Not Sleeping, Stress Mounting and No End in Sight...must be October

I won't lie, even with the blessing of that 3 day weekend, October is BRUTAL. Our second 6-weeks is over, and this week our kids take their Common Assessments ( trimester finals). The novelty of the school year has worn off and the kids are getting a bit burnt out. I let work catch up to me and am no longer planned and printed as early as I am usually.

Waiting For Superman has spurred a lot of great conversations with fellow teachers about our public school system. Of course, I can only speak on it from the prospective of a public charter school teacher. However it has been refreshing to hear comments from the point of view of HISD teachers as well as suburban public school teachers. Something I found interesting (and a bit concerning) was the lack of knowledge of how public charters actually work. Most people I've talked to weren't aware of the lottery system and were surprised charters don't pick the kids by application. There's a lot misinformation out there and the movie doesn't address it all, so of course that causes some strain when discussing it with others. All in all the discussions I've had ended on a positive note.

On to non-school stuff:

- I bought my first Halloween costume in years and I'm super excited.

-  I can't wait for the1/2 marathon is coming up in November. I'm behind in training but I'm having so much fun just running.

-I  am now OBSESSED with SoLa at the Triangle in Austin. I bought the cutest dress of all time and can't wait to pair it with vintage heels and pearls.

- I got a ticket for my expired inspection sticker. Darn license plate lamp.

- I am getting closer and closer to my Mazdaspeed 3 every day. I'm starting to get impatient.

- I think gin cocktails are superior to all others.

-  I loved BBQing and hiking in Bastrop State Park and can't wait to go again.

- I love bullet points because information is way easier to write this way

- I'm excited Chris is coming to visit this weekend in Houston.

- I'm going to bed.

-HK

Waiting For Superman

This week I had the privilege to experience two events that reminded me of why I joined the education reform movement.
1.) Waiting For Superman:

Our School was treated to a free sneak peak of this education documentary before it hit theatres in Houston today. I have to say the experience of viewing a film about the truths you experience every day, surrounded by educational professionals made the experience very memorable. The film brings to the front several issues that impact not just the future of America's schools, but America as a country. It exposes the real life effects of the Achievement Gap as well as the Global Education Gap between our students and their foreign peers.

Hands down the most impactful part of this film was putting faces and names to the children and parents who are stuck in a system plagued by low expectations, red tape, and unfulfilled promises. It reminds us that the problem with education in America is not the kids, it’s the adults. We are in control of their future and our students MUST come first. Teachers, administrators, parents, and community members are all part of this fight. We must ALL take responsibility and take action.

Teaching is a profession. Teachers should be held to the highest standards of performance as well as supported and developed to ensure they are set up to help their children succeed. The power of GREAT teachers must be celebrated and harnessed to help other teachers BECOME great.

If the movie is playing in your city, I encourage you to see it. Just remember, that movies don't make a difference, PEOPLE do. If it inspires you, go out and take action.

2.) TFA Benefit Dinner

I had the privilege of attending the dinner as a Corps Member and meeting many of the community members who support educational excellence across Houston. I was blessed to be introduced to the keynote speaker Michelle Rhee, TFA Alumni and Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools. I had the great pleasure of meeting her and getting a chance to interact with a person I admire. She was very gracious and her speech was as inspiring and informative as it was entertaining. The highlight of the night was getting the opportunity to speak to so many people about what I get to do every day in my classroom. I love talking about my kids and all the things they've been able to accomplish. I am more honored than ever to be part of this movement.

I'm not sure what my future will be in the education movement. It may be in the classroom providing my kids with a teacher who will never stop working to become better at my craft. It may in the national reform movement ensuring every child has access to a great education. It may be in the private sector keeping companies invested and involved in educating their future workforce. I can only say for now that it will be a significant part of my future and I am so excited to be a part of it.

Let's Do the Numbers

.Perfect Weather. Perfect Weekend.

10 - The number of dollars I lost at Man Bites Dog because I didn't check my change. The hot dog was still amazing and I will be back.

9 - The length of my frozen banana from Bananarchy which was dipped in choco then rolled in cinnomon and coconut. It was sublime.

8 - The number of points we lost by this weekend :-(

7 - Date of the TFA benefit dinner where I get to play hostess. Excited? You bet I am!

6 - Cost of Admission to Oktoberfest in Fredricksburg with Chris and Teri where I delighted in brew, sausage, polka, and potato pancakes. Top moment was a cop approaching Teri and asking ever so sweetly if that was a beer she was drinking, before carding all 3 of us. He was so sure he was going to get to kick out a bunch of kids. Sorry guy.
 

Also the date of when I get to go see an advanced screening of Waiting For Superman with the YP family.

5 - Number of times in an episode of Mad Men I want to smack someone for being awful. However the show is fantastic.

4 - Texts I got from Katherine over the weekend while she was AT the TX-OU game. None were mean.

3 - Hours it takes to get from Houston to Austin. I wish it wasn't so far.

2 - Of the best days I've had in forever

1- Number of kitties almost adopted by Chris. She was so cute.

On being loved...

This weekend was the first weekend I could feel that cool fall breeze come through. Everything glowed and being outside felt like walking through warm silk. I was so blessed again to be surrounded by amazing friends all weekend. Whether it was hitting happy hour with co-workers, trying out the new wine bar with my BTFF,  bonding with my kids over a lackluster event kickoff, chowing down on the bypass burger and limeades at Dry Creek Cafe, watching the WORST game I've ever seen against UCLA, sipping lemonade while watching the boats on the pond at Discovery Green, trying to find pumpkin pie by the slice, or curling up at home...I spent the whole weekend feeling so incredibly loved.

A cool breeze is blowing outside, making a little howling noise, but I am so very warm inside right now.

I love y'all too.

XOXO
HK

HK B-day Hey Hey...and Thanks Oprah!

Oh Birthdays!

My grEIGHT team surprised me with a homemade dark chocolate and strawberry cheesecake and a sweet card. My actual birthday was a mental health afternoon and was spent running around my loves from my work to various establishments. Thanks to everyone who came out last Wednesday and to Katherine for putting up with my need to shop.

I had a fantastic 25th with family and friends last weekend. Complete with Rounders, bacon cake ( to be explained), spa day and lots of shopping.

I kicked off the weekend on Friday taking a personal day to get some business taken care of...oh and also go to the spa. Viva Day Spa in Austin knows JUST how to do everything perfect, and they even gave me a birthday discount! I got the Summer Glow Package and I highly recommend it! I followed my spa day with lunch with the Topher and shopping shopping with Teri. I got the hat, shoes, and vest in the pic below!

Then came Saturday! Glorious Saturday was spent with my near and dear ones at the one and only Rounders. My birthday cake ( thanks Chris!) was from Sugar Mammas Bakeshop , it was a french toast cake, with a sprinkle of bacon on the top. Think about when your bacon gets in your maple syrup. Oh yeah....It was amazing and worth every sinful calorie. Judge all you want.

The staff at Rounders treated us like kings and they were amazing. After that we hit up Highball for some skeeball ( pic above), and TMNT the arcade game. Then off to 6th for the rest of the long long long evening. Thanks to all my family and friends who made it out. It meant a lot to me! Enjoy pics of me entering a new stage of adulthood, one where I don't act like an adult at all.

Oh and Oprah gave my school system $1,000,000. Thanks Oprah and the Angel Network!

XOXO, HK

And what exactly was the rubber chicken for...?

Staff Retreat.

For many reasons, which I will not disclose, staff retreat at my school is infamous. I was lucky enough to get to help plan it this year. Hands down my co-workers are the coolest people alive. Where else will your bosses meet you at the door in hula skirts and coconut bras ( over shirts of course) while preparing your surprise luau dinner?

We rented out a lovely beach front house in Galveston for the weekend. Yes we went in the water, no we were not covered in oil. However, tiny crabby things liked to bite us. Songs were sung, teams were built, scavenger hunts won ( by my team of course 2nd year in a row), and tastes in music shared. I even got in a 2 mile run on the beach and almost all of Mockingjay read. Don't ask how a flashlight, lightsabers, Lord of the Flies references, and sleeping on kiwis are all related, just know we had a heck of a time. Still not sure what the intended use of the rubber chicken was...we'll never know. Good times.

Mockingjay

What do you mean you haven't read The Hunger Games? What do you mean you haven't read Catching Fire? Why don't you know who Katiness is? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I mean I know I teach kids, but you read Harry Potter right?

Our 8th graders are lucky to have a star ELA team who gives them amazing texts to read. This is how I discovered The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. You might remember her Gregor The Overlander books ( also top notch young adult reading). I picked it up last year to have something ( non-math) to discuss with them. I couldn't put it down. Part of that is the fact that just about every chapter ends on a cliffhanger moment. Collins uses every trick in the book to fire up your curiosity to just turn the page and start another chapter. 

Yes I know the post-apocalyptic tournament to the death this is a bit over done but I just really enjoyed turning pages. I highly suggest you take the short amount of time ( you can finish them in like 2 days) to burn through the series. It's worth skipping these crappy summer reality shows.

4-day teaching week and then Austin-bound. Here's to Monday kids.
-HK

On Missing My Mom...

Moms are wonderful people. They are exactly what you need whenever you feel like you're starting to lose...well anything...your brain, your keys, your lunch, you get the picture. My mom came up or the weekend and it was wonderful.

Last time my mom stayed with me in Houston, I was a mess. My apartment was still in partial boxes. I had a mental breakdown in front of my kids, my car had broken down, and I hadn't had more than 3 hours of sleep.  I felt like a child who's mommy had to come rescue her from the big bad real world. She was exactly the pick-me-up ( well kick in the pants!) I needed to get my life together. She saved me.

This time ( almost a year later) it was the opposite. I felt MORE like an adult with my mom here. We kicked off our weekend at Pico's Mex-Mex ( a favorite of the infamous Katherine O'Hearne) where I tricked mom in to ordering a medium margarita which was as big as her head. We caught up and ate up everything in sight.

 I even took her with me to open house at school, this kids thought she was super cool and it was a GREAT conversation starter with parents! We went to the Menil Collection, a free art museum in Houston. We were unfortunately stalked by a train wreck of a first date following us from room to room. Museums are a quiet place to reflect and enjoy yourselves, not a place to loudly explain how you couldn't finish your time at UT on a chess scholarship because you were too busy playing chess with your friends. I could see his chances of getting any evaporate with every word.

After braving the Houston heat for a day, we dressed up and headed out for a lovely quiet dinner at *17 . Dinner didn't blow us away, it was good food with simple clean flavors and execution. However the French 75 cocktail and black pepper panna cotta with figs hit my top 10 list of desserts and cocktails.

We ended our weekend with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which was FANTASTIC. I rarely find myself caught up in a movie like I was caught up in that one. Mom really enjoyed it and got to geek out a bit, which is fun to watch her do. The last time mom was with me we saw Paranormal Activity on Halloween night, which had me crawling underneath my seat and cowering in fear like a baby. Mom was laughing through the entire thing...most likely at me.

All in all I still need my mom for so many things. She helped me learn how to hang heavy mirrors and pick out indoor plants. How to get my cat to be nice all the time and laugh at myself when I get too serious. How to realize that I love the city of Houston. I never really thought I liked it here as much as I did, until I was showing it off to mom. Finding that there were too many places I wanted to take her and show her. Houston really is fantastic, and I'm so glad it was my mom who helped me realize that. Thanks mom.

-HK