Problems and paradise

I'm  thinking of this little story taken from a Twighlight Zone episode that Ray Kurzweil shares in his book The Age of Spiritual Machines as I look forward to the start of school this year...

While robbing a pawnbroker's shop, Valentine [a small time hoodlum] is shot and killed by a policeman. When he awakens, he is met by his afterlife guide, Pip. Pip explains that will provide Valentine with anything he wants. Valentine is suspicious, but he asks for and receives a million dollars and a beautiful girl. He then goes on a gambling spree, winning at the roulette table, at the slot machines, and later at pool. He is also surrounded by beautiful women, who shower him with attention.

Eventually Valentine tires of the gambling, the winning, and the beautiful women. He tells Pip that it is boring to win all the time and that he doesn't belong in Heaven. He begs Pip to take him to "the Other Place." With a malicious gleam in his eye, Pip replies, "This is the Other Place." [Episode synopsis adapted from Marc Scott Zicree, The Twilight Zone Companion.]

We are implementing a new student information system. We are restructuring staff development in technology. We are installing 60+ new "Smart Classrooms." We are having an increased push for the use of our data mining system. We are implementing a new strategic plan for the district. We will be planning our new elementary school building.

LOTS of opportunity for challenges, problem-solving and probably conflict-resolution.

I need to be mindful that challenges are blessings to those of us who are easily bored.

What will you leave behind?

The last post asked: "What skills do you have and contributions do you make that make you essential to your organization? Like most people, I would like my boss to regret eliminating me or my position should he make the misguided decision to do so.

But I also look at this from another perspective. Were I to suddenly disappear from my place of work, my community or my family, I would hate to think that the people I care about would be left in a difficult situation. 

There is some irony in these observations:

• The proof of effect parenting is independent children.
• The proof of effective teaching is self-directed learners.
• The proof of effective administration is empowered workers.
• The proof of good leadership is a vision and philosophy that continues when you are gone.

Ethically, I believe I am always working my way out of a job, not creating situations where success or sustainability depends on my presence.

As a librarian what would continue after you are gone?

• A climate of intellectual freedom, a respect for a diversity of ideas?
  
• Students with good information seeking, evaluation, use and communication skills?
• An atmosphere of inclusiveness and welcome in your media center?
• Excitement about learning?

How long will your passions, your policies, your philosophy remain when you are no longer there to shore things up? How do you shape your organization's climate beyond doing important daily work? What long-term efforts are you working on?

If Kirk's indispensability is the theme of the last post, perhaps Obi Wan's ongoing guidance, even after being zapped by old Darth, is the theme here. A paradox? Perhaps.

Will your students and teachers hear your voice, feel your force after you meet your Darth Vader?

What makes you hard to replace?

From  Star Trek Inspirational Posters (initially found in a Stephen Abrams PPT)

Uh, our state's budget deficit is projected to be $2 BILLION next legislative season. School buses cost more to run. School buildings cost more to heat. School employees cost more to insure. Our special education and ELL populations are swelling. Tech Director salaries are expected to increase by 50%. (I wish.)

Ya think there might be some program and position cuts in Minnesota schools coming?

Schools will have higher expectations made of them to teach more children to higher levels, to reduce the drop out rate, to teach HOTs, to supply a stream of future engineers and scientists, to keep children safe and healthy - and all with fewer dollars.

Ya think there might be a reshuffling of how money is spent in Minnesota schools coming?

Librarians, who would suffer and how if you didn't come back this fall? What critical jobs would go undone - or be badly done? Who would miss your professional services? (We know everyone would miss your charming personality.) Why might the administrator who cut your job suffer and rue having made the cut?

I would work right now to:

• Be your building's webmaster.
• Be your building's network administrator.
• Be your building's staff support for the student information system, online testing, and new technologies.
• Be your teacher's support system for all things inquiry-based.
• Be your students' go-to person for the next great book to read, hard to find information, guide to completing complex problem-based assignments.

That's my short list. What is on yours? Find jobs that need doing that no one else can or is willing to do. (Sound familiar?)

Don't be your school's Ensign Ricky.

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This was my original post. But another side of job security haunted me as I wrote it. The companion piece is next.