Finding Joy in Being Unnecessary

The first quarter of classes has come to an end. Unbelievably. I still feel as if I'm just trying to get the school year going, but apparently, 25% of it is already gone! The year started, as usual, with assessment of all elementary students in order to pinpoint those in need of early literacy intervention or a continuing need for strategic support. In total, I identified 14 students in need of some type of literacy support: nine in the lower elementary and five in the upper. This is the lowest overall enrollment I've had since beginning at CAG five years ago; and by far the fewest upper elementary students ever on my roster. This is a good thing! This implies that having provided early intervention is starting to make a difference. And that's an amazing site to behold and a great feeling to have in my heart. As my principal likes to put it, I'm really just trying to work myself out of a position. And, well, he's right. If all literacy needs could be identified, addressed, and overcome, CAG would have no need for me or my program. What a blessing it would be to not be needed! That is to say, what a blessing it would be for those students who now struggle to not have to face such hardships. As long as they do, however, and as long as God sees fit to have me in a position to assist them, I will. (But let's all keep praying that a day might come when I've no one left to serve.)