Words with Webb

- Alan Wilson Watts

If you know me, you know I have a song lyric for EVERYTHING. You'd also know that I have been a Swiftie since the very beginning... So as our year draws to a close, it would only make sense that I would have a T. Swift song for that, right?!

In 2017, not long after my husband and I got married, we'd visit downtown Gibsonville, Burlington, Mebane, Saxapahaw, etc. just to get out of the house. We'd drive down 70 (Church Street) and I'd mention time and again, "You know my affinity for old schools...If I were licensed in high school, I'd work there." Husband would just hmmmph because ... well ... he's not an educator, nor does he care about old schools. 😂 In late July of 2023, I got a phone call from my former principal encouraging me to apply for the SIS position at Williams. The back and forth my brain went through prior to applying was worse than a Venus Williams tennis match. On August 3rd (my youngest's 13th birthday - a Swiftie would get the significance 😉), I walked through the front door of Williams High School - the same one I'd eventually fall out 🙄 - and, before I even sat down for my interview, I knew this was my new home.

In my interview, Mr. Bryan and Mr. Dail asked what my long term goals were. I'm a homebody - I like to get to where I'm going and stay there. I've been in 4 schools (counting WWHS) during my 21 years and the only reason I left school #2 was to ensure all four of our kids were on the same schedule. MY plan was to make Williams my "final" school.

But... Life is what happens when you're making other plans (John Lennon).

I don't like change.

I never have...and I most likely never will.

I understand the function of change; I just don't like it. It makes me uncomfortable.

But - through discomfort comes growth.

If I never stepped out of my comfort zone to leave the classroom, I wouldn't have made it to Williams. For me, that "discomfort" was worth the payoff of working with you, as a staff and individually. You weren't the only ones improving professionally; I, too, found myself making professional gains.

Now, though, it's time for another change. It's not one I expected. In fact, I had somehow convinced myself that I wouldn't be affected by the evolution happening across the district. But, again: Life's what happens when you make other plans.

Taylor Swift's Everything Has Changed is linked in the title of this section. I challenge you to sit with your eyes closed and listen to the words. The song implies that change can lead to a transformative journey - and that's what happened when I came here. It also suggests that finding new love (or a reason to continue your professional journey) can make life more meaningful, that small changes can have huge impacts.

My life is better because, if even for a moment, I was part of the Bulldog family. The memories made here will last a lifetime. 🖤💛🐾💛🖤

Did you know that by 2026, 250,000 teachers will be needed in the US (Panderov, 2024)? Did you know that 90% of new openings in schools are due to teachers abandoning the profession? OR that, at least, half of those who left the profession did so because of education-related stress? A recent Gallup poll noted that 13% of the teachers who left the profession referenced pay and/or benefits as the reason. Panderov (2024) stated that 80% of today's educators experience some type of work-related stress.

So...how can we ditch the stress and enjoy summertime?

First of all...I know - we don't "get" two months vacation in the summer. It would be great if we got paid for 12 months and only worked 10, but we all know THAT'S not happening...but there are still people who believe this myth. I don't correct them anymore. I just smile, because - let's face it - ignorance is bliss. We've worked too hard, for too long to debunk that lie. They choose to believe it at this point. Don't let that ruffle your tail feathers!

Anyway - Back to the topic at hand...

Here are 5 ways YOU can enjoy your summer and NOT feel guilty!

1. Switch Off
   A lot of teachers like to participate in professional development over the summer. That's great, but if it's been an exceptionally stressful year (like Moldpocolypse), it's OKAY if you skip it this summer. You NEED to take advantage of the opportunity to switch off your "teacher brain" in order to give it the rest it needs to come back in August (...or September...?), ready to work again. Sometimes a device needs to be turned off and on again to help it work properly. You do, too!
2. Read a Book
   I don't know about you, but I get LOST in books. There was one summer (before kids, mind you), I'm not sure I slept much at all. I would read a new book every day and watch the movie that night. So far this year, I've read 18 - but I fully intend for my total to increase exponentially over the summer. There's nothing like sitting by the pool with a cool drink and a good book in hand.
3. Reunite with Your Hobbies
   If you could do anything right now, what would you do? Go do it! Over Christmas break, I took up crocheting - something my mother never had the patience to teach me, but my Nanny did. I've been crazy busy since February so I haven't had time to work on the blanket I started...but I will! I can't wait for Friday to pick up where I left off. I'll put in my AirPods and turn up the music and get going. It's super cathartic for me. Find what's cathartic for YOU and make it a priority.
4. Exercise
   I was a happier person when I was running. (No...NOT from a bear...) In 2017, I took up running and loved it. In 2018, I had to have surgery and then some other things in life happened and I kept putting ME on the back burner. I was a happier person when I was a runner - because endorphins are released through exercise...and endorphins are the "happy hormones." Whether it's running, yoga, boxing, or just taking a leisurely stroll, get out and get moving!
5. Spend Time with Loved Ones
   The school year makes spending time with family seem nearly impossible. Take time to reconnect with, not only your immediate family, but also your extended family. My cousins and I planned last week to start "Cousins Weekend" for our kids. They'll never experience what we did growing up, spending a week at Nanny's house or Granny's house, but we can create new traditions of getting them together for quality time. Enjoy your time together with picnics, beach/lake/pool days, trips to Carowinds, etc.
   *But remember, family isn't always blood...sometimes you get to choose your family!

I recently came across this video while surfing on TikTok. (Y'all know I love my TikTok!) Listen to it and take the message to heart. 🖤💛🐾💛🖤

Thank you for making Williams such a welcoming place. As I have previously said, I didn't expect my time here to be cut so short. Many of you have asked, so I will tell you now - due to my position being dissolved, ABSS placed me at Highland Elementary as a teacher; however, I know that my calling is academic coaching. Last month, I interviewed at Madison Elementary in McLeansville (10 minutes from my house!) with Dr. Noelle Leslie, with whom I've worked previously. The interview went amazingly well and I was quickly offered the position as the Curriculum Facilitator. The staff has already been overwhelmingly welcoming and I look forward to serving an incredibly smaller staff and pool of students.

That said, NOTHING will ever duplicate my time at WWHS. I will miss all of you and appreciate the work you do to serve your students and community.

Onward and upward -

Go, DAWGS! 🖤💛

Email: rhonda.webb318@gmail.com
Text/phone: 336-209-1446