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

Leaders, how do you break over a break?

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We’re closing out the first of a couple of breaks we have this season. How do you turn off all that goes through your leadership brain, when you’re supposed to be “not” thinking about work? I think when you lead the way that we all lead, it’s almost impossible to separate your everyday thoughts from your every day “I’m still a leader and responsible” thoughts, right?

Here are three ways I’ve found to “let it go” when you are able!

Plan activities that you can do while you’re off.

From a massage to a manicure to a latte with a good friend…make sure you have something to look forward to.

YOU are a person outside of your role.

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You need to focus on what you are going to do instead of working. Create a plan for your time away from work. (Principal self-care, perhaps?)The more you can do that reminds you of that, the better leader you will be. It’s been an interesting month for me, leaving one position and remembering that SO much of what I did and how I did it was defined by my “principal” title. Who are you when you’re not that person anymore?

Turn off notifications and RESIST your email.

If your problem is that you’re constantly worried about missing an important email or something important, try going a night without checking your email — and discover that all of the work you need to do is still there in the morning. Then increase the amount of time you leave your email unchecked. Try to get through an entire day of the weekend without checking. Then — gasp! — an entire weekend. You may find that many people manage to answer their own questions if you don’t get back to them right away! The more you check email, the more you have to check it. The harder it is to regulate impulsivity, the more you self-distract and flit from one thing to another. Plus, in 2020, when things happen, they seem to be happening BIG, so you’ll more than likely get a PHONE CALL if someone needs you. I learned, in all my years, my to-do list always rolls over.

Surround yourself with the people that deserve the BEST of you, instead of the rest of you. 

You deserve quality time with the support system that keeps you sane. This may be friends, family, or even coworkers that are like family. Spend your weekends relaxing with them, as they may not be used to getting 100% of your attention. While we’ve had more “home” time than usual, I really think the stress of being an educator in 2020 means we haven’t actually stepped away from thinking, planning, worrying, and thinking some more.  Jobs, titles, coworkers are going to come and go…but building memories with your family can last forever. Take advantage of not knowing what’s going to happen when you get back, by actually not worrying since it will probably be different anyway! 

It’s ok to take a REAL break and it doesn’t make you less of a leader. 

Yes, there is a lot of overlap and intermingling between work and home these days, thanks to technology and our dealing with #allthethings. It’s not always possible to get the separation we need, but the goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating enough space to allow ourselves to feel refreshed and like we are more than what we do. 

 

Here’s hoping that if that didn’t happen this break, you can get a do-over in December, 🙂

 

Rest seeking &

Starting over as a leader… and a Thanksgiving staff freebie!

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This blog has always been a place of reflection and a sharing of my professional growth and struggles. It started as a tool within my 4th-grade classroom, became a place that exploded with my tech integrationist days, and then where I shared all I learned as a campus leader. Adding another change to the pile will allow me (and thereby, you!) to share a different perspective and once again, catalog what a different lens in education can teach us.

When I was named principal in 2015, I was very clear in my 3-5 year plan and knew even then that my next step would be off of a single campus. I thought that 3-5 years would allow me enough time to see if I was any good at it, but also, to be able to create systems that were sturdy enough, and grounded enough, that they would last past my tenure. That being said, I had no idea what the next step would be or how it would come about.

2020 though, seemed the perfect year to not only change jobs, but also districts, homes, and my realm of experiences doesn’t it?

Sheesh, y’all. It’s been a month. Bear with me as I document this, if no other reason than to be able to look back on it later and think, o\h yeah, that ALL happened, 😉

August 23- made a joke to one of my softball momma friends that we were thinking about listing our house

August 30- started packing (it escalated quickly!)

September 11- House goes on the market

September 16- Hey Amber…there’s a position in Crandall ISD, you should apply!

September 25- Interview. 2 pm: house goes under contract; 3 pm offered the position

September 28- Tell the Wolves. (cry, smile, cry some more)

October 6- Say goodbye to Wylie ISD! Say hello to Crandall ISD!

So now this journey has taken me to this new role, the Director of Technology and Innovation, which seems kinda apropos, doesn’t it? It takes all my techie-ness, all the years of supporting and working with teachers on #ALLTHETHINGS that made my lil’tech heart happy, and combines it with my leadership experiences, and ta-da! A whole new district to support, empower, and engage!

In the same way that I felt my teachers were my “students” in my class, this central office role feels similar.

Acclimate. Listen. Learn. Support. Encourage. Empower.

Learning all new systems, verbiage, all while only seeing 1/3 of people’s faces has made for some fast-paced days, but it has been fun! I look forward to supporting campus leaders (and all y’all!) with ways you can support your staff, but on-campus and virtually…in a pandemic and hopefully, out!

 

For those who read this far…yay you! Here’s a FUN & FREE Thanksgiving activity you can use with your staff! A turkey hunt! Get creative and let teams decorate their turkey with feathers found in their classrooms or homes if you are virtual!

 

I’ll still be sharing admin friendly tips, tricks, and of course, make sure I share all the thing that go wrong, 😉 so you can learn from me as we go along!

 

Here’s hoping this Wednesday finds you thankful!

Gooble GobbleN & oh so

Final few days to score your FREE @TCEA membership!

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I’ve been a TCEA fan from way back in my teacher days, and they just keep expanding and adding more resources to their memberships to make it worth your while. Every so often they offer FREE yearly memberships and this week, they are again, until October 30th!

I’ve long preached the importance of having a community to be connected to, and @TCEA is a great one! It is so very important it is to have a variety of voices, in a variety of roles sharing perspectives and experiences.

Especially during a global pandemic, we need MORE educators sharing.

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We need our “edtech” voices in other spaces. Take advantage now for free and get your voice out there!

Conferences are offered regularly, support is at a variety of levels, and so there really is no reason not to take advantage of a FREE membership!

Your Benefits:

Educational, Easy to Access Webinars – Learn how to use Google Calendar to optimize your time, discover YouTube features and content that can enhance your classroom, or stay in-the-know about the latest trends like esports, STEM activities, and how to discuss digital citizenship with your students. They also have a PD library of all recordings going back three years!

Access to Experts and Peers on the TCEA Online Community – Wish you had a veteran colleague on hand to answer your tech questions? Or are you looking to share your own discoveries about how to enhance the classroom experience? The TCEA Online Community has over 30,000 of your peers ready to listen and help!

Professional Development – From the TCEA Annual Convention & Exposition to the Lunch and Learn Webinars, we empower educators by providing professional development opportunities tailored to your specific needs and learning styles.

Online Resources – Learn about the latest iOS and Android apps, evaluate recent discoveries on their TechNotes Blog, or explore fresh ideas for educators on their TCEA eBook Library.

Go here to join!

 

TCEA fanN,

Amber

Over 400 years of leadership advice for NEW principals…but great lessons for us all!

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I’ve mentioned before the Achieving Leaders! group that our superintendent has started in Wylie ISD, meant to help leaders from all over be engaged in transparent authentic conversations that are sometimes hard to put into a district agenda. The kind of conversations that are organic to the seasons of the year that we go through, or are just flat out relevant in our leadership world. It’s these kinds of “sidebar” conversations that can sometimes help leaders grow the most. I don’t know about you, but being able to go back and forth with people who are doing the same thing I am doing can have a greater impact than someone just talking to me “about” something. Conversations, stories, relationships.

That’s what the Achieving leaders! group has been about. Feel free to join us!

I’ve been able to step in as “co-host”, if that’s an appropriate term and we’ve brought on a variety of our district admins, at all the levels, to just engage in conversations about things like “defining your green zone” or what it looks like as the leader to have ” the little while place”, a hard topic about conversations with your community in critical times…something no one wants to think about but GOOD GRIEF, how very beneficial it is to know someone has navigated through some tragic waters successfully.

One of my favorite episodes we invited in an “about to be named” elementary principal, Mr. Joey Wilborn, to receive the gifts of leadership advice, right before Christmas. I’m not going to link that episode, because we all dressed up as elves, and that should just remain buried on the page, 🙂 but I definitely wanted to make sure I shared the AMAZING advice that our district was able to share with him.

With over 400 years of cumulative experience, these bits of wisdom are not only great for new leaders but were fantastic reminders for me as well. I know there’s a lot, but I just couldn’t cut any of them out! I hope they resonate with you as well!

  • You will have so many great things you want to implement!! My advice is to not try and do everything right when you start. I have found that the more I am able to build context prior to changing something or trying something new, the better it is received. 
  • Give yourself the grace of a new day…every day! This is a tough role and while you have an idea of what you will want to do while you live in it, it will take time to become THAT person.
    YOU will be your toughest critic, so lighten up and give yourself room to breathe.

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  • Do overreact. Step back and think about the challenge before you say something or something.
  • Smile and encourage always – even in the worst situations! There is always someone listening and watching you, your words and definitely your actions.
  • 1. Take the time to learn about your students, parents, staff, and the relationships that exist in your school community before you make big changes.
    2.

    Recognize that you will make mistake and bad decisions, and the important thing is to learn from those experiences…and not repeat them.

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    3. Be intentional about the people you invite into your circle of trust. They should be people who truly support your leadership, and who will also be honest with you. Identify the “yes” people early on.
    4. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Take time for the things that matter most to you.
    5. Students, parents, and staff will provide you with many challenges…don’t be afraid to laugh at some of the trickiness that you will be presented with…it will keep you sane.

  • 1.) Listen first, speak last.
    2.) Don’t make assumptions-learn the “campus” way and then make decisions.
    3.) Being visible in the hallway, at events, and around parents goes a LONG way!
    4.) Get to know the leaders on your campus and listen to their vision of the school. Find out about the past to help shape the future and your vision.
    5.) Take the time to meet with all of your teachers and get to know them! Time spent one-on-one with your teachers will help them to get to know you better and what you are all about.
    6.) Sweet notes are appreciated and will help build trust.
    7.) Ask for help from the district and other principals. It doesn’t mean you are not capable, it just means you want to make the best decision for your staff and students.
    8.) Not everyone will like you or your ideas…that’s OKAY! If you are making a decision that is best for kids then it is a good idea!
    9.) Find the areas of the job that bring you JOY, and do them every day. For me, it is either writing an encouraging note to a staff member or having a conversation (or two) with kids at lunch, in the hallway, or in their classrooms!
    10.) Stay positive! Your attitude will reflect the feelings of the campus.
  • Don’t underestimate the little wins. Develop a system to monitor your big three goals as well as your day to day to do.
  • Don’t rush relationships!

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  • Find what makes you happiest on campus and visit there often. Your bucket needs to be filled too and knowing how to do that is very important to keeping balance with the everyday events and activities. Good luck!
  • Listen, listen, listen… whether it is your students, teachers, or a parent… most of the time people just need to be heard and they feel better once they have shared their thoughts, concerns, etc… Your willingness to hear them out often allows you to steer the conversation to where there is a positive outcome for all!!
    And above all, be a servant leader…never forget what it was like to be in the classroom – teacher eyes, always!
  • Take time for people- You are great at this and it pays off. Call for help- You don’t have all the answers right now. When times get hard or overwhelming, go find kids.

 

If I’d had these words, five years ago, when I started this journey…and actually LISTENED to them…I can’t even imagine how much easier that first couple of years would have been. I know Joey was super appreciative and I can’t wait to watch his journey!

Do you have any additional advice you would share?

 

helpingly &

How can you make your February FABULOUS for your teachers? #LeadWithAppreciation

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We all know by this point February can be a dip in morale for our teams. It’s cold, it’s dreary, spring break still seems like it’s forever away…what if you INTENTIONALLY make this a fun month for your team? Try having Fabulous Fridays in February!

What began as something fun for me to do to brighten our team’s month has not only become a tradition but at this point, five years into my Whitt Wolf world, my teachers are ASKING for Fab Fridays! I can’t tell you how happy that makes me! It’s been 10 years of Fab Fridays y’all. TEN!! Here are five things I’ve learned to help you make sure your Fab Friday’s go off without a hitch!

5 Fab Friday Lessons!

  1. Plan ahead. My *secretary* knew in September to make sure and watch my 461 (discretionary budget code) line because I always do a few “somethings” this month. I started asking our leadership teams earlier in the month what they had enjoyed in the past or wanted me to make sure and include. We’ve got ours nailed down, added to a calendar and handed out.
  2. Mix it up! I added *more* this year but balanced free things with things I could purchase or do. They love free time, they love the warm-up days…it doesn’t have to be expensive to show your team you’re grateful for what they do!
  3. KNOW your people! We talk a lot about the value in knowing your team in Lead with Appreciation: Fostering a Culture of Gratitude. I have friends who are gluten-free, friends who are vegetarians, friends who don’t eat like a teenage boy as I do. 🙂  We don’t want them to look at these activities as things that they don’t get to participate in, everyone should get excited about Fridays in February!
  4. Leverage your people! I have mommas who love to bake, who love to help, who love to cut and hand out. I make sure I include them this month as well. From finding and cutting out my celebrity couples to donations for that delicious baked treat…I take advantage of this incredible community. Y’all, I managed to ruin not one, but two, dinners this week (it’s just not my gift.) but ya know what? I don’t have to do all of this by myself! The goal isn’t for you to walk away even more tired or despondent because of all that you’ve added to your own personal plate.
    Look around and ask for help!

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  5. Keep it simple! You literally can do one big thing this month…or tons of little things. Do all the free things. Simply cancel a meeting. Remove an expectation. Let them leave early. So many options! If you’re looking for MORE ideas, you can find some of our past years’ plans here, here or here!

 

Are fabulous Fridays in February already here, and to close for you to handle all this thinking and creating? What about Mondays in March or even a “you’re awesome” in April can also work! The main goal is to remind your teachers that you see them working hard, keeping their students at the forefront of what they do and that you just want to, yep, you guessed it, lead with appreciation!

 

 

Fabulously &

 

 

 

PS: Was this post helpful? You might like Melinda Miller’s and I’s book, Lead With Appreciation: Fostering a Culture of Gratitude! The book is packed with ideas to help leaders at any level support their staff and develop a PLAN for making sure climate and culture isn’t the ball that gets dropped when #leadershiplife happens! You can order your copy here, Lead with Appreciation: Fostering a Culture of Gratitude.