Bookshelf Terrarium

Yesterday was my last day at Richland County School District One. I worked in the department of Visual and Performing Arts, which is a district office that provides budgetary and curriculum support for all 150+ arts teachers in Richland One. Richland One is extremely lucky to have a Board that is pro-arts education, and even luckier to have a Coordinator of all the visual and performing arts, that was my boss Nancy Pope. This position is in place to make sure the arts are being supported throughout all areas, from the schools through the superintendent. It's like having a district arts advocate on payroll. So many districts don't have arts coordinators, or their arts coordinator is also a teacher, or it is volunteer.

So many people take arts education for granted. Especially those who had arts education in school, because you had access to it, you might assume everyone has access, but far from it! also the equality of programs varies dramatically. The district tries it's best, and the teachers try their best, but a lot of time it comes down to money. Some schools just don't get the same money as other schools. So many arts teachers are split by school, and if you think about a theatre teacher- who is required to put on at least one play a year and conduct all Gifted and Talented auditions- that teacher has to do all that times 2. No principal will say sure you don't have to do all that required at my school because you are split, nope they want their teachers to fill all the requirements with half the time. I'm not putting all the blame on the principals, but it does come down to them as to allocations of full-time teachers. If your school has a part time art/music/theatre/dance teacher you should tell the teacher you want a full-time teacher. IT is better for the advancement of the school and the students all around.

I am really sad to leave my positions because I love love love working in the arts, the business side of the arts is my JAM, buuuut that job was unbelievable limiting. That was my first time as a professional in a government agency and it was eye-opening to say the least. There are a lot of people doing a lot of great work, but there are also quite a few people that make you wonder what they are even there for, and after 3 years I never figured it out :). I spent the majority of my working career in the non-profit sector, and there is something about the nature and spirit of the non-profit that really works in my head, and my heart. So before I delve into that, here is a picture of the incredibly awesome terrarium my boss made for me as a going away present (she's so crafty)

filtered on my ig: sumstagrams

SO I am having lunch today with one of my new coworkers, which is exciting because we are already friends, and now we get to work together. We will both be working from home, respectively, but it will be good to have a contact here in town as the rest of the organization is located in Houston Texas. I get to fly out to Texas this Monday for 5 days of intensive training. I cannot express to you the pressure of packing for a week of business meetings, especially when I just sent the last 3 years dressing with liberty because I was one of those "weird arts people". I think I need to be official. Also I should probably pack like a somewhat normal person as I am being picked up from the airport and would be extremely embarrassed to roll in with 3 bags for 5 days. I will limit myself to 2 bags both that can be carried on the plane. Where I will put all my shoes I have no idea, but we will find out! 

I'll post more about my new job soon. What an exciting time. 

Until then add me on snapchat: sumsnaps and twitter @sumsweetweet 

Never Forget: