What more can I do ...

In my 7 years at Eighth Street Middle School, I have always prided myself on working as hard as I could to bring honor-not only to my profession- but also to my school. In return, my school family has rewarded me with the honor of being their Teacher of the Year my third year of teaching..the students voted me WalMart's Teacher of the Year for Tift County in my third year and it goes without saying how proud I am of the many plaques and recognitions I received for the efforts of the History Club to bring the Moving Wall to Tifton. After being in the profession for a while, I have learned that the Teacher of the Year is more of a popularity contest type thing ( and I seriously think I got it that year because I brought in a lot of food and left it in the Teacher's lounge). I was tickled with the WalMart award and the $100 gift certificate, but was disappointed that the $1000 check given to my principal for the school somehow never made it back into supplies, etc. needed by me in my classroom.. (Traditionally, that is the case with that $1000. )
I relate all these past things in order to give background on my latest episode...
As those of you who read my Facebook/blog know..during Education Week this past November, I was surprised to the point of speechlessness by being chosen as one of the ten Teachers of Excellence in Tift County this year and the only one from Eighth Street. This is the highest honor a teacher can receive here. It is an accomplishment that has a lot of meaning. It means that people-parents,former students and community people have actually taken the time to write down something about me and how I have affected them or the lives of their child. We do not know specifically who writes those letters. We just know that what was said made an impression on the committee that chooses the Teacher of Excellence.
Anyhow, the banquet to honor all of us was held on the 11th of Feb. It is a pretty big deal. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club and is a fancy buffet, sit down dinner and entertainment deal. We are allowed to bring our spouses/significant others and seating arrangements are made in advance. On the evening of the banquet, I was surprised to see my good friend, Debra Sellars walk in. She said she was there as my "date" and to also represent the administration of Eighth Street. Don't get me wrong... I love this woman and was thrilled that she was there for me. But I was surprised along with the planners of the event and several of my friends from the community that my principal had not bothered to let me know that he would not be in attendance at this banquet. I still have no idea as to why he was not there. Needless to say, I was truly embarrassed that he was the only principal not present to support his school's Teacher of Excellence.
What more can I do for this man to represent the school he is in charge of and to bring honor to it and the student body???????????