High Expectations

I arrived here in Phoenix with elevated expectations. As it turned out, I got nearly all I wished for in regards to my schedule for the Fall 2009. I am teaching English Language Development, as expected, since I am trying to get our program up to speed. I also will be teaching an Academy of Information Technology class, which will be piloted next year as a colleague and I will be teaming up with one of our English teachers to teach a group of 10th graders. And finally, after chasing down our administration week after week, trying to help them problem-solve the puzzle called the Master Schedule, I am teaching the Journalism class, that was at some point on the chopping block because my one floating period was going to be committed to the fledgling AoIT course.
Alas, I like to believe the administration came to their senses and realized the importance of high school journalism, and they will build it into their plans for the entire school. Even if that was just wishful thinking, I am fired up about having a chance to teach and be the journalism advisor for another year. Otherwise, I would have to build our journalism program and school paper out of an after-school club.
So I am in the right place at the right time. Phoenix if far from home, but it is going to be good for me to learn from the experiences and knowledge of my colleagues here.

Eric Chow
Phillip & Sala Burton High School
San Francisco, CA