At the start of every school year, the anxious feeling of coming back hits everyone. Back to school shopping starts, picking out your best outfit for the first day takes hours, but with all the same back to school rituals, this school year was going to look different for 2 teachers in particular.
Mr. Corwin and Mr. Smith are two staff members of RIMSD that are very well loved and appreciated throughout the district. Mr Corwin, a previous math teacher at RIHS, and Mr. Smith, a former Dean of Students at Washington Middle school, both take on the challenge of being a first year dean for Rock Island High School.
Both teachers knew that this was going to be a big change from what they had done before. Crowin stated, “It was, obviously, when you do something for 10 years, you have a passion for math, it was a difficult decision, but ultimately, one that fits my wants of growing as an educator and professional, while fitting the needs of my family, as well.” CJ Smith is also making a big jump from the middle school world. He stated, “I think it’s higher stakes, higher opportunity at the high school level. So, a success or a failure can be fatal, whether it’s academics, behavioral, life, whatever, it’s higher stakes. You know this is definitely setting you up for what life can be for you in the future, or what it can’t be for you.”
With taking a new position in a new area, challenges will occur, as well. “Just not having your day planned out, so like I said, when you do something for 10 years, you have a general idea of what you’re doing every day in class, what you’re teaching next, what’s going on, but you never know what’s going to happen up here. The kids really keep you on your toes,” Corwin stated. Both administrators found peace in the process while being able to lean on each other, as they both went through the same journey, just different roads. As the lows come, so do the highs, as well. Smith stated, “Just being with the kids, getting to see some of this group of freshmen that had already 5 of their 9 educational years, and have the opportunity to see them from the stages of education to now has been really cool and rewarding.”
