dear and wonderful friends who planned this party. Bet you didn’t know I was that neurotic? I am sooo much better at planning the party, not so much having it planned for me! Priscilla, Jessica, Matthew, Julie, Jordan, Wendy, Melissa (who couldn’t be here), Darlene, as well as a special shout out to Fabio and Scott -always the helpful problem solvers. I am so genuinely touched by the time, the effort and the creativity you all put into this event. Words cannot capture my gratitude. Thank you for adding another wonderful memory to the pages of my book.
Thank you to my beautiful family-my mom and dad who taught me what hard work and sacrifice look like. To my sister Ro and Linda who couldn’t be here for being cheerleaders and confidants. To my inlaws, who have accepted me as part of the family all those years ago and have done nothing but support me ever since, Thank you!
To my beautiful daughters, I know that I sucked at doing your hair and that I was sometimes tough on you, and maybe I am not the best listener, but you have been my inspiration for teaching and life. I always thought, how would I want a teacher to treat Sydney or Kelsey? I am proud of the young women you have become and look forward to having more time to spend with you. Also, a quick shout out to Sam whose birthday it is today. Thanks to you and your newly retired parents Greg and Mary for spending it with me.
To Stewart, my husband and best friend, the smartest and funniest human I know. Your relationship with students has always been an inspiration to me and a model to which I aspire. I am going to try really hard to make your breakfast and lunch for a change in my retirement. Nah. That’s probably not going to happen. I look forward to our many adventures together and the many more chapters we will write together–1 more year. You’ve got this!
I have been humbled by notes and kinds words by staff and students over the past couple of weeks. On Monday, a student came up to me and told me that he so appreciated my morning greeting, “Hi friend”. He told me how much he valued that I knew his name and always had a warm smile for him. He said that even on the darkest days, he could count on my smile and the feeling of being seen. That touched me so much because it took so little time and effort for me to do that, but it surprisingly meant so much to him. I know this teaching thing is hard and is increasingly getting harder each day, but we, you, make a difference one child at a time. Keep smiling, keep caring-you make up an important chapter of every student’s own beautiful book.
As for me, on to many new adventures; the rest of my book is still to be written. Thank you to each and every one of you in this room, as well as people who are reading this who for whatever reason could not be here in person.
You are supporting characters who have contributed a line, a paragraph, or a page and my story would be incomplete without you–I hope you continue to be a part of my life and the next chapters.
