My 500th Blog Post

For my 500th blog post, I thought I'd deviate from the normal and reflect on what it's like to write 500 posts. I can honestly say that the amount of time it takes to write nearly every day wasn't something I thought about when I started this blog in March of 2007. But for every minute I spent writing, I spent at least that amount of time gazing around my office in hopes of being inspired.

I subscribe to the RSS feed of over eighty blogs. The vast majority of these are related to education. I lean toward reading about national education policy and don't read any teacher blogs. Between the blogs and the news feed we get at work, I'd be surprised if I miss any information written about Colorado charter schools.

When I first started my job, my boss gave me a stack of "reading material" that was about 10 inches deep. At that moment, I knew I'd love my job! Everything I could possibly read or learn about regarding charter schools! Does it get any better than that?

I admit that I'm a "charter school junkie." I've always pointed out charter schools we drive by to anyone else in the car (whether they're interested or not). I've helped start four charter schools and applied for a fifth, that never opened. I think the people who start charter schools or work in charter schools are the best people in the world. I learn from them every day.

Before my current job, I was a volunteer charter school lobbyist. It didn't take long to realize parents had little or no say in education policy. Over time, I've watched committee chairs treat charter school parents horribly by either making them wait until the end of a long list of people testifying or else make them wait and then limit them to 1 or 2 minutes (while giving paid lobbyists unlimited time). Likewise, I've attended countless local school board meetings where charter school application hearings were after staff reports on topics such as "how much charter schools cost the district" or other topics parents and small children painfully endured.

The people from charter schools, and their perseverence, are my motivation to write about heroes in the charter school movement. Most of the people I've written about are rather embarrassed by what I write because of the recognition it brings to them. They just have a heart to serve unconditionally.

I steer away from writing about controversial charter school issues that will reflect back on my day job. I'm careful to write on "my own time."

If you've read my blog for any length of time you know that I'm passionate about charter school governance. I believe that most charter school board members are good people who simply got in over their heads. I am a strong advocate for board training. My dream in life is to become a member of the "charter school governing board police." This is a fictitious group of state charter school leaders who would have magical powers to tell board members what to do, or not do. Of course I'm kidding, but some days...

My blog analytic program tells me how many visitors hit this blog every day, where they're from, what words they searched on and if they used a link. The post I wrote about senior pranks has received more hits from searches than any other topic. It's actually quite entertaining to see the number of the school districts and state departments of education computers that search on "senior pranks." I suspect they're trying to keep ahead of the students! Good luck with that!

Thank you for reading my blog! I'm always so impressed when someone tells me they read something I wrote! You are the reason I write. Oh, and I love receiving suggestions for topics to write about!