Inspired, Again. Doing What is Best for Kids

Walking through the halls and stepping into classrooms on the return of break,  I found myself once again, yet again, inspired and in awe of the teachers in front of our students.  Throughout the first few months of school our teachers have been given the task of working through the changes in education.  They continue to modify instruction, work through mandates and initiatives and plow forward in the face of change.  And as the saying goes, change can be good.
 
To step into a classroom and see how teachers have made these adjustments, while keeping students needs at the forefront of their work, is simply amazing.  The saying, doing what's best of kids is sometimes over stated, yet at the same time, understated depending on the role you play in the process.  This line, this expression, those words, have become a motto, a pledge, an oath by the teachers with whom I work.
 
Since the first day of my academic career, officially this marks 20, I can attest to that .  As I lead, and follow, that phrase has taken on a life of its own.  While working with parents and the community I have been inspired by those words and pledged to those with whom I answer to that doing what is best for kids is the only way to do this business.
 
Reaching December and having another milestone of the school year arrive, I revert to those moments that I walk into classrooms and I see the great things that are occurring every day.  Giving teachers feedback to their work, being a part of the conversation of instruction and looking at various forms of data are all a part of the process.  And watching students responding to the lesson of the teacher through thier actions and their passion.  Each of these being a vital part of the process of learning and dependent of each other.
 
So as you walk your halls and step in to classrooms, look for what inspires you and what you recognize as great teaching and learning.  Look for all the evidence of teachers doing what is best for kids.  It is everywhere!

Give Thanks, Year Round

Give Thanks, Year Round.

Scrolling through the social media feeds last night, I began to notice all the posts in preparation for the upcoming holiday. Here, in the United States, we take one day out of the year to give specific thanks for 364 days of what we hope, is good fortune.

As an educator, I have the blessing to have a few additional days built into my schedule in which I get to load up the family in the oversized SUV and head to see relatives some 400 miles away. Upon arrival we will exchange hugs; hellos and the kids will begin a four-day free-for-all and make up for the 361 days (give or take) that they do not get to see each other throughout the year.


Connecting this back to my work as being a building administrator, I begin to go down my list of staff members, and even my students, and wonder what their four-days of Thanksgiving “break” will look like. My gut tells me, as does my knowledge of those that I am surrounded by for 183 days, that there will be travel plans, endless hugs and hellos, and some will travel more, and some less, to offer the same thanks that my family will exchange a few states south.

 I do worry about those that will not have the same good fortune this upcoming week. For that, our school is always looking for ways to give back to our community. Our staff and students participate in donation drivess for the food pantry. We work with the local churches and outreach programs and adopt families for the season. And, if nothing else, I seek out those students, and even those staff members, that may need and extra word of encouragement to ensure that they know I am thankful for their contribution to our school community.

So as you count down the 24 hours to your Thanksgiving break and think ahead to the 20 days until Winter Break, remember that one student, or one colleague, that you are thankful for. And remember, there are 365 days in a year that we can share just that, our thanks.

Fueling Leadership

(home.lps.org)

Teaching, guiding and supporting students growth in their academic journey is why I got into this business of education. Seeing teachers deliver quality instruction and do what is best for kids is one of many motivations to continue the work. In a world of ever evolving requirements placed on the shoulders of educators, I am mesmerized by the dedication that our teachers have during this transition in academia. Furthermore, I am in awe of the leadership I see in the school buildings by my colleagues, the building administrators and their staff's.

The role of the teacher has changed. What we ask of our teachers any given year is simply amazing. They are handed a class schedule, a roster of students and simply told, teach. And, if you are fortunate enough, they do it with passion, perseverance and a level of . They teach knowing that in a little over 180 school days there jobs will be critiqued by the performance of their students on a test they had very little to do with creating.  

They change their content, they change their delivery based on research of best practices and they evolve into the teachers their students need them to be. Teachers educate themselves while they educate their students. They learn about implementing technology into instruction, the discuss grading practices and assessments and they meet and collaborate to be better.

The role of the administrator has changed. They too have the responsibility to bring best practices to the forefront of every classroom and provide every teacher with the resources they need to be successful. With the implementation of new evaluation tools, ongoing walkthroughs, district initiatives, federal mandates and specific building needs, Instructional Leaders are pulled in more directions than ever before. 

Both continue to lead by example.  Teachers continue to teach with passion and leaders continue to lead by inspiring their school community. Neither rests. 

As you think through your work, simply ask, do you lead by example? And, how do you continue to fuel leadership? 

As I connect with fellow educators within my district and through my Professional Learning Network I am often reminded of how we are always in the forefront of education. The decisions we make do matter and the example we set is measured, whether intended or not. 

(imgquotes.com)

Ready for Tomorrow, Today.

The last day of July is upon us.  Summer vacations have come to an end and the thought of returning to school is all consuming.  The work is about to begin.

The reality though is that the work never stopped.  Summer is about rejuvenating, invigorating and inspiring the mind for the years worth of work ahead.  The texts have been read, the articles reviewed and the conversations ongoing.

The question is, "Will we be Ready for Tomorrow, Today?"  For the students and staff that will return on August 20th to my building I would say, resoundingly, "YES"!  The foundation for our success was set into motions days, weeks, months and years ago.  We continue to evolve in what we do, how we offer our learning experience and the expectations of our students.  We are Ready for Tomorrow, always, due to the time we invest when kids are away at times like this.

As you wrap up your summer vacation think about the school year ahead for not only your child, but also yourself.  Be prepared to be challenged, inspired and rewarded for your dedication to your learning and that of you student.

You are Ready for Learning, Today!

Ed Leaders - More than ever, now is the time.

Now, more than ever I continue to be amazed by the talents of the people in the educational field.  Technology, and the informational age, broadens my appreciation of what people are capable of in this amazing landscape of growing the minds of today's youth within our K-12 system.

Recently I was able to sit in on interview's of three perspective candidates for Superintendent for a rather large school district in central Ohio.  Each one brought their own perspective on education, and leadership, and that was to be expected.  What was most interesting though was the thread that bound them together.  One would argue that this is common sense, and cliche says that it would have been "the kids", however it was the fact that they all spoke about preparing our kids for a "future that doesn't exit".  With that being shared, each candidate moved right into technology, and all its possibilities.  Impressive.

That is the reality of where we are in today's academic landscape.  Just like the candidates stated today, we have to educate our school communities on the significance of technology in our classrooms and in our learning.  Technology means many things, and for that, the work has just begun.

My experience is currently at the secondary level where the field is ripe for technology within the bells.  My school has adopted a BYOD culture and teachers are slowly, but surely, coming to an understanding and appreciation of what is capable when we dive into the BYOD opportunities.  We discuss the barriers, find creative solutions and continue to push forward in our thirst for giving kids an authentic experience with technology.  We do this in the hopes that this assists them in their learning and that it will open the doors to a profession, a skill, that may yet to exist.

Student to Teacher Feedback - Going to "look for it." It's there!

This weeks challenge will be a simple one.  To get into three to four classrooms and find authentic feedback from students to teachers.  As an ongoing "look for" in our building and district improvement plan, it will not be difficult to find feedback in many forms and many variations.  The goal though will be to find the format of  where students giving rich, meaningful, best practice feedback that will alter a teachers method of preparing for their day. 

I have been so impressed with the way my staff embraces the use of feedback in their instruction.  They have gone out of their way to learn what it should look like, what it should sound like and what it will do for students (and teachers) as part of the teaching and learning process. I am sure it will be a fun week full of affirmation. 

Remember, if it wasn't important, we wouldn't be "looking for it"!

A great read from Educational Leadership. 

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx

Education and Technology

January 22, 2013

Today was a day in which I learned two very important things:

1.  Star Wars offers so much when it comes to the world of Leadership.
2.  My teachers continue to surprise me with their passion for technology. 

The first I give credit to an article I stumbled upon while scrolling through twitter: 12most.com/2013/01/22/lea…
Depending on your age, and your appreciation for everything in the Force, I guarantee you send the link on to at least 3 other people.  I did.  It makes so much sense!

Secondly,
Technology is in the schools.  My school!  I have asked alot of my teachers and many have given alot back.  As I entered a classroom this morning to conduct a walk through, there was a sign taped to the outside that greeted the students.  It read, simply, "BYOD FOURTH PERIOD". 

It's a start, I am impressed.

Off to the rest of the day!