The Icing

This weekend, I was in Long Beach for the California Association of Teachers of English conference. I hadn't planned on going until I received a letter in the mail, informing me that I would receive a Classroom Excellence Award at the conference. The association wanted to know if I could be there to accept the ward. Since the last thing I remember winning was a free album from a radio station when I lived in Pittsburgh (an album I was never to receive since the radio station was downtown and we lived in the suburbs), I decided that maybe it would be a good thing to go pick up the award (even if I did have to drive three and a half hours to do it).

I should insert here that I was really humbled by the award, especially because I was nominated by a group of teachers who I've admired and learned from during my years in Fresno. Their generosity astounds me--they are so deserving of recognition for their years of dedication to what can be a thankless profession. I wouldn't be the teacher I am without all the knowledge and expertise they've shared with me.

In any event, I attended the conference, went to lunch, made a brief acceptance speech (which taught me that I really need to work on talking to large groups of people), and went to a couple of interesting workshops. I also hung out with teacher friend Esther and her family . . . and teacher friend and mentor Beth, who still teaches at the same school where we met 21 years ago. That's right, I've been a teacher for 21 years!

This has been an overwhelming week with the Fulbright and this award. I'm not sure I'll ever have a week like this one again.