Reflections

I began blogging on 8/26/13. I blogged at the gentle nudging of an #eduhero of mine. I wasn't sure what I had to say mattered to anyone. But, I had a feeling blogging would help me in my role as Principal. Sixty posts later and we have made it to the 61st post. That's amazing to me. It's amazing to think that someone who sincerely considers herself shy and an introvert at most times, has been able to put together so many entries. Here's a look back at some of the posts: Faculty Meeting Smackdowns: This post gathered over 1200 views. 1200 views?! Who could even imagine 1200 people being interested in the idea? One of my more popular posts over 400 was  Growth Mindset . Meeting the principal who inspired the post has been a highlight of my career so far. She taught me so much in our short exchange. Most of my posts yield just about 200-300 views. That is likely peanuts to what leaders in the big leagues see. I know that and am pretty comfortable being the small...

One of my main pieces of advice to someone going through a tough time is, "It has to get better". Sometimes, we fall down so that we can be reminded what it feels like to stand back up. School leadership has its ups and downs. The majority of the time being a school administrator is an awesome job -- a privilege to serve. Some of the time, something significant challenges our mindset. It is during that time that we learn some of our most useful lessons. This is where the rubber meets the road. THIS is when real leadership is needed. Sometimes, we feel doubted by others. Maybe we even feel criticized. But then, we reach out to a colleague or two and brainstorm solutions.  The longer I am in administration, the less I think I know. BUT , the longer I am in administration, the more connections I have made. Those connections sometimes help with solutions. Sometimes, they just help by sending gentle reminders.  @LisaMeade23 @TechNinjaTodd @GustafsonBrad @Mich...

About a month ago, my colleague Tim Dawkins , suggested putting together a voxer group of middle school principals in NY. The thought was we would have a place to go and ask each other questions. Tim had the vision for us to use voxer to create the group. When we first began, I had NO idea what kind of impact it would have on me as a leader. I am not sure I can put into words what this group has provided me. It's been nothing short of incredible.  I have realized a few key ideas by being involved in this very group: 1) I am not alone. The questions and even struggles I have as a leader are similar to what my peers are facing. Even in Missouri! (we've opened the group beyond NY). 2) The impact these conversations have had on my practice has already been significant . I am improving in some areas already due to the feedback and ideas I have gleaned from others.  3) The structure of this voxer group provides me with short bursts of PD when I am ready for it . There is ...

This is a post co-authored by one of my most favorite twitter friends, Jon Harper . In a casual vox conversation one day last week, we both realized that we were living parallel school lives balancing the needs of different learners. Furthermore, we acknowledged neither of us is the type of leader that will stop searching for ways to meet the needs of each and every person that steps foot in our buildings. From Maryland to New York In Maryland I spend the vast majority of my day doing all that I can to help our youngest children, five to seven year-olds, simply “be” in school. What I mean, is that for some of our students, simply functioning “appropriately” in a school setting is very very difficult. Nevermind the Common Core Curriculum. Luckily, I work with an amazing group of individuals that, like myself, will stop at nothing to help our students cope-adjust-deal with the demands of the school day. And I do not mind. I signed onto this. This is my chosen profession...

School began just two weeks ago. It's always a feverish start. No matter how much work is completed in the summer before, I somehow end up trapped in that same frenetic pace. Two days ago, I was literally running to get out the door and to work. As I almost stepped out the door and into the garage, a voice inside my head whispered, " Where are you running to? ". At the same time, I heard my son call from the top of the stairs, " Hey Mom, Wait! I have a question ". It occurred to me that I needed to stop. Slow down, Lisa. Go back into the house completely and listen to him. So I did. I put my bag down and went back into the house to talk with Sam and answer all of his last minute questions. Yes, I was 15 minutes later to work than I usually arrived but nothing bad happened. School begins for teachers in my building near 7:30. I had begun the year trying to get there by 6:50. Today, I missed that time. I was late . Well, not really. I am happy to report th...

For the last two years, I have been saying I need to carry around a notebook to start writing down all the great things I hear in our hallways and classrooms.  Here are some of my favorite lines from last week: 1) Wait! YOU'RE the principal? 2) Does anyone have a magic wand I can borrow for tomorrow's lesson? 3) We can sit anywhere? Really? 4) Everyone matters everywhere. 5) Did you see my purple cow? 6) I'm not really a little kid anymore. I'm Medium. What were some of the better lines you heard last week?

Yesterday was our second Superintendent's Conference Day. Faculty meetings seem to be required on these days. We've been having them forever. I'm supposed to bring everyone together and go through all the compliance items and even state test score results. Wait, that's exactly what I'm NOT supposed to do. I always feel this very first meeting is an opportunity for me to model what I expect and to set the tone and goals for the year. The district had allotted me nearly two hours for the meeting. I knew immediately I would keep it under an hour. I still remember what it is like to be a teacher (I like to think I haven't really stopped) and know that TIME is the most valuable thing teachers need before school opens. I decided to send out any administrivia I could to staff electronically by smore before the meeting. Peter DeWitt and his work with flipped leadership has inspired my efforts in this area. Anything I can trust teachers to read on their own is in th...