Oh Crap...Wait, What?!

Let me begin by telling you that my principal NEVER comes into the classroom to talk to teachers. She's working on a charter to add a high school to our current K-8 school, and she is BUSYBUSYBUSY all the time. So when she came in and said, "Christine, can I please talk to you for a minute? I have to ask you something serious." I understandably became VERY nervous. Her intro wasn't very encouraging either:

"First of all, before I say anything else, I want you to know that I really value you as a teacher."

What did I do?! I wracked my brain to try to think of why she was talking to me. Did I get a parent complaint? Were my lesson plans not thorough enough? Was I dressed inappropriately? Did I do something a little too extreme? I thought guiltily about my "Motif Rap" from yesterday...did she find out about that? Was there something wrong with educational rapping at this school?

I tried to think of anything that I could be in trouble for, but I really didn't know. So I just gulped and said, "Yes, thank you. I appreciate that. I really enjoy working here" while secretly thinking *pleasedon'tfiremepleasedon'tfiremepleasedon'tfireme.*

She continued on. "A lot of new teachers get curious about the district (there is only ONE school district in Las Vegas). Clark County controls a lot around here. I know they have a lot to offer, but I would really hope that if you were thinking about leaving our school you would talk to me about it well before you decide to go."

I wanted to laugh out loud from relief and disbelief. She thought I wanted to LEAVE? BAHAHAHAHAHA! That's the funniest thing I've ever heard! I LOVE this job! It's my DREAM JOB. Trying to find a balance between showing her I was serious without being a suck-up, I said, "No, Connie, I REALLY love this job. I was just talking to my husband last night about the fact that I can see myself working here as long as we stay living in Nevada (I really was, too). I've heard horror stories about the district. I promise that I have no intention of leaving in the foreseeable future. I love it here."

She sighed a sigh of relief. "I can't tell you how good it is to hear that. When I stumble across a teacher like you I always get scared that they're going to leave because lots of other places want them. I think you're really great, though, and I can tell that you're one of the best. Your work is exceptional. That's why I was hoping that you might be willing to go with a me and a handful of other teachers to a conference in Orlando?"

I thought I needed to clean out my ears. WHAT?! Two seconds ago I thought I was in trouble, and now I'm going to FLORIDA? She looked as if she was asking a huge favor of me, and I'm sure I looked really confused.

"Ummm...yes? I would be willing to go?"

She said that she would really appreciate it, as it must be difficult for me to give up a weekend and a couple days of school. Only one other middle school teacher was asked to go. But it would obviously be all expenses paid, and she would really appreciate if I would be willing to attend the conference so I could help lead a professional development at the school. She said that I have the kind of brain that "soaks up things," and she wants to bring teachers who are going to remember the conference's content.

I'm sorry, you're asking if I'm "willing" to go on a free trip to Florida? Yes, I suppose I will sacrifice.

So I guess I'm not getting fired? Phew!