María José Guerra has a doctorate in Philosophy, is a professor at the University of La Laguna and Minister of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports. Tere Sosa has a degree in Teaching, a degree in Psychopedagogy and is a teacher at the El Altillo school, Moya (Gran Canaria). An invisible thread unites them without them knowing it. A thread that passes through me: through my affection, my admiration and my personal and professional respect for both. Furthermore, and this is what concerns us, through my management. I symbolize this reflection in them as a great metaphor. The challenges of Education in the Canary Islands involve listening to and understanding them, so that they listen to and understand each other; to integrate their visions and make them normative, planning and management. That is why I am the general director of Personnel, for María José, for Tere, for what they represent in the framework of the Canarian School.
I listen to María José marking the route, working the path with her sharpness through a brilliant and permanent dialectic. From the great principles to the daily decisions, in public speeches and in petit comité. I listened to Tere Sosa at length in her small two-classroom school, sitting facing each other. Me in a student's chair, so that my feet would reach the floor, she next to the door, aware of the class that she had just left in charge of a colleague and of the bathroom breaks of some little ones, of their sobs and complaints, since it was students recently incorporated into the educational system. When we said goodbye, she was carrying one of those boys in her arms without letting go of his backpack, his element of attachment. She couldn't stop being a teacher every second she was with me. Both face each day the slowness of the administrative machinery, the heaviness of the bureaucracy, the precariousness of resources, the irrationality of resource management and even the inertia that has settled into work dynamics over the years. Both face the challenges that arise as a result of the multiple support needs presented by the students, the roofing problems in the centers, the lack of teaching staff or those related to the safety of boys and girls.
Thus arrives my first evaluation in office. Days of urgent opening of lists, of legal vertigo and fights with the IT department. Days of six-year terms, of surprising union negotiations, of noises and silences: of some disappointing, incongruous and jarring noises; of respectful, empathetic and productive silences. I have visited more than 40 centers where I have held dozens of meetings: with the different management teams, with colleagues in the Faculty Room, with colleagues in the cafeteria and even with the students of the Electricity cycle of La Laboral de La Laguna and with its fantastic management. Almost from one moment to another, I came to improvise a trip to Lanzarote to redirect with the management of the IES Tías their problems with the Chemistry of 2nd of Bachillerato. The apple candy was eaten by the fighter Celeste Callero, island director. Celeste accompanied me, loyal, to face a student body at war. It was in the street, boys and girls fighting and, even if it was against me, it was an unforgettable experience. The other hope for the future for the new professional and political leadership is Cristina Alfonso, island director, a mainstay that supports the action of the Ministry in Fuerteventura. Going up the other side: Alberto Taño, Conchy Herrera and Pilar Hernández. The solitude of the island offices makes their commendable work.
I have met with a faculty on the verge of collapse caused, to a large extent, by administrative decisions; with the Conservatories, with two subsidized schools in La Orotava, with the historic Virgen de la Candelaria and I have called to ask for advice from the always kind Carmen Martín from the IES Pérez Galdós. I have made difficult decisions, because it was my turn or for the good of the majority. I have cried with impotence in the Binter bus. Furtive tears also sprang up, of cinematographic and pedagogical emotion, while I was touring a Primary school. I have found in every corner former students who remember me with more affection than I thought I deserved, from La Oliva to Firgas, stopping in Bañaderos, although my teaching serves some now to criticize me. I have opened story festivals, Santa Cecilia concerts and Philosophical Olympics; I have toured Vocational Training workshops and ecological gardens. I have felt the trust and support of the now president and former mayor, teacher and always friend.
I have been outraged by dishonest colleagues and misplaced directors, I have spoken a lot and listened more. And I was so happy to see Gustavo Martín recovered, Ana Cárdenes and her permission to go where they need her; to Federico J. and Tina S. Rojas, connected by an island axis of verses, teaching and decency. I have conducted dozens of interviews, held hundreds of meetings with varied fauna and flora. I have gotten to know the house better from the inside through excellent professionals with whom it is very easy to team up, from the head of cabinet, through general and territorial directors, inaccessible to discouragement, to our communicators, professionals and decisive. I have recognized great human teams in the departments of my general direction that it is a luxury to lead. I have listened, shocked and proud, to the closed applause for Mercedes, José Luis and Juan Miguel; I have felt the unease produced by Clari's near retirement.
It would have been easier to say no. The proposal was going to require me, not only to manage effectively, but to maintain coherence with my positions, those positions that I have defended visibly and forcefully. I could have occupied a low-level position in the rearguard and, from there, suggest policies, actions, give my opinion: swim and keep the clothes. The salary was not an attractive either if I took into account my 5 six-year terms, the 40% consolidated of the direction and 15 days away from the 11 three-year terms. Of course, the salary was not going to make the difference between the comfort zone and the abyss. It would have been much easier to maintain, almost at the end of my professional stage, my impeccable image.
Every time someone tells me: how good that you are there, a pang of fear runs down my spine. But María José and Tere mark the way, they are the quotes of a praxis of which I can only promise (and I promise) honesty, work and teaching sensitivity. Surely I leave behind many people with whom I have shared intense and immense experiences this quarter, I beg your pardon and I hope that they are reflected between the lines of this writing.
I am a teacher, my partner is a teacher, my best friends are teachers, I have the imperative to fight every moment. My evaluation is positive because I try to give everything. I can be wrong, but I will be wrong working intensely. The invisible thread is strong if I don't lose sight of the fact that I have to translate its strands into management of teacher well-being.
By the way, rest, see you in the next evaluation.?
Marisol Collado Mirabal
General Director of Personnel
Ministry of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports
