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| http://congruence-inc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Transition.jpg |
change (CHanj/)
verb. 1. Make or become different. Alter in terms of.
tran.si.tion (tran'ziSH(e)n/)
verb 1. Undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition.
This summer finds me in a state of change?...transition? I go between the terms because I feel like it's both. Moving school sites and moving from an assistant principal role to a principal role in another district is certainly a change. And transition.
Once the board minutes and Facebook postings had been all been read, it was a shower of congratulations messages, texts, hugs and a few "huhs?" Family members reaching out to say they are so proud. Friends asking me...well, what's next then? A constant stream of questions and comments around my new position.
Over the past few weeks, I have been lucky enough to meet my new teachers and staff before they head out for summer break. They are absolutely wonderful and have kids' best interest in mind. Like all motivated teachers, they have questions. And requests. And ideas on what direction we should go.
Now that the noise has died down, I find myself both excited and completely freaked out. This last year was a series of, "well, that would be a question for the principal," "I'm not sure which way our principal wants to go with that" and, "That's a good idea, but you'll want to check in with the principal." It hit me when I was recently meeting with my new PTA and they turned and asked, "How do you feel about fund-raisers?" Out of instinct, I turned and looked at the current principal sitting to my right. With a blank look on her face, she then smiled and said, "They are talking to you."
O.M.G. What have I done?
In a quiet moment this morning, I finally had a chance to read chapter 1 in William Bridges' "Managing Transitions: Making the Most out of Change." In this chapter, "It isn't the changes that do you in," Bridges explains that changes and transitions are two very different things. Change is something like moving across the country into a new house. Transitions are the feelings you go through of "where is the nearest Starbucks? Target?" Well...those would be my thoughts anyway. But I get it. My change is moving to a new school, district and position. My transitional thoughts include a million questions (What does student engagement look like? How are we differentiating for all kids? Can we start a STEAM club or Makerspace? Where is the nearest Starbucks? Target? (some things cannot be compartmentalized.) I am in that neutral space between the old and the new. And I have to sit in that space of not knowing. Until I know.
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| The "new-principal-freaking-out" Whisperer, William Bridges. |
Bridges also states that this neutral zone is the "gap between the old and new [and] is the time when innovation is most possible and when revitalization begins."
And this is what excites me. Being happy in that gap, working to get all my questions answered while having fresh ideas and a vision. It also makes me excited for next summer at this time, when I'll be on the new beginning side of things.
