Big news, Christopher! I’m sorry for the reasons you’ve had to move on from SFUSD, but I’m excited for you to go back to the classroom after so many years as a TOSA. I agree that spending years coaching is likely to have improved your teaching practice so much and I think it will be empowering and fun to get to roll out all those skills with kids! Congrats!
This is amazing!!!! I too have just left SFUSD after being a Kindergarten Educator at one school site! I’ll be switching districts to West Contra Costa to teach TK and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!!!
This article was beautifully written! I’m impressed with the work you are doing and continue to do! It’s very inspiring to know that there are so many magical teachers doing transformative work!!!!
Blessings to you and keep doing this good work 🙏🏼💘🦋🌈
100% agree that education amongst teens needs to begin in early adolescence, around the start of puberty, which, as you know - differs for every child. Good luck with your new job and keep up the fantastic work that you do - all around.
The loss of middle school health classes has been so frustrating because no one took responsibility for it being a decision! We just started hearing from teachers that their positions were being cut for next year, but couldn’t get any central administrators to fight for the program or raise an alarm. I was a lot more pointed in my resignation letter and exit interview than I have been in public posts.
It all seems so short sighted. Middle school seems like the PERFECT age for all these conversations, right? I can see how administrators would be too risk-averse to fight against parents and the public on both sides of this though. Still incredibly frustrating.
This was not driven by parent objections or any kind of resistance - it was just financial. We had a grant that was paying for .5 FTE for each middle school health teacher, the grant sunsetted, and they didn’t replace the funds with central budget or hunt for other funding. They just shrugged and said “Hmmm - I guess we won’t have those classes anymore.”
Big news, Christopher! I’m sorry for the reasons you’ve had to move on from SFUSD, but I’m excited for you to go back to the classroom after so many years as a TOSA. I agree that spending years coaching is likely to have improved your teaching practice so much and I think it will be empowering and fun to get to roll out all those skills with kids! Congrats!
I'm excited for you, and your future students!!
So grateful and so fortunate I got to work with you all those years. You are an AMAZING health education advocate!
What a big transition. Your new students are so lucky to have you!
Congratulations, Christopher!
This is amazing!!!! I too have just left SFUSD after being a Kindergarten Educator at one school site! I’ll be switching districts to West Contra Costa to teach TK and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!!!
This article was beautifully written! I’m impressed with the work you are doing and continue to do! It’s very inspiring to know that there are so many magical teachers doing transformative work!!!!
Blessings to you and keep doing this good work 🙏🏼💘🦋🌈
100% agree that education amongst teens needs to begin in early adolescence, around the start of puberty, which, as you know - differs for every child. Good luck with your new job and keep up the fantastic work that you do - all around.
Big fan.
Vancouver, Canada
Congrats on your illustrious career. Best wishes for what is to evolve. Nothing better than a midlife pivot!
The SFUSD decision is incredibly frustrating, I'm so sorry, Christopher.
But, wow, what a lucky batch of students who get to have you as their teacher in the fall!
(and the parents of those students... I'll admit that I am mildly jealous of them 😄)
The loss of middle school health classes has been so frustrating because no one took responsibility for it being a decision! We just started hearing from teachers that their positions were being cut for next year, but couldn’t get any central administrators to fight for the program or raise an alarm. I was a lot more pointed in my resignation letter and exit interview than I have been in public posts.
Oh boy, I would love to see that!
It all seems so short sighted. Middle school seems like the PERFECT age for all these conversations, right? I can see how administrators would be too risk-averse to fight against parents and the public on both sides of this though. Still incredibly frustrating.
This was not driven by parent objections or any kind of resistance - it was just financial. We had a grant that was paying for .5 FTE for each middle school health teacher, the grant sunsetted, and they didn’t replace the funds with central budget or hunt for other funding. They just shrugged and said “Hmmm - I guess we won’t have those classes anymore.”
ugh. all the more frustrating.