Most of us have a time of our workday that is our
favorite. It may be the first pour of
coffee from the staff lounge; the moment the “inbox” is empty; lunch shared
with colleagues; maybe even the slam of the door in our car as we’re leaving
for the day. It’s the moment we breathe. Deeply.
Mine is 9:30 a.m.
My friend Scott pointed this out to me; I’d never heard it
so clearly articulated. We were talking
about the first day of school, and the frantic, rushed, confusing time it can
be as all the students stream off the school bus and into the building. Phones are ringing; buses are late; there may
even be tears from particularly sensitive or anxious children. It seems there are one hundred places to be
and one hundred problems to fix. Go-go-go-go.
“But then nine thirty will come,” he said, dreamy-like. His voice actually lilted: Nine.
Thir. Tee.
Nine thirty is a great time of day on the first day, and on
every other day, too. It is the magic
time when all the students are in their classrooms, meeting together as
a class. Teachers have settled into
their routine. All the preparation is
being put into practice. No one is in
trouble—yet. No parents have
complained. All of the morning questions have been answered. Everyone is safe, secure, and where they are
supposed to be. PD has been delivered;
IEP meetings have concluded; announcements and attendance and lunch counts and
parent phone calls have been finished.
So, for a principal, it is the most calm, quiet, productive
time of day.
No one needs us to be anywhere. In fact, no one wants us to be around.
It’s time to breathe.
I get more done in the time slot starting at 9:30 than any other time, because I’m super-focused. I work quickly and efficiently, because I know
my window of time for productivity is small.
Shit’s gonna start hitting the fan, for sure, and it might happen any
moment. So I revel in the quiet, in the productivity,
in the time I can breathe differently.
Think about it: What’s
the time in your day you breathe
differently?
