So I go into Kaplan tonight. Now, here’s the deal. I’ve been asked to take a class over for the last four out of nine sessions. I hadn’t until this evening been told why this was the case. I got there tonight and Laura, who tends to handle company-student relationship type things, and who introduced me to my current class when it started, told me that she’d introduce me to this group and explain everything. I’m like yeah sure whatever, awesome! We go in, and the students have this very disgruntled look to them. They seem to recognize Laura, and boy are they giving me the strangest look. I put my information up and Laura does hers and she begins.
(The following is a paraphrase/description of Laura’s speech and Jonathan’s reactions)
Laura: Hello again! I was hoping we wouldn’t have to meet again. I wanted to come first of all to apologize for what has happened in the previous sessions.
Jonathan raises an eyebrow.
Laura: We know Keven moved to New York, and that was unfortunate, and we have all heard your complaints about the last instructor. He used to work very well for us but he apparently hasn’t been doing so lately according to your responses and through our observations of him, and so as a result of these changes and differences we have let him go.
Jonathan raises another eyebrow, and further elevates the first eyebrow. His forehead hurts now.
Laura: Now we added the third sub last week, and we finally have Jonathan here who is wonderful and is taking the class over. He is new to Chicago and we have observed him and he is an excellent teacher . . .
Jonathan smiles and waves politely. Underneath his clothes he sweats. Inside his stomach, butterflies pitter-patter.
Laura: . . . and he really represents the excellence that we at Kaplan want to give to you. Now you have my contact info and we have makeup sessions for those where you had the other instructors available to you if you desire them. Again we apologize, but Jonathan is wonderful and I will leave you all to it. Thanks, and see you all soon.
Laura exits house right. Jonathan stares at the audience knowing only one thing… he has to teach at the very top of his game, or he’s as good as a bleeding racoon in a shark tank.
So I taught the class at the best of my presentational/motivational ability. They were very edgy to be sure. I made a mathematical error on one problem and one guy just got up and left. I assume he’d just had enough. Most of the students, though, seemed to like my presentation, and at the end most were relieved and asked me to make very sure that I was sticking with them. I assured them I was.
It’s good to have to test yourself against the highest standards every now and again, but I was under more pressure than the first time I taught in Chicago. Wow… can’t put a brother on the spot like that…
