my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

Win an autographed copy of Shake Up Learning…and EVERYone wins!

by 18 Comments

I’ve long been a fan of Kasey Bell and her laid-back approach to #allthethings google. We’ve planned together, we’re brainstormed together, and flat out learned from each other. I call her my #digitalbestie because if there is a question I’ve had in regards to PD, Google training, or regional support from her “real job”, she is always available for me! Her support of empowered learners is a staple of strong and appropriate integration.

When she told me that she was writing a book, I celebrated her wholeheartedly. She is an engaging presenter and easy to follow as a teacher. I couldn’t imagine her book being ANY different. It combines reflection with a call to action. One of my favorite lines in the whole book is “Facilitate the messy!” which can surmise a lot of educators thoughts when it comes to shaking up what they do in their classroom. As a teacher or an administrator, there is great comfort in reading along with not only her journey to be as comfortable as she is in her role now but also how to guide those alongside you, with you.

Chapters range from “a breakdown of the DNA of dynamic learning” and “how to unleash your voice and share your story”, to leadership support with “how to empower your students” and “facilitating with finesse”. It provides examples, reflection questions, next steps and more. It is an easy read and I would love to get a copy in YOUR hands!

 

Empowered educators lead to empowered learners…and that should be the goal for all of us!

Click To Tweet

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Not feeling lucky? You can purchase it here!

I can’t wait to share her greatness with you!

 

ShakeN up &

Easter Appreciation, an easy way to celebrate your EGGcellent team!

by Leave a Comment

My principal bestie, Melinda Miller and I have this Facebook group dedicated to Staff Appreciation and Celebration. It’s an entire page for administrators to share and creatively copy all sorts of great ideas, all meat to encourage, motivate and celebrate your teachers/staff. While it can be overwhelming, it does make me feel SO much better to see that everyone’s year has an ebb and flow…and how rarely anyone does #allthethings. There’s such a Pinterest pressure, even as an administrator, to get it all right, all colorful, and all the time…this group has shown that we all have seasons where we need someone else to be a spark in our world!

In light of that, someone shared this seasonally appropriate activity this week, that can be adapted to fit your campus or even your classroom, or office team! You’ll need to purchase some tiny trinkets, think dollar spot erasers, or candy, and some plastic Easter eggs.  (Or jeans passes! or leave early passes!) I’m going to set this up in the lounge next Monday and allow teachers to celebrate each other as they see fit!

 

 

Pages 2 & 3 are generic that you can just print out and use! Thank you, Mandy Ellis, for your version that I used for ours! Spring days can be a trying, “testing” time for most educators. These little treats & tricks can help brighten your staffs days…which in turn, trickles down to our students. 

A happy teacher makes for happy students!

Click To Tweet

 

Seasonally &

When did you last learn something totally new?

by 1 Comment

My counselor emails our staff each morning. (I know…amazing, right??) I thought hers today was particularly incredible.

This Spring Break, we went skiing in Taos. On our second day, Sam decided to learn to snowboard, but by the time we got his gear switched, the lessons were full. So, in an attempt to make his day more enjoyable (or less lonely), I decided to join him. I’ve skied quite a while, but snowboarding was brand new.

And you know what? I remembered how hard learning truly is. As an adult, I really only try and learn things that are in my field of study – things  I can master because I have prior knowledge. But this? No prior knowledge, people. And no natural ability. None.

I fell.

A lot.

Sometimes (most times), on accident. But sometimes I fell on purpose (because mama needed a break).

By the end of the day, I was tired and sore in places I didn’t know could hurt. We spent a better part of the day laughing at each other, but there was some crying, too.

Because learning is hard.

There were moments we both thought about giving up, but we didn’t, and I’m so glad because while we ended up loving it (but also kinda hating it), we were in the mess together.

 

 

May we always remember that learning can be hard and painful and exhausting. It can make us laugh till we cry and cry till we laugh. But it is worth it.

Click To Tweet

 

What are you doing to remind yourself what our students are exposed to each and every day? How can you support your team in feeling that growing pain again, and appreciate it?

 

 

 

 

When you encourage & empower….

by Leave a Comment

One of my favorite memories as a teacher is from back at the technology center. I received an email from my assistant principal titled “Dress code”.

Gulp.

It asked me to come see her at my conference time at the end of the day.

Double gulp.

Still having no clue as to why I was going down there, (I was in a tee shirt and jeans, but it was a jeans day!) I went in and blurted immediately, “Dr. Milligan, I am so sorry about this outfit…I will dress more professionally moving forward!”

She looked up at me blankly…and from behind me, I heard hysterical laughter. I leaned my head back and dadgummitt..the principal and another one of our teachers, were practically on the ground, laughing SO hard. Apparently, she had failed to log out of her computer earlier in the day and they’d had their way with it.

I explained why I was there to her, and asked, just to reassure myself, that I was dressed appropriately and she said the most powerful thing ever.

“Amber, I trust your professionalism and know you have high expectations for yourself. Your choices define your path.”

I WANT my people empowered to make strong choices. I want to arm and provide examples of what our educational world looks like when they are confident and an end goal in mind.  Instead of doubting, denying, or questioning their goals and aspirations, I want them to see that their choices define their path. 

That requires intentionality on my part. I hope to model that with #allthethings I do to be a lifelong learner, with goals and plans. But it also means allowing them to have goals and dreams as well. Sometimes you need someone else’s perspective on what you can become to actualize your own potential.  

Surround yourself with people who encourage and empower your dreams and goals. Be the person who encourages and empowers your people. If you don’t have that in your circle, you’re in the wrong circle.

 

If you’re the person who shuts the doors…don’t be alarmed when your go-getters find a window. 

Click To Tweet

 

 

Door opener &

 

Leading Out of Your Comfort Zone

by Leave a Comment

This weekend I’m at an SDE conference with my kinder team.

Kindergarten is its own beast, ya’ll.

I taught fourth grade. Big tall fourth graders who relatively could control their emotions, tie their shoes, and regular complete multistep tasks.

There were two opportunities I had to cover some kinder classes this year and my’lanta. I’ve never been more thankful to see those teachers show back up in my life! It was such a reminder that our teacher work hard and are EXPERTS at what they do! When this team asked if they could attend this kinder specific conference, I was all about it.

Why did I come?

Because I have never taught kindergarten,

Because their content is important.

Because rarely are you as the admin able to provide grade-level specific content to EVERYone, but especially kindergarten. (Think about your specials teachers, your experts, the odd specialists…how do you move them from point A to their point B?)

Because I had the opportunity to eat, text with, laugh and grow as this team got stronger together.

Because I get to hear what they are hearing. When they ask me to buy those heavy-duty fancy paper plates to build sand individual sand trays, I now know the reason why.

Because dear lord, I don’t know everything and can ALWAYS find a takeaway to make me a stronger leader.

Take advantage of moments to step outside of your comfort zone. Model what it means to genuinely be a lifelong learner. 

Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk…but most importantly, walk WITH them.

Click To Tweet

 

Kinder caring &

 

(Also, important to note, I’m here today, Sunday, only…will be back with the rest of my Wolves for school tomorrow! #allthethings)