Tip #3 What I learned from Marcy, another of my favorite clients

Here’s another vignette –a short, very short story, gathered from my many years of teaching, being a hearing officer, school attorney, writer, speaker, and reformer. Hopefully, you’ll find it fun and it may even bring some wisdom, a smile, common sense reality — to our challenging public education world. Wisdom and humor are everywhere — often in surprising places. May these Tips lead us on a path forward for better learning by all students, which is — dear friends and colleagues — always the goal, the WHY.

So here’s Marcy’s* story, as she experienced one of the major systemic dysfunctions of today’s special education — on a deep and personal level.

For many years, Marcy was a successful, even beloved, director of special education in the community where she had taught. Then she retired and began to enjoy travel, golf, and whatever else retired people do. Lots of good things.

But it was not to last.

Her former boss called and asked if she would fill in as the interim elementary school principal for the year…

She said yes, she would. She did that, and rather enjoyed it.

She and I met for coffee during the year. She told me about her experience. She was especially struck by the return of her freedom to speak truth with families and children. As a principal, she often asked parents and students to come to her office to discuss sensitive issues. Perhaps the student had bullied someone. Or was doing badly in school. Or…