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June 02, 2009, 09:13 PM ET
New Kid on the Block
This feels a bit like starting over. Trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing, who’s deciding whether it’s any good, and in the end whether I even like it. Just like beginning a job. Just like becoming a mom. Just like making a new friend.
So I figure, I’ll say a little hello and give you a chance to get to know me. We’ll see if we like each other, if I stand a chance of making you even a little happy, and if things go well, maybe I’ll stick around and say a word or two once in awhile. (OK, those of you who already know me know that only “a word or two” is unlikely.)
A quick Sara-snapshot: Untenured assistant professor at a research I university (where no, blogging doesn’t “count” for tenure). Sociologist by training spending time doing applied policy analysis in an Ed School. Mom to a toddler, with another due by year’s end. Wife to a policy director, and co-founder of an education blog,.
I spend a lot of time wondering what I’m “supposed” to be doing, and then simply doing what feels right. That’s why I’m here. There’s so much happening in Washington (and elsewhere) right now that I have strong feelings about. I’m concerned with some trends (e.g. threats to longstanding equity-driven programs like the CalGrant), and thrilled with others (e.g. the new presence of smart people in the U.S. Department of Ed who care about community colleges ). I stay up at night worrying about issues that people would benefit from thinking more about (e.g. how to finesse a maternity leave while juggling teaching obligations) and have thoughts on research studies that often diverge from others (don’t get me started on the new forms of merit-based financial aid).
But enough about me. You’ll figure it out soon enough. I’m on training wheels at the moment — soon, I’ll kick them off and we’ll get started.
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