Voice Notes

Voice N tes Of Coffee and Kids

By Mrs. Barbara Deutsch

School with kids is over for this year.

Walking through the empty building today was no fun; without the students, the walls look forlorn and bare, and the rooms deserted. Of course, we notice all of the chips and brokenness that the children’s robust play leaves behind.

Is it even a school if there are no children?

It has been full tilt activity for so many weeks since Pesach that I’m not sure if it has registered with me yet that I can be and go somewhere and not have to panic that I am going to be late.

My morning routine includes among other things a long walk, a shower, and a cup of coffee. I use a Keurig Coffee Maker for a quick, pretty good, strong cup of java. I take it totally black so the flavor has to be there, hot and strong.

Monday, I followed all of my routines and got ready to make my coffee. I flipped the on switch and the switch flipped right back. I did this four times before realizing there was a problem; sadly, the coffeemaker was broken!

I made do and left for school. During a break in the morning, I contacted Keurig. As I waited patiently on the phone, Michal Wasser came in with a question and is a witness to the story.

I shared my tale of coffee woe with the representative, and she checked the model number. “I’m sorry Barbara (she had asked for permission to call me by my first name), you are out of warranty. As a courtesy, I will give you 20 percent off a new one.”

“No thank you,” I responded. “The machine is two years old and there is no reason a $200 machine should break. I use it maybe four times a week and not at all in the summer; I find your offer unacceptable.”

“I will see what I can do,” she responded. After multiple waits on hold, she told me that someone from corporate would be contacting me with a one-time exception of a new machine. “Someone from corporate will call you!”

I liked that but it did not happen, no one called; not Monday, not Tuesday, not Wednesday or Thursday. Those who know my annoying tenacity are well aware that I did not give up; I called Keurig every single morning on my way to school.

Today when I called, I told the repthis, they will roll their eyes and sigh, “Grandma.” My son Dov will comment in exasperation, “Mom, really, why not just get a new one in a store?”

Maybe I’m nuts. Should I learn to take things more in stride? Nope, too old and too late for that.

I have never been one to accept injustice or waste. I am a true believer

These children graduate because we did not give up on them.

resentative that I will not hang up until someone tells me that a new machine is in the mail with an email confirming that I’m getting it this week.

That is why a brand-new state-ofthe-art Keurig, with a coupon for $50 worth of K-pods, is coming my way this week.

I also got an email confirmation.

When my kids/grandkids hear about that companies should stand proudly behind their products.

And I am not a quitter.

Those who have worked with me or are my longtime friends know this about me: I don’t stop until I am done and satisfied with the outcome. Be it a refund, a project or helping a student or teacher, I don’t give up without a fight.

As teachers and administrators, when we attended graduations, we saw graduates who needed the full dose of our hard work and vision. It is miraculous to witness the incredible growth – academically, socially, and vertically – that even the most complicated of children achieve.

These children graduate because we did not give up on them.

When I see a vacuum, a problem or a struggle, I have to find a way to fix it. It was pure joy for me to be at this graduation and to be a part of their promising futures.

This year has been a challenge and a joy. Working with the Dream Team and a great faculty that I helped build has been so rewarding. I looked forward to coming into school every day to work and laugh. I have learned so much about the children, the teachers and the administrators.

I had fun!

As we close the book on another solid year of growth, I ask that you forgive my foibles and celebrate our accomplishments. I am sad to see beloved colleagues move on; I will miss seeing their faces in the halls and in my office, and I am excited to plan with those who stay behind.

Soon enough, the building will again be filled with the wonderful voices of our students.

When my brand-new Keurig comes, I’ll make myself a cup and think about what has been accomplished and begin planning for the future.

Stay well, wear sunscreen, relax and have a great summer.

Mrs. Barbara Deutsch is currently the associate principal at HANC 609, a longtime reflective educator, parent, grandparent and new great-grandparent. Even after all these years, she still loves what she does and looks forward to working with kids every single day.