Lunch Money & Compassion
Pitching pennies has been a childhood pastime for generations. The rules are simple: whoever lands their penny closest to the wall—or even better, gets a “leaner”—wins. A group of kids would play, and the winner took all the pennies. It seemed like just another harmless schoolyard game.…
A Rose By Any Other Name
When I started teaching, I had the misconception that my point of view was the most important thing in the classroom. But the longer I taught, the more I realized that my perspective was just one part of the classroom culture—not the driving force.…
That’s Not My Name
Conflict is inevitable in a classroom. It’s a small space with 30 students and a teacher trying to teach while maintaining order. Sometimes, students will get on the teacher’s bad side over minor things. I found myself in one of these conflicts back in junior high.…
Father Baseball!
We moved a lot when I was a kid. Because of that, I made a conscious decision that when I had children, they wouldn’t have to move if I could help it. My daughter lived in an apartment for five years and then in the same house until she left for college.…
Regional Office Bigwig
Living in a small town has its perks, but there are definitely some drawbacks. Take my time in Lewistown, Montana, for example. I went through my first divorce there, and since Montana is a no-fault state, as long as everything was worked out, signed, and submitted, neither party had to show up in court.…
Now Open on Sundays!
I never imagined the storm that one simple phrase and action would cause in a small town. Open Sundays—those two words opened a can of worms in Lewistown, Montana, in the mid-80s. Suddenly, I found the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce at my door, leading the charge against me.…