Reflections

When schools first began the move to all things Google, I challenged myself to try new tools from the suite through the lens of leadership. I tried to model the use of different apps and was even able to find a way to use Google Classroom in my work as a Principal. I also used (and continue to use) Blogger frequently to publish my reflections and observations as a leader. As part of our combined efforts to increase communication and transparency around work we were tackling, my Superintendent and I thought about launching a blog that could capture and share more voice and concrete messages. As we began to build that blog, it became long and felt unorganized. We reached out to our Director of Educational Technology and shared our dilemma. She suggested we look into Google Sites. I remember using Google Sites when it first launched and I was not a fan. So her suggestion met my face of skepticism. She assured me that Google Sites had been updated. I logged in prepared to disregard he...

Recently, I was able to spend time in a new program we have created for some of our most at-risk high school students. The incredible teacher invited me to sit in on part of a discussion and it was something I looked forward to all day. As we read through a document projected on the screen, two of the students began to share parts of their stories. Stories so full of tough lessons and experiences, I wondered how they were able to speak so openly about any of it.  I wondered how they learned  how to show such raw courage in their sharing. I wondered what they thought about our efforts and if it all felt genuine to them. I wondered if it occurred to either of them how inspiring they were.  I wondered if anything we were saying held any fragment of depth comparable to their own words. I wondered how ridiculous we must sometimes look to them, as adults, when we press on about academic expectations within the school right at the same time they are forging through a...

I take my work as a leader and educator seriously. I think about decisions and events and how they impact students. Sometimes, I dice up parts of conversations in quiet reflection and think about what those snippets of information might mean. I wonder if I'm doing my best. I think about all the times I should have said more to certain individuals that are giving so much to all of our students.  I think about the other administrators (at the district and building levels) I work with that have helped me in my own work this year. Do they know how much I have appreciated their support? Do we always agree on every decision every time? No. But, that difference of opinion doesn't change the growing respect I have for them.  It's a bit of a balancing act. I think about the nearly 20 new teachers I had the chance of meeting during the end of August. Talk about a passionate and energetic group! When I listen to new teachers speak of their craft, I am reminded of the reasons ...

There's about a week left before school starts and that very real panic, that I have felt every summer's end of the last 25 years, is settling in. I fret about getting things done on my list and ready for the people that need it to be done. I have some big, important deadlines I need to meet this week.  I'm growing anxious about some loose ends and hoping it all wraps up the way it needs to. I'm not alone in this worry. We each carry around our to do list for ending the summer.  Some of us are reorganizing classroom libraries so that our readers have the best books available. Some of us are redesigning learning spaces so that flexible seating can be utilized. Many of us are writing welcome back letters to staff and students making sure they know we are excited to see them very soon. Quite a few of us have attended summer professional development to improve our skills in a myriad of areas.  And still,  a few of us are working on paperwork and plans that are re...

Summer is often a time of reflection, organization and professional development. Hopefully, and rightfully so, it also includes some periods of down time to just be. Today wasn't one of those days. I spent the better part of 8 hours with an incredible administrative team today. We were assisted by our wonderful Instructional Coaches. In our own version of an Admin Camp, we tackled multiple topics including supporting Reader's and Writers' Workshop and Reading in the Content Area. We began conversations around guiding principles for elementary instruction and secondary instruction. We practiced our skills around look fors within a workshop model. We stepped out of our own zones to share with the group about what we were most proud of instructionally from the past year and where we thought we needed to improve individually and within our buildings. We linked those improvements to domains from the Multidimensional Principal Performance Rubric and gathered ideas from each o...

Sometimes, I know better than I act. It was a particularly busy day. I was juggling multiple plates in the air. The phone was ringing and I rushed to answer the call. I barely mumbled out a hello and there was a short silence on the other end. I knew in that second I had messed up but the brave caller politely confronted me on it. He let me know I should have sounded more enthused and he was right! He deserved better. If I really wanted to be that leader I've written about before ( AND have even been on some days! ), I need to walk that walk consistently. I know how to do it and know leadership isn't about 80% some days and 100% on the easier days. It's about 100% to the best of my ability every day. And, every day, I can meet each colleague with enthusiasm and an open heart. It's the least they deserve from me. https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7652/16883234185_fc398beeed_z.jpg Each of those interactions become deposits into the memory banks of colleagues. An...

As this year wraps up, I've been thinking about the impact of words on each other, as educators. I wonder if the phrases of gratitude I've tried to share felt genuine. I hope, in some way, as the team I've worked with looks back on this year, they are able to remember more positive than negative. It was a steep learning curve for me to learn so much about a new district and department with little start time to a new year. I've appreciated so very much what I've learned from the staff I work for and with. Their words have helped me throughout the year. I wonder if speakers of criticism (including those directed at me) can still even recall the words all these days later. It's funny how words can stick more with one person than they do the other. We say so many words a day, give them away sometimes without even thinking. Criticism on its own isn't usually all that helpful. Feedback, on the other hand, that's where understanding can be possible. But, so...