Reflections

This will be a quick post likely full of errors and incomplete sentences. But, I feel a pressing need to get these thoughts to paper while: a) I have time  and b) I can still remember the pieces I want to connect I was given a great opportunity to work with Dr. Shawn Hunziker today. We've conducted some online book studies around Mindset by Carol Dweck. This past winter, we were invited to give a keynote to CSE Chairpersons ( BIG TIME for us) and that led to today's session with CNYSEA's Summer Institute .  On my way to the session, I was rehearsing notes (as I always do, see previous post ). At a stop sign near the venue where the conference was held, I pulled up in back of a car and noticed the neatest license plate: NEVRQT* I think that's how it was spelled. I tried to grab a picture but realized how creepy that would look and did not reshoot the blurry image I captured. When I arrived at the conference, I immediately told my partner, Sh...

This post is in honor of the #CompelledTribe Fueled by Vroom . I am fortunate to be part of a group of educators committed to reflecting and sharing through blogging. The first topic is gearing up for the new year! I only have one more month to prepare for the new school year. Read that again. I am a little bit nervous as the summer has been full of opportunities. It's also been strife with setbacks. Some of the setbacks are personal and some are professional. Luckily, none of the setbacks are fatal. I'll get through them. We'll get through them. Despite the ups and downs, I am still filled with optimism for the new year. This year will mark year three for me as a Middle School Principal/Director of Special Education. Prior to this present position, I've spent my administrative career in special education at the district level. I never imagined becoming a principal at the Middle School level. But, once I did, I found I really enjoy it. (I've written numerous ...

Long car rides always help me put things in perspective. The time trapped in the car forces reflection, conversation, and observation. Reflection: Music usually helps facilitate this. An old favorite playing on the radio instantly reminds you of a treasured memory.Certain lyrics of songs can cause you to think and even sing along. If you are like me, you find yourself latching onto certain phrases from the lyrics. Songs, new and even nearly as old as I am, have a new meaning. I feel like sometimes lyrics can help me clarify how I might be feeling about something personally or professionally. Conversation: Long car rides require conversations. No one can just leave the conversation. When my family and I travel, we laugh a lot in the car. On a recent car ride, I used the time to talk "out loud" about some personal goals that I have. Observation: I am rarely asked to drive so I end up in the passenger's seat. As we drive through neighborhoods, I like catching glimpse...

I keep adding to my to do list many more things than I am crossing off. There is something about summer that makes me go a bit overboard in preparing for the start of a new school year. Nearly 22 years in education as a teacher or administrator and I still get excited about the promise a new year brings. I am fortunate to have a career that carries that kind of magic with it.  There are many areas we are working on in our school to -- "get right". Yet, there are many areas we are already "getting right". I spent yesterday with our MS PBIS team and we pushed through lengthy discussions and made some decisions for the upcoming year. Before the meeting, I wasn't sure my mindset was ready for a full day of meetings. After the meeting, I couldn't get my mind to stop working. It felt like synergy. In the afternoon, I met with team leaders to present drafts of our building goals, an assessment calendar, an updated master schedule and some APPR information. We too...

I spent most of today, with Vicki Day , at a workshop provided by New York State ASCD and New York Learning Forward entitled, Shifting and Evolving Professional Learning in 21st Century Schools . We both drove over 2 hours to attend this event. We were asked to give a keynote about social media and school administration. We were invited by Dr. Valerie Kelsey. She had called me a few weeks back after reading our article in SAANYS'  Vanguard Magazine. It was nice to know that something we had written actually resonated with someone we had not had the honor of meeting yet. We knew the information meant something to each other. But, to have someone (outside your circle or PLN) reflect on the piece and then reach out to us was a neat feeling! Using that article as a guide, we developed a keynote around the main ideas of the article. Our primary goal was to show the impact of a PLN on our own professional practice. We both have said it before. A PLN can not be underestimated. In...

Raising a child is never easy and rarely looks like a Hallmark card commercial. Yet, such lessons can be gleaned from the privilege of being a Mom (and Dad). At a very early age, I realized my son was here to teach me lessons. Most of the lessons tie to themes of patience, acceptance, tolerance, and faith. Luckily, I have pretty solid skills in acceptance and tolerance. But faith and patience? I've needed many lessons to improve in these areas. Near the end of the school year, my son came home with a summer camp registration form. He was on cloud nine and so excited to sign up. It was a form for field hockey camp. Wait. Field hockey camp? I thought to myself, " I think that's for girls ". I did not say that out loud to him. I began to ask him why he wanted to sign up and if he had thought about possibly being the only boy there. We talked at length and the details I'll keep private as they are his. By the end of the conversation, I signed the form and told him ...

Giving up time to be out of the office is always a difficult decision to make. I already have a list a mile long of things that need to be done before we return on August 27, 2014. When the opportunity to attend NTI was presented, I signed on to attend the days that had sessions that appealed most to me. The first day did not start well at the NYS Museum for me. (I'll let that be a different blog post.) However,  I want to use this post to capture the thoughts and ideas that I found most useful. Taking the time now to document this will help me encapsulate it so it is ready for use and refinement over the next few weeks of summer. Leading Change in a Time of Uncertainty (tried to attach PPT but can not find on EngageNY site) Logistically, this was a tough session for me to feel a part of as I was relegated to a lonely chair available away from the groups but near a garbage can. I did contemplate turning that garbage can into a table but did not do it. (My DIY friends will ...

I've been enjoying reading the " Principals are People Too " posts by members of my PLN including Tony Sinanis , Leah Whitford and Jay Posick . I've been both struck and relieved by the honesty of the posts. Sometimes, I put too much pressure on myself as a principal and need the gentle reminder theses posts have provided. Back in 2006, when I first entered administration, I was sure I would remain in a district level position overseeing special education. I thought that was where I was supposed to be and remain. But, when a principalship opened up in our district, under the saddest of circumstances, I began to wonder, could I pull it off? Could I be a principal? For the last two years, I have had the privilege of working with an incredible group of people that have made room for me, quirks and all. One of my bigger worries, that my staff has since learned, is how much I fear public speaking. I know, it makes no sense. Principals talk in front of groups all the ti...