Other Stuff
Dear ERG, I read your recent post about job hate and think I might need a job change. I love teaching and I love my students, but I don’t like all the other things I have to do. How should I start my move into doing something else? Signed, Need a Change Dear Need a…
Read MoreWhat Happens When You Hate Your Job
It’s fair to say we all walk around with a level of grumpiness about some of the things we have to do at work. It’s usually the boring stuff that has to get done but no one wants to be the one to do it. Things like trivial paperwork or small tasks that aren’t hard…
Read MoreAn Interview with Kindergarteners
This interview took place in 2013 with Alice’s (then) six-year old twins, Miller and Lillian, soon after they started Kindergarten. Why do you have to go to school? Miller: To learn. Lillian: Because our moms and dads are at work and we won’t have anywhere to stay so we go to school to learn. What…
Read MoreHow To Ruin A Perfectly Good Year
In order to ruin a perfectly good year, you will need to get a few things in place. The first item is to make sure you have a crazy morning routine. Wake up late, don’t eat, roll into school with no plans (and almost no gas), and continue the day in a mode of reaction. This will…
Read MoreWhat You Feed is What You Grow
When you grow up in the southern United States, you grow up around food. It’s how we create community and build fellowship. The culture is figuratively and literally rooted in the soil (or red clay as the case may be for some of us), and those of us of a certain age learned the seasons…
Read MoreYour People
It is very tempting to be frustrated with the current state of education, get annoyed with colleagues and/or leaders, and work really hard to become an island. During this back to school season, it is not uncommon to carry our former issues right through the front door and hold them tight as we begin another…
Read MoreNew Kids at Bailey Power Plant
Here we are. Finally settled in at Bailey Power Plant. Our small but efficient offices are set up and we are basking in the variety of workspaces. New Work Flow Since our spaces are separated, we are learning a new work flow and having to be intentional about times to connect on important topics. This may sound…
Read MoreLessons Learned
July 1 is equal to New Year’s Day at ERG. Our work revolves around the school year, and most schools and school systems start fresh on July 1st. If staffing changes are going to be made, they usually happen at this time, along with funding and resource allocations. We’ve gotten used to this rhythm of…
Read MorePacking is Not for Wimps
When you have 15 years worth of office space to pack, you need a plan. We went with a sorting system that looked something like this: Essentials Wants Storage Give Trash Our new spaces are modern and professional and small. There are benefits to minimalism and one of them is focus. Eliminating all the things…
Read MoreCandy is King
In our current ERG office, we have a giant candy basket. It sits on the counter and people who drop by the office know it is self-serve. This includes the children of our consultants. The contents of the basket of candy changes with the seasons but it’s always there. And as we anticipate this move…
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