A Time to Move On

The screened-in back porch is clean again. It is Spring. That is what happens. As I type these words my dear wife, Carrie, is applying a new screen to the porch’s exterior door. Thank you, Carrie.

Writing during Covid-19 season is not an easy endeavor for me. Oh I thought it would be. I equated more time at home to more time to move more words around. It has not happened that way. I think it is a concentration thing. Yesterday I was expected to be “on” if you will. I spent nearly five hours during the course of three different remote meetings working and collaborating with new colleagues. We were discussing students and plans and interim activities and directives from the State Board of Education and other fun things like that. I felt envious of what my co-workers know and frustrated with what I don’t know. How could I? I have yet to be in the building in an official capacity with students in it.

I appreciate the patience the folks at Paoli High School have extended to their new guidance counselor. None of us expected to be where we are today, away from the building. My heart hurts when I think about the seniors; the Class of 2020 will be connected like no other known in my lifetime.

I went to work on Thursday, March 12th at North Harrison High School with absolutely no clue that it would be the last day I would work in that school with students in it. I had already made plans with Mr. Bigham to come in and have speaks with his junior English classes, as has been the custom the last few years toward the end of school. I was to come in to share with them on the Friday before Spring Break. We never got there.

On March 13th, North Harrison had an early release schedule for professional development and I thought that to be a good day to drop in on Paoli where I had been given the green light by their school board that Monday to begin working there after Spring Break on March 30th. There were papers to go over and folks to be introduced to. It was a good day.

I have been asked many times why I decided to leave North Harrison to take a job at Paoli. Having not been in a position where I was actively looking to leave, I feel like this job found me more than I found it. When that kind of thing happens, and let’s be honest, if you know anything about general hiring practices of schools, a guy with my experience is usually not given an opportunity like this. Translation: Schools, given their monetary constraints, usually hire on the cheap when they can. It is a fact of life. So in that regard, I am honored that Paoli looked at me and said “yes”. I look forward to working with students and parents there.

In the space of nine days and a few meaningful phone calls to a couple friends I knew I could confide in and ask for prayerful discernment, the dominoes just started falling in a perfect line. I told the principal at North Harrison I had a thousand reasons to stay at North but I needed one more. I needed to know I would not regret going to Paoli. With that said, I told him I knew it was time to go.

This was not easy. It was, however, the right thing to do. The folks at North were very good to me. I thank them so much for giving me five years on campus again.

Before I left North Harrison I had some students coming to me telling me they had heard that I was leaving. Each time I was met with this query my heart sank just a bit. One student, knowing I was leaving, asked to have his picture taken with me. The students at North are as resilient as any I have ever seen. They will be fine. I will still miss them, of course. They are all Great Americans. They know that code, politics notwithstanding. The scholars, the athletes, the artists, the go-to friends, the musicians, the voices in the choir, the Ag prodigies, the helpers, and the ones fortunate enough to be in the room across from the computer lab. How many times I wanted to come in and join that fray.

And so it goes. “That is all.”

I leave you with some photos of good times at NH. I wish the camera had been rolling during other times too when it was not. Thank you again, Mr. Bigham. I am sorry I missed your juniors this year. Perhaps you can smuggle me in down the road and we can do it again!

Thank you all. Know that you are loved.

The Lady Cats at THE BIG DANCE part 1. How much fun was that?

Graduation was and WILL BE a wonderful time. Always so delighted to pass out those diplomas and send out well wishes after the ceremony.

When we were younger, Mick Rutherford and I laughed like this all the time. It was good to be on the hill laughing again.

One of my favorite pictures. Carrie was thinking. Sitting on the hill with my Dad.

Tony Waynescott putting the line through some paces before facing BCHS.

The end of the finest hour for this old Cougar. Ben Waynescott’s FG wins it.

Ben honored me on Senior Night and I am thankful and still regret not being there.

A win for the ages over Batesville.

Bringing wrestling to North was a strike. This is a great time.

My friend Barry Hall walking on the NH field.

Lilly Hatton at the line against the Lady Braves her senior year. The hardest working student-athlete and most deserving of any accolade that comes her way. She has earned it. This year Lilly was the Southern Conference’s Freshman of the Year playing for Wofford College.