Today I had an exciting and unexpected event happen at school. Two weeks ago this Friday, several other teachers and I planned projects (I planned a project for my seniors) and submitted it to our project coordinators for a contest. The principal and project coordinators scored our project plans by a rubric and everyone who qualified for the contest had their names put in a bag for a drawing. Today was the celebratory staff meeting and the announcement of the winners. We had cake, sparkling cider, and a drawing for small prizes, which I hoped I wouldn’t win because I wanted my name in the drawing for the 2 large prizes–the video i-pods. I waited nervously, secretly hoping I’d win, but trying not to expect that I would win, lest I be disappointed. Each time a name was called for the small prizes, I was happy that I didn’t win, yet wondering if my name was even entered into this contest. When my principal pulled the next ticket out of the bag, she gasped and smiled knowingly. All three of the ladies in charge of the drawing said my name in unison, and I gasped, almost squeaking. I had won a video i-pod! For lesson planning! Really???

There are perks to being an educator, but even more than this, I enjoyed hearing one of my seniors asking, “Mrs. Baeder, do teachers get paid overtime? They don’t? They should. And we should have a teacher appreciation week, because you guys deserve it.”

I must say, I feel appreciated, and both of these occurrences have made my week phenomenal.