teachers and interventionists and mtss coaches, oh my!

hmm. well, let's see. monday.

monday i drove to austin for two days of training with julie k and sabrina. the drive wasn't too long, and surprisingly not too boring. upon arrival, i made sure to check on rooms and get checked in. my room wasn't quite ready, so i just waited out front, because i knew that one of them was bound to show up shortly. and sure enough it wasn't too long before julie pulled up, so we went on a quick snack run, trying to beat sabrina back to the hotel. nice try, sabrina got there a few minutes prior to our return-and at that point, my room was still not quite ready, so we went up to their room and stored our belongings before trying to find someplace for an early dinner.

well. i wish i would've gotten some pics while we were there, because the joint was really neat- threadgills- good thing i didn't get a picture of our server, though, because i have nothing positive to really say about him. #worstserviceever yep, took a minute to be seated, and then it took about 7-10 minutes for him to come to our table- zero acknowledgement. how did it go down? once he brought the food back, he didn't check back to see how it was...came over once, and i asked for another diet coke-which he brought, but didn't bother the check to see if refills were needed for water, and they were...then he proceeded to get 2 other tables- single-tops, and went back to chat it up, and took water refills, and didn't even bother to come over...then when he did stop at the table, it was to take julie k's plate without even asking if she was finished, and she just kinda' had that bewildered look...he eventually returned with the bill and didn't ask how things were, or if we needed anything else...it was rocky...sabrina and julie were about two tenths of a millisecond from asking to speak to the manager. but instead sabrina left a very matter-of-fact note. it doesn't help that we've all been in the business of serving customers, restaurant service isn't an unknown.

upon returning to the hotel, i was able to get all checked in, and get keys to my room. good times. before we had even left the hotel, sabrina pulled out some lovely gifts-a pink fan from the football game she'd gone to-very thoughtful (from the corner of my eye when she first whipped them out, i thought it was a bicycle cover-must've been the angle...and i wondered how she knew i had a bike). anyhoo...there was a little jaba for the java, a fragile carribean bottle with a parrot (did i mention we'd seen parrots in miami? and that i actually had parrots in HONDURAS?) and a special book just for me to read up on one of our candidates...i don't know that i will be reading it any time soon (so much to do...but the fact that it was signed, now that in and of itself was the bees knees)... yep. and then there was the straw kit for ju2. amazing. #perfectgift 

laughter ensued...ask her what i gave her that she holds near and dear...

it was like an erector set!

'atta girl! 

 so i put my stuff in my room (conveniently next door), and changed into something comfortable and went down to get some ice, as the la croix sparkling water was room temp-warm sparkling water is enough to make anyone spew. and at the ice machine room, julie stepped on wet carpet...hopefully it was just the ice machine malfunctioning, and not someone having an emergency need to eliminate bodily fluids before reaching their room, because that would be irredeemable (who would do something like that anyway? so college), not to mention, a good way to spread ringworm or some type of foot fungus. anyhoo. finally with the weather cooling off, once again it was a pleasant evening on the balcony. anything outdoors is better than being stuck in the room. *please note, we'd checked out the pool, and there was no hot tub, so balcony, it was. 

that evening, as well, julie was recounting what had happened at the gas station earlier. she'd told me she was stopping to get gas, and that's when it happened. it was halloween, and there was a guy dressed as a clown, with a bat at the gas station, trying to be intimidating, and running his bat up and down anything that would make racket...talk about idiot. i wouldn't even take into account that it was halloween, and there might've been a 911 call for his wounds had it been me...(fight or flight, i'm a fight-reflexes...) anyhoo...did you know that once you post something out there on social media, you're either laughing or cringing the next minute...true story. that first night,  i faded fast, but the part of me that doesn't want  to miss a thing came back with a second wind, so when the time came, sleep was a welcome friend!
                                                       
the following morning, we had stopped at the restaurant for a minute, and there were policemen everywhere! convention-wish we were staying at the hotel all morning, i might be able to stop worrying about that e-harmony account! (more about that later)...there were some nice looking men there, and we were looking for rings. once breakfast was over, we headed to the front to wait for lori, one of our colleagues who had gotten in a bit later the night before. when she arrived, we headed to starbucks to get the necessities, and then made off for our site. at the building we were on the third floor to one end of the bldg, and the restrooms were on the bottom floor on the opposite end...for real. one bathroom. brilliant. good thing sabrina and i took advantage of the starbucks bathroom! (if you know what i mean...take advantage is accurate).

looks like our own little coffee bar!

i believe it was our first group that was actually the best group! they were on point! this training was the mtss/rti/goal setting/problem solving... now. i have watched the video multiple times (and plan to watch it one more time this week)...and i've seen sabrina and julie do parts of it independently, so it was great to see them do this one together, no hitches, all three hours dedicated to the processes. i LOVE the research they have found to support their work, and then the usage of the reports to really set measurable goals that are realistic and will impact student growth. it's not subjective, which is what we run into a lot in education. we do a baseline, and then say, okay, what now? what's the goal? and it's like closing your eyes and throwing a dart at a target...this on the other hand, is SO simple, it makes sense, and leaves no room for confusion. i kid you not, the lights went on, like "AHA!" moments. there were silent air high fives and i sensed that this was something that these coaches would be taking back to their campuses immediately to turn around! i mean, if i were still a coach at my campus, i certainly would! i haven't seen it quite like this before, and it really does make perfect sense.

after the first session, we did central market for lunch, because it seemed the best of all worlds-sushi, salads, meats, soups...gluten-free, vegan cupcakes...yes, you read that right. don't. just don't. you WILL spit it out. lori and julie did. i will give her that it was pretty. how could such a pretty pink cupcake taste like a glob of silly putty? easy. it was gluten-free and vegan. but my sushi was good! they never disappoint!

the second session-there's that one! this afternoon, it came in the form of a specialist who really had her own agenda and she pretty much did what she wanted. and her teacher next to her was really trying to focus...this lady was impeding her progress, and i wonder if we should have just pulled her out of the room for a private session...hopefully she found some kind of nugget, because she already had her set groups for the year and knew what she wanted to do...that's fun, said no trainer ever.

once the session was finished, we headed back to the hotel-lori was meeting with an old friend in town, so we parted ways and headed to dinner at papasitos..yum. it was close, and when we got there, it was like..."'bout time!" fortunately, our server this time, whose name i do not recall-was amazing! i mean, it was polar opposite from the day before! he was ON his game! and we were delighted! (and YES, we did leave a note for him as well-it was quite different from the previous day!) i have NEVER had shrimp so big and delicious-thank goodness sabrina and i split that plate! it was more than enough to leave comfortable. plenty-o-food!

tuesday night-another beautiful evening, this time, we were able to enjoy the 6th game of the world series...the make or break game to keep the cubs in it, and they pulled through! julie was ecstatic! and there was a nice rain as well, which is always welcome!

wednesday morning i made coffee for all! yes, i was able to bring my stash, my own creamer and my aero-press. it makes a difference, just saying...#hipstercoffesnob (the advantages of driving!) of course one cup is never enough, especially when you have to make it through the day....so we again had to make the routine stop at starbucks-you don't mess with routine. and there it was!

once we arrived, it seemed to be a fairly easy morning group-a rather small group, if you will. ah, this was the session where there was one gentleman who really took advantage of the first question: are there any burning questions? and he took off like wild-fire with that and began asking campus specific questions and kinda' hoarding the time and making it all about him, until the guy behind him was like, "ummm. could we move on? it seems like there is a lot of information we need to move through, and we're never going to get there if we focus on just one campus..." i was doing a standing ovation screaming, rock-concert, head-banging, resounding YEEEESSSSS in my mind. this was the session where the girls said, okay, juan, we're pushing you out of the nest, so do something! i was able to present part of the presentation, getting the information necessary from the first two reports and then sabrina finished it out. (another thing i plan to do this week-record myself to get more fluid on the presentation...i really wish i had a SWIVL-that was my favorite tool at cabell!). so lunch this time was at chli's because it was sit-down and close. delicious soup and burger! yum. they have a great lunch menu! so that went quickly and the afternoon session was a harder crowd-the mtss coaches (ruffians..), so i observed (protective friends are the best kinds). i spent a bit of time during that session helping a teacher who thought she was going to be over her head-but in actuality, she got it! and the coach next to her, who was working with isip espanol. so that was good. there was one thing i wasn't quite sure about, and so i called sabrina over, and explained it how i thought it should be logically, and she affirmed that it was correct-saves them from having to clean up after me, if i can have them there in the moment and use it as a teaching/learning moment. i feel that most of the time i've had the correct information, save a caveat here or there-but i'd rather be on the safe side!

i LOVE listening to this lady!! and i love being able to call her friend!

we were able get out at a reasonable time, and the girls were all off to their respective domiciles. i think lori was going to see her daughter, the other two were headed home. and me. i got to stay one additional night, for a TEXAS SUCCESS training the next morning with jane! yay me!

texas success-next installment
goodnight!
julie

what do you do? no, like i'm a driver, i DRIVE, what do you do? REALLY?!

remember where we left off? i'd just gotten back from pbi (west palm beach). now that that's out of the way. ju had asked if i might drop her off to pick up a rental car in dallas. well, duh! my life! i think acts of service is one of my love languages (that i give...i am also very good at giving quality time because that is the one i receive the best)..i've tried very hard to get better at noticing what people receive and try to meet those-if you are not familiar with the five love languages, i highly recommend!! the book is great, and here's the quiz! if you want to really connect with people (anyone) this is key!

but i digress...so we went to get the shuttle, and i missed the apparently epic stumble-up-the-stairs...depth perception, ju!! she biffed it-let's blame it on the luggage being top-heavy and throwing her off balance. regardless, smacked her shin and hand (left a mark) and the shuttle driver-pat? kinda' mumbled to ask if she was alright, but didn't lend a hand or make an effort to help with the bags...first day on the job? crack addict? not sure...a little slow. anyhoo, i gave my ticket to the driver and the driver looked at it and said the number. there were others on the shuttle as well, which was probably a good thing because the driver was awk-ward-as-all-get-out. (notice that i have not assigned a sex, as we were a little uncertain? see how i did that?) yeah, so anyway...we were the last ones off, and we kept seeing people give tips, without really being helped, and by the time it was down to us, i wasn't going to, but then in the back of my mind, i was thinking, "shoot, if i don't, will i look racist? or if this person is indeed on some illegal, mood-altering narcotic, i don't want ju to get a shiv in the kidney" i even looked at julie and was like:do i? don't i? of course she was biased, as she was almost hospitalized for the aforementioned mishap...not really, but i'm a sucker, so i doled out two dolla. (you think i jest...) and then wouldn't you know it, this person who was pretending to be a mute the entire 20 minute ride got a second wind and became a chatty chat chatterson...i wasn't trying to start a conversation, because julie had someplace to be, but (now we know it was a girl) she asked a question and i thought it would be rude to be short.
she: what do you do?
me: i'm a trainer.
she: no, i mean, like i'm a driver, i DRIVE. what do YOU do?
me: (scratches head and tilts to the side)umm... well, i'm a trainer. i TRAIN people. on a computer-based reading program. 
she then starts asking all sorts of questions trying to understand. eventually telling us she went to school in louisiana or something like that, when julie told her she went to college at baylor, this lady got ALL excited and started getting passionate about her friend who played ball there. we were finally able to tear ourselves away without an embrace (julie looking at her wrist, as if to be keeping time). 

we were able to avoid traffic for the most part, and i hope she was able to get to her bro's house in time to see her nephew and not run into too much traffic going to meet up with her friend, who just happened to be in town as well.

(sorry ya'all, get the popcorn and settle in, there's more! i mean, that could've been the post in and of itself, but nooooo, i've gotta go and tell you everything!)

on saturday i went furniture shopping with one of my friends- we hit up nebraska furniture mart just to make sure that's NOT what she wanted! and after looking at several couches and taking pics to get a second opinion from mom, we left with a better understanding of what she did not want. most of them were comfortable, and me, the least particular person in the world, didn't get it (not a 100%). i will say this, she'd been talking about a particular couch from pottery barn for the past 9 months, so i had an idea that she wouldn't settle. and she shouldn't-her heart was already set. if you're going to pay money for a big-ticket item, you should get what you really like! so we ended up at pottery barn and she did find the one she wanted! i'm moral support, and i really do like the one that she chose! party at her place in 8-10 weeks!!

after going in on sunday and making the final purchase, i came home and prepared for my trip du jour- monday i'd be taking off for miami-coveted time with sabrina. if you recall, i got to spend a day with her in magnolia about a month or so back-not nearly enough time, so i was really looking forward to this because i'd get to observe in two separate venues. and i was a little anxious, because i was going to get to meet dr. campbell, from ucf. i kept hoping that i'd make the cut with her (always good to have your clients like you, right? exactly! best behavior!) 

so i'll get into that a little more tomorrow, but i will say that i was delighted to find sabrina at love field and i sneaked up behind her at the airport to surprise her, and just kept thinking, "i hope that's her!" as i walked up behind her and you know how you walk up behind someone and cover their eyes and say "guess who?!" well, i DIDN'T think she'd probably appreciate having some stranger in the airport put their hands over her face, but it was something like that...again, i was hoping for the love of all that is good that i did indeed have accurate recall the back of this head! praise Jesus, it was sabrina!

it's always a good flight when you're among friends! (can i say that figuratively-not metaphorically...as there really isn't a metaphor, but there really weren't a lot of friends on this plane so to speak and it would really be hard to be surrounded by one person...and now i'll shut up about that, just know that this is one of the things i appreciate about southwest when i'm traveling with friends-we can sit together and enjoy the trip-and we did! whew! did that tire anyone else out??) we looked at the power point and then played word games-she introduced me to my newest addiction- alphabetty. curses. what do you MEAN i have to wait 2 minutes for a new life?!

so that was that, and when we got to fll, we rented a car and headed for the first part of the trip to miami for our adventure. (by now you know that everything with me is about some sort of adventure, and if an adventure doesn't happen, we're going to make that trip to the grocery store into a freakin' adventure! i didn't grow up watching indiana jones for nothing!)

our rental convertible...lori, that's covered by our rental agreement, right? not really, we had a dodge durango with a personality crisis...almost a diva about stoplights. 

patience, more coming soon.
julie