Page 99 of Here and Now
“I have not.”
I hate that this has been so stressful for him. “Are all the candidates just ... bad?”
“No, we had one that wasn’t awful, but that’s not the kind of staff I look for, you know? I want someone who is going to thrive at their job and care about the students and their education. There’s a big difference between teachers who love to teach and feel like it’s their calling and those who have no other options. Part of my job is not only to find those teachers, but foster an environment where teachers can thrive.”
“How do you do that?”
“Fuck if I know,” he jokes.
“No, I’m serious.”
Miles finishes chewing and then puts his fork down. “Well, I hold biweekly meetings with my heads of each department. We discuss what they’re seeing, issues, and possible improvements. Then, the other two weeks, I meet with the teachers without theheads of the departments. I feel like I get the most out of those meetings.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because they’re honest. Brutally honest. I get a very full picture after those meetings, and it’s not any sugarcoating. I’ve made big changes because of some of the things I’ve been told during some of them. I’m also every teacher’s advocate when it’s required. I’ll take the heat from parents.”
“So you want the right person in the position.” It’s not a question, it’s a statement. I imagine how many people would want to work for him just because he’s a great boss.
He nods. “There are good administrators and then there are leaders. My goal is to be good at both. I need to lead while doing my job too. It’s why having good people around me is essential. Plus, the kids deserve a good teacher.”
What I wouldn’t have given to have had someone like him as my teacher. To care so much feels like such a gift.
“You know, you’re a good man.”
“I try to be.”
“Well, I see you as that. You came to my aid without a moment’s pause, and you stepped in to coach the hockey clinic?—”
“I was coerced. Let’s not get that confused.”
“Okay, you still did it. Then you gave me a tree and a shovel, not something a lot of men would do.”
He laughs. “No, probably not, but I was going for memorable. Did it work?”
“Very much. I mean, we are on a date.”
“We’ve been dating for weeks, Penny.”
I roll my eyes at that. “We have not.”
“Listen, we’ve done a lot in our short relationship, and then in two days, you’re coming to my Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It’s starting to get serious,” Miles says with a big grin.
“I didn’t know I was doing that.”
“You agreed.”
“I did?”
Miles nods. “Yup, you said, Miles, I would love to come to that tournament and cheer you on.”
“Boy, I was really excited about it,” I say, teasing him.
I actually really do want to go. Ainsley came in yesterday and couldn’t stop talking about how interesting their full-day tournaments are. She asked me to come with her if I had off, but ... I’m not going to tell him that.
This is much more fun.
“You were. It’s because you’re crazy about me, I know.”
