As the sun sets on summer

I'm down to the last few days of summer vacation.

That means I'm cramming in the summer projects I always postpone to the last minute: Costco trips, cleaning out the basement, and starting the 15 blog posts drafts I told myself I'd be writing and publishing all summer long.

I don't lament the end of summer. I'm looking forward to the start of the school year.



Last year I made a huge move, leaving the New York City Department of Education and joining the team in Scarsdale, NY. It was a big transition and happened very late in the summer (I was officially hired four days before the start of school) but it was a great opportunity and a move well worth making.

I spent a few days in my lab this summer, setting things up and moving things around, something I haven't been able to do since before my second year teaching. Before this my labs were used for summer storage or were bolted in place for security purposes. This summer I was able to start with a clean slate. Literally...

I'm excited to begin a school year with a lab I built from scratch.

I'm excited to begin the school year and build on what I started last year.

I'm excited to begin my second year in Scarsdale with a bit of local knowledge.

I'm excited to begin my 13th year teaching with the colleagues and students I got to know last year.

As the sun sets on summer I'm excited to get back. I haven't been excited to get back to teaching in a long time. My move to Scarsdale last August was so sudden and unexpected I was more in shock as opposed to excited. I was excited, I wouldn't have taken the job if it didn't excite me, but the whirlwind interview and hiring process had my head spinning a bit.  I was excited, but nervous. Probably more nervous than excited.

This year, however, I'm excited purely for the teaching. For the student. For that vibe and energy of the building.

I'm excited about the possibilities the year ahead holds.

For the first time in a long time. I'm genuinely excited for the first day of school.