This post is part of a series related to the VIVA/NEA 360° Report. See an overview here.

By Joy Peters.

The process was laid out before us clearly: contribute a lot, be selected, write, and report. We did that. We had made the deadline. We were successful. We were proud of what we had produced. Everyone contributed though out all voices were heard. Each of us had taken time from our families, time from our jobs (in that instead of working at home on school work we worked on the report), lost sleep, and found our individual voices. Unexpected outcomes included new friendships, collaboration outside of our group, other projects, inspiration, a general dissatisfaction towards education, finding like minds, and finding parts of me that I did not know was missing. The connection with 18 other educators was so unexpected that I can say that I am very fortunate to have done this.

And then it all went south.

In the process itself we had drama in writing, drama in revising, drama in getting our needs met in a timely basis and in some cases met at all.   It was Thanksgiving Break and we all welcomed the well-deserved break and the email came. You need to edit, it is too long, the order needs to be changed, and the introduction needs to change. No one was happy; no one wanted more work we protested loudly and repeatedly. In the end we made changes that we saw were needed. That is part of the writing process.  We were promised the final copy report before we met with the National Education Association’s Task Force and that they would have read it.

December 3,^, 2014, arrived and we met in Washington D.C. and still no report in our hands. December 4, meeting day! Breakfast comes and goes and no report. We get to the Association’s office and we get the report but no time to read it. Task Force members get the report at the same time. Obliviously they have not read it and we are going in to report on something they know nothing about.   The meeting was successful; they listened as we talked asked questions that were thoughtful.

Fast forward to Christmas Break. Another email comes from a few group members, they have been contacted to do another rewrite. This one is more intensive and will be the final one. Feelings are hurt- why YOU and not ME? So many emails (100’s) went back and forth, protesting to acceptance. We all get involved in the rewrite with only a few working on the final copy.

The final outcome of this process has left questions and unexpected outcomes both positive and negative. As a group we are united and as a group we will continue what was started.