Mohamed_hassan / Pixabay

 

Several months ago, I announced to my school community that this was going to be my last year as a K-12 teacher.

Colleagues, administrators, and students alike all wanted me to stay – very much so – which means, to me, that it’s a great time to leave.  I didn’t want to be that teacher about whom people whispered “He should’ve retired a long time ago!”

I figured after 23 years as a teacher, 19 years as a community organizer, and 7 years as part of the Catholic Worker Movement, it was time to “hang-up my spikes” – so to speak.

So, what am I planning to do during my retirement?

Quite a few things (not in order of importance):

  • Continue writing this blog for the foreseeable future, though, perhaps, not with quite as many posts.
  • Continue writing my Education Week column.
  • Katie and I have one more book to write, aimed at both ELL and non-ELL educators.
  • Trying my hand at writing fiction after that book is done.
  • Very occasionally leading a training on Zoom for teachers (let me know if you’re interested)
  • Doing volunteer teaching at either our county’s jail or juvenile hall (I’m in the process of making that determination)
  • Spending more time with grandkids who are not living locally.
  • Playing Pickleball several mornings each week, and basketball more than one night each week.
  • Reading the twenty books that have been sitting on my nightstand, and watch the multiple streaming programs on my “Watch” list.
  • Spending time organizing opposition to the Trump regime.
  • Enjoying time with my wife, who retired a few years ago.

 

I can’t wait to see what this next chapter in my life will bring!

In the meantime, though, there are still three-and-a-half months of school to teach, and I think I’m doing a pretty good job of bringing my best to the classroom each day, and not checking out early….