If I Only Knew

It’s getting to be that time around here—the end of the school year. The retiring teachers are starting to announce their grand exits from this ultimate fighting octagon that is teaching. I must admit that I am proud of them. They went the distance and can hold their heads up high. Seeing what my retirement will be they certainly didn’t do this job for the paycheck.

One retiring teacher here at SLHS sent me an e-mail thanking me for being such a good colleague and being so helpful the past few years. I know; I’m a sweetie. There’s one problem, though. I have no idea who she is. I mean she addressed me directly in the e-mail, so it couldn’t have been accidentally sent to me, right?

Who is she?! Never has a compliment made me feel like such a turd. Maybe I can go on our intranet and see if there’s a picture. Man, I’ve got to start learning names. That’s it. My resolution for next year is to start learning teachers’ names instead of relying on nicknames I give them on the fly. There will be no more Mr. Math, no Coach Knee-High Socks or Ms. Smelly German Teacher.

Well, I mean I’ll still refer to them with the nicknames. They make me laugh, but I’ll also know their real names. Unless, Mr. And Mrs. German Teacher had a sense of humor and named their daughter, Smelly. Then I’m good to go there.