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

When did you last learn something totally new?

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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.

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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?

 

 

 

 

Leading Out of Your Comfort Zone

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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.

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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)

Get the most out of your conference/professional development!

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How do you as an administrator (or teacher!) feel about conferences? Professional learning? Empowering your teachers?Here are the things we did to maximize sending our team of teachers to #TCEA! Make the most out of your next conference!

Often our budgets and #allthethings (subs! testing! schedules! teaching!), make it impossible to send every teacher we have to attend any conference. I am a very big believer in growing and empowering the team I have with me, so I allocate a substantial amount of money in my budget towards teacher development. We did an individualized book study as a campus, my kinder team is attending the SDE Kinder conference this month, and my first-grade literacy leaders went to see the guided reading guru Janet Richardson when she was close. We had the awesome opportunity to send a team of teachers to TCEA last week. In meeting with these risk takers, I wanted to make sure that we maximized their benefit, as well as our staff, to learn all that we could from the conference!

We had a PD today where each TCEA tripper will share something they learned. They’ve staggered their sessions throughout the day. For a couple of teachers, this was REALLY out of their comfort zone, so they are presenting the same tool/session three times. For some, they have three different things to share. As our Wolves attend sessions throughout the day, I’ve asked them to tweet out their gems of greatness with #wearewhitt. (GO check it out!!) We’ll pull that thread up in PLC on Wednesday and explore all that was shared. Ala George Couros, I didn’t go over the “how to’s” of twitter today, I just gave them their expectations and off they went! It was a GREAT day of learning!

Asking for those three tweets will help each teacher not only have “notes” for what was shared but also allow them to experience all of the sessions that were offered today. Many went over the 20 minutes allowed, which will just make your principal heart so happy! This also solidified for the teachers that went that there were expectations on their experience. Preparing and presenting will help keep what they learned in focus…everyone knows that tired head feeling after you’ve returned from a conference, the one where you are so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start? My people have a plan!

As a last attempt to ensure we could get everything possible out of the conference, I’ve asked teachers to implement ONE strategy, tip, trick, or tool that they learned about today into their lesson plans for next week. It didn’t have to be something that all 22 students had to be able to do, but maybe it could be used as an opportunity for those who need enrichment. (I shared the Discovery Education Spotlight on Strategies and was AMAZED that it was all new to them!!)

 

As an admittedly techie administrator, there aren’t a whole lot of “things” that I haven’t heard of or been exposed to in my 15+ years of teaching, techN, etc. BUT until ALL of my teachers are as comfortable and confident as I am…then I am not done learning either! My goal is to never walk away from any session and think I’ve learned nothing…even with a tool my district pays for, I was able to glean useful strategies to help build up my Wolves. 

Be that kinda administrator…the one who always wants their people to be better.

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Motivating staff in the winter doldrums! #FabFridays for 2018!

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We’re all feeling the blahness here in Texas…multiple weeks of cold weather…we just can’t handle it!

Spring break is HOW  many weeks away??

HOW many assessments do we have coming up?

We like to joke that October and February are like the armpits of the school year. Not a lot to look forward to, but LOTS to make us all tired and sweaty!

 

Brighten your campus with some FUN FRIDAYS to look forward too! Fab Fridays in February have become something I look forward to each year, instead of dreading this long month of cold days. Check out what we’ve done in previous years as well! (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017). Some are cheaper and easier than others…it just depends on who you have around to help you , or if you have any budget money available.

 

My PIC Melinda Miller and I have Facebook group completely dedicated to administrators and staff appreciation/motivation ideas. If you’re an administrator (at any level!) join the fun and share what you do to keep your climate & culture healthy and happy!

The only thing we talk about are ways to celebrate and lift up your hard-working teachers and coworkers. From counselors week to staff appreciation gifts, there are a lot of people doing awesome things and we’re sharing that we can! It’s already 1100 admin strong, so come join the party!

 

 

What will YOU be doing for Fab Fridays in February?  Even just one or two fun activities to look forward to will make a difference!

 

 

 

 

PS: If you can’t get this pulled together for February? Try Marvelous Mondays in March!

a Principal’s Bucket List…great ideas from other principals! #bucketlist #2018

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I came across a teachers bucket list on IG by @PrestoPlans and knew I wanted to do one! Several of the ideas would have translated into my admin shoes…but then I decided to make an ADMIN version! Of course, as I sat staring at the page…I realized I wanted MORE! (Please see the previous blog! ha!)

Thankfully, I am surrounded by greatness on FB and IG, and voila! Look at all of these awesome ideas!! Free, easy, and admin accomplishable!! Listed at the bottom are all the amazing educators who contributed! There were so many great ideas I couldn’t even add the cutesy clipart, just so I could fit it all in! Thank you SO much to those who commented!

Will you tackle this bucket list?? I think these ideas are GREAT…some are new to me (send welcome cards to new families, monthly! LOVE!) and some I’ve heard of and have yet to tackle (#noofficeday, darn it!!)

This makes me SO EXCITED about this semester!! Anyone want to race me, in completing this list?? #gameon!

Download the PDF here!


@PrestoPlans says she is also working on an admin version, keep an eye out for hers as well! #allthethings