Principal — Page 14

Trust #thefirstyear #cpchat

November 8, 2015 by Amber Leave a Comment

“Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.” Francis Bacon

How do you build trust? How do you get to a point where you trust someone?

Time. Time. Time.

It takes time to develop trust…on both sides of leadership. How do you build that? One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is to assume that others trust him simply by virtue of his title. Trust is not a benefit that comes packaged with the nameplate on your door. It must be earned, and it takes time.

By being transparent, and sharing your thinking. By being vocal, and asking your questions. By being appreciative, and saying so. By being supportive, and doing so.

You have to do these things. And do them consistently. Not just days…not just weeks…but months. It takes months. Don’t forget that. Remember that no matter how amazing you are (cough cough) you are still new to them, and they are still new to you. There are many facets to learning each other…and that? takes time.

And if you’re lucky…you’ll find people who do all of these things beside you.

Lucky girl,

Amber

The power in not having the answer #thefirstyear

November 2, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

I keep a spiral in my desk where I write down little notes to help me remember all of my lil’leadership lessons as the days are flying by. This one is a doozie, and I am going to keep it short and sweet.

It’s ok to not have the answer….immediately.

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I have had several situations where my darn activator character strength kicks in and situations are handled quickly. Which is both a pro and a con!

(Sidenote: Have you taken the Gallup Strengths Finder? I am a BIG fan…my number one strength is activator. Defined as: “When can we start?” This is a recurring question in your life. You are impatient for action. You may concede that analysis has its uses or that debate and discussion can occasionally yield some valuable insights, but deep down you know that only action is real. Only action can make things happen. Only action leads to performance. Once a decision is made, you cannot not act.)

Learn from me, people. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking some time to think about a decision before making it. Even if I am 100% confident that in 24 hours I will handle it the exact same way, walking away and allowing myself to reflect, contemplate other points of view, talking to other seasoned peers, calming down…all allows me time to be pensive, thoughtful, and intentional with my decisions.

We had the opportunity to hear Mike Moses speak at a leadership meeting a couple weeks ago, and one of the things that stood out was that he said he wanted to be surrounded by patiently decisive people. Think about what that means. It’s someone who takes their time making a decision, but when they have the information they need to make to answer, they do. And they don’t waver. It is an informed, un-rushed, final decision.

(I have GREAT notes from him, I hope to get to write about SOON!)

A work in progress,

Amber

What I’m reading now…and why.

October 29, 2015 by Amber 2 Comments

As if I am not crazy busy enough this year, I refuse to sacrifice one of my guilty pleasures, which is reading. I’m at 90 books for 2015, my goal was 100…I’m so close! I track what I read through Goodreads, should you be interested in following along. It’s quite handy to not only keep me accountable. but also helps me remember what I want to read. If I am out in a classroom or a bookstore, I can scan in what I see that interests me. I then pull up my app in the library and voila! I know exactly what to get.

My “stack” right now is a hot mess of leadership, curriculum, inspiration and fun fiction. I take notes via twitter of what I’m reading, or on my phone. This ensures I can get back to the sentences or “tweetable” moments that mattered as I was reading.

Book 1: Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children My campus is a BIG proponent of guided reading. As a former fourth grade teacher, this was a whole new concept for me. Guided reading is an instructional approach that involves a teacher working with a small group of students who are at the same instructional reading level and ability . Meeting daily and supporting each level of each learner is where the magic happens. This book will not only convince of the merits, but help you understand what best practices you can help support and should be seeing. It has changed how I look at reading instruction!

Book 2: The Differentiated Classsroom ASCD alway has great books and the newest Carol Ann Tomlinson one is no different. The best part of this book are the instructional examples that she shares…it’s all about being to read something and take away gems of greatness that I can share with my staff. The premise here is that you want to convey that the content in your classroom doesn’t change,but that students have multiple options for taking in information,making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn. Differentiation, when done well, serves a classroom and individual students in a way that whole group instruction just can’t.

Book 3: The Innovator’s Mindset I had the honor of pre-reading George Couros’s first book and writing a recommendation. Here is what I shared with his publisher:

“George Couros has the ability to challenge what you didn’t even realize needed to be challenged. He does it deliberately, thoughtfully, and instinctively. These challenges result in a perceptive and practical book–one that will change how you “do” education. More importantly, he inspires you to WANT to be better than you are. If you’ve seen George present, then you know there is no better story teller than he, and this book is no different. He can make you cry in one sentence, and laugh out loud in the next. From that emotion comes the impetus for change…real change, that will impact educators & students around the globe. If you are looking for a book to help initiate conversations on innovation, challenging the status quo, and are unsure where to turn, “The Innovator’s Mindset” is the answer. From the “why” to the more applicable “what” he talks you through, step by step, a way to make change happen, and I for one, am a better leader for it. You can’t help but be motivated by the simple truths and examples shared. These are REAL examples, from teachers and leaders in classrooms today, that are accomplishing the basics and so much more. In a system that measures through standardized lines, these suggestions will take you far beyond what you think you could accomplish….and more importantly, show how to take your students with you.”

I can’t recommend this book enough.

Book 4: Carry on, Warrior

I love sassy girls, and books BY sassy girls. Funny, honest, brave…and literally made me cry laughing. Asking me to tell you about my favorite par would involve laughter/tears again, so I will refrain. You will not regret the time spent reading this book. Mommas, leaders, anyone who has ever felt they couldn’t get it “all” in will feel a connection. And that just about all of us?

So that’s what is on my nightstand. What have you read/want to read that I should add to my list?? I have ten more to read, so give me some good ideas!

Book wormN,

Amber

Take care of your new people! and a newbie freebie! #thefirstyear

October 9, 2015 by Amber 2 Comments

One of my most special groups of people are those who have begun this year’s journey with me. Staff members that I either hired or inherited as new that began the year as newbies will hold a special place in my heart because of their energy, their excitement and because they too get that glazed over look at times, ha!

This group needs to be nurtured as a whole within your campus, but also as separate newbies. They have no history with the campus. You are in fact, building their history as the year goes on. Take advantage of that and check in with them often.

Their loyalty to the campus begins with you…and you want that to be strong, and as aligned with your leading vision as possible.

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It is easy to get swayed if you do not have some core values locked in place, and your new people? You want them to have your core values in front of them throughout the year. Feeling like you fit in and are able to contribute is important…especially if you’ve hired the most awesome teachers/staff around! I am SO proud of how involved mine all already are, and that we are continuing to nurture their cohort relationship.

We met last week, just with my new staff, and had root beer floats, and I gave them this check in sheet to get back to me when they could. We talked generally about how their year was going, and what we had coming up to look forward too. It was reassuring to see that they too, were staying a’float!

Taking care of my team helps them take care of my Wolves!

Pack leadN,

Amber

Have the vision, not the right answers… #thefirstyear

September 17, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

One month in and there’s so much I have already learned! Right off the bat, I have learned how very much I don’t know…and how very ok that is!

It feels like I have been here forever, in a very good way, but I haven’t been. I’m still learning kids names. I’m still learning traditions, and unstated expectations, and how things have been done in the past.

Keeping up with my schedule, my assistants schedule, my counselors schedule…not to mentions teacher’s schedules…

Emails. Oh the emails…responding, answering, delegating…saving, filing, deleting.

Instruction…there’s so much greatness around here. We’re piloting a district initiative with Ipads, and I am so proud of how my teachers have DOVE in, are tacking 30Hands, Educreations, app smashing, and integrating all over with a high level of instructional value. Follow us on Facebook if you’d like to see some of what we’re sharing.

Learn along with us on our two hashtags that we’re posting to, #wearewhitt and #URLearning.

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Building relationships. Every day I am intentionally doing SOMETHING that fosters relationships. From staff, to my AP, to my parents…I am doing SOMETHING and in my Erin Condren Planner I am highlighting each day that I do some little something. I am hoping it’s these little things that make a BIG difference. I’ve bought drinks for those outside in the car pool, given out Twinkies as a “Teamann Treat” for those who completed a task I’ve asked of them, mailed postcards to lil’Wolves bragging on what I hear their teachers bragging about, and written happy notes to those I see that are just keeping on!

I had a great conversation with an administrator I respect this week, asking him his thoughts on a few typical admin situations, and I thought he gave me the BEST advice. He said “Amber, you don’t have to have all the answers.

Your job is to set the tone, to share the vision…and to keep the course in getting there.”

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Such a relief to know I don’t have to have it all mastered, just knowing what I want our “story” to be will help us all find those answers…together…the way it should be!

Admin LoveN,

Amber