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

We buried a teacher today…

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One think after twelve years in education, I would have experienced this before. But I hadn’t.

I was fortunate enough to have worked with this young lady, (young because 58 just isn’t old) for over three years. We had a connection beyond just being her assistant principal, because she and I? Were Cowboy fans. Like the kinda Cowboy fans that other people called odd or stalkerish. We just called it genuine. We texted during games, and the ups and downs were just that…part of the roller coaster ride of being a real fan. Our last texts were on September 7th, as we lamented the lack of leadership.

From the sliver and blue jewelry, to the sparkle flip flops…she always had a treat to lift me up. She was thoughtful, she was kind. She was fiercely loyal. Her brother today mentioned her deep insecurities…right before there was a slew of students that got up and spoke about what an impact she’d had on their little lives. Several students spoke, their relationship genuine. What a tribute to an educator…having students speak of your influence.

Someone thanked the family for sharing her with us for the 20 years she’d spent here in Texas being an educator. I thought what a blessing that was for them to hear. I hope it warmed their hearts to hear the young voices talk about how she made them love to read, or encouraged them ,or converted them all to Cowboy fans. 

Her sudden decline was documented via social media, which again, was a place for friends and family to share their well wished and memories. Again, in time, I hope her family is able to realize how many lives she touched by being not just a teacher, but also a friend.

If you are experiencing that October wilt…the one where you’re already starting to count down how many days till Thanksgiving, I encourage you to remember how important you are to the people around you. Your team, your campus, your students and your family. You matter. YOU are making a difference in people’s lives, each and every day. Never forget what an amazing gift that you have, to touch so many life paths.

I can only hope sweet Terry was looking down today to see her impact. She will be missed. She will be remembered.

 

Sadly,

Amber

 

It’s Connected Educator Month! (Huh? What?) #CE14

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Even though it looks different for each learner, being a connected educator simply means leveraging technology to expand one’s personal learning network. Doing so not only provides you with a network of like-minded people, but also inspires you to try new activities and strategies to create the most effective learning environment for your students. No one has time to be alone on their educator island! Jump in this month and try something new!

 

There is a calendar through ASCD & the USDOE and  that gives a multitude of activities that you can partake in.  From tweeting to blogging to an online book club, there’s an activity for every type of learner. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the choices, pick just ONE a week (or the month! baby steps!) even to get your feet wet in the connected waters.

I’m choosing to share these ideas with my staff, thinking that if just one of them becomes more “connected” this month, they’ll have changed the trajectory of their classroom of learners!

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(Link to an editable version of my tic tac toe board)

What activities are you going to try?

 

 

AmConnctedber

 

 

PS: Join Joe Mazza and  I on October 16 as we host a #CPchat on “Using Social Media for Professional Learning” at 8pm ET.

 

 

Lane check…who is your “check in person”?

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I love my daughter’s day care. They care about her, they love on her, some days they even fix her hair in these amazing ponytail/braid/thingies. (If you’ve seen that curly-haired energetic baby girl of mine, you’d know that is an impressive feat.)

One afternoon last week, I pulled into the drive of her school, and again experienced the dilemma of where to park to run in to grab her. There are two lanes under a large carport, and then an outside “lane” that is the fire lane. One half under the carport is clearly labeled, “no parking”…and being married to a fireman,  I know you’re not supposed to park in the firelane. The dilemma comes in that every day there are people parked where I think they shouldn’t be parked. And every day I just pull up behind one of them and go get my girl.

How many things do you do in the course of your day because everyone else is doing it? Things that you may or may not think are correct but that you do none the less, because it’s what others are doing?

That afternoon, I grabbed the office manager and asked her what the correct protocol was for parking. (Inside carport, or fire lane is fine…for the record.)

It made me wonder again how much happens during an instructional day that we do, not because its right, or what’s best for students, but because it’s what everyone else is doing. I challenge you to find a “person” (if not a complete PLN!) that you can check in with that help keep you in the right lane…the one where you’re supposed to be, not just the one everyone is in.

 

vroom, vroom,

Amber

It’s not the snap shot you should remember, take time to watch the movie!

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Have you ever been guilty of making a judgement about someone? Maybe a coworker? Or a student? A parent who was defensive or absentee? Someone who did something you thought was “wrong”?

I saw this video that my favorite Canadian George Couros posted on FB this weekend and it really reminded me of how often we make generalized judgments about someone based on one interaction we’ve experienced with them.

We encourage students to make mistakes, the proof that they are putting themselves out there, trying new things. As a teacher, I know I made mistakes. I am so thankful that I had supportive, encouraging administrators who saw beyond those mistakes. They saw my heart, my passion, and that my intent was always with the best of intentions. They saw ALL of me, not just an error I made. That snapshot didn’t define me.

Each year as an assistant principal, I have grown, I have learned, and I have done the very best that I can. Have I made mistakes? Absolutely! There’s no manual that comes with this job. You are dependent on those around you to help guide, lift you up, and support your efforts. I hope that you are able to say the same. There’s toxicity in surrounding yourself with people who won’t look past a moment to see the bigger picture. In my role, I challenge myself daily to see the BIG picture, and how I can help empower our entire staff to see beyond where they are (or were!) to where they can be. Their movie isn’t finished yet. 

As an educator, before you make decision on someone you know, work with, or work for…take a minute to question their intent. Do you KNOW that person or are you just basing your decision on a single snapshot of their career? What would the whole movie say? 

 

tissue grabN,

Amber

5 things learned from “Read, Write, Lead” & win your own copy!

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Regie Routman’s newest ASCD book, “Read, Write, Lead: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Success” was a cover to cover read for me. Knowing how well-respected Ms. Routman is certainly made me WANT to read this book, but the focus on literacy skills made it impossible to put down.

My top five take aways:113016b

1. Establish a culture of trust. A level of professional trust is crucial for effective change. (In the same way the instructional leader needs to have a relationship with their staff in order to provide coaching support, a teacher must do the same with their students.) Where trust is missing, fear is often present, and fear is a guaranteed antidote to learning. The change when moving your campus/classroom to a literacy/writing based classroom will be different from what you are used too…keep those high expectations and keep moving forward.

2. Teach with urgency. Lacking the belief that we can positively influence the learning and achievement of ALL of our students will hold us back. Teach with a sense of relevancy and purpose & connect meaning to the tasks at hands.

3. These big ideas: modeled writing from instructors, student input, authentic book discussions, connect reading & writing. I’m going to look for strong teachers to help make these happen this year. Routman writes “We need to focus our reading and writing where our students’ interests are”. In an educational system where “student engagement” is crucial, there are quick wins shared that are practical and easy to implement, from kinder to high school.

4. The entire chapter on leadership priorities. “Effective leadership is essential for excellent school wide reading and writing practice across the curriculum”…and she cites a 6 year study that not one single successful school was able to be that way “with the absence of talented leadership”. The chapter highlights significant behaviors and actions of effective leaders, which led to accelerated achievement for both students and teachers.

5. Finally, the idea of PLCs: “professional literacy communities”…I don’t think there is too big a reach from the PLCs that we see working on campuses today to one with a literacy instructional  focus. Allowing data to guide not dictate. Recognize  that there is a difference between professional development and professional learning. Identify crucial questions that can be a school focus..and make sure you stay on track.

The appendix provides instructional look-fors that are also an incredible resource.

Want to get a copy for yourself?? You can order it here or you can also enter below to get a FREE copy! Enter between today (9/14/2014) and next Sunday, (9/21/2014) and I will send the winner their copy! (I’ll be keeping mine with all the high lighting, ;))

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read on,
Amber