Changes in 2015

I've always believed that things happen for a reason, and it is all a part of a master plan. The past 3 weeks have been a whirlwind for me, as I am now looking ahead to the next chapter in my life. 

I've accepted a position to be the 5th Grade Math and Science teacher at Norris Elementary. Norris Elementary is currently under construction, so it will be an exciting challenge being a part of opening a brand new school in Frisco ISD. 

Many people didn't even know that this was in my immediate plans, and to tell you the truth, it TOTALLY wasn't. I LOVE Christie Elementary, and the people that work there are so dear to me. I truly love going to work. I've always thought, "why leave a place that makes me so happy?" Due to the 3 ice days we had in Texas, HR extended the transfer request window, and over Spring Break, after talking with friends, I decided that I would just put the transfer into the system. I've always known that eventually I wanted to open a new school, and there will be 8 opening before 2020, I just didn't know when I would take the plunge. To me this was just giving myself the option, and if it was meant to be it was meant to be. 

My colleague Cynde had an interview with the principal, and she found out there would only be 3 5th grade teachers, a math/science teacher, a reading/writing teacher, and one teacher that taught all subjects. With this being a new school, it will be small the first year or two. This is also the ONLY new school opening this year, so I figured that there were many people requesting to transfer over, and that I for sure wouldn't get it. Cynde waited 2 weeks until she got the call that she had the job. In her phone call, she mentioned my name. Because she did that, I had to send an e-mail. 

On Wednesday I sent her an e-mail inquiring about a possible interview. Thursday after school, I had the interview. Interviewing now is totally different for me than it was 3 years ago. I got rejected a LOT in my year and a half looking for my first teaching job. In the interview, she asked me the first 2 questions on her sheet of paper, and then she went rogue. We just had a conversation about my professional goals, and what I would envision in opening a new school. It went really well, and on my way home I was flooded with emotions. I loved the vision that this principal has for the new school, but I love the people and kids at Christie. I told my team that if they offered me the math/science job, I would take it, but if they offered me the self-contained position, I would say no, because that would be too much on my plate with finishing my Masters in the fall. On Friday, I got the call for math/science, so I said yes.  

Going back to things happening for a reason, I got the call when I was with Cynde. It is comforting to know that she and I will continue to be on the same team in a school filled with new people we don't know, but will get to know. We went to the construction site and walked around after I got the call, and it is going to be a beautiful school. I can't wait to see it when it's finished! 

Ever wondered how elementary schools get their names? Here is the namesake for my new school:

Armetha Norris Elementary School 

Armetha Norris was a respected parent and nurse when she approached the Frisco ISD School Board proposing a District health and school nurse program during the late 1970s. At that time, Frisco schools had no written health policy and no school nurse. Superintendent Justin Wakeland and the School Board took her proposal to heart and hired her to develop a school nurse system and a school health program in 1978. The program she developed established an immunization program, a records keeping system, a school health policy manual, vision and hearing testing for students, health rooms in each school, skin and head lice testing and education, a referral program for children with health problems, blood pressure testing for employees, a migrant children’s health program, support of health and science teachers, and a nurse volunteer program. That program is the foundation of the current school health and nursing program. Armetha and her husband, Bob, an educator with Dallas ISD, moved to Frisco in 1961. They brought up three children here, became active members of the First United Methodist Church of Frisco and PTA. She was involved in diabetes and hypertension community education early on, helping develop a screening program in Little Elm. All three of their children, Robert, Mari (Fugere) and Cheryl (Staats), graduated from Frisco ISD and Cheryl followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a school nurse. Mrs. Norris graduated from Dallas Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1950 and she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1967 and her Masters of Science in Community Health Nursing in 1978, both from Texas Woman’s University. As she brought up her family, she also worked as a nurse at the now-defunct Collin Memorial Hospital and helped as needed in the offices of Dr. D.G. Harrell in Dallas and Dr. Erwin G. Pink of Frisco. She was employed by Dallas ISD as a nurse for seven years before being hired by Frisco ISD. Mrs. Norris led the FISD School Health program for seven years. During that time, she also served as Secretary of the District’s Community Education Advisory Council and was a member of the board of the Collin County Red Cross. Mrs. Norris is a life-time member of PTA and was once nominated for School Nurse of the Year with the National Association of School Nurses. 

http://www.friscoisd.org/news/2014/09/09/school-names