Sunday blog

Received in the mail Saturday my "contract" letter, the annual communication from the superintendant indicating our salary, our level, our step. In addition, it listed me as "masters plus 30." I set my eyes on this first salary goal early on, religiously taking grad credits each fall, winter, spring and summer semesters, plus whatever in-service credits were available.Initially, it was for salary only, figuring that since I didn't start my career until my 40's, I'd need to move up the salary ladder as quick as possible since 20-odd years goes quickly in many ways. But, as I moved on through the credits, and when I chose classes wisely, I found that I was learning from them as well. After my first year in this position, I also realized that I needed to raise my learning curve quickly. I've done what I've heard my colleagues do; to try to take away one or two things from each teacher course and put it into practice some way. But, I'm also thinking that all those Saturday and Sunday mornings I'd get up early to go to those all day classes, was worth it, when I see my salary increase beyond just the small percentage increase that we all get.