primsong | Flying blindly into the sun

Okay...I am officially trying to not be as nervous as I feel right now - our grade school is closing (though the preschool is still strong) and I have suddenly ended up in the very center of organizing and launching a homeschool cooperative for the families cast adrift. I have the blessing of the hosting church to have it there in the same classrooms with the same curriculum and everything a co-op could dream of as they still want a school they just can't afford to pay teachers. The parents take turns teaching or hiring tutors/instructors for special classes and the kids all still get to see each other and stick with familiar stuff. It looks good, but I have *NO* experience in being an administrator or teacher - and I'm presenting all of this to two parent meetings in about an hour.

Yikes. Am I insane or what? In the past four days I've found supporters, got permission, designed a registration form, an overview and flyers, put up a website and email contact point and designed web banners. It's been nuts! We'll see what their response is... if they come alongside me, it's a go. If not, then I continue on homeschooling in a more standard fashion I guess. *closes eyes and leaps*

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You are truly, truly amazing Amy. I don't know how you do all the things you do.

I wish your group the best of luck in your homeschooling endeavor...and for the record, you administer a million things on a daily basis...this will just give you a title other than SuperWoman.=P

((((Prim))))

I wish I had the faith in me that others seem to - Right now it looks very overwhelming and not a little trepeditious, but I thankfully have 'fallback' positions available if it doesn't pan out so I'm not having to feel that they are all relying on me for their children's wellbeing or something (now THAT would be scary!) Only a tiny number responded, but I still have two weeks of school for it to get to all the people who weren't there (and there were quite a lot of parents playing hooky from the 'required' meeting this time, it being so close to summer)

Wow!

To me this sounds like a really good fit for you despite the flying blind aspect. If anyone has the ability to pull this off, it's you. Home schooling coops have really taken off in the past few years. The network here in the Raleigh area is mind-boggling. They are even able to offer extra curriculars like team sports, choir and band.

This is really exciting! I hope you'll have the chance to keep us updated.

There are scads of them, everywhere - and yes, the homeschool networks are almost overwhelming with what they have available, amazing isn't it? I just have a school full of "stuff" and no students or money for teachers - it seems logical to try to match it up with parents willing to teach for free, so it will be used. The response was not overwhelming, but perhaps a handful may decide to join in as the information percolates to all the people who didn't bother to come to the meetings because they aren't using the school next year *because* they are homeschooling. I think I missed a lot of my target audience because of that. :-/

This sounds like an amazing commitment, Prim, and I really hope the other parents get behind you.

I might have a tiny handful - it remains to be seen... thankfully I have a small school now coming in alongside to offer help and I am grasping at them to bob me to the surface.

You'll do great! You are so organized and have a great head on your shoulders.....I have strong faith in you :)

*deep breath* We'll see! So much of it is parents having to dedicate their time to their own child it really means little of it is 'about me' anyway. It's about them! There are still so many forms it could take, I rather feel as if I'm trying to 'sell' something that is a mirage, or just a promise. I guess as long as I'm not collecting money from them, it'll still be okay.

*standing ovation* Go you! Wishing you the very best in this important and exciting endeavor.

Thank you for your good wishes! I have no idea if it will sink or swim, but I'll be okay either way. :-)

That is really a big change for you, Prim! I know you can do it.

It is, and I thank you for your vote of confidence - I think I can pull it off if there's enough help (if not, then not!)

I have learned that there is something about being a librarian that equals knowing how to be a teacher and administrator in people's minds. Looks like you now have experience!

Hope the meetings went well, and you got the support you need to keep things going!

It remains to be seen - I only had four parents come talk to me about it, wanting more information, but several of my flyers went from the tables... blanked out on some of my info once I was up there, but got most of it out. If it turns out to only be a tiny number, I may simply have them merge with another local co-op rather than working to reinvent the wheel, or join up with a small school that is interested in helping us... we'll see!

I think you're right about the librarian thing. I organize things all day, so it looks similar to administration - I think I'm pulling more from my moderating experience than that, though. Experience comes in so many forms.

Flying blindly into the sun

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