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Happy New Year!

There's something about the promise of a new year that makes me grateful. In the day to day bustle, I am not sure everyone I need to know knows what I need them to know...at least not from me.

I need my team at school to know that I am incredibly proud of them. I enjoy working with and for them. Being the lead learner of our school is a role I take seriously (ok, some may say too seriously) but I consider it a privilege. I have worked in other schools where my stomach would begin to ache as soon as I pulled into the driveway of said school. That does not happen here. I know that no matter what we need to face each day at CMS, I have capable, talented and dedicated people ready to support each other and more importantly  -- take care of our students.

I need my colleagues to know that I appreciate them. Thank you for letting me think out loud, make stupid jokes, ramble incessantly, and email you questions and comments. I know I will never have all the answers but I sure know a lot of good people who can point me in the right direction to find some.

I need the school community and our students to know that we believe in them -- each and every one of them. As mothers and fathers, we want all of our students to feel supported and appreciated. Every student counts. We know how fortunate we are to work with so many outstanding adults on behalf of our students. In our community, a volunteer can always be found. In fact, we even benefit from acts of kindness that are not sought but just given, unselfishly. Just this Christmas season, I was asked to distribute $200 worth of gift certificates to families that I thought might appreciate them. These certificates were given by a donor wishing to remain anonymous. We see acts of kindness like this all year long in my building.

I need my PLN to know that they inspire me. I start each morning with coffee and a quick look at twitter. Then, I am reminded what important work we are all trying to do. Many of the people I have "met" on twitter have become friends and provide inspiration to me to keep on keeping on. I can't put into words what that kind of support does for me.

I need my son to know that he helps me work harder for so many. He teaches me how to see all sides of a situation, put myself in someone else's shoes, and to laugh at silly things when they happen.

This is just the beginning of a very long list of people I need to thank more. In the new year, I hope to do a better job of expressing my gratitude.

Here's to a new year of being more explicit about what really matters!

Comments

  1. Lisa, your staff, students, parents and colleagues are lucky to have you. I'm happy that you joined twitter and are an integral part of my PLN Happy New Year! Good things are to come in 2014! Vic

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