3.10.2016

hardest thing

The hardest thing I've ever done was a professional conflict that had spilled into the personal arena. After being adviser of the Civil Rights Team at school for 8 or 9 years, the school decided to cut the Team out of the budget. And our Team was a state-recognized leading and active Team (we led student trainings and produced instructional videos). It was very difficult to not take the cut personally. The cut was a "cost saving" measure yet the Team was not given the opportunity to perform fund raisers. The students took it hard and I took it harder. But, it was what it was, and as upset as the faculty and students were, the decision was made. One year later, there was a civil rights violation at school and the administration asked me if I would be involved in the intervention. After picking my jaw up off the floor I said an adamant NO! As a result of the violation and the fall-out from it, the following year the administration decided to reinstate the Team.

The hard part comes from a committee I participated on whose purpose was addressing "climate issues" at the school. One of the climate issues that my colleagues addressed was around the civil rights violation and the handling of the issue, specifically how shabbily I had been treated. I confronted him in an awkward and uncomfortable moment when he got heated and defensive, but he basically called me out on having a wall around me when dealing with him. So I explained why I had a wall. After about a half hour of back and forth, during which time I could see the other committee members shifting uncomfortably, we did manage to clear the air. It was the hardest thing I've done.

I moved on. I'm over it. And I learned from it.



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3 comments:

Diana_CT said...

<3 That you for all of your support. You are making a difference. <3

Paula said...

WOW! That must have been a really difficult time in your life. I don't do well with things like that because I can't keep my big mouth shut!

The Gal Herself said...

You make such a difference in the lives in your students, and that means you influence the life of this country. Stories like this one just emphasize how important you are. I hope you feel that.