#txed

10 ways to be a stronger leader, #aprincipalreads

July 21, 2016 by Amber 1 Comment

I challenged myself to read 10 different books in 18 days. While I didn’t quite hit my timing goal, I did manage to read the ten and reflect…as well as an added bonus book, “Kids Deserve It”.

To ensure that I was able to reflect and process, I am going to share my one (er, or two…) BIG take aways from the book. ONE (or two!) action applicable items that if you weren’t able to read the book, that you would still be able to take away and apply along your leadership journey. Please know there is SO MUCH MORE to offer than just my one big idea, but, I’m hoping by articulating ONE, I am able to “see” more clearly where it can become a way I do “business”. Melinda Miller over at The Principal Blog is doing the same! (Special thanks to Dewawn Wiest for her “how to share” idea!)

Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes Get eight hours of sleep, no excuses. Ask yourself if every bite you put into your mouth is helping you…or hurting you. Get up and move. Plan ahead a way to add activity to your day. This book was FULL of gems like this. I REALLY enjoyed reading it and think there were a variety of ways that you can improve your long-term quality of life by implementing even 1/4th of what he offers.
Transforming School Culture– When looking at new teachers (referred to as “tweeners” in this text”, utilize a multifaceted approach to mentorship. A committee of campus veterans is able to able to assist on a more regular basis and is able to cover ALL the bases for a new educator. The counselor can help with SPED/student services, a master organizer can speak to classroom systems, someone strong with behavior management and relationships can share their best practices, etc. This committee spreads the wealth of expertise at your campus, and if you have multiple new team members, it doesn’t allow anyone to fall through the cracks. This is a MUST DO in my mind this year!
Leading With Trust: How to Build Strong School Teams– I sure wish I had read this at the BEGINNING of my first year, instead of the end. While I, the queen of culture building activities (12 days of Christmas & Fab Fridays as examples) as a new administrator, I definitely came in two steps ahead of where I needed to be. Even if my ideas and thoughts were RIGHT, my timing and approach were SO WRONG. Huge humbling realization. Vision is important. It is great..it literally is like a magnet pulling me forward, but when your staff is dealing with basic trust issues, it’s way too early for a grand vision.
Never Underestimate Your Teachers: Instructional Leadership for Excellence in Every Classroom– EVERY Teacher deserves the focus and intentionality to address any instructional concerns. That seems very common sense, but in the hustle bustle of ALL the things, it’s an easy thing to let lapse. In the same way that you wouldn’t accept a student’s lack of success, it should also be applied to your staff. Her skill/will checklist and a matrix will help define exactly where to start and how to make it happen.
How to Plan Rigorous Instruction (Mastering the Principles of Great Teaching) – If you have any teachers who are struggling with the concept of rigorous instruction, this would be a great text to help kickstart the mindset that they need. It walks teachers through developing and applying a framework to an existing curriculum. Each chapter has a “your turn” section that can be easily applied to a teacher’s next unit. Practical! Chapter three, “Choosing Instructional Strategies” in particular is a good one for admin to share with leadership teams.
Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement– RTI- Be proactive, not reactive with RTI. We have a TON of data at our disposal but if we’re only using it AFTER a student fail, it doesn’t do anyone any good. I am really excited about the creation of an RTI team this year. One that will help identify struggling learners BEFORE they fail a big assessment or grading period. One of our focal points? This quote! “If educators continue to view assessments as a tool for assigning grades based on abilities rather than a process for addressing student needs and improving professional practice, an intervention will have little impact on enhancing student learning.” We have to get past “This student isn’t doing well in math” to “This student can’t add two-digit numbers with regrouping.”.
The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business– Good grief. You read a book every once in while that is so easy to understand and makes you wonder why in the world you aren’t doing everything in it. This is that book. The focus on building relationships and focusing on culture. “Building a cohesive leadership team” is an important facet of any strong, effective team. The only way for teams to build real trust is for team members to come clean about who they are, warts and all.
The Ten-Minute Inservice: 40 Quick Training Sessions that Build Teacher Effectiveness– One of my BIG todo’s this year is to empower and build teacher leaders. I am blessed with a pretty incredible staff, many who are ready to take the next step into administration in their career. I need to up my due diligence in providing opportunities for them to grow and to learn. I will have on my calendar (Before teachers come back to school!) meeting dates for my team leaders and my PLC leaders. I am also going to commit to monthly staff meetings, so that everyone feels included, informed, and given the chance to be involved. This book ensures that I will always have high-quality options at my disposal to share and to grow my team. Better teaching leads to better student learning and improved student outcomes. A particular favorite? Effective teaching, Part 1. (page 43) This allows your teacher to reflect on their own best practices and identify areas where they could improve. It’s personal, it’s prescriptive, and it’s easy. All good things!
Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love (Hack Learning Series) (Volume 5) – This was an especially timely reread as I am thinking and planning for back to school PD. Hank #9 is on “collaborate and learn”. Sanfelippo and Sinanis share “If educators feel passionately about an idea and see value in it, the chances of their using it as a focal point for future learning— both individually and collectively—increases exponentially.” It should be exhilarating to leave our PD not exhausting. Our brains should be full, but not weary. As leaders, it is our responsibility to provide those kinds of opportunities for our staff. We need to get past the old way of doing things where everyone sits and everyone gets…to a better place. This book is FULL of easy, implementable, strategies to “hack” your leadership.
The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity – This is a book that you need to read multiple times in order to maximize what it has to offer. Challenging the status quo and being able to effectively communicate what and why you’re asking for changes is crucial for making a difference. Students can and should be encouraged to be leaders TODAY…not just assume we are only preparing them for leadership tomorrow. (That’s a George line, not an Amber line.)

BONUS BOOK: Kids Deserve It: Mrs. Wiest suggested I read this and it was a quick read! Many of the ideas are fun and easy and if you’re looking for a way to some fun into your year, this book would be a good choice!

I hope that you are able to take and apply even one of these big ideas this next year. In my handy dandy notebook, I have a laminated little insert with some keywords that will help me remember and stay on track with these leadership principles. Knowing that I’ll have it with me at all times, hopefully ensuring I will be able to reread and remember these points all year.

Have you read any of these books? What are your strategies for reflecting and applying what you’ve learned as an administrator?

All applyN,

Amber

Expecting vs extending grace…

May 6, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

Have you ever been pulled over? This may surprise you, cough cough, but my driving style is a lot like the way I talk…and write. Fast and furious, always trying to get somewhere. Last weekend, with an unexpected afternoon of sunshine, I was out running errands, and inadvertently didn’t pay enough attention to a new posted neighborhood speed. My first immediate thought was, “Ohhhhhhh, MT is going to kill me!’ The second was, “Ohhhhhhh, please don’t give me a ticket! Just a warning, just a warning!”

Luckily, I did just get a warning that day. As I was driving away, I thought how ironic it was that as administrator, working with both adults and students, I am a big rules/policies girl. I like to know the parameters of an environment/situation and think that they are in place for a reason. I’m quick to want accountability and feel that individuals should be held responsible.

But when I get pulled over, my first instinct is to want grace. I want to explain, to rationalize, to make sure you understand the circumstances.

I was so much more cognizant of my speed this week. I was appreciative of the chance to do better. I was respectful of the officer’s power of a punitive action, but that he chose to give me the benefit of a learning experience. Had I gotten a ticket, would I have reflected on it so objectively? Or would I have been bitter and resentful? Been annoyed as I watched others fly by, getting away with their hurried pace, while I sat as the “one who got caught”… been focused on more of the consequence, than the actions that I had done to get myself there?

I don’t know for sure.

It was a very poignant reminder that as a leader,

I have the opportunity to give grace, and that more can actually be accomplished by doing so.

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Reminded,

Amber

Do you offer feedback or feed forward? #ASCD15

March 22, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

I had the opportunity t to talk to the assistant principal and two teachers from Magnolia Elementary today, winners of the ASCD Whole Child Vision and Action award today. There were several take-aways that stood out.

When asked about walk-throughs and how the administration provided guidance, one teacher mentioned that as a campus they focus on giving “feed-forward” information, asking questions that allow self discovery. It works for kids and they said it really works for them!
Mental health cohort- The team of specialists on their campus meet regularly to discuss students and their needs. The speech therapist, school psychologist, the counselor, and others..all with a vested interest in some of the high flyers on the campus…they decided if a mentor is needed or if further support is needed.
These teachers mentioned empowerment several times. One of the ways that this was evident was that for their PD, each grade decides what they need in order to grow, and work with campus specialists to get the training they need. Students struggling in interventions? Great, let’s bring in the Title I specialist. Want to add some movement in your lessons for student wiggles? Awesome, let’s ask the PE teacher if she can meet with us. They utilize their on campus experts.
Administrator support- open door policy, all the way. The staff knows that they can come with any ideas, suggestions, or questions and receive the opportunity to talk and be heard.

This should be every administrators goal. Be steady and supportive.

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I was very impressed with the positivity that emanated from this group, and know that they are all in for the right reason…their students! With the population they are working with, it cant be easy, but I guarantee its worth it!

Sharingly,

Amber

If the blog title fits…goodbye, Technically yours, Teamann!

November 7, 2014 by Amber 7 Comments

The evolution of this blog has come a long way. It began as a tool I used in my fourth grade classroom. It then became a place I could share all of the great things I was seeing in classrooms and share techie resources as a technology facilitator. It then became a place to share weekly happenings as an administrator. It became less and less about “technology” and more and more about leadership…about quality instruction…about all the things I am passionate about.

Did you know that there are Texas standards for principal efficacy? There are!

The leader is responsible for ensuring every student receives high-quality instruction.
The leader is responsible for ensuring there are high-quality teachers and staff in every classroom and throughout the school.
The leader is responsible for modeling a consistent focus and personal responsibility for improving student outcomes.
The leader is responsible for establishing and implementing a shared vision and culture of high expectations for all students.
The leader is responsible for implementing systems that align with the school’s vision and improve the quality of instruction.

Do you notice what is missing from those standards?

The leader who tweets and blogs.

There is much, much more to being an administrator, and much, much more than that to me.

The leader who tweets and blogs is simply using a tweet and blog vehicle for helping accomplish the goals of the principal. It’s not bad. It’s a choice. The standards are standards. They don’t define the tools used to address the standards.

I’m choosing to rename this blog, and the domain (henceforth to be www.amberteamann.com) to ensure the clarity of not being a technology driven administrator, but instead as an administrator who sees the importance of technology to help accomplish my goals as a leader. Just like I see an importance in having a strong system to work in, a focus on relationships, and a level of accountability for high academic expectations…it all meshes and melds together into a modern, effective, collaborative leader.

I am thankful for leaders like George Couros, who model so well what I hope to emulate for my staff, my district, and the PLN that has grown right along side me. As a leader, it is not just teaching “stuff”, but it is helping people to see why it is so importance to embrace the change needed in schools today. Whether that be through the Fundamental 5, instructional rounds, or literacy circles, this is a space where I share what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, and how that relates to education.

This blog is an investment into the kind of leadership that will allows teachers to be the very best that they can be, ensuring each student gets the education that they deserve. Pre-social media (pick your noun- Twitter, Google +, Blogger, Tumblr), many administrators were actively learning and enhancing their craft, but it was hard to really show that one was a “lifelong learner” that we promote so actively to our staff & students. We now have a variety of tools at our disposal. We can not only share our expertise, we can share it in a much more open example of transparent leadership.

This is a space of collaborating, of communicating, of creation. It also happens to be a blog.

Focus on the verbs, not the nouns.

Verb-ish,

Amber

Social media & strategy

August 11, 2014 by Amber 1 Comment

It’s easy to get excited at this time of year. There’s all the back to school supplies, new back to school outfits, and all those fresh new faces! This also is the time new initiatives are rolled out on campuses state wide. From district ideas to campus thoughts…everyone’s excited in August!

I participated in #ptcamp this summer, which was both overwhelming and energizing. There were so many great thoughts share…and as usual, social media was discussed quite a bot. Even if it wasn’t directly referred to as “social media”, the words twitter, facebook, and instagram were talked about. Just like any other new initiative if you’re deciding to get serious with your social media presence, albeit for your classroom or your campus, I challenge you to BE INTENTIONAL.

Regardless of your own personal stance on using social media, you can’t deny the ever increasing use of it in our students lives. To not take advantage of a tool that your students and families are already utilizing is missing a huge opportunity to truly CONNECT. (<—My word for 2014-2015!) If your opinion is that what you’ve been doing is fine, and that you have no need for MORE connections with your students & community, call me. 😉

Building relationships is what we do! Utilizing some form of SM to help facilitate those relationships makes sense. You don’t have to do them all, pick one, that you’re comfortable with, and then BE INTENTIONAL.

Decide what you’re going to share. How often you’re going to share. When you’re going to share. The challenge, just like with any other form of communication, is to maintain your presence to help ensure the validity of your communications. Don’t do all the heavy lifting of getting your parents invested and then in October forget to post anything. It will be next to impossible to get them to commit to something else in the future.

Need some data to help back up my social media “claims”?

72% of all internet users are now active on social media
18-29 year olds have an 89% usage
The 30-49 bracket sits at 72%
60 percent of 50 to 60 year olds are active on social media
In the 65 plus bracket, 43% are using social media
Time spent on Facebook per hour spent online by country. USA citizens get the top gong at 16% followed by the Aussies at 14 minutes and the Brits at 13 minutes.
71% of users access social media from a mobile device.

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/01/17/20-social-media-facts-and-statistics-you-should-know-in-2014/#VKwcE6rkAmqai71U.99