Our last day of school was June 6th, a minimum day. After submitting final grades and textbooks and turning in keys, both students and teachers zipped home in time for a celebration lunch.
Each of our 13 schools was notably quiet by the usual release time. Only secretaries, principals, and the occasional support staff remained.
The Ed/Tech Department was far from done. Like most District Office employees, we have a full summer of projects to prepare for the next school year, including cleaning and updating every Chromebook in the district and re-organizing the carts for student use.
#EdTech and #CIS team up to get ready for 2018-19. #Equity #Access #bonitians pic.twitter.com/MLJN6zapyW
— Kris Boneman (@EdtechBUSD) June 13, 2018
This meant that we were on each school campus as it was totally clear of students.
There’s a strange emptiness when a school has no students on it. Blessed as I am to spend my school year around happy children, the exact same locations felt incomplete during the summer, their vacancies sharp and palpable.
I’ve baked cookies before and forgotten ingredients. The end result was not at all what I was expecting, even though most of the stuff was there.
This was kinda like that.
We have entire departments at the district office tasked with making sure the grass is trimmed, food is cooked, and employees are paid on time. Some of those employees go weeks without seeing kids.
Hanging out in these places kidless was a clear reminder that summer is a welcome reprieve, but the real work happens when students are back on campus.
Like the picnic tables, play areas, and sidewalks, our role — teachers and staff — is unfinished without students around.
My family and I had a very restful summer break and I feel no remorse for tuning out during July.
And I’m excited to get back into my favorite job in the world. At once challenging and fulfilling, exhausting and life-giving, improving and imperfect.
Students come back next week. Let’s get to it.
~Matt Vaudrey