When Pigs Learn to Fly
Beginning in 1990 and every year there after, I proposed that we hire an on-staff person as a technology trainer, mentor, and facilitator. Every year since 1990, my suggestion was received the same way. In a nut shell, the administration said, "We agree with you, Art, and as soon as pigs learn to fly, the board will hire one."
Now this wasn't a cheap shot at the board. It was simply reflecting our serious budget problems. Because of changes in state funding formuals, the caps laws, our over crowding, and building program, hiring a technology person would have meant cutting teachers and/or programs. It simply wasn't in the cards.
By 1997 our technology plan was in place, the state had provided funding, and it looked like there was some money for technology integration and professional development. Plans were in the works to bring in a professional consultant for about 20 days to work with a cadre to teachers.
Upon hearing about these plans I visited our curriculum director and told him to look out the window because there was a pig flying by. I was a year away from retiring and pursuing plans as a full time consultant. I told him that I was willing to retire a year early if the board would take the money they would save by hiring someone at the bottom of the pay scale and put it toward hiring at least a half-time technology integration specialist.
The board agreed to the plan and I got the job. We agreed to a 120 day contract over the next 12 months. That gave me plenty of time to pursue consulting outside the district and gave the school district an extra 100 days of support at virtually no additional cost. What transpired over the next year was probably the most amazing win-win situation I have encountered in 30 years of teaching. Between my pension and my contract, I had a livable wage and lots of time to develop programs that would benefit me and the school district. While doing work for OII and other organizations, I made my base of operations Southern Regional. As a result I was only on campus about 200 or the 120 contracted days. While not every minute of every day was devoted to Southern Regional work, I was there whenever I was needed by staff or administration.
Because on my work on the national level and relationships with vendors and other professional development organizations, I was able to bring to Southern enough in kind befits to offset my salary for the second year as well.
During that time, the somewhat unique position I established at Southern has become recognized nationally as a recommended practice. Back in 1998 technology integration specialists were few and far between. Today they are seeing increasing popularity and I'm confident that the position will become a fixture at Southern and the pigs can come home to roost.
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