Reflections

After multiple days of attending the Network Team Institute training offered by NYSED, I find myself decompressing from all of the information and ideas shared throughout the week. Here's what I know... I still have a ton of work to do in order to become more skilled in understanding the modules. I still can't see them being implemented as whole parts. I need to reserve judgment on them as an instructional tool until I can say I have dived into every one of them (at my level). I haven't, so I won't. My original thought on the standards (alone) has not changed much. The standards, on their own, and with time, may very well be reachable with support, resources, professional development and direction.   Here's what I want to know... Commissioner John King gave two amazing speeches on two of the days. They were incredible. I found myself really relating to the sentiment of the speeches. I want to know if he is aware how much of his message is lost in translat...

Facebook and Twitter have been a buzz this weekend with posts and images regarding Common Core Learning Standards and all things SED. One of my teachers had a positive post about CCLS and connecting with ISTE Standards . I posted a comment on it and then removed it. But, it occurred to me that wasn't what leaders are supposed to do. I'm supposed to have an opinion. And, I do. Here is what I posted: "I wish there was a way to better dissect the issues we are having with the CCLS rollout. CCLS on its own will be ok. Teachers have told us that themselves. Test scores, on their own, like the old days, wou ld have been ok. It's when we lump CCLS with state test scores and teacher/principal accountability that makes it unfair. We need to be deliberate in our discussion of the issues and not lump all of it (CCLS, testing, HEDI, opt out) into one. Most importantly, we have to be sure not to pass any of our own personal stress (due to rollout, pd needs, resource needs, a...

Being a school administrator is not always what I thought it would be. Somewhere a few weeks back, I noticed a tweet that said being a Principal was near the top of the most stressful jobs in the nation. I believe it! Back when I first thought of making the jump from teacher to lead learner, I had big ideas. I was going to help more kids and do great things. Naively, I thought it looked manageable, easy, and fun. It is certainly not always manageable. It is rarely easy. Yet, it can sometimes be fun -- as long we keep our focus clear. Like many other NY administrators this time of year, I am swamped by all the work I need to do. I worry about loose ends I could make tighter. I get frustrated about the current pace of some projects and my availability for others. If I am not careful, I might easily slide into a negative state mind. But I don't. I am really good at venting for a few minutes and getting over it. I can find humor in almost anything. I try to employ a growth min...

I am apparently taking the challenge from Jon Harper to heart. It's Friday afternoon and I should be winding down for the weekend start but instead am reflecting on a very meaningful 25 minutes of my day. Today was day one of our new "Principal's Book Club". We advertised starting a book club that would meet during recess and after school on alternate weeks. We are reading the book, Wonder . It was recommended to me by friends. I wanted to find a way to connect with more students on an individual level and thought the idea of a book club could serve multiple purposes. I soon realized, after reading the entire book, Wonder , on a Saturday afternoon, that this book could help me reinforce our building's message of kindness. Today was day one of our book club. We met in our Student Lounge (which I really need to write about some day...really cool place). About 14 students and 4 staff joined me in reading and discussing our first group of assigned pages. It was amaz...

Recently, a twitter connection of mine, Jon Harper , challenged us to spend less time crafting and editing our blog posts and more time on just putting the words of appreciation to print. Take 30 minutes to share a positive story. In the spirit of his challenge, I'd like to share an early morning reflection I am having about my son Sam. It would take much longer than 30 minutes to describe Sam. Suffice it to say, he is a neat kid. He clearly walks to the beat of his own drummer (which can get him into trouble sometimes), cares deeply about others, is a dedicated friend (sometimes too much so), and tolerates being the Principal's son way better than I had hoped. His perceptions keep me in check in school and outside of school. My son has been battling a queasy stomach, short lived, over the last three weeks and has been sent home by ill. As any overprotective mom (Mama Bear?) might do, I started to analyze the illness and noticed the symptoms only seemed present during the s...

Every once in awhile, things come together. Sometimes, they come together better than planned. And sometimes, you don't even realize how well they've come together until you take a step back and take in the whole picture. Yesterday, our middle school was fortunate to host some visiting teachers from a nearby school wanting to see our PBIS program in action. Let me be clear, we are committed to PBIS. It's not an easy initiative to implement and takes deliberate and consistent action to do so. It also takes tenacity. When you are promoting PBIS, you have to be ready to bounce back the remarks you hear from others (in other schools) who have not bought into the philosophy: Why should you reward kids for doing their job? Your ideas for prizes are juvenile! Do you really think kids care about your (stupid) tickets? During the visit, we arranged for the teachers to see our recess period (yep, our middle schoolers have a 22 minute recess period with c...

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 lo...