A brief post, packed with humility and joy.

Just a quick update: it is the new year, and I'm not sure that I have ever been this happy, hopeful, and at-peace with myself.

I just met with the principal about my new schedule. I tried to get 90% of my prep work done before this meeting because I was sure that my new full-time schedule, which we had been discussing for months, would involve plenty of math and other random duties to make me full-time, since music has not been considered a full-time responsibility for over a decade.

Here's the reader's digest version: no math, bi-weekly second grade general added (from the elem. music specialist's load), daily recess duty, and giant blocks of time everyday for me to collaborate with other teachers, focus on building te program, and spend time in different classes expanding my music projects.

Excuse me, did I just die and go to heaven?

Words can't express how humbled and honored I feel. During a time when our school can use all the extra help I can get, I get to focus on music and work toward expanding the program. I feel totally honored with this responsibility and will do my damnedest to make the most of this opportunity. I left the semester feeling spread very thin, and sick knowing that it would only get worse. I still have literature, but I get to focus on music, full-time. What a blessing! Many people would take that for granted, but not I.

So freakin' pumped for the opportunity to be creative and collaborative. Visiting with my colleagues also made me feel very much at home. Maybe I finally am.