A day in Albany

Sick as I’ve been, I needed a lighter day to recover. So I did not cancel my trip to Albany.

Albany? Yup. 17 hours. Never left the hotel.

I was with State Ed, as part of a group working on an issue relating to the new Integrated Algebra Regents. There were people from all over New York State, and from State Ed (including a Deputy Commissioner, I think), and employees of the vendor, and for now the rest of what I write is highly limited as the vendor had me sign a confidentiality agreement. Most of this stops being confidential on June 27.

So what can I mention? Habillement! All the men were in jackets in ties, suits and ties, except… one guy with a tie, no jacket (turned out to be a teacher), one guy with jacket, no tie (turned out to be a supervisor who teaches a class), and one schmuck with neither (turned out to be me). I kept my stylish hoodie draped over the chair behind me.

Disagreeability Quotient. We were seated with our ‘groups.’ Early on one member turned to us and indicated that by the end we would all consider her the biggest pain in the ass in the group. I looked at her, shook my head no, and pointed at myself. In some people’s eyes, I won. :)

Meeting people. One woman worked in a district where someone I haven’t seen in 7 or 8 years teaches. I sent a message. A guy knew my friend from Siena and said some nice things. There were only a few teachers, but we found each other and had a few nice chats. One school board member from western NY was such a stereotypical good-guy – I just walked away thinking “I liked talking to him” – but I think it was just chit-chat. A woman from the Catskills told me a great deal about their problems with transient population. Big city problems are not the exclusive domain of big cities.

And that’s it, from me, until June.

I took the train each way. I was in Manhattan after the DA Wednesday, so not a problem. The return trip though… Late afternoon, early evening, the Hudson on my right, the sun across half my face. Slowly baking/basking. Grading? Nah. I just let the train rock me through the warm glow.