#vision Archives

Are you thinking about your “next” big adventure?

November 26, 2019 by Amber Leave a Comment

Our principal at Wylie High, Virdie Montgomery, is pretty great. He is someone who reflects regularly, praises often, and is always up for a good prank. One of my favorite things he shares is his thoughts on Facebook. This was a post of his from this past week that just made me stop and think. Mediums like this make me thankful so that we all can grow and learn from his voice and varied experiences. We should all have someone like that in our lives.

This semester, my superintendent has started an “Achieving Leaders” Facebook group. Its goal is to connect and grow leaders, both inside our district and out. I truly think its the casual conversations, the opportunities to share our stories, where growth can most easily occur. Principals of varying levels have joined us, sharing strategies that are both relational and transformational. It is practical and easy to apply, as a leader or even as a future leader.

If you’re interested in joining our group and learning alongside us, the link to join is here. We had an episode where we asked people to reflect and think about their stories. Virdie was a guest, as well as our Assistant Supt of HR, Mr. Winn. We asked to reflect and share on their stories…and think towards their ending and what it looks like professionally speaking. Virdie’s answer was powerful…so powerful that I teared up. He then went on to share it on Facebook and with permission, I’ve shared it below.

Living the Dream! I don’t know what your dream is or when your dream formed. All I know is that we are all on the journey to get there. I live the dream each day, live in the present and am consumed by the present. The dream is not something that is always just over the horizon. It is right now. There are times when the journey is at the beginning but that journey is a part of the dream. There are challenges on this journey and there is a path to the dream we all must go down. Today is the most important part of the dream and it happens every single day. I have vivid memories of when I was in elementary school of wanting to be a teacher someday. Everyone who had ever mattered to me outside of family was a teacher. They had influence and power over me. They molded the very way I think and perceive things. I loved them in a way that was revered. They weren’t my friends….they were above that. They made me work.

They pushed me and they encouraged me without even knowing they were doing it. I could feel it. Even if they were disappointed in me I knew and felt that they knew I could do what they were asking. Disappointment is powerful. Truly, if someone is disappointed in you …that means they expected you to do better. If they were never disappointed in you that to me meant they did not think I could get there anyway. We are a product of our past. I never want to disappoint those that matter to me because that is one high expectation and it takes work. I wanted to teach and the journey there was long and it was not easy. I was living the dream even then because again…the journey is a part of the dream. I take pride in the journey that finally got me there and then I found that the dream was just a continuation of that journey began a long time ago.

Today, I ask if you are living the dream? Where are you in the journey and are you enjoying the journey and overcoming the obstacles that limit or hinder the overall dream? Sometimes the dream changes course but the journey continues. I choose to live this dream daily and I never want to disappoint so I give my best. Sometimes my best is not good enough and yet it somehow gives me a reward because as flawed as I am…it is the best I have to give. That is all we can do and for sure all we can expect of those around us …especially kids. If they are giving their best, how can I ask more of them than I can of myself? I want their best and I will love them regardless of the outcome because that is what I need in my own journey. In my mind, this all makes sense …written? I just don’t know…but I am giving my best every single day on this journey and I am blessed to be living the dream that began a long time ago.

Wherever your season of life finds you right now, I hope you’re living your best life.

I hope you’re excited about your present and see it as exciting as your future…that’s what I think Virdie was speaking to. I teared up when he said he couldn’t imagine his future being better than where he was right now. That’s how I want to live…knowing that where I am, personally and professionally, is fulfilling and makes me excited to wake up each day. Once you’ve joined the group, here’s the one I’m talking about, 🙂

Join us over on “Achieving Leaders”. You’ll learn something each week…and we’ll all grow together!

Thoughtfully, thankfully &

PS: !!!

The Leadership Vault Reopens Dec. 1st!

Don’t miss your last chance this year to join over our inaugural 100 principals working together to level-up their leadership. We will reopen for a short period to welcome new members starting December 1st. Join the waitlist to get notified we are open before anyone!

PLC conference: Leadership gems

June 15, 2016 by Amber 1 Comment

We have traveled as a district leadership team to the Solution Tree PLC conference. Day 1 involved some powerful examples of what a PLN and PLC led culture can lead to on a campus.

I figured out at my first PLC conference that the PLC mindset was very similar to what I think is the “connected educator” mindset. It’s all about collaboration, sharing information/knowledge to benefit students, growing as a learner, and utilizing the knowledge of the whole to benefit the individual. That being said, I enjoy conferences because I love to learn, and think there is always something else I can do to improve as an educator and as a leader.

Yesterday’s sessions and great thoughts:

Teaching, Leading, and Living a High-Energy and Well-Balanced PLC Life, by Timothy Kanold

This session was all about finding that elusive work/life and how necessary it is to keep sane. Relational and emotional intelligence is a REAL thing. Did you know your EQ has a direct correlation to the emotional climate that you create within your campus? Your relationship with your campus/co-members is as important to their success as it is to yours. “Poor relational leaders will drive skilled and motivated workers out of their profession, or even worse, cause them to withhold discretionary effort…” (Hard Facts, Dangerous Half Truths, and Total Nonsense, 2006)

He referenced “The PLC Energy Quadrants”, that I thought was very interesting. It spoke to the need of EVERY day spending time in quadrant II, a place of low positive energy…(reflective, serene, relaxed) in order to balance staying in the “fully engaged, in the flow” quadrant I, a high positive place (helpful, hopeful, connected, joyful). Ironically enough, this past year, I weeded out almost all of my low positive “actions” instead choosing to be action oriented and focused on my first year as an administrator.

Another fun fact: too much time in QI or QIII will send you to Q4.

Leading with Passion and Purpose: The Principal’s Role in a PLC

This session was led by a high school principal from Texas, bonus points! Mr. Jones started with an activity, having us complete an acronym, with the word LEADER. Pausing to think about how as a leader, each one of those letters stand for such BIG THINGS that I am responsible for being…for representing…for modeling was a big pause. He also shared that the principal, by their year 3, has a direct and substantial impact on students results on a campus. (Marzano, 2005) Knowing how difficult it would be for me to manage such a substantial impact on all 54 of my staff members, I can however choose to be that person for my 6 PLC teams. “No one person can serve 50 masters!”

My two top tweets from his session (I take notes in twitter blurbs…it works for me!)

There’s a difference between co-laboring and collaborating. Which one do you do? #atplc Everyone’s shovel is in the ground!
If you’re listening…you’re not talking, solving, or rationalizing, you’re being present…be a listening leader! #atplc

He closed talking about something I struggled with this year. His slide was titled “When you’re Famous”…but it asked what evidence you have to show that your students, your teachers, your teams, and your school have accomplished.

Being a leader isn’t all about you.

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If you’re the most successful, celebrated, and accomplished person on your campus, you’re doing it all wrong. The awesome Matt Arend sent me a screen shot this week lauding someone who used to be against many of his initiatives but has, over time, become a huge supporter of the growth changes he’s brought forth. That is a successful leader. That is #realimpact.

“Indeed, there are virtually no documented instances of troubled schools being turned around without intervention by a powerful leader. Many other factors may contribute to such turn-arounds, but leadership is the catalyst.” (Leithwood, Seashore Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004)

leadership growN,

Amber

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

Do less better… #thefirstyear

August 6, 2015 by Amber 1 Comment

I can’t sleep at night. My to do list grows hourly. My pinterest boards are over-flowing.

I HAVE SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO DO!!!

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak to the Indiana Principals Leadership Institute with Tony Sinanis on what being a “digital leader” looks like. It was a great group of inspiring leaders and I was so impressed with the program. They have a grant from the state to develop and cultivate the kind of leaders we WANT to see in our schools. They bring in great speakers (cough cough, ;)), complete an action research project, provide mentors…it’s just an incredible labor of love from their directors. It makes me think wow, we could have something similar, in our district, in our regions, heck in our state. I COULD TOTALLY HELP CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

I have a voxer conversation going with my friend Angela Watson. I see organizational administrative from Stephanie McConnell on Instagram. I see Chris Kesler post his new interactive science notebook resources on facebook. I make fun stuff! I mean, I love good fonts and am creative! I COULD TOTALLY MAKE MY OWN PRODUCTS!

The new Adealphean comes in the mail, showering me with Greek life. I see a new ADPi shirt on Pinterest I completely need. I make plans to hang out with my sorority sisters, which makes me want to be more involved with our alumni group. I NEED TO RECOMMIT TO MY SISTERS!!
Do you see a pattern here? I could go on and on. There’s literally not enough time in the day to do all the things I think I want to be amazing at. On Sunday before church, I was catching up on a podcast by Erik Fisher, “Beyond the To Do List” and his episode called “Do less better” really resonated with me. The guest, John Bell, is a retired consumer packaged goods CEO and global strategy consultant to some of the world’s most respected blue-chip organizations.

He talked about how companies that specialize tend to make more money with less product than a company who has multiple products. How “In & Out burger” with their limited menu comes comparatively close to McDonalds bottom line despite their 100 item menu, or a litigation form that has ONE focus can outshine those that take on a ton of cases..because they do that ONE thing better than anyone else.

There is something to be said for being intentional and focusing in on something specific.

It’s not that you can’t do it all, it’s that maybe you should some things REALLY WELL.

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I want to remember that this year, this first year especially. I can’t do it all. I shouldn’t try. I should just make sure I choose to do SOME things, and do them well.

Be intentional.

List cutting,

Amber

Leadership lessons from “The Karate Kid”…

July 19, 2015 by Amber Leave a Comment

Did you know that it takes 12 positive experiences to make up for one unresolved negative experience? How does that apply to your upcoming school year? More than you think!

Source: “Understanding Customers” by Ruby Newell-Legner

Our 2015-2016 has already kicked off with a bang!!

We received an email last week inviting all of our administrators and central office staff to celebrate our 2014-2015 school year with an afternoon at the movies. We were going to see “The Karate Kid” in anticipation of it being our theme for convocation, and had free snacks and drinks. It was an incredible welcome back and provided a huge leadership lesson!

Not only did we feel appreciated and celebrated, but there were several moments in the movie that I could directly apply to my new principal-ness…it’s like they picked it just for me! (Confession: I’d never before seen the movie!)

When Daniel-son was hesitant to start cutting on the bonsai tree, he was cognizant of his own lack of experience. He was hesitant to just jump in and start. Mr. Miyagi walked him through a visualization, and again told him to start. Daniel’s question of how Mr. Miyagi know if his visualization of the tree was right? (which has most certainly occurred to me as I take on this new role!)…if it comes from inside you, it is always the right one. As a new principal, I need to have faith in my vision. I do know what to do, I know what our campus goals and mission speak too. Creating our blue print for the year will be much easier if I just have faith in what our system, and that I know what I am doing.

Balance. As I watched Daniel trying to balance on the boat, I knew exactly how he felt. Life, work, marriage, mommying…it is all a balance. I did an interview with the @thenerdyteacher, and that was a question sent in by a listener. How do you balance it all? My answer was honest…I don’t know that I know how to yet! Mr. Miyagi said that balance isn’t just about karate, it’s also about life. Everyone works better when there is balance. Do you have a plan for how to maintain (or achieve) balance for your 2015-2016 school year? For myself, I am building quiet time in. I am blocking out windows of reflection, of appreciation. I am committing to NOT answering email at night on my phone. (gulp.) I am going to come home, take my phone upstairs, and LEAVE it, until my girls are asleep. I challenge you to BE INTENTIONAL in finding your balance.

This movie as a whole just relates to educators. I hope that you have a Mr. Miyagi in your life. Someone to offer you pearls of wisdom that challenge you and keep you grounded.

As an educator, I hope you also recognize that you are someone’s Mr. Miyagi.

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Whether it is a room full of 6 year olds, 16 year olds, or a staff of all ages…you have the opportunity to be the voice of wisdom. Take advantage.

This movie also challenged me to really think about how I began my year with the most awesome Wylie ISD staff. I want them to have a POSITIVE beginning, as I did, so that they are as fired up and excited to get the year going as I am.

Karate chopN,

Amber