Moving and becoming a Trailblazer

Moving and becoming a Trailblazer. Today’s post will explain what led to my decision to change schools from Somerset Academy Canyons to Babcock Ranch Schools.

Moving around

I don’t like to move around. This will be my 5th school in 37 years. My shortest stay was in 1988-1990 in the Northampton County Schools and my longest was 2000-2016 at The King’s Academy (TKA).

There is value in staying somewhere over a long period of time. You develop a reputation. The students come into class knowing your expectations. I enjoy working with groups that can pretty much read my mind. They know what I’m going to say before I say it.

A new school means that you’re starting from scratch. Students don’t read your resume. And if they did, they wouldn’t care. When I started at TKA I expected that the students would have built in respect for me based on my past successes.

They couldn’t care less.

A new school means a blank slate. That can be good. You can reinvent yourself. But it also means that you’ll be greeted with some degree of skepticism. You have to be ready for questions, like…

“Why did you move here?”

Settled

I landed at Somerset Canyons (SC) after a difficult break up with TKA. I didn’t want to work at SC and I applied for other positions, but I didn’t receive any offers.

After a few years I settled in to the idea that I would complete my career at SC. My thoughts turned toward the years that remained and when I might hang up the baton along with any ambitions I might have.

Last year I was stirred from my slumber when a colleague attempted to get me to move to a small Christian School. I gave it serious consideration and even talked to the head of the school.

But, I didn’t believe that the position was a good fit for me and I turned them down.

SC would be my final school. I was sure of that.

There were worse things in life. The administration was good to me and I was developing a rhythm that I could keep for years to come.

Bill

Bill had other ideas. He was a band parent and band booster president from myy years at TKA. He was and is very supportive of the Dunn family.

We’ve kept in touch over the years.

Bill is in a leadership role with the developer of Babcock Ranch. My wife and I have had conversations with him about Babcock Ranch over the years. It sounded like a beautiful place.

He would say to me, “We’re going to get you to come over here and start a band program.”

I’d reply with, “Bill, you’re going to get a young person who is filled with energy and excited to make a mark in the world.” “I’m pushing on 60.”

I enjoyed the conversations. It’s nice to feel wanted and appreciated.

But I never imagined that we’d move there.

And then,

You’ll have to check back next time to find out what happened next.