My #OneWord is You.

Update for Jan 4-8

I aspire to be a servant leader for my students, staff, and community.

Greenleaf.org describes servant leadership this way:

A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

I see this description through the lenses of three different stakeholders that all end up shaping how I try to carry out my role as a principal.

For my students, this means striving to evolve our practice to continue to support the learning journey of each of our students. It means recognizing the changes in our community, our state. our country, and our world and adapting how we develop learners.

For my parents, this means providing them with opportunities to not only gain knowledge about how they can help their child as a learner, but it also means helping parents connect with the school through fun.  We know parents want to be proud of our learning community and I believe school pride can be built through fun events like our Warrior Dash, Spring Concert, Art Show, and various other grade-level celebrations that take place throughout the year.  

For my staff, it means helping each and every one of you grow professionally. I do this because I believe Todd Whitaker is right when he says it’s not programs, technology, interventions, or furniture that makes a difference for our students -- It’s people.  People make the difference for kids and always will.  It’s you who makes our school a great place to be.  It will always be you.

My #OneWord in 2016 is YOU, but it is bigger than that one word.  Because being a servant leader means your word is my word.  Your professional growth focus is my professional growth focus. Our kids' dreams, curiosities, and aspirations are mine, too.

Happy New Year!  Now let’s go and make the world a better place!

At your service,

Herb

Articles Worth Reading --

How I'll be learning in 2016 http://wp.me/p2KVKA-KL

Be a Change Agent http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/5897 via @gcouros

Why Do Students Struggle So Much in Math Class? http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/math-class-performing/421710/

If You Want Innovation, Start with Purpose | John Spencer http://sumo.ly/dVlb via @spencerideas

Upcoming Dates --

Jan 4 -- Students Return; ADE PTO Meeting, 7pm

Jan 4-Feb 3 -- Winter Literacy Assessment window (Grades K to 5)
Jan 6 -- Staff Meeting, 3:45pm -- Focus will be R-Factor Training presented by Boettner, Halley, and Raterman.

Jan 8 -- ADE Family Game Night, 6:30-8pm

Jan 12 -- Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45, DCR
Jan 13 -- Special Ed Team Meeting, 12:00
Jan 14 -- Author Visit, Steve Harpster

Jan 18 -- Martin Luther King, Jr Day -- NO SCHOOL

Jan 19-Feb 29 -- Scholastic Reading Inventory window (Grades 2 to 5)

Jan 23 & Feb 20 -- NUMATS (gifted) test (by invitation/recommendation only)

Jan 25 -- Yearbook Sale Begins (Ends Feb 5)

Jan 25-Feb 26 -- Calkins Writing Assessment window (Grades K to 5)

Jan 29 -- K-5 Interim Reports

Feb 1 -- ADE PTO Meeting, 7pm

Feb 2 -- ADE Kindergarten Registration Day

Feb 5 -- Yearbook Sale Ends

Feb 8-11 February Conference Week

Feb 10 -- Conference Evening

Feb 12 -- Parent/Teacher Conference Comp Day, NO SCHOOL

Feb 15 -- Presidents’ Day, NO SCHOOL

Feb 23 -- K (AM) & 1st Grade (PM) ½ Day Data Team Meeting

Feb 24 -- 2nd Grade (AM) & 3rd Grade (PM) ½ Day Data Team Meeting

Feb 25 -- 4th Grade (AM) & 5th Grade (PM) ½ Day Data Team Meeting

Feb 26 -- End of K-5 Grading Period