I am beginning to feel the leaving part. It is hard after almost 15 years in a place that helped me find my voice as a teacher, a learner, and, most importantly, as a person. Here, I watched young people grow and flourish. What I want to try to remember is the Buddhist understanding of departure. We take something with us from each experience and leave something behind. We are never fully gone from where we were or separated from those we were with. There is something indelible left on both sides of the relationship.
One thing that the leaving part has done is given me some words to write. That has been the gift of the last year: I find words in many places and experiences.
A true paradox this space-
Not always quiet–
Still a sanctuary;
In this space–
Refuge emerged.
We co-created
Learned together–
Grew as one,
Remained individuals
Not easy things to do.
Relationships flourished–
Built inseparable bonds.
In this rectangular circle,
Welcomed each others presence
Witnessed each others human essence
Called each others name
Called those names from the heart.
When we leave–
And, we must,
We look at our time together
Look back with reverence
With no regret.
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Teacher as Transformer 
Oh Yes!
Dear friend. You are true. A true only change the world. They can only bring a new culture, free of narrowed thoughts and hatred among fellow individuals, as the album song (Colonial cousins) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quy2RhefKT0
Thank you Suneesh.
No regrets. A beautiful way to live.
On another note, as a follower of “A Way With Words”, you are invited to a domain warming party as I move to a new blog address. Click on this link –
http://awaywithwordsblog.com
You’ll think you are in a parallel universe.
While you are there, be sure to click the “Follow” button. Within the next week, I plan to publish exclusively from this site. Don’t miss out on any of the fun!
Done Tony. Thank you. I am looking forward to the fun.
Change is a hard thing. I imagine that you are leaving something behind you in the halls that will resonate over time – words…
I think I am. In our little get together on Friday, the students and parents commented on they learned more than academics over the years.
When we can look back with no regret, we’ve accomplished a great thing.
That is so true Angeline.
‘Leaving’ is part of the adventure! When we look back, is when we see the wonder of it all!
It is part of the adventure. That is a beautiful sentiment. Thank you.
One thing I was once told in circumstances such as this post suggest, was to never look back, don’t even think about it….look ahead, look to the future…keep going forwards never back…if you start looking back there is always a chance you will go back…going back may well not be what you really want, or what is right for you…look only ahead 🙂
I agree with that sentiment. I have learned to stand still and be in this moment as I move forward. Thank you for a wonderful comment.
Ivon, The gift of you as Teacher and friend has changed the lives of those blessed with your love, care, wisdom, and sweet spirit. You will never be forgotten and the knowledge and wisdom you’ve imparted will lead and guide your students and colleagues for many years to come. This poem says it all so well.
Thank you on many levels Elizabeth.
This is perfect for my situation right now of leaving my first school…
I am glad it found across the web.
One aspect of life is that all things end, though where there are endings there are also beginnings.
As one door closes another opens is what Kathy would say.