Vision — Page 2

Purpose & Positivity, part 2

January 3, 2016 by Amber Leave a Comment

I shared these paragraphs with my staff in their weekly “Get Whitt it!” today…(See my other weeks here.)

A blank calendar. A fresh start.

It’s the perfect time to evaluate where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you’re going. It’s a time for us to bring back that September enthusiasm, relentless joy, and excitement for what we get to do as Whitt Wolves.

This month, I encourage you to look at what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what your heart truly desires in this moment. Maybe you’ve been skimping on self-care and establishing a new routine that encourages you to think of you is what you need. Maybe you’ve been so wrapped up in work that you’ve forgotten how important what you do really is. Call a friend you haven’t checked in on in a while. Evaluate what you’ve accomplished this year so far, and how you want to feel by the time the clock strikes the end of this school year in June.

There will be challenges in the coming months, of course, and the stress of this semester will bring all kinds of highs and lows. But if we shift our perspective to refocus our minds, refresh our hearts, and renew our commitments, there’s no telling what kind of miracles the rest of this year has in store. Pick out your outfit, grab your backpack, and let’s get take this semester’s journey together. That’s what our Wednesday staff meetings are going to focus on…purpose & positivity.

I have plans for a staff meeting, just 30 minutes long, each Wednesday in January. Here are the plans thus far, and I will edit this as the month progresses. Keeping that p & p focus this month is my focus. Spring in Texas is pretty much about as stressful as it gets. You have all the normal school stress, no long breaks, and our state testing. While my campus has done well in the past couple of years,

our focus is not on being “successful” but proving “mastery”.

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We want to maintain the standard we have here, not just reach it every so often.

May your January be as purposeful and just as positive!

Amber

It’s ok to pause… #the firstyear

October 21, 2015 by Amber Leave a Comment

Confession: I am so behind. I have SO many things to write about. From campus happenings, to the greatness of the #WGEDD conference last weekend…lots to share. I even worked last night until 9. 9 pm, ya’ll! and while it definitely knocked off several to do’s, I’m still not where I want to be.

Which brings us to here. Thinking about being ahead of the curve, staying up, staying ahead.

I had the opportunity t o be featured on The Goin’Digital podcast last week with Brad Gustafsaon and Michael Berry. Brad and I have connected on a couple different things, but have never “met”, and Michael was a new friend immediately. We were talking about tech savvy leadership, and ways that we are communicating and sharing with our campus and communities…and my word. Mr. Berry uses his walkthroughs to also create podcasts with his students. He records what they are doing, how their day is going…all kinds of student greatness, then publishes it. He made it sound SO easy! As an example, he talked about discussing parent conference with parents and what they wanted to see/learn when they went…what an incredible tool for HIS ACTUAL TEACHERS to hear as they prepare for conferences!

Brad in one sentence…ONE sentence…used the words “go pro, periscope, drone, augmented reality principal trading cards “. I mean really. All I did was scribble down practically everything these two guys said. I was supposed to be there as a resource for others, not feeling completely intimidated by my peers! Yeesh!

( I was able to brag on the awesome things my staff is tackling, I can’t be silent for too long!)

The next morning I was talking to my assistant principal and telling her how GREAT they were, and she said, “Amber, you can’t forget that they had to start somewhere too. You’ve got to give yourself time to get there.” Those words…that allowance of growth…I can’t even tell you. It made a decision I had been struggling with on our campus just crystallize for me. It’s OK to pause.

It’s ok to be proud of where you are, knowing where you want to be.

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Stepping back, giving yourself the grace to WANT to be better, but that it can’t happen overnight. There is a continuum of growth. There is a starting point. There is a beginning for us all.

If you are at the beginning of a journey, or in a place where you are wanting to move forward, have faith.

Walk slow, just don’t walk backwards.

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It’s ok to go slow, it’s just not ok to STOP.

Don’t let where you want to be interfere with where you ACTUALLY are…progress not perfection, my friends!

pausing,

Amber

PS: Here’s the Goin’ Digital show I referenced above, if you’re interested!

Leading by learning… #thefirstyear

September 23, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

With any new position, job, or skill…there is a learning curve. These days I walk the tightrope of leading…and learning. I posted this quote at our PLC meeting today and thought it most apropos.

How do I ensure that I keep my team passionate and not just STRESSED? Right now I am doing it through conversations, chats, and insisting over and over that they talk to me. Tell me why you’re overwhelmed, what can we do to make it easier to handle? Where do you feel we can make a change? How does that change impact our non-negotiable, of student success? I heard from great teachers today what all was on their plate, and had to really remember that we are new to each other. They aren’t sure how blatantly honest they can be with me, and I don’t know how much support or how many reminders they need yet.

A compromise has to be reached through trust and LOTS of talking.

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While there are some things that I’ll fall on the sword for (student growth, student empowerment, teacher support) there’s a LOT that I’m willing to be flexible with. I’ve said it before but I know they need to hear it again and again…my superintendent even referenced it yesterday. Having leadership model that mode of leading I HOPE will be an example for how they interact with their students. It’s one I am learning from the very top.

Always remember what the MOST important thing is…and it’s not usually a hoop to jump through.

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I read George say over and over again that leaders aren’t leaders because they know everything, they are leaders because they have the ability to create MORE leaders. They lead with a vision, and communicate that vision. “When the leader has this belief and proves it through actions, it trickles down to students in the classroom.” I am not the principal because I have all the answers, but because I will do whatever it takes to help my staff and students be successful. I’m so proud of my teachers…they cram SO much in, the very least I can do is listen and try to removes obstacles.

As an AP I remember thinking I always had to give an answer, to prove myself, at the detriment of having at times, to come back and admit I was wrong. I think it’s a sign of growth now that I can say, “lets talk through this” or “what are you thoughts?”, rather than give an edict.

Each and every day I learn something that I hope makes me better…and that’s something I hope my staff sees, and can appreciate. #thefirstyear #wearewhitt

passionately,

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

Is your school run like a business? Or why mine won’t be…

July 14, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

My husband and I are celebrating our ten year anniversary this September. Making it ten whole years is a huge accomplishment in my eyes. I’m not easy to get along with, 😉 To celebrate we chose to go St. Thomas for a week. It was amazing. Right up until the final morning when I received an email from our airline (Spirit) letting us know our initial flight out had been delayed by 2 ½ hours. To make it even more fun, that meant that we would miss our connecting flight to Dallas from Ft. Lauderdale.

Very stressful.

What were we to do then? How does that even work? I called 800 number after 800 number trying to find someone who could help me…all I was told was that I needed to speak to the gate agents. You know, the ones AT THE AIRPORT. That didn’t help me! Despite not leaving until late afternoon, our whole last morning was super stressful. We drove to the airport to learn that the solution was to fly us to Chicago from Ft. Lauderdale, spend the night, and then fly back to Dallas the next morning. It took over two hours to be told what our plan was going to be.

Very stressful.

At the ticket counter, I felt sorry for the young ladies checking us in. Everyone was cranky, it was hot (no air conditioning! Huh??) and nobody liked the solutions being offered. I asked when it was my turn if it stressed the workers out when they learned about delays or cancellations. Her response? “No, you just get used to it.” She was very matter of fact, un-moved by everyone’s stress and situations. The couple in front of me had arranged for their animals to be dropped off at their house, now no one was going to be there. The couple behind me weren’t going to be able to get back home until Saturday! Yikes! One lady had very strict, dire almost, instructions that she’d better be at work the following day. There were no allowances made. Luckily, I had grandparents on standby, and thankfully, my fire fighting husband had an extra day before his next shift. None of these situations impacted the gate agent’s willingness to help or be empathetic to the situation. It was what it was. There was no apology given, or even an explanation shared. They very indifferently went about their business.

One of the refrains I’ve heard is that education should “be more like a business”.

I hope that my campus never loses its ability to connect and empathize with our students and parents.

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I hope my staff is always able to maintain eye contact, provide a smile, and do what we can to help who is front of us. I hope I am always seen as someone who is solution focused, and open to listen and help. I hope they walk away feeling heard, supported, and encouraged. May we never become immune to the circumstances and situations our parents and students end up in…never should we “just get used to it”.

We are more than a business. Especially THAT business.

Home sweet home,

Amber