End of an Opportunity

This is National Arts in Education Week!  I'm so happy to get to put up a showcase at school that advocates for the arts in my school.  Bulletin boards and showcases have been a great way to show off what my students do.

Unfortunately, that venue is going to have to go away for me this year.

I first started doing all of the bulletin boards and showcases when I lived down south.  I worked with  teachers who were willing to absorb all my before and after school duties, if I did all the displays.  At my current school, I volunteered to do all the displays about 5 or 6 years ago.  There was no trade.  I just took the work off the hands of my coworkers, and took it upon myself.  I have done two showcases and three bulletin boards, and have been happy to do it. 

Sadly, because my schedule is packed tight, I no longer have extra time to give.  Eleven weeks of the year, I am up to the very maximum teaching time that my state will allow.  And with increased duties and less planning time, I just don't have the time to give.  It makes me sad to let this go.  I have enjoyed it and I think it is good for showcasing art.  It also makes me sad to think that whoever will now take on these boards, will likely see them as a burden.  It feels like a lose/lose situation.