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5 #leadership promises to my Assistant Principal

May 5, 2017 by Amber 3 Comments

One of my realizations early on last year in my first year as being principal was that I was now responsible for growing and empowering my assistant principal. As a connected educator, and someone whose strength is that of an activator, I don’t remember looking to my principal as the person who “grew” me necessarily, but reflectively know that I gleaned much of what I do (or don’t do) from their example. My “first boss” as I affectionately call him was a servant leader in the truest sense of the word. He was the first to stop down and pray over a family or a situation, and was the first person at the hospital if there was a need. It was an amazing example of what I wanted to be…and now, when families are baffled at me visiting their Wolf in the hospital, I am confused. That’s just what kind of principal I want to be.

Knowing that, I am hyper sensitive to the example I am now setting for my assistant principal, or my teachers who want to be administrators. I am who is modeling what she could potentially be. It’s so important to remember that even if I ACTUALLY am cranky, or need to vent, it needs to be done in a proactive or positive manner…to also be cognizant of the eyes that are on me. Values, actions, & behaviors all set the tone that will eventually define those below me. Here are five of my big takeaways that I hope I am able to convey.

5. You’re going to get the behind the scenes from me, not the finished movie.  Have you ever worked for someone who seemingly got everything right? That person who always had everything together, and got everything right the first try? Yeah…I’m not that leader. I am messy. I am flawed. I make mistakes. But I will also be the first to admit those errors and do my darndest to not make the same mistake twice. You will see my process, hear my thoughts, and know what all went into something that went well, or what could have gone better.

4. You’re not going to be regulated to “specific” roles. Another highlight of that first principal of mine, was that he treated me as an equal. I wasn’t just there for books and discipline. I want my assistant principal to see ALL things that go into being a principal. I want her voice in the room when decisions are made. I count on her counter balance. I don’t want her to think of this as “my” campus, but as of “ours”, always. Not that sometimes I don’t have to make the big decision, but her input is wanted and valued.

3. I won’t let your focus be on “what you’ve always done”. I am connected educator spoiled. I see a bigger picture than a test, than a curriculum. I will consistently question the status quo. I will think bigger than where we are right now. Think bigger. Dream bigger. Even if what we “dream is a pie in the sky” idea…surely there is a piece of that pie we can make happen.

2. Get ready, you’re going to be my work spouse. Leadership can be a lonely place. Connections that you’ve made ebb and flow with the busyness of the year, and even with the best of intentions those you thought were your “go to” become your “once were”. I won’t allow the frantic pace of our day distract us from having regular conversations to keep us on the same page, we could be all that each other has! Even if we fundamentally disagree, I want to know what you’re thinking and vice versa.

1. Growing isn’t an option. We will get stronger together. We will each have our strengths and we will utilize those to the benefit of our campus. That doesn’t mean that we won’t have places where we each can grow and stretch. I am a lifelong learner and I want to help her see that as a GOOD THING. From books, to tweets, to conferences…there are so many ways we can get stronger…and we will, together.

My sweet AP reconfirmed how well we know each other today with the most incredibility thoughtful gift. A basket full of “13 reasons why she loves me”. Ya’ll. I don’t think my husband has even given me something this thoughtful. Every item in it…so perfect, so me! It reinforced that while I selfishly am determined to be a successful administrator to be GOOD at what I do, I owe it to her as well. That’s the model I want to set…she deserves it.

 

 

Eyes up,

Amber

Filed Under: Principal, teacher leader

“13 reasons why” I’m ok being a helicopter momma! #cpchat #leadupchat #momsasprincipals

May 3, 2017 by Amber 3 Comments

My beast is a freshman in high school. High school (if you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing YOUR child in high school yet, just you wait), is a whole. new. ball. game. She is fiercely independent (which she comes by naturally), but is unable to grasp that I am still the conduit to all the things in her life. She doesn’t yet know all that she doesn’t know. Part of the growth process, I am sure. Each grade level, each stage of this educational ladder that she climbs up, is designed to take her one rung closer to independence, to college, to real life… right?

The problem is, there isn’t a “how to be a grown up” class. There are opportunities for her to learn from missteps. (But it sure helps when someone points them out to her!) There are opportunities to reflect and correct. (But it sure helps if she has someone who models that!) There are opportunities to learn about time management when you’re juggling sports, clubs, friends, and oh, and an all Pre- AP and AP course load. (But it sure helps when you have parent privy to all those calendars providing reminders and nudges.) This is a path I am walking with her. I don’t care that the police club sponsor awarded her with the “Most Likely to Have a Helicopter Momma” award at her police club banquet (side eye at officer Stewart). I am involved in her world. I am her chauffeur and her bank account. I am the questioner and the friend picker upper. This is what I do.

 

 

The beast has zero forms of social media. (Caveat: no allowed accounts that I know of, anyway!) I am an involved parent. I am the parent who still signs up for snacks at the high school during teacher appreciation week. I am the mom who texts the other moms confirming plans, times, and expectations. I am the one who rolls the window down every. single. time, and yells “Don’t forget you love Jesus, make good choices!” (I think she likes it.) We make sure she checks her grades regularly and has conversations when she needs to concerning a reteach or make up. We make sure SHE is responsible for all of the follow ups she needs to be successful. Is that helicoptering? Or parenting?

If I hadn’t connected with her school on Facebook, or her church group in Instagram, or her HS principal on twitter (Virdie Montgomery, a good follow!) there are so many things I wouldn’t be aware of or have the chance to talk to her about. Thankfully, it’s 2017. There are no paper flyers that come home from the high school that I have to hunt down. Through our LMS we are able to access them all digitally, and of course, I am able to keep up that way. Don’t know if your school has/offers a LMS? itslearning is a great place to start! It’s a way for parents to stay connected with their campus, and as a leader, I make sure I push out all that I can so that again, parents NEED to stay connected with your student and oh my lizard, you have to start somewhere!

Be involved with your children. As an educator, I see the value in what it looks like when parents are more connected and involved with our campus. Parental involvement is an important factor in a successful school community. We can’t do it alone! It also helps for students to see that parents and educators are on the same team. We all want our students (your children!) to be successful… and the best way for educators to know what that looks like is for you to be involved. Help us help you! A trusting two-way relationship ensures that neither side will have to make assumptions on the other. Don’t know where to begin? Knowing the way communication is usually handled and through what channels is a great way to start.

There is such outrage circling the interwebs right now about the young adult series on Netflix “13 Reasons Why”. I made my teen read the book several years ago, and we watched the series together. If parents were more involved, genuinely, truly involved, that series actually might not rank at the top of your “to be concerned about” list. The amount of inappropriateness that cycles through SnapChat, or IG, or Quiz Up would astound you. There are conversations that need to be had. If you think your child “isn’t ready” for those kinds of convos, all the more reasons to have them! I preach that social media should be taught to the younger kids ALL the time. By the time they’re old enough to actually handle it, they’ve been all trained up by their peers and are uninterested in what you have to share.

Your children need you. They may not want you…but they NEED your wisdom, your experience, your voice. Don’t be scared of the things that go viral on Facebook, friends, be more scared of the stuff we know nothing about.

Communication is key, and parental involvement is important. Utilizing an LMS is just one part of the parent-student experience. If your school doesn’t already use an LMS, check out itslearning today!

This piece is sponsored by itslearning.

 

Side note…if my calling my teen “the beast” puzzles you, read this. 🙂 

Parenting puzzleR,

Amber

 

Filed Under: Parents, Principal Tagged With: AmberTeamann, digital citizenship

Easy treats for teachers!

May 2, 2017 by Amber Leave a Comment

What do you get when you have teacher appreciation and the week before your standardized test all rolled into one?

Easy  treats for teacher ideas that don’t stress out the principal!

  • I am not the testing coordinator but I still like to add a lil’something to the testing buckets. This year I just bought Reese’s Cups and Almond Joys. Add these little tags I made, and viola! Because I also know a couple of my testing peeps are doing Camp Gladiator with me, I also bought those packets of mixed nuts to throw in with the chocolate. All about balance, right?

 

  • Happy notes! Words of affirmation are about 85% of my staff’s love language, so these happy notes make it easy to fill out a thank you, or a shout out quickly. These also make me think about recognizing different “things”  from each of them. To ensure that I am getting something to every single one, I also use this checklist. I definitely don’t want to miss anyone! This holds me accountable throughout the course of the year to touch every single teacher.

 

Have a fabulously positive week, friends!

 

Amber

Filed Under: #taketwo, Principal

Looking for advice or its been given? You can go your own way!

April 18, 2017 by Amber 2 Comments

Advice.

ədˈvīs/
noun
  1. guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action, typically given by someone regarded as knowledgeable or authoritative.

Everyone has advice to offer. Sometimes it’s solicited, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it is helpful, sometimes it’s not. I always get questions in the spring asking how to handle certain questions or how to prepare for interviews they have coming up. This is year 15 for me, and I have definitely had my fair share of advice offered up. I wanted to share some of the absolute worst advice I’ve ever been given, in hopes that you, as you move forward, can discern between what you should, and maybe what you shouldn’t, listen to.

**This all is ACTUAL advice I have been given. Now, for the most part I fully understand this was all shared with the intent of HELPING ME, and I don’t at all (cough, cough) question the motives.**

  • Quit with the twitter business. It’s not going to do anything for you.
    • Multiple LIFE CHANGING relationships, true friendships cross the nation, professional experiences and keynote opportunities later, I disagree.
  • Have you thought about wearing turtlenecks? People shouldn’t notice your outfit.
    • I’m not even dignifying this one. (I still have the notebook in which I wrote all the “gems” this one was shared with. I’m impressed with my calmness in writing it all. Sigh.)
  • Don’t mention the Troy Aikman stuff anymore, it makes it hard for people to take you seriously.
    • The amount of connections, students, families, PLN’s, audiences that have remembered me, based on this one allows me to know that there is MORE to it than just silly fandom. This post also connects my childhood obsession with my grown up reality. 
  • Those cutesy sign offs? Your staff won’t respect you.
    • When I started blogging in 2005 I used the same lil’sign offs that I do now. While I don’t use them a ton in my professional correspondence, using them here just feels right. They’re…part of the me-ness that I always want to come through. If I lose respect because of an email or blog sign off, I’m thinking I didn’t actually have it to begin with.
  • Technology or leadership, you have to pick.
    • Negative ghost rider. I don’t write code. I don’t build computers. I leverage the tools available to maximize what I do. In ALL facets of my life…my leadership role is no different. I can also talk about guided reading. It’s not a zero sum game… you can know about BOTH!
  • Poems? No one has time to read your poems. Your staff won’t respect you.
    • Teaching is hard. Days are LONG. If I can write a silly poem letting teachers have a jeans day or announcing the teacher of the month, and it’ll make them smile, I’ll take it. Admittedly, it won’t be everyone’s cup of professional tea, but it is what it is. I am what I am.
  • Talk less, smile more. Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.
    • BONUS HAMILTON QUOTE!!! I’ve never been actually GIVEN this advice but it’s from a Hamilton song (skip to 1:02), and doesn’t it SOUND like some people you’ve worked for? It does for me. I never want people to have to wonder what I believe in, or stand for when it comes to doing what we do. It’s one of the reasons I value this blog so much. I can chronicle my career (post 2005) and see the evolution of who I am as an educator. Yes, I’ve changed my mind on things…but mostly, I’ve used this platform to extrapolate why I’ve changed or shifted in my thoughts. You don’t have to wonder who I am, or what I stand for…it’s all here.

Now, I am fully biased in my sharing that none of this was given recently, or from anyone I currently work with. (Not surprising, huh?) In fact, when I first met with my current superintendent and mentioned how stressed I was in trying to separate my “Technically, Teamann” self from the principal role, he literally laughed and said, “It’s who you are, Amber. Embrace and OWN IT.”

Do you know how empowering that statement is? You’re never going to get away from WHO YOU ARE. Todd Whitaker talks about a superstar being a superstar no matter where they are employed in his “What Great Teachers do Differently”. It’s true…your gifts, talents, and passions are going to come to light no matter what role you are playing. I once volunteered in an animal shelter and got reassigned to the front office entering data reports and answering the phone because my “perkiness was wasted on the pekingese!”

Stop trying to hide what makes you you…and know that there is a place, a GENUINE PLACE that will take you, take your quirks, take your strengths and embrace them. Never feel like you have to change who you are in order to get a position. And if you did, and got that position? How utterly exhausting having to pretend to be something you’re not. It’s not worth it, friends.

 

Good luck this hiring season. I hope that your world is full of people who give REALLY GOOD advice…but if not, come back & share what you’ve been told here!

 

advice giveN,

Amber

 

 

Filed Under: #taketwo, Leadership, Principal, teacher leader Tagged With: #cpchat, AmberTeamann

Why should reading and writing be authentic? #taketwo

April 17, 2017 by Amber Leave a Comment

At some point, as the adult in the room, we have to recognize that as long as students are reading and writing for a fabricated purpose, there is only so much energy and time that they will commit to the assignment. Churning out students who hate a subject but can perform in a standardized way isn’t doing anyone any good. While there definitely isn’t a chapter in your teacher’s manual that asks, “Why should reading and writing be authentic?”, it’s something that should be in the back of your mind while planning.  Even in the context of a classroom they can (and should!) be presented and taught as authentically as possible. When we present students with an authentic purpose, and have cultivated a reason for them to read or write that extends beyond an assignment or a classroom, then we will start to see their voice and passion come alive.  It may be an off the cuff assignment or look a little different from what the teacher down the hall is doing, but that is ok too.

As a fourth grade teacher, I had the pleasure of preparing our students for our state writing assessment each year. Have you ever tried to convince a 4th grade boy that writing is FUN? It was always a challenge! Realizing that the goal was to get them to find something they enjoyed writing about, or something that offered them a reprieve from a grammar worksheet became my mission. One year (pre Mrs. Teamann, of course…) we wrote letters to Troy Aikman, ℅ Valley Ranch and the Dallas Cowboys. The topic was “Why Troy Aikman should marry Miss Gattis”. Persuasive essay, check! Letter, check! We pored over and over those essays, edits and clarifications were flying through the room. No one wanted to let a typo get to Troy! (least of all Miss Gattis!)

Any subject that we teach has the opportunity to make an impact.

We work with students, children, who haven’t yet discovered that they have the power to change the world.

Click To Tweet

Motivating students to be critical readers, to read for enjoyment and knowledge, is a gift that we can give them. Reluctant reader? I genuinely believe we just haven’t found the right thing for them to read yet. Everyone has a passion, we just need to find the right book. It’s up to us, as the adults, to help model what it looks like to be a lifelong learner…a lifelong reader. My elementary colleagues, it just gets harder as they get older…it’s up to us to make elementary school not only FUN but also never losing sight of what it means to have academic integrity. Do we make that a priority? Are we giving enough time in their day to read for pleasure? Are read alouds still happening? One of my 4th grade teachers still does a read loud and she is amongst the top in the district for growing students. She wouldn’t give yup that time for anything…and the books she chooses are MEANT to hook kids into reading, it is very intentional. 

We live in an incredible world, where students have the opportunity now to connect with anyone, and I mean anyone. I have teachers who tweet authors, or celebrities, and colleges, all while modeling to their students what it looks like to communicate in a digital way. Students can blog and share their reflections with an authentic audience. George Couros has shared this image with me before.

 

There are too many opportunities for our students to read and write, and connect globally, to not take advantage of their greatness!
I run into former students all the time…and I can’t tell you how many of them remember those letters we wrote. I bet you they couldn’t tell you one single prompt from an assessment from elementary school…but they all want to know if I ever heard back from Troy!

 

 

PS: I didn’t. Which may actually be a good, non-stalkery ending to that story! 🙂

 

Always a fan,

Amber

Filed Under: #taketwo, Reading Tagged With: #admin, #beintentional, #cpchat, AmberTeamann

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