One Year Anniversary: No Longer Playing Tetris

On September 10, 2024, I officially left a career of thirty-one years of teaching and began a new job with The College Board. My official title changed over the first few months from AP Precalculus Course Lead to Director I, AP Precalculus Curriculum and Assessment. The work did not change, just the job title and my email signature changed. Today marks the one year anniversay of that career change.

During the first few months on the job, I was bored. Not every day. But some days I would have checked off my “To Do” list and I would start looking for other work-related things to do. For example, I went through all the Topic Questions in AP Classroom for AP Precalculus to see which ones might need updates. It was not something I was expected to do, but it was something I thought might be useful and it was related to my job.

At some point I realized that I wasn’t bored per se, but my brain was not used to the day to day cadence of a virtual corporate environment. Having time to draft an email. Having time to get thoughtful unrushed input from a colleague. Being given generous deadlines. It was challenging to adjust to the slower pace. I would get a small task with a due date of next week in my inbox and I would get it done that day. Why? Because I had time to get it done. Projects are planned to span weeks or months and you slowly chip away at them. Need to stretch and take a snack break? Go ahead. Need to take off for the last hour of the day for a doctor appointment. No problem. Just complete the form in Workday to use 1 hour of sick leave. No sub plans required.

Sure, I need to think to complete my work, but it is nowhere near as mentally draining or mentally challenging as teaching. Being a teacher is like playing one continuous and, at times, exhausting game of Tetris. As you are teaching a lesson, you see a the red square come into view (one student has their phone out and is distracting another student). Now the green T-shape also needs a spot quickly (another student comes in late). And here comes the yellow L-shaped piece threatening to end the game and your lesson (the internet goes out). Teaching involves constant interactions and decision-making in the moment. You get good at talking to the class and writing on the board at the same time, while making a mental note to speak to the one student who still hasn't made up the test that was given two weeks ago.

In the four minute passing time between classes, you review in your mind what you are doing for the next class as you walk down the hall. You also begin a mental draft of your response to a parent who wants you to work with their child after school today to get an individual teaching of the lesson they missed, because 8 AM classes are too early in the morning for their child. You grade papers at swim meets and figure out when you can squeeze in one hour to type an exam. As a teacher, I had multiple dreams about teaching, including dreams where I was sleepwalking and writing passes for students!

This video popped up in my feed the other day and based on working both inside and outside of the classroom, I can definitely say it is not entirely wrong. My husband did drive me into school after an emergency room visit. He drove me, because I was on Percocet. But that story is for a future blog.

P.S. I am very grateful for the 31 years in the classroom. In spite of the craziness and challenges of teaching, I enjoyed the time I spent helping students and other teachers. I was, and always will be in my heart, a teacher.