Frustration

Time, communication, technology.  Frustration. 

Lately, I've been sensing a lot of frustration around here - from a lot of people.  I feel partly resposible for some of it.  However, I don't really know what to do about it.  The number of hours in a day are limited and I haven't been getting into classrooms or working with teachers like I would like to do.  Maybe that will change soon.  There are some promising and hopefully possibilities on the horizon.  Of course, in the near future there are also several days out of the district which won't help my cause any.

I know people probably wonder what I am doing all the time - let me tell you.  I am trying to figure out why the firewall keeps maxing out, why the blog and wiki server is accessible form out side the district but the address doesn't work INSIDE the district, I am doing grant reporting, resetting passwords, and talking to Edline on the phone at least once a week because the issues just won't go away.  Then there is E-Rate, updating the district tech plan, our AUP, and making sure that we are CIPA and COPPA compliant.  When there is time to get out of the office there are gradebooks issues to be dealt with, network accounts doing crazy things and network printers that just don't seem to stay plugged in to the network. 

All-in-all, I think our small technology department is doing a good job at keeping up with the technical issues that need to be dealt with and making some much-needed improvements in infrastructure and resource management.  However, with advancement comes new challenges and new mind-boggling weirdness.  Of course, making things work is only part of what needs to be done and this is where I feel that I am failing.  What good is to have a working computer, a working gradebooks, or a brand new interactive white board if you don't know what to do with it.  Professional Development is key.  Preferably, one-to-one let's focus on what YOU want to know, need to know, will make your classroom a better place to learn.

In short, I know that you are frustrated.  I am frustrated too -- but I'm working on a brand new plan...