Aaron Johnson's blog

Exit Stage Left.......

                                                        "My Mississippi Teacher Corps Experience"

      I entered the Teacher Corps expecting the worst and hoping for the best. All in all, I would say that is has been a rewarding, character-building, and eye-opening adventure. I often characterize it as the "Marine Corps" of teaching and I believe that analogy holds true. It is an extreme challenge. It has many ups and downs and can really test one's limits in terms of dealing with mismanagement and ignorance. For me, it provided a window into the various aspects of the web of public education. I was able to gain a top-down view of the education bureaucracy. I feel that it was an advantage to be the only MTCer in my school the first year. I was treated as a regular employee and not a member of an outside group. I was able to blend in and avoid being singled out as an outsider. I also followed those "ten tips" in the blog below and they helped me to achieve professionally and not make any ripples personally. In my second year, I have become a little more vocal and a little less filtered. I find myself returning to those principles I held the first year as I contemplate doing a third.
     This experience has had it's ups and downs and ebbs and flows. I began this year sure I would be a Principal some day, spent the middle thinking I would leave K-12 in favor of a coffee mug job at Ole Miss, to now,  contemplating teaching a third year and then heading towards administration. I could end up farming soy-beans but this is representative of my whole experience. It is a bit of an emotional and physical ride.
       This has made me a transplant Mississippian. I am now official. License, car tags, house, dog with local tags, and a host of regular spots around town makes me feel more and more at home everyday. I lived here five years ago and now I feel that I am hear to stay. I may just end up being a Mississippi K-12 lifer. My first stint in Oxford I felt like a tourist. I now feel like a resident. This is an amazing place to live and I am glad that I made the decision to leave Emory to come home.
         I have met some amazing people and established some friendships that I hope are lasting. One of the people that I have truly come to admire is Dr. Mullins, both professionally and personally. I would like to follow in his footsteps. He has worked hard to reform education in this state where reform doesn't come easy. I hope that myself and other MTCers continue to push for the changes we need to help the deserving kids here.
         How did it all go? I was punched in the face, laughed my head off, belittled by leaders, interviewed by the sate department, cried on, bled on, and experienced a plethora of other experiences and emotions. It has been crazy. I even feel a little crazy that I get excited thinking about the possibilities and reforms I could do in a third year in my school.
         My accomplishments: Reforming school procedures and rules to make it run more smoothly. Being on the Building Leadership Team, I have been able to make some changes and give some input. We were able to get an ISS that teachers could send students to in my last semester which I had been pushing for since year one. My students had the highest QDI (test scores) of all the English teachers in the school. I had a successful chess club for my first year with about fifteen kids. I created the first golf team in the history of the school. This is another motivating factor to stick around because they are really good. I think it would be cool to have my all Black team whip Marshall Academy next year since my kids had never held a club before this year. They are now teeing it up at Kirkwood National. I have learned tons about TST, PBS, Educational technology, and teaching in general. My district has afforded me many incredible opportunities, including the NMEC Principal Institute. My largest successes are in the small academic victories and the relationships with my kids. For whatever the reason, I have been able to establish myself in the school and the kids respect me and treat me well. I try to return the gesture.
         My failures: too many to list. There is always a mountain to climb and limited resources to do so. I have slacked at times and robbed them of instructional time, I have said things I wish I hadn't, I haven't participated in as many after-school events as I should have, etc. I also really failed in contacting and connecting with parents. I see first-years on the phone with them all the time and I never call a parent....literally never.
         With all of my faults and failures I would consider this experience a success. There have been more good times than bad and I have survived pretty tough working conditions. I appreciate all of the relationships that I have fostered and value the time that I have had with the kids. I do not know what the future holds. I may be a teacher. I may be a Principal. I may be a farmer. I know that I will always cherish and look back on this experience as a major turning point in my life. It brought me back to the state I love. I think I have found my true calling to work in education in some capacity. I believe in the mission of the Teacher Corps and would encourage anyone who is up for a challenge to apply. You may just find yourself a second-year reflecting on time well spent and indescribable memories. 

A note to the incoming first-years........

Dear Future MTCers,

     Grow thick skin......... quick!!! You will be a punching bag for the next two years. Sure, it is rewarding, heart-warming, noble, etc, but you are embarking on a very difficult journey and I do not want to sugarcoat it. You will be a very important figure in the lives of children who need your influence desperately. Do not expect that things will run smoothly in your school. You are going into a dysfunctional environment. Expect the unexpected. One of the best pieces of advice that I received from a veteran was to just "roll with it". He said that if I didn't like surprises than I was in the wrong profession. I have found that when I relinquish my organized, show up early to meetings, methodical expectations, that things tend to work out better and my hairline recedes sightly less the next day. To be blunt, you will be dealing with idiots with poor home-training and will have to adjust and adapt accordingly. Try to do so with all things in moderation. When you have meetings called at bizarre times or have to hold the same kids for an entire day for no discernible reason, just roll with it.
      Have fun. I have had the good fortune of not living in Holly Springs and have been able to escape to Oxford to play after work. You will need to surround yourself with literate, well-spoken people who can lift you out of the haze in which you work. Do some self-care. If you don't have time to grade everything then don't. At times you will need to take a day off just to preserve your sanity. Enjoy the arts and all that Mississippi has to offer.
      Begin as a strong disciplinarian. This will make your life easier and will help with your professional success. If you start out as "buddy teacher" then the toothpaste will already be out of the tube. It is hard to take a class back if you start strong. You can always pull back if you need to. Don't worry about making friends. The kids will like you eventually anyway. They will appreciate your structure. Your Principal will also think more of you the less they have to hear from you.
And just follow the tips below. You will do great!

                                             - Mr. J
                             ( I need to remember some of my own advice)

1) I do not give homework. Ever. I tell students that if they take care of business in class than that is their reward and plus I do not have to grade it.

2) I do not ask questions. At faculty meetings, district, instruction-strategy, I am mouth closed and ears open.

3) I do not trash talk- There are ears and eyes everywhere.

4) I meet all deadlines- Lesson plans, tracking sheets, etc. are in when they are due.

5) I take care of almost all discipline problems myself. I do not send kids to the office. I paddle, give write-offs, stare down, make stand, isolate from others, and do whatever it takes to handle all problems in house.

6) I smile and am friendly to all adults. I give genuine "good mornings" etc. to all grown folk and try to be respectful and courteous to everyone.

7) I stay professional. I call my students "sir" and "ma'am", as well as the staff and administration, I very rarely dress down (although always sans tie) and never make remarks or jokes that I don't want others to hear.

8) I grade and return things whenever I find the time. After 3:30, whether or not I choose to grade is up to me. I want to give students feedback on work as much as possible but I don't kill myself to do so. If it doesn't get graded than it just doesn't. And many things I collect are deposited in the oval basket.

9) I take advice. Whenever a veteran teacher who knows their stuff gives me a tip than I take it to heart.

10) I have fun. When I am bored than I know the students are bored. I joke with them, lie to them, have created long lasting fantastical stories about being related to Leprechauns and other nonsense to break up the monotony of the day. If I don't let the stress overtake me  than I don't feel stressed. I try and stay loose but strict.
     
 

Home Stretch........

  My teacher corps journey is coming to a close. I am in a Hotel in Jackson for a three-day conference. The hotel has free dinner, booze, and breakfast. This education stuff is not so bad. It is a technology conference and I will be learning about using Garageband and iTunes in the classroom. I have decided that I want to stay in teaching I while longer and maybe as a career. This year has been a breeze from an instructional stand-point, but I am growing weary of the administration. As stressful as teaching can be, it is a rewarding profession and I think it is a noble and worthwhile career.

To Join or Not To Join..............

1)  Why should you join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?
      The MTC is a life-changing experience. You will come away from it feeling that you learned way more than you ever taught. It will challenge you in many ways. You will have a strong feeling of accomplishment after surviving the two year tour of duty. I refer to it as the Marine Corps of teaching. You will also bring some much needed diversity to a very challenged environment. Mississippi has a lot of well documented faults but it is also a great place to live. Mississippi has a richness to it that is often neglected in popular culture as it is dismissed as racist and backwards. It is truly a place to be appreciated in many ways. The idea of the small town with the old town square and friendly people acknowledging one-another with a polite greeting is a common scene. There is a wealth of musical and literary artistry and it is a photographer's dream. The Teacher Corps will give you exposure to a side of Americana that you may not be familiar with. Another reason to join is the kids. This year I can honestly say that I love my kids. They are angels. They are starving for knowledge. They need the information and experience that you can share badly. Once you are comfortable and can manage a room well and can deal with the unexpected, then the job really can be a very rewarding and fun one. Besides all of these reasons, it is a free masters, a job to save money and pay off loans, and a great network of educators and people . You should join if you are up to the challenge.

2)  Why should you not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?
     You should not join if you are coming to educate the backwards, barefoot, and slow southerners. Don't come with the mindset that you KNOW everything and the way of things here are all wrong. The vestiges of slavery and segregation still have a presence in public education and reconciliation is a slow process  but not all of Mississippi is backward, it is  just bruised. You will learn from Mississippi as much or more than Mississippi will learn from you. I would not join Teacher Corps if you have thin skin. You are entering a very difficult teaching environment and it can be insane depending upon your school and administration. You must be prepared for battle. Your idealism will get you through the application process and summer school but reality will soon smack you in the face. Teaching children whose lives lack structure and who come from abuse and difficult circumstances can lead to them becoming abusers. If you are overly sensitive and cannot have an assertive presence than you need not apply. I wouldn't join as a resume booster either. Sure it pads the law school and med school application and looks good for providing a little more time for test prep, but I wouldn't use the program as your launching point. I would join only if you are interested in education in some way or maybe even public policy or sociology. This program provides a great look at the pro's and con's of public education and it will truly let you know if you want to be a teacher. There are easier paths to "finding yourself".

Rita Bender discussion...........

   I often find that our discussions on race, however well-intentioned they are, rarely make any progress in dialogue and understanding.  This discussion was one of those times when I felt that although everyone went in with good ideas that nothing really came of it. Her presentation was successful in shock value and illustrating that council schools were founded upon and perpetuated racist ideas but nothing was really discussed. The race issue is a very tough one. On the one hand I feel that dialogue might be helpful, but then it turns into finger pointing and feelings being hurt, and so on the other I would rather that we just live together and integrate further. I think more gains will be made from living together and gaining cultural and ethnic awareness than with rubbing salt in old wounds. I find that many of my students do not really concern themselves with race, and those that do, have had those notions drilled into them by some adult in their life. The entries from the Mississippi textbook used in the council schools were shocking and terrible, but really not that surprising. I support racial dialogue but I am not sure about the best way to carry it out. I found that she was an interesting person but felt that the discussion was fairly useless.

10/22 blogs........

Homework?

I don't give it. I never have. The kids seem to appreciate it. It is an incentive to TCOB in class.

I had a history professor at Ole Miss refer to highlighting as mental masturbation. I suppose we could view homework in the same light, not that it is necessarily a bad thing. I believe that if it is given that there needs to be a purpose or end in sight. If it is just a worksheet or filler than it is a waste of time. If you teach a block (90+min) then I believe that it is completely unnecessary.

The articles raise some of the same points. Kids can become overloaded with work. Also, when this is paired with standards testing and the pressure that is placed on children to preform on the MCT2 then it can really be a detriment. We are becoming completely data driven as 21st century "not leaving behind children" educators and the research fails to show the benefit. Now if we can just teach them something between 7:30 and 3:00 we will have it made.

High Expectations?

I enjoyed the blog about high expectations. I have found in my meager experience that in order to be successful you need to set attainable goals. When I set goals for the year (I am a nerd who tapes them to my mirror), I choose ones that with effort I can actually reach and still feel a sense of enormous accomplishment. Educators and policy makers  can sometimes set unrealistic goals (cough cough Bush). My Principal has set the goal for our school's QDI to be a 180 this year which would put us on par with Batesville and the like. However, we are located in Holly Springs and there is no way in hell that we will reach this. We had a 71 two years ago and a 97 last year. We made great gains which we should celebrate. I think a great goal would be a 120, which we could reach with Jesus' help and quality instruction, and that is something we could all shoot for. However, it is etched in stone that we reach a 180, and when we fall way short it will all be blamed on the teachers. So there is a difference between high expectations and poor goal making.

I agree with the message in the blog. We do not want our kids to lose confidence. Let's set a goal that they may reach and then pat the on the back for making it. Rather than expecting historically failing districts to become star schools overnight and making the kids feel like failures for not reaching our inflated goals.

Community Assessment.........

 Holly Springs, Mississippi

1. Defining the community- Holly Springs in many ways is a vestige of the Old Mississippi. It is still a largely segregated community. In conducting an interview with my Lead Teacher on Leadership, she commented upon the fact that White people and Black people in Holly Springs walk and live in completely different worlds and do not speak in passing and so forth. She was contrasting it starkly from her native Tupelo. Holly Springs is a community of separations , not only by race, but also by class. It is largely a very poor community and yet there are homes off of the square that have servant entrances (active).  There is not much in the way of industry in the town. A majority of the residents work in neighboring towns and cities (Memphis, Olive Branch, etc. ) and not within the city limits of Holly Springs.  Most who are employed in the city are either in small food service or education either in the local schools or at Rust College. The links to the global economy are in the fields of education and health care. According to City-Data.com there is very high unemployment and very little economic growth. The College and neighboring economies are what really drive the town. In many ways, Holly Springs is a community on life support.

2. Geography- The city is situated just below Memphis, Tennessee. It has a feel of being a small urban suburb of Memphis. It is located between several highways: 7, 4, and 78. It is bordered by the large DeSoto county and the more rural counties in North Eastern Mississippi. Lafayette county is due south of Holly Springs. The proximity to DeSoto county and Memphis help to sustain the local economy. Many of the residents commute to those places for employment. If the city were transplanted further away from those lifelines than it would not survive.

3. Basic Demographics -  According to City-Data.com, these are the demographics of Holly Springs.
The racial breakdown of the city is as follows: 76.2%- Black, 22.7%-White, 0.6%-Hispanic, and 0.7% of two or more races. The education statistics for the city are as follows : High school or higher: 62.0%
 Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.1%,  Graduate or professional degree: 6.4%, and Unemployed: 14.1%.
The marital status of the city are as follows: Never married: 44.0% , Married: 32.2%, Separated: 4.7%,
 Widowed: 8.9% , and  Divorced: 10.2% according to City-Data.com.

4. Economic Elements - The two major employers in the City Limits are the local public schools and Rust College. There is a very old bank, the Bank of Holly Springs, and a small healthcare system. There are also some construction jobs available but still less that 10% of the male population are employed in that field. Most of the residents of Holly Springs work in DeSoto county or Memphis or one of the neighboring towns. A great percentage of the town are single mothers who work for minimum wage. The economic outlook of the town is not a positive one. Salaries and housing prices are declining and the majority of households have an income of around $10,000. Without Rust College, the local economy would lose its last thread. There isn't anything in the way of industry in the town and again most people work outside of the city limits.

5. Physical Infrastructure - At first glance the town appears to be an old historic town of the Old South. It has a square (with very few active businesses) and sprawling antebellum homes surrounding it. It is a largely urban area though. Fuels for heating :Utility gas (54%), Electricity (37%), Bottled, tank, or LP gas (7%), and Wood (2%) from City-Data.com. The Government finances for the year of 2006 according to City-Data.com are as follows: "Sewerage: $445,000, Construction - Electric Utilities: $981,000, Water Utilities: $117,000, Current Operations - Electric Utilities: $17,157,000, Gas Utilities: $4,208,000, Central Staff Services: $2,302,000, Police Protection: $862,000, Water Utilities: $742,000, Regular Highways: $699,000, Local Fire Protection: $441,000, Sewerage: $357,000, Solid Waste Management: $314,000, Miscellaneous Commercial Activities, NEC: $257,000, Housing and Community Development: $251,000, Parks and Recreation: $233,000, and  Health - Other: $6,000"
-http://www.city-data.com- Source for statistics.

6. Cultural and Recreational resources - This is one area were the community is suffering. There are a lot of young people and limited activities for them to participate in. The churches are the pillars but there are little other options for recreation. There is a community rec center which is where all of the kids go after school to play. They shoot basketball and talk but the community is in desperate need for an organized after-school or community sports program. Much of the lack of opportunities for young people stem from the segregation of the town and a certain segment of the population takes care of their own and lets the rest of the population fend for themselves.

7. The Power Structure - The Churches play a crucial role in the community . Many of the leaders in Holly Springs come from the communities of faith. Many people hold dual-positions in the town. They may be a preacher and an educator or a pastor and a politician. The segregated communities carry over to the power structure. There are distinct leaders in the White community and the Black community and unfortunately there isn't very much intersect. It has produced famous politicians such as Boss Crump and Wall Doxey and has a history of powerful community leaders. The current Mayor DeBerry is one of the more powerful people from the Black community. The local school board is also a very powerful force. Many of the most prominent figures have been the past presidents of Rust College and the administrators in the local schools. There are several local preachers who carry a great deal of influence. The White community has its own leadership as well. There are several prominent families from the planter past of the town and several local businessmen and bankers who have a lot of influence. There are also those who are involved with Marshall Academy. The power base in the town is just as segregated as the town itself.

8. Role of the Governmental Agencies - There is a strong Government agency presence in the city. Many of the residents are on federal assistance and programs like Head-Start and AmeriCorps permeate the educational landscape.

9. History - Holly Springs has a very troubled history. It was an important city during the Civil War and gave birth to several Generals in the Confederate Army. It is the home of many of the "planter" families of North Mississippi and West Tennessee and thus had a significant number of slaves and now African-American residents. It is home to a very historic Black college created by the Methodist Episcopal and now United Methodist Church that educates students from the area but also hosts many out-of-state students from as far as Chicago. With the decline of agriculture, so went the economy of Holly Springs. It has always been a town of the "haves" and the "have nots", but as cotton became less of a cash crop the whole local economy suffered. With the booming of DeSoto county and the appeal of Germantown and East Memphis, many of the locals leave to find work elsewhere. According to City-Data.com there has been a drastic downturn in income and housing prices to today and the economic outlook of the city is bleak. The town has a strong history of segregation with "two Holly Springs" existing simultaneously. This is very evident is the still segregated educational system today.

10. Community Barriers - This list is long and shared by many communities in Mississippi. First of all, there is a real need for a quality education for students. Those kids (Black) who attend the public schools receive a less than stellar education. Although I believe that through new leadership the district is rising, but unfortunately it tends to be rather cyclical. There is a strong need for jobs. The lack of good jobs may stem from a lack of education.

11. Values -  Holly Springs is a very family-oriented town. The city has a close-knit feel and everyone knows everyone. It is a very religious community and the plethora of churches per population can attest to that fact. The church is the pillar of the city and most of the values of the city are Christian values. That being said, the town also has a very high amount of poverty. While the religion gives the people hope, their reality gives them pause. There is a very high amount of crime (murders, rapes) per population. Drug use is also very pervasive in Holly Springs and leads to a large amount of its young people having charges very early in life.

12. Uniqueness -  Graceland Too, need we say more. Like many places in Mississippi, Holly Springs is full of characters. From an Elvis Museum to some of the most prolific blues musicians of our time, Holly Jolly is a very unique town that has many distinct characters. The bluesman Junior Kimbrough has twenty-eight children, a world re-nound Juke  Joint, and a distinctive Hill Country sound that put the city on the map featuring it in documentaries such as "Deep Blues". It is home to several celebrities including the Fox New Anchor Shepard Smith and many many more. It has a feel of being an urban suburb of Memphis while at the same time containing many qualities of the Delta. It is a haven for music, art, religion, fiery politicians, and a host of other eccentricities.

13. Schools, Colleges and /or Universities -  Rust College is a historically Black college affiliated with the United Methodist Church and other than the Church is a pillar of the city. It does have several private schools including the Catholic School, Holy Family, which contains grades K-6 as it had to close grades seven and eight due to budget cuts. Holy Family has a mostly Black student body. The other private school is an Academy. Marshall Academy is where all of the White children in Holly Springs attend school regardless of the family's economic circumstances. They have an admissions policy and a low tuition and are a direct response to integration. All of the other schools in the city limits are a part of the Holly Springs School district which has a 97% African-American student body. There are several other schools in the county with flexible zoning to accommodate students. Rust College and the public schools provide a major source of employment for the city.

Sources:

        City Data - http://www.city-data.com/city/Holly-Springs-Mississippi.html

        Holly Springs Website - http://www.visithollysprings.org/

        Interview with locals including : Louise Tate, Wallace Young, Tanya Sanders, Van Rayford, and
           Marriane McDuffie.

Working on teacher skillz.....

 I fell short in a few areas last year that I want to improve upon. For one, I am placing an emphasis on relationships. Last year I was very stern throughout the year. This year, I am cracking a smile and wishing every student a good morning and setting a more positive class tone. I am still old school and like a relatively silent classroom, but I want it to have a positive energy. My management is such that I am able to balance the two. The two areas that I need to really work on are innovation and parental communication. I am already talking to parents more this year, but I really need make the extra effort to reach out more and open those lines of communication. Last year I was terrible at this and didn't really make an effort. The parents that I did speak with were the ones that I mostly did not need to.  My first goal for this year is to increase parental communication through the web, phone calls, and conferences.
The next big thing that I want to focus on is innovation. I am a creature of habit and the procedures in my room are very conducive to monotony. I want to mix things up and work on being a little more creative and using different media to get lessons across and not become too routine in instruction. Also, I want to take things to the next level (higher DOK). I felt that last year my kids really got things on a base level but struggled with more critical thinking activities. They are familiar with concrete (A,B,C,D) but I want them to think more abstractly. I want to take skills and try to have them perform higher level tasks with them. I hear a lot about the things that our students are incapable of, but I have found that when you raise expectations, most of the students will rise to meet them. The last thing that I will be attempting this year is coaching. I will be laying the groundwork for the first golf team ever at my school. This year I will be focusing purely on instruction and then hopefully the program will take off and be competitive in future years. Our kids need and outlet and the gentlemen's game is very appropriate for teaching both physical and mental skills that translate into productivity later in life. We will see........

Night and day.....

 The start to this year is in direct contrast to the way we began last year. Last year, we had a new Principal who was hired in the middle of summer and didn't get into the building until late July. So needless to say, she didn't start with a strong game-plan. She wanted to observe the "Holly Springs way" and see how things operate in the school.  The start to last year was chaotic and STRESSFUL. This year has been a breeze so far. I know that kids begin to show out in a little while but so far so good. I have left each day feeling good. I believe that just establishing yourself in your school is very important. Once you are known by the kids and the community it makes teaching a lot easier. Many of the students that I teach this year are relatives and siblings of my kids last year so they knew about me before they arrived. I am very pleased with the way the year has begun. I appreciate the opportunities and leadership experiences that my Principal has given me.  I really enjoy being on the Building Leadership Team and gaining some of those administrative experiences. I am also very impressed with the new faculty members at my school. The newbies on my hallway are trying very hard and they are doing a great job dealing with the troublesome few and the other seventh graders in our school. So far so good. I cannot emphasize enough the difference that a little organization and higher expectations makes. I led a professional development session on discipline and classroom management and we voted (with my prompting) to have the kids walk on the right side of the hall at all times. This has been really successful and they come into the classroom in a more methodical manner ready for instruction. It also cut down on a major problem area last year. Last year, the hall was a zoo and this year it is a well-oiled machine. Little changes in policy and procedure can go a long way in managing a school. I am looking forward to the rest of the year and hopeful that our success continues.....

Class Website............

  One of the complaints of parents (and rightly so) was that our faculty did not use very much technology in the classroom. On the one hand, we are making due with what we have. On the other, there are ways to incorporate technology with your own resources and the ones that some families have at home. I decided to create a website (blog) that my parents can check to see assignments and projects and general class information. This may be a small step, but I believe some will check it and appreciate it. It may open another line of communication which is crucial. This paired with the possibility of getting an LCD projector this year means that Mr. Johnson's class will be slightly less "Old School" this year.

                  http://mrjohnsonlanguagearts.blogspot.com/