I had a 5th grade assignment October 31
(Halloween). It was an easy if somewhat amped up, tiring kind of
day. It helped that it was a minimum day and the kids were going home right
after lunch.
I had already listed myself as "unavailable" in the
sub system for the post-Halloween Friday, anticipating a quiet three-day weekend
instead of enduring the chaos awaiting me if I braved any classroom.
I got back late from a Halloween party that night knowing I
could sleep in and relax without dealing with dozens of kids recovering last
night's sugar high. I was surprised by the late morning call.
L: "Hello?
Mr. Perry? This is Lisa at xyz school.
Me: Hi, Lisa
L: Uhh, where are
you?
Me: I'm here at
home.
(...and knowing what comes next, I'm ready to decline the
assignment request. I was up late. I'm still tired from the party. I'm still nice
and warm in my jammies anticipating a relaxing afternoon off)
L: Are you on
your way?
Me: (??) ..uh,
no. I don't have an assignment today...do I?
L: You are supposed
to be here for Ms. L's class. Remember a few weeks ago when I asked you about
it and you said yes?
Me: (visualize: dropped
jaw and panicked memory recall...)
I totally forgot to log it in the calendar and I didn't
check the sub system as I was planning to take today off!
L: Are you still coming
in?
Me: Yea, but I
need 30min if that's ok. I totally understand if you have someone else to get
there sooner. I'm really sorry that I screwed up.
L: No, that's fine.
We'll have someone covering until you get here.
Thirty minutes (...or less), I'm at the school office,
offering repeated apologies for not showing up today. I'm sure I'm not the
first that's totally flaked on an assignment, but it's the first time for me.
As I quick-step out the door and over to my class already in
session, I'm greeted by my "sub for the sub".
It's the principal of
the school!
Can you remember back when you were still in school and got
called down to the principal's office for something you knew you were in
trouble for? Yea, that's how I felt.
Offering repeated apologies, she was nice enough to let me
off the hook with a "no problem, it happens" kind of response.
In my defense, it would have been handy if the SmartFindExpress
system had flagged a warning that I was already listed for an assignment for
the same day I was trying to make myself "unavailable".
Good enough for an excuse?.....No, I didn't think so either.
1 comment:
This has not happened to me yet...but I have dreaded it, sure it will happen eventually. That or I'll unknowingly agree to a multi day assignment and only show up the first day. I've actually had dreams about this. I've heard stories of it happening, so for it to only happen to you once is not too shabby.
Post a Comment