Looking Back at Linden

My 11-year era at Linden will come to an end this June. After I made it official, I needed to inform my principal that I was leaving. Her reaction was expectantly surprised.

She made a formal announcement to the rest of the staff that I and two other colleagues would not be returning. This would allow the staff to be aware of the openings for the next school year. I had to leave the meeting early to pick up my daughter so I missed the reactions of the staff.

This was probably a good thing as uncomfortable as it would have been.

In all honesty, I didn't anticipate many of the teachers would have more than a superficial eyebrow raise at the announcement.

I doubt there was much more than that.

But the next morning I was approached by a number of staff with whom I worked for the majority of my 11 year run and received numerous heart warming comments and laughs.

There was one encounter I was most interested in experiencing. It was the moment that I would have to approach my teammate Deb Yetts.

And here my egocentric post ends and I begin to focus on this amazing teacher and how fortunate I have been to work with her. I have bragged profusely about her in past posts. Here we go again:

I was not looking forward to telling her I was not going to return. I felt like I was selling her out. I felt like I owe her more than that. It was like I was abandoning a teammate.

We have worked together eight or nine of my 11 years at Linden. I planned on writing that I have learned so much from her but I think it is more accurate to say I learned so much with her.

We were truly a team. Our chemistry was remarkable.

We gave and received with each other. While we played up our similar competitive tendencies, we never really competed with each other in a harmful, degrading manner. We understood the better the other did, the better we did.

She always had her head on straight and priorities right. It was always about the kids and what mattered most to increase their ability to achieve.

She was never afraid of work or leading the way. She always complimented and valued other people's suggestions and ideas, especially mine. She made me feel as though I was an important contributor to all we did as a grade level. This has been extremely motivating for me.

We took pride in our style and camaraderie. We brought our own strengths to the table, shared them and respected them. We maintained a safe, professional relationship that allowed admission of our shortcomings and freedom to seek assistance to compensate for them.

Because, once again, it wasn't about us and our prestige. It was about student achievement.

I could continue with examples of the amazing way she works her magic in her classroom or the energy she teaches with. She had a way of bringing our discussions,plans and ideas to life in a way I wanted to imitate.

But she was so humble and never ceased to mention that she got many of her ideas from me.

That meant an immeasurable amount to me.

"Less is more, Mr Huey" she'd say.

This was our motto when we wanted to remind ourselves to focus on what counts.

I'm going to miss Ms. Yetts. I admire her greatly.

When the moment of truth finally came and we talked about my upcoming departure, it was very difficult not to get emotional.

Once again, she showered me with praise responding to every compliment I directed toward her with a equal or greater compliment back.

I hope she understood how much I respect her and meant what I said about how meaningful my professional relationship with her has been.

I'm immensely grateful I was fortunate enough to teach with her. I am sure I am a better educator today than the day before I met her because of her.

She may have come in my room asking "What would Huey do?" But I will be asking myself repeatedly, "What would Yetts do?" for the rest of my career.