deanna does drawing

Nandez vs. the streamers! I worked for a few hours today on a...

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:44:33 -0400

Nandez vs. the streamers! I worked for a few hours today on a photo booth background for my Pap’s 90th birthday next weekend! Woot! Woot!

Support Our School!

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:49:03 -0400

Support Our School!:

You can see the video I made with my students here! Oh, and if you want to, you can make a donation to help get Challenge Day at our school! I’m really excited about this project and I hope you will be inspired to make a change in the lives’ of my students! Thanks friends! xoxo

Last night was graduation. My fourth year at Randolph is coming...

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:21:02 -0400

Last night was graduation. My fourth year at Randolph is coming to a close. I wrote about the Challenge Day that I attended a while ago. I’m really thankful that I stumbled into that opportunity. In the span of one year I went from putting in for a transfer, going on two interviews, attending Challenge Day, deciding to stay at my school, turning down a third interview, creating and getting the students to participate in a survey about change at our school, doing the same for the staff at our school, hearing that we will be getting a new principal next year, having multiple coworkers tell me they think I should be the new academic department chair, creating a slide show/video about why the students at my school would benefit from Challenge Day next year (the image above is from the slide show), and finally shocking the faculty with my Nicki Minaj karaoke performance last night at the bar after graduation. I’m so glad I’m staying at my school. My entire life, I’ve always rooted for the underdog (except when it comes to football…go Steelers!)….why would I stop now? I’ll post my video as soon as all the permission slips are in! (hopefully tomorrow) I love my kids!

And just in case you were wondering…I totally cried at graduation, again, for the fourth year in a row.

And…as if a hand delivered surprise flower wasn’t...

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:41:40 -0400

And…as if a hand delivered surprise flower wasn’t enough for one day, I found this card from Morgan in my mailbox. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I have the coolest friends!

Look what Jess and Drew brought me! I have the coolest friends...

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:12:52 -0400

Look what Jess and Drew brought me! I have the coolest friends ever!

One of my students threw clay today so it stuck to the wall. I...

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:49:23 -0400

One of my students threw clay today so it stuck to the wall. I was obviously annoyed and I expressed that to him. He went to one of the kids sitting on one of the really tall stools in my class and said “Hey, can I use this? I fucked up and I’m trying to fix it.” Then he stood on the stool and got the clay off the wall. I said thanks and then the next time I went to my desk this was on it. Too cute. That’s what I call “fixing it.” A far cry from the clay throwing incident my first year here when I ended up cussing at my whole class!

Today was a life changing day for me. I know that sounds super...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:46:43 -0400

Today was a life changing day for me. I know that sounds super cheesy, but it’s true. I had the opportunity to attend a challenge day with a student and a co-worker. Here’s the thing: this year, I am extremely unhappy with my job. (You may have noticed the lack of funny and/or heartwarming blog entries about my days at school.) It’s hard for me to get up in the morning and go to work. I’ve been at my school for 4 years and I don’t feel like I’ve made any difference at all. It’s frustrating and heart-breaking to watch my kids (technically my students, but I always seem to refer to them as my kids) make the same mistakes over and over and over again. I have to watch kids I do truly care for repeating self-destructive behaviors every day and it seems like there’s nothing I can do about it. The system is flawed and I’m a part of that system. It’s extremely frustrating and tiresome. So… I put in for a transfer this year. I’m “tryin’ to leave them.” (That’s what they say.) I feel I have to leave this job for my own sanity and well-being, but there’s a insane amount of guilt that comes along with that decision, so I’ve been struggling with the idea all year. And still not wanting to go to work every day. Oh, and today I broke down in tears in front of a room of complete strangers about it.

This morning, the teachers were briefed about how the day-long program would run. We would start with funny dances. (duh! I’m great at that) Then have some fun activities, then break into small groups and sharing personal things with the kids in our groups. They told us that if we didn’t want to share personal things about the lives that we live now, we could always talk about what life was like for us back in high school. “Brilliant!” I thought, “I’ll just talk about being punk and my parents coming to terms with my purple hair, and getting made fun of at lunch.” Then I wouldn’t have to get too personal. I decided that’s what I would talk about for the 2 minutes I had to talk and share my story. However, I had to listen to the two group leaders compelling stories that moved me and the kid next to me to tears. When we broke off into small groups something had changed and I didn’t want to lie to these kids in this very real moment. When it was my turn I confessed to them that I had given up on my students. Following that sentence were my tears. (Lots of them.) I told them about how I put in for a transfer. About how it’s so hard to go to work every day and feel like you don’t make a difference. I mentioned that I had been there for 4 years and I was tired of seeing the pain and suffering that my students go through. And I cried. (Kind of a lot.) Then, these four kids, from different schools, who I had never met before today, each reached out, one by one, and hugged me. It was some serious real talk.

But wait, there’s more… Later, we had to all line up in a line and then the facilitator would say things like “If a family member or a friend has been injured or killed by a drunk driver please cross the line.” And then anyone who that applied to would cross the line and look back the the individuals still standing on the line. She said other things like “If you are a woman and have ever been degraded or mistreated simply because you’re a woman, please cross the line.” Or, “If you have ever been homeless, in foster care, or lived in a group home, please cross the line.” Or, “If a family member or friend has been injured or died because of gang violence, please cross the line.” This activity took place in absolute silence. No one spoke. We had a symbol to hold up our hand with the sign language sign for “I love you” to show support to one another without saying a word. There were many tears and many many hugs exchanged between people who a few hours before had been complete strangers. I watched some kids cross the line almost every time. It broke my heart. (oh, and there were more tears.)

I left today feeling more grateful for my life than I ever have. I have so many amazing people in my life and I don’t tell them nearly enough how much I love and appreciate them. So I’m saying it now. I love you. (Especially if you made it all the way through this insanely long post…I REALLY love you!) I realized today that I love my students (kids) too much to give up on them. Oh, and I also learned that maybe I do like hugging. I could possibly go in for a hug next time I see you. You’ve been warned.

I just saw this on pinterest and it made me smile. Well said.

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:07:39 -0500

I just saw this on pinterest and it made me smile. Well said.

Happy Valentine’s Day y’all! xoxo

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:41:27 -0500

Happy Valentine’s Day y’all! xoxo

Check out this cool valentine that was in my mailbox yesterday....

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:07:45 -0500

Check out this cool valentine that was in my mailbox yesterday. I have cool friends. Thanks Kelsey!

I packaged up some valentine’s day goodies for my niece...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:58:35 -0500

I packaged up some valentine’s day goodies for my niece and nephew today. I’m going to stop by the post office on my way home from school. I wanted to send more mail in 2012 and I must say…I’m off to an excellent start!

I took this picture of Laura, Evelyn and Hazel (left to right)...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:49:17 -0500

I took this picture of Laura, Evelyn and Hazel (left to right) this weekend. I’m kind of in love with it. I wish I had taken it with my real camera and not just my phone…but at least it got taken.

I went to Family Dollar today to pick up some paper towels and I...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:20:46 -0500

I went to Family Dollar today to pick up some paper towels and I couldn’t resist these cute containers! I’ve been cooking so much more I figured I could splurge and spend the six bucks.

I made these lil’ no bake energy balls today. It’s a...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:31:19 -0500

I made these lil’ no bake energy balls today. It’s a recipe I found on Pinterest. It’s basically peanut butter, honey, oatmeal, flax seed, mini chocolate chips and coconut flakes. They’re pretty tasty!

Missy and Amelie came over last night and helped me make some...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:16:08 -0500

Missy and Amelie came over last night and helped me make some cake pops for the Super Bowl. I know the Steelers aren’t playing…but I still made them black and yellow. Real Talk: The “black” sprinkles looked green, so I messed with the contrast of my photo so they looked better.

I’m trying to bribe my kids with cake pops. I teach five...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:47:11 -0500

I’m trying to bribe my kids with cake pops. I teach five classes, so each one has a cake pop on the board. Each day they can earn a “sprinkle” if the class does what they’re supposed to do. I believe I phrased it, “If you don’t totally get on my nerves.” Today was the first day, and 4 out of 5 classes earned their first sprinkle! I was yelling things like “IF THE ROOM’S NOT CLEAN, YOU’RE NOT GETTING A SPRINKLE!” (I’m wack.) If they get 10 sprinkles then I’ll bring in the cake pop maker and we’ll have a cake pop party! We’ll see how long this lasts…

Cake Pop Mania has begun!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:21:13 -0500

Cake Pop Mania has begun!

I made a smoothie to take to school this morning. Blueberries...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:10 -0500

I made a smoothie to take to school this morning. Blueberries and raspberries make a purple smoothie. YUM!

My mom surprised me last Saturday and ordered me a babycakes...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:50:25 -0500

My mom surprised me last Saturday and ordered me a babycakes cake pop maker. I got it the other day and made some cake pops with Kristen last night! It was a little shaky at first, but I’m already getting better…I decorated these tonight!

This is a photo of my friend Andi’s exam at “the...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:50:59 -0500

This is a photo of my friend Andi’s exam at “the academy”…her last name is Gooch, therefore she’s referring to herself in questions six. At least the kid got the answer correct! She too ugg!!!