The Job Search

Sigh...big sigh. It seems that I am forever looking for that big job. Looking again. Is everyone looking? Has looking for the big job become a national pastime?

I probably have more licenses and certifications than anyone should ever collect in a lifetime. I am a licensed recreational piolet. I have my EMT license. I am a licensed educator in the state of Vermont. I have NOLS Winter Outdoor Educator Certification. I am a licensed professional ski instructor, level I. I have a BS in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati. I have a double masters degree - MA in Technology Education and MS in Information Technology Management. Is that enough????

And, here I am, again, looking. Still paying off school loans and wondering if I should go back to school for another degree. Maybe, then, I can find that job.

I have been working for the past year as a technology Integration Specialist for the Bennington, Vermont School District. This is a job I love and would love to continue, albeit, like any public education job, one will never get rich doing it. However, I love teaching and I'm good at it - really good. So what's the problem? Beauracracy in the public schools. Sigh...big sigh. Want to know what's wrong with our schools? Public school politics and beauracracy. To be an educator one must be educated with degrees and licensed through the state. Beaucoup training. To be on the school board, one needs no training, no certification - only political connections. Is there somethiing wrong with this picture? The school board is the governing body for the school district. They are the ones who decide strategic direction and vote on who goes ad who stays, ultimately. They determine policy and procedure. Yet they are not required to have any particular training or experience in education. I guess the fact that they went to school is enough to determine the future of schools and the future of education for the community?? I don't get it.

The school board for the Bennington School District is looking at the possibilty of voting out the 6th grade (Middle School) technology position. They have concluded that 6th grade doesn't need technology. Well, if they don't need it, then who does???? I am hoping ot move into the 6th grade technology position as the integration position is being filled by my predecessor (that's another story of politics and beauracracy). Thus the reason for the continued search. At the moment, ther board has not voted and the position still stands. But the fact that there is even a question, worries me. And the fact that the future of education is in the hands of an elected, not necessarily qualified group, worries me, too. It all seems backwards. And, perhaps that's way education is in such a mess.

Technology and Things That Matter

It's been over a year since I’ve posted to this site. The prompt to do so came as I was writing about myself as a member of the SVSU Tech Partners Wiki. What to say about myself? My resume? My portfolio has always done the speaking for me. So I decided that perhaps my visual/verbal technology “bits” should speak for me as well. Besides, the point of the blog, in the first place, was to write about Technology and the Things that Matter. Could there possibly be a better time to address that topic than now, when we are about to determine a new technology plan for the Southern Vermont Supervisory Union?

I am honored to be part of this group. To be here means that my skills, education and experience are seen and acknowledged by my peers. “Seen and acknowledged.” Perhaps the most key phrase in the world of technology education. Is there anything more than that, that any student wants, but to be seen and acknowledged? It’s no wonder that technology has come to mean so much to a generation of students who grew up with television. “Seen and acknowledged” is the entire world to this generation that lives on YouTube. Which leads me to the next question…

What happened to self knowledge? Self acknowledgment? Self acceptance? Inner balance and grace? Can these things exist in a generation that is dependent on being seen and acknowledged? Can technology bring inner balance, self knowledge, self acceptance and grace?

Can technology education bring inner balance, self knowledge, self acceptance and grace? Can any Technology Plan even hope to address such lofty ideals? Can it afford not to?