Believe it or not, I’ve been up since 4:00 a.m. and I am still on summer vacation! I’ve checked my work email, browsed on Amazon.com, done some leisurely reading, and now, I am writing a blog! No, I haven’t had coffee! As a matter of fact, I haven’t had a cup of coffee the entire summer. A Mocha Frappe here and there doesn’t count! I am occupying myself until the sun officially peeks through the clouds so that I can complete my brisk 4-mile walk. Yes, I am still in hot pursuit of my sunshine!
One task on my summer to do list, was to re-pot or transplant my plants. Note, the verb “was”; my plants have been re-potted and are ready for their return to school. I re-pot them every so often, transplanting allows their roots to spread, thus allowing the plants to grow tall and strong. My plants have names: Karen, Derrick, Susan, and the new guy, Frederick. Karen, Derrick, and Susan occupy a cozy window in my office where they soak up the sun and office vibes. Frederick is a succulent; he sits on an accent table opposite my desk. Frederick had a growth spurt during the summer, he now looks like a miniature tree! Now he is tall and slender; not quite as handsome as short stocky Frederick. I also have an orchid and a Chinese bamboo plant; one I received from a parent, the other from a student. The orchid’s name is Violet, her petals are a deep purple. The Chinese bamboo plant is named Mr. Wisdom, his planter is a wise owl. All my plants really thrive at school and that’s a wonderful thing. All living entities should thrive at school!
While transplanting plants are in the plants best interest, one of my darlings didn’t like her rehabbed home. After her re-potting, Karen was sad and droopy for a few days. As a matter of fact, I thought she was a goner! She was wimpy and limp for 2 days! On the third day, she started to perk up and I knew she was adjusting to her bed of special formulated soil. I didn’t need to investigate the justification for Karen’s limp leaves; I had read several articles that focused on her ailment while completing research for my dissertation. Karen was simply going through the transitional period of adapting to a new change. For Derrick and Susan, the change had been an easy adjustment. Karen, on the other hand, had struggled. Maybe she enjoyed the comfort of compact soil. Maybe she failed to realize that her leaves were curling and turning yellow. Obviously, she hadn’t realized that her demise was near if she wasn’t re-potted. She needed me to take the time to re-pot her. She needed me to stand vigilant while her roots adjusted to the new soil.
As an educational leader, I am constantly looking for the precise formula that will ensure that my kids are receiving the best instruction possible. Instructional practices are often redefined because the needs of kids are constantly changing. Change is easy for some and harder for others. As my team of committed teachers moves forward, I will have to remind myself that some of my teachers will be like Derrick and Susan, and some will be like Karen. It’s all part of the process!
