Making the Switch: How It's Going For Other Teachers

As the school year continues on, I am slowly changing my focus from myself and how I have adjusted to my new teaching position.  I am starting to think about my collegues and how they are feeling about their new positions.  Brian Wrigglesworth taught with me at Indian Valley High School and was one of the few high school teachers that moved with me to Mifflin County Middle School.  My daughter had him for 10th grade Biology and thought he was "awesome."  He ended up being my "lunch buddy" at our new school and I wondered how things were going for him.  I asked him if he would be willing to be the subject for this week's blog and he agreed.  Here's how things went for him:

Mr. "Wrigs"

"I was proctoring the PSSA tests last Spring when I got the call that I was furloughed.  I was extremely surprised because I had been teaching in the district for about six years.  Time goes on and people kept telling me I was first on the list to be called back. Then I got word that another Science teacher in the district was leaving so that was encouraging.  But time went on and I didn't hear anything, even after the other Science teacher resigned. Finally with about a week and a half left in the school year, I get a call from the Assistant Superintendent that I was called back and I would be teaching 7th grade Science.  That was another shock!  So I packed up about 500 boxes and moved everything here to MCMS.  I came in for four days over the Summer and that was my introduction to 7th grade.  I am still unpacking a few of those boxes..."


I asked Brian how teaching middle school compared to teaching high school:

"The big difference I see between High School and Middle School is that here pretty much all the kids genuinely want to learn.  We as teachers help them along more at this age and it's not because we are told to.  It is because they (the students) care and that allows us to help them.  I haven't really had any students that are having issues and that has been a nice change."

I am glad that the journey through this big change has been a positive one for Mr. Wrigglesworth.