By Kerri SchellingExecutive Director
Summertime. Just hearing the word conjures up happy childhood memories of carefree days filled with vacations to my grandparents’ house, Popsicles that turned my tongue bright colors and fireflies in jars. As I got older, my friends and I eagerly traded classrooms and textbooks for swimming, weeknight sleepovers, and hot afternoons spent in movie theaters without a moment of guilt for being less than productive. Of course, there were chores and responsibilities, but by the time the next school year started I was relaxed, rested and ready to get back to my studies. It’s a pattern thfvat makes good sense. Even our agrarian ancestors understood that the time between planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall deserved special attention for pursuits beyond work.
So what happened?
In today’s fast-paced world, most of us have allowed (whether we intended to or not) our work and other perceived obligations to be the center of our attention year-round. Talk to almost anyone about their day and the subject of time is bound to come up; we don’t have enough of it, we feel pressured by it and often feel that taking time for ourselves is wasting it. According to health and wellness coach Ellen Goldman, the more caring and giving the person, the more likely these feelings are to emerge, so it is no surprise that those who work in public education are often victims of this mentality. I have yet to meet a teacher who takes the summer off without giving a single thought to his incoming class, an administrator who walks out of her office at 5 p.m. leaving all traces of work behind, or a school board member who attends one board meeting a month to conduct mandatory business before promptly returning to civilian life. No, the teachers, administrators and school board members I know make sacrifices every day because they are passionate about their work and the stakes are too high to do anything less.
One of the biggest surprises for many new board members is the reality of how much time the role requires. For effective and engaged members, the responsibilities extend far beyond time spent sitting at the board table: There is significant preparation that must be done for each meeting; mountains of data and research to digest; social events such as ballgames, concerts and graduations to attend; training and professional development opportunities to learn new information and build skills; special called meetings and work sessions; and phone calls from constituents – to name just a few. In a nutshell, school board members are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for their entire board service. They can’t just turn it off. So, when running to the grocery store for milk turns into (another!) impromptu discussion about district test scores, budgets or facility plans, even the most committed board member can be understandably overwhelmed.
While there isn’t a way to add more time to the day, there are ways to make the most of the time we have. It begins when we stop looking at “me time” as a luxury and instead see it for what it is – an opportunity to refocus and recharge our batteries. Much like putting on your own oxygen mask first when you’re in an airplane, by attending to our own needs we are in a better position to assist others with theirs.
School board members have a long tradition of putting others first. But before this summer turns into another school year, be sure to include yourself on your list of priorities. You’re worth it!