In May, Lynn found out that her position had been eliminated at the Canton City School District, but the next day was offered five different positions at other schools in the district. She found a place at McKinley High School - the largest urban high school - as the literacy coach.
image borrowed (without permission) from Anthony McCune's Stark County Blog.
The beginning of May meant that I (Andrew) celebrated graduation and the end of school with my colleagues and students-now-alums. Alyssa (below) was not only a delightful student to work with, but also a thoughtful, delightful human being. Like parents, I don't single out favorite students, so I'm mute on my comparative liking of Alyssa, but I'm deeply grateful for the chance to work with her helping produce beautiful films, advising her honors thesis, having her in class as a student, and later as a teaching assistant. I've continued to work collaboratively with her now as a peer and colleague -- more on that later.
Jaelyn and Addison finished third and fourth grades respectively and finished their soccer seasons, too.
This picture of Addison using Montessori manipulables was taken during open house in his classroom - of - three years with his cherished teacher Mrs. Rimmele. Addison and Jaelyn's public school is a montessori collaborative amongst many districts in our county and is refreshingly diverse and progressive and lively.
Addison finally gave up on combing through the tangles that had grown deep into his magnificent and jealousy-inducing 'fro so one night we headed over to Aaron's apartment and Aaron worked some magic on his locks, following Addison's instructions, and emerging with this haircut:
One afternoon, Jaelyn and I had a date to our favorite downtown Mexican Restaurant - El Galeron. We were both struck by the aesthetic strength of this painted red brick wall, so Jaelyn decided to have this photo taken just which she could have on reserve for her facebook profile picture. When she turns 14.
Both kids enjoyed the spring weather. Here they go into our backyard adventuring into the bush-fort in our neighbor's yard, or walking over to Chris and Victoria's house -- our first neighborhood friends.
The previous year was a roller-coaster ride for me professionally; a new administration made me certain that my university was headed toward becoming a (more) maudlin, right-wing, evangelical institution.
So the fact that the Spring brought radical changes for me (our president was gently ousted) and for Lynn (her new unpredictable, but hopeful(?) job) was the most keen and turbulent social fact that defined our family life.
I taught a couple of online courses and got a grant to work on my reelate documentaries. The combination of Spring and the hope of Summer always makes a May a renewing invigorating month. This May was no exception.
