Reflections

What if we could retrain our brains to assume the positive before we assumed the negative?   Boy, I could have used that advice this weekend. After receiving the second covid vaccine shot, I was dealt some serious side effects. Some I am still dealing with but none of them I won't survive. Still, the entire time I was sick, I focused on the negative.  The body aches, the fever, the shooting pains. The nurse must have messed up the dosage. The headache must have been tied to a bad batch of the vaccine.  None of that was true, but that was my irrational response in my state of uncomfortableness. Someone messed up how I was feeling even though I signed up for the vaccine all by myself and drove myself to the appointment.  Not once over a period of 48 hours do I think I even tried to find the positive. But, I could have.  The side effects are explained to be evidence that my body was building up its immunity to the vaccine. That's an amazing THING! A gift, rea...

One of the emotions I still struggle with the most is feeling like I let someone down. My head is so good at reminding me why I might have made a decision the way that I did and all the logic that stands behind it but the sometimes impractical part of my brain sends rapid, piercing signals of remorse to my heart where I realize I haven’t met the mark. The confident part of my being knows and accepts why decisions were made (by me) as being understandable. The doubtful part of my being doesn’t accept any of this foolishness and wants to know why I didn’t see the situation differently at the onset. How could you have missed this, Lisa? What is about the intersection of a personal life with a work life that impacts a leader’s sense of self-belonging? Part of it might come down to the risk it takes to be vulnerable. That’s become a bit of an overused buzzword as of late but being vulnerable, at least to me, is part of taking chances even when they might not work out.  When they work o...

Nearly two months ago, I wrote about some of the struggle I was facing as a Principal trying to do the right work during this pandemic. It seems only fitting that I am trying to find time today to put into print a post with an opposite message. While so much of our work in school continues to be difficult, so much of it still finds a way to be right and good. About a year ago, our supportive Board of Education and Superintendent decided that we would use a part of our monthly meetings to spotlight a staff member and student from each building. Choices are left up to the Principal of each building and I've always thought deeply before bringing a name forward. It's a remarkable few minutes each month as it helps remind all of us to stay true to our purpose! For student recommendations, I often collect nominations from my teachers. But, for the month of November, I chose the student.  On our first day of school this year, when a particular student arrived to school to borrow a ho...

I haven’t ugly cried in a very long time. That is, until this past Friday afternoon. Please don’t tell me that leaders aren’t supposed to cry or worry. (It’s a bit too late for that.) Luckily, my tears were only with a trusted colleague. I am committing to print that leading during this pandemic is some of the toughest work I’ve ever had to do. It’s not just tough for me, it’s tough for everyone . Students, parents, teachers, my clerical team, other administrators, and more. The balancing of this new, constantly evolving, and at times suffocating, workload can make any of us feel inadequate or that we are not doing enough. The half-empty mentality takes over and soon we’re drowning in place. It’s like we are trapped in the shallow end of a pool and have forgotten how to stand up.  I think the only way through this is to lean on each other more than we have ever had to in previous school years. Yet, I know not everyone will be willing to do so as they may be protecting themselves b...

Flowers From Dana : A True Story by Kenis Sweet, Math Teacher @ Granville Jr. Sr. High School I called my parents one day last fall to check in, as they are in their 80’s now. They are particularly curious about my teaching and my students. My mom taught Home Economics in my Jr. High school and then High School back when I was there; now it is Food And Consumer Science, or FACS. Mom was a very progressive teacher; she even started a day care center in our high school to enrich the Childhood Development class that she created. Mom was excited to tell me that the florist had arrived a few days earlier with a beautiful arrangement for her. The card was signed simply, “Thanks for everything, Dana.” My mom was baffled. Who was Dana? Later that day, Dana called and explained. Dana remembered my sister from our high school, and had tracked her down through social media, and asked how to contact our mom. The flowers were a thank you for helping a struggling kid almost four de...

What struck me about this post, written by an incredibly talented student, is the optimism that can be found in her words. These are stressful times for sure and for everyone. Yet, as Miss Tooley points out, times like this may help us to appreciate what we do have even more.  I am thankful for her permission to share her words here.  Online Schooling Written by Jenna Tooley, Student at Granville Junior Senior High School While online schooling is not ideal, learning to adapt to doing schoolwork from home has become a daily routine. The teachers and administration have been a tremendous support system with providing students with the materials they need and being available at almost any time if students have questions. Although online schooling is much different than actually being in school every day, being able to complete all the assigned work by the deadlines has not been too difficult. Several teachers have even set up google meets and google chats during the wee...

In the late 1970s, the Hasbro toy company released a new toy known as Stretch Armstrong. Stretch was a bendable (yes, stretchy) action figure filled with purple gel. You could pull Stretch's arms for what felt like as far as you wanted and he never broke. The only time I recall Stretch being "harmed" was when we might have poked him with scissors -- on purpose. (My brother and I had to know what was inside of him causing him to stretch so far and so well.) The last few weeks of "school" have felt a little like what I imagine being Stretch Armstrong would feel like. Educators, including administrators, are being pulled in so many directions at once and it's making it hard for us to find our original shape. This new way of operating has us trying to extend ourselves to figure out what direction needs us most.  Flip your leg over your head, through your arm, and around your neck? Sure! Now use your other leg to touch your ear. Got it!  The toy Stret...