Friday, January 3, 2014

Leaving a Legacy

With a New Year comes the opportunity for new goals and new breath in the work that we do.  Many of us, if not all of us, have taken the time to write down some of those next steps in the work that we hope to accomplish in the next calendar year.

As we teach our students, setting long-term goals and expectations for the future is equally significant.  Goal setting is inevitable for all of us in the work we do.  It is the measuring stick to our success.  We can gage our failures based on whether we have achieved our intended outcome.  As I forge ahead in this ever changing landscape of education, I will have set both short-term and long-term goals with the intent of showing progress in all aspects of my work.  It is the ability to look ahead that will allow us to be more reflective of our past.  This year I look forward to embracing the OneWord challenge!

With that, I ask myself:  How do I want to be remembered 5 years from now by those I have worked with, for and around?  Below are just a few of the “One Words” that I hope others will see as they critique my work in 2018:

Purposeful.  The one word that I aspire to be in my daily work and the decisions, direction and advice that is given.  Knowing exactly why we do what we do and staying convicted to the PURPOSE of our work.

Passionate.  Watching students learning, listening to teachers share the craft of their work and monitoring the pulse of the school community is a part of the PASSION of the operations of our schools.  Having passion for all of the pieces and parts of the day is significant to the success of the work.

Compassionate.  Children today do learn differently.  Homes do not look as they did 20 years ago and educators are faced with more obstacles and hurdles then ever before.  Having the heart to work with those broken.  Having the ear to listen to those that need to be heard and showing patience, and therefore COMPASSION, to spirits that are broken builds a culture and a climate of excellence.  It is my compassion that will guide me in my assisting of others.

Balanced.  We cannot do this job alone nor can we be any good at it if we do not take care of those that take care of us and that we need to take care of ourselves.  Finding the time, the energy and the BALANCE of our work, our faith, our family and our friends is significant to the success of our days, weeks, months and years.  From there, find balance at work with delegating, defining and delivering the work that needs to be accomplished.

The reality is that lists such as these can continue down the page.  I, like each of you, could add another 10, 15 or 20 words that could take the place of our “One Word”.  My goal, however, short-term and long-term, is to narrow my focus and ensure that my legacy is remembered as one that made a difference in the lives of children, their families and the community in which I believe in.  I will embrace this challenge and grow throughout the days and months to come.   

I will work to inspire greatness.  I will embrace innovation and ingenuity.  I will foster collaboration and I will reward creativity.  We, as a school community, we celebrate our dedication to our learning and enrich ourselves through the knowledge of others.  We will work towards greatness.


What will your legacy be?

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