Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Staying Vulnerable & "Rising Strong" - Follow-up Post

Update for May 23-27


A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about being inspired by Brene' Brown's book Rising Strong to stay vulnerable in order to grow as a leader.

 I set up times for my staff members to provide me with face-to-face feedback on these questions:
  • What should I start doing?
  • What should I stop doing?
  • What should I continue doing?
  • Is my vision for learning evident?
  • Are my expectations clear and realistic?
  • Do I provide good feedback and positive reinforcement?
  • Can I be trusted?
  • How could I help you more?

While not everyone took me up on the opportunity to provide me with feedback, those who did helped me in a very meaningful way.

"Start doing"? Those answered ranged from "Watch how you react to situations; you seem to wear your heart on your sleeve" to "I can't figure you out - You always seem to be wearing a poker face in situations".

That was all good feedback, but I had to laugh at that!

"Stop doing" responses included "You don't need to do a blog post every week", "You sometimes are sending too many emails" and "I want to know what is going on, so "stop" not including us in some of the details."

Another opportunity to chuckle.

 There were slices of moments when the implicit message from staff members affirms things I am doing well and causes me to pause and reflect on the things I am not.

I have realized from this opportunity that I have to provide a range of leadership that attempts to meet the needs of my staff and parents.  

 I need to differentiate my leadership - Be explicit with feedback and be more telling with some while planting seeds and leading from behind with others. The former pushes me to try and get better -- It puts me outside of my comfort zone which means I will probably fail or fall short of expectations during this journey.

 But I'm ready for that.

 As Dr. Brown states in Rising Strong,


"I believe that vulnerability -- the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome -- is the only path to more love, belonging, and joy."

I am committed to staying vulnerable and I challenge each of my staff to do the same.  

I challenge you to create a time when you can offer your students the chance to provide you with feedback on the experience you provided them with this year.  It will be affirming, uncomfortable, challenge and probably one of the best professional learning opportunities you will have this year.

 I would love to know if you take this opportunity to get better and how it turned out!

 In the meantime, have a GREAT week!

 -Herb

 Tweets Worth Checking Out --











Upcoming Dates -- 

 May 23-Jun 3 -- No PD dates (includes Assessment Days)
May 26 — Last Grow Together Thursday
May 30 -- Holiday, NO SCHOOL
May 31 -- ADE PTO Family Luau, 6-8PM -- It's a great time to relax and have fun with families! I ended up in a conga line last year and that's saying something!


Jun 3 -- Last Day of School (Students)
Jun 10 -- Secretaries' last day to report
Jun 24 -- Herb's last day to report

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Sunday, May 15, 2016

10 things I've learned as a principal after 100 blog posts.

Update for May 16-20



I started this blog two years ago as a way to reflect on my journey as an elementary principal.  And after 100 posts, I am confident that blogging has allowed me to reflect in public and has had a profound impact on me.

 I've been thinking about what I've learned after 100 blog posts and I thought for this occasion I would share a list of the top 10 things I've learned from blogging and being a principal.  It's a list of reflections, tips, and goals for the future and they are in not particular order.

 1. Write for yourself -- Who knows who will read your blog or who will even want to.  Therefore, write for yourself.  Create a blog and blog posts that you would want to read.  If others read it and like it, great!  If only you read it, then writing for yourself makes any post one of the best you have read. 

 2. Steal ideas and steal them often -- The format of my blog came directly from Ben Gilpin.  He's a much better writer than me, but I liked the format of reflecting, sharing articles, and listing upcoming dates.  It has become a way for me to lead through words.  I share a reflection that hopefully causes my staff to reflect a little and bind us together on working towards a vision of making school better for kids.

 3. Read, read, read -- I used to tell my fourth grade students that my favorite part of the day was writer's workshop.  I kept writer's workshop at the end of the day because that gave us the whole day to read new stories, new information, and new ideas that we could use in our own writing.  Reading is the source of my ideas. I spend each early morning going through my feedly account, Twitter, and Facebook to find an article or post that pushes me to think or one that I think will connect to the work we are doing at school. Often what I read leads me to what I write about on Sunday evening.

 4.  Get over yourself -- Not everyone will like you or what you write. So stop trying to make everyone like you and stick to working on doing what is best for kids.

 5.  Some people want to be told what to do, but don't tell them what to do unless it's really necessary -- Sometimes you have to be explicit with expectations, but that is not always a card you need to play especially when in the middle of a change process.  Professional growth -- the good kind -- is usually in the form of arriving at the conclusion yourself.  Being told what to do feels completely different than being guided towards what to do and arriving there yourself.

 6.  Kids are 1000 times easier to deal with than adults, but keeping kids first means making sure the adults who work the kids also see what is truly important. 

7.  Blogging is cathartic -- Writing about something that connects all of your thoughts from the week helps you clear out what is unimportant and helps you prepare for the work ahead.  Some people journal, others drink or exercise.  I blog (well, mostly I blog).

 8.  You're on a team, but you are all alone -- At times, being a principal can make you feel extremely lonely.  There are times when you can't share what's going on because you really don't want others to carry the weight of the situation or problem.  A principal's job includes protecting others from the garbage that gets thrown at us from time to time.  And that can make you feel really lonely.

 9.  Eating lunch with students is worth the all of the spills in your office -- I eat lunch with about 30 kids in my office each week.  It is as messy as it sounds. It is also incredibly inconvenient sometimes when 5 first graders show up unexpectedly with lunch in hand.  But it's easy to let go of what's frustrating you at that moment when all 5 of them are smiling and laughing.  Taking the time to connect with kids should be a first priority.

 10.  I have the best job in the world -- One day last October, I was breaking down cardboard boxes with my art teacher after school for our Cardboard Challenge that was going to take place that weekend. 

 We needed a ton of cardboard to help our giant maker faire a huge success.  I was tired, I had a headache, my dress clothes were getting dirty, and I had just found out I needed to call a tough parent because their kid saw porn on a school device that another student had somehow managed to look up on Google.

 A little later while we were still prepping the cardboard, I turned to Becky (my art teacher) and said, "I don't think I ever want to leave this role.  I love that I get to do this!"  I truly have the best job in the world because I commit to focusing each second of the time I spend thinking about or working on school related stuff on doing what is best for kids.

The principalship has been the most rewarding work I have ever done outside of teaching.  I've never had a doubt about taking on this opportunity.  Each day truly is a new adventure.

Thanks for reading!  Here's to another 100 posts!

 Have a GREAT week!

 -Herb
Tweets worth checking out --








Upcoming dates --

May 17 -- K/1 Data Team Half-Day Meeting
May 18 -- 2/3 Data Team Half-Day Meeting
May 19 -- 5/4 Data Team Half-Day Meeting 
May 18 — ADDC Staff Meeting, ADE Media Center, 3:45
May 19 — Herb Mtg AM
May 20 -- School Community Meeting, 2:40pm -- PM KG to end meeting by duck-taping me to the wall of the gym.  You've been warned...
May 26 — Last Grow Together Thursday
May 30 -- Holiday, NO SCHOOL
May 31 -- ADE PTO Family Luau

Jun 3 -- Last Day of School (Students)







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Sunday, May 8, 2016

Staying Vulnerable In Order to Grow

Update for May 9-13


Last week, we focused on "Building Skill" - Intentional, focused repetitions on a skill we know we need to improve to move from Good to Exceptional.

 We talked again about how talent alone doesn't get the job done.  I mentioned this ad from Nike that I think underscores this point:
We also discussed the need to not only share your goal for improvement with others, but also ask them to hold you accountable.  Jim Rohn wrote, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

 Surrounding ourselves with others we trust, whose approaches to life and work we wish to emulate, can help us build the skill we need to move from good to elite.

 However, this comes at a price to our ego.  In order to build skill, we need to stay vulnerable.

 I am constantly working to improve as a leader.  The topic and concept of leadership is a passion of mine so I find myself reading, thinking, reflecting, and sharing anything on leadership.  It truly fascinates me.

 And because leadership is a skill I am constantly building, I need to continue to make myself vulnerable in order to grow.

 I have done two "feedback" surveys with the staff and it has helped, to a point.  Anonymous surveys are a mixed bag.  Most people use the anonymity to be honest in answering the questions I asked on the survey.  

One or two folks used anonymity as an opportunity to be less-than-professional with their feedback.  The truth is, it's feedback I can't really use -- It just puts a giant pit in my stomach and keeps me from sleeping (Maybe that was what they really wanted to happen).  If you want to give someone feedback that will help them improve, you need to be specific.

In order to stay vulnerable and in order to get more out of your feedback, I hope that each of you will take me up on the offer to provide me with face-to-face feedback.  I was inspired by Thomas Hoerr's article in this month's Educational Leadership that discussed this type of feedback format.

 I am ready to have some of my assumptions about the ways things are going affirmed from our conversation.  I am also ready to face the music when the feedback hurts -- That's the feedback I need to listen to in order to get better.

 Here are some questions I am considering (Again, inspired by Thomas Hoerr):
  • What should I start doing?
  • What should I stop doing?
  • What should I continue doing?
  • Is my vision for learning evident?
  • Are my expectations clear and realistic?
  • Do I provide good feedback and positive reinforcement?
  • Can I be trusted?
  • How could I help you more?
I hope you will take 10 minutes out of your schedule to chat with me and help me grow!  A link to a sign-up will be coming soon.

 Have a GREAT week!

 -Herb

 Tweets Worth Checking Out --


Upcoming Dates -- 

May 10 -- Team Connection Time; let me know if you want to touch base.
May 11 — Spec Ed Team meeting, 12PM; RTI Team Meeting, 3:30PM
May 14 -- AD/DC Warrior Dash, 6PM
May 17 -- K/1 Data Team Half-Day Meeting
May 18 -- 2/3 Data Team Half-Day Meeting
May 19 -- 5/4 Data Team Half-Day Meeting 
May 18 — ADDC Staff Meeting, ADE Media Center, 3:45
May 19 — Herb Mtg AM
May 26 — Last Grow Together Thursday
May 30 -- Holiday, NO SCHOOL
May 31 -- ADE PTO Family Luau

Jun 3 -- Last Day of School (Students)


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Sunday, April 3, 2016

Getting Really Good at Change

Update for Apr 4-8

 After 10 years, I think it's safe for me to say that a career in education doesn't get easier.

 I used to think that after working at something for a few years would lead to efficiency and allow me to be more supportive of each student in my class.

 But a funny thing happened on the way to the future.

 iPads, social media, connected learning, Twitter all happened within the last 10 years and they changed a lot about learning.

 If I were to place my bet on what will happen over the next 10 years, I'd bet on change.  I'd also double down on the fact that it's not going to get easier for educators who are expecting years of experience to equal "ease of use".

 So how does the mild-mannered educator deal with this reality?

 Accept it.

 Expect it.

 Embrace it!

 Get really good at change!  Yes, it's possible!  

 And it starts with...you guessed it: A growth mindset.

 Actually it starts with recognizing the mindset you have when you are face-to-face with change.  Do you find yourself trying to cling to the comfort zone or thinking of the opportunity?  If you are in the former, consider this --











So how do we overcome our default response of seeking to stay in our comfort zone?  

 Practice.

 Build skill.

 In this case, we need to press pause and get our mind right when faced with change.  We need to identify our mindset and adjust it if it will not lead us to embracing change.

 But think about it - It takes practice, just like a sport.  It takes mental reps that will take you through the process of pressing pause, getting your mind right, and readying yourself to consider the opportunity that change brings you.

 So in a way, this does get easier --  but only if you are willing to put  your focus on getting better at change and then committing to practicing and building skill.

 Have a GREAT week!

 -Herb
Articles Worth Reading -- 

52 Of Our Favorite Inspirational Quotes For Teachers http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/52-favorite-inspirational-quotes-for-teachers/ via @teachthought
Personalize Learning: Personalized Learning Through the Eyes of a Child http://www.personalizelearning.com/2016/03/personalized-learning-throug
Three lessons on innovation that I learned during my 12 years at Apple: http://www.fastcompany.com/3058271/lessons-learned/three-lessons-on-innovation-i-learned-during-my-12-years-at-apple by @KelliRichards via @FastCompany 
Upcoming Dates
Apr 4 — School Community Meeting: “Press Pause, Get Your Mind Right”
Apr 4 — PTO Meeting, 7PM
Apr 5 — Herb meeting out of building AM
Apr 5 — BIT Meeting, 8AM
Apr 5 — Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45, ADE
Apr 6 — ADE Staff Meeting: R-Factor Training - R4
Apr 7 — Herb meeting outside of bldg AM
Apr 8 — KG to Franklin Park Conservatory
Apr 12 — 3, 4, 5 ELA State Testing (AM)
Apr 12 — Connection Time w/ Herb (Email-Schedule limited due to testing)
Apr 12 — Tech/Media Planning day w/Teams
Apr 13 — Spec Ed Team Meeting, Noon
Apr 13 — RTI Team Meeting
Apr 14 — PD w/ Dr. Donna: “Connecting Classroom Language to Student Success”
Apr 15 — School Community Meeting: Walk-a-thon Kickoff
Apr 18 — 3, 4, 5 Grade Math State Testing
Apr 20 — ADDC Staff Meeting, 3:40 ADE Media Center
Apr 21 — 4th Grd (Soc St), 5th Grd (Sci) State Testing
Apr 21 — Herb Meeting AM
Apr 22 — Interims Go Home
Apr 27 — ADE Walk-a-thon (during related arts time)

Apr 28 — Transfer Meeting
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Monday, March 14, 2016

“Words": The First Ingredient of a Culture Recipe

Update for Mar 14-17



This is not a political statement - It’s a hypothesis about the effect our words have on others.

I’ve always been a believer in the power of words.

Lincoln, King, Lennon and McCartney continue to inspire me: Lincoln for his prose like style speeches seen in the Gettysburg address and second inaugural address; King for his oratory style that evokes emotion and hopefulness; and Lennon and McCartney for their ability to rapidly evolve their music and lyrics.

Last Friday, I was mesmerized by the live images of a rally in Chicago for presidential candidate Donald Trump because of how quickly it was getting out of control and becoming uncivilized. However, I wasn’t surprised and here's why: I believe that leaders set the tone.

I believe that Tim Kight is right when he talks about how Leaders establish the Culture that influences Behaviors that get certain Results.  I also believe that the words we use and the messages we send directly influences the culture we are trying to build. When I think about some of the themes and rhetoric of the Trump campaign, I would say that much of it has been focused on exclusion, blame, and fear.  Those themes created the culture that influenced the behaviors that resulted in the violence we saw in Chicago on Friday.

Last Sunday evening, I got to take my kids to see the new Disney movie Zootopia. 



First, it’s worth the price of admission.  It has all of the elements a good Disney movie: great characters, funny scenes, and an engaging story line. Second, it and has a wonderful message about perseverance, acceptance and being aware of our biases and stereotypes. The writers did a great job of developing those themes without slowing the movie down for kids. 

I went into that movie not really knowing much about it, but I did know that I could expect there to be a positive universal message — That’s the result of a culture that has been built by Disney.


I come away from this weekend with two reflections.  One reflection is actually just another reminder that our words and the messages they send matter. They drive the culture we are trying to build.  

The other reflection is that we need to surround ourselves with words, messages and people that support and affirm Above the Line behaviors.  We need to work to find away to push out negativity or find t’s source so that it can be addressed.  

The next time you find yourself reacting out of anger, frustration or suspicion, press pause; think about what’s really going on.  Slow down and get your mind right because how you react and what you say next contributes to the culture we are trying to build and get the results we seek.  

Be a builder! 

-Herb


Articles Worth Reading

Validating the Learner and Nurturing their Passion for Learning https://shar.es/1Y0hqF

The biggest regret from a 41-year career in education reporting (and a lot more) wpo.st/TYdL1

Why Every Student Needs a Teacher Champion  -- THIS IS A VIDEO I WATCH AND RE-WATCH TIME AND TIME AGAIN!!!

Middle School Maker Journey: The Making of a Mantra by :



Upcoming Events

Mar 15 -- Hilliard U Day -- No SCHOOL (Students)
Mar 16 -- ADDC Staff Meeting, DCR Media Center 3:45
Mar 17 -- Elementary Student Transfer Request Forms Due
Mar 18-24 -- Spring Break -- NO SCHOOL
Mar 25 -- Holiday -- NO SCHOOL
Mar 31 -- STAFF OLYMPICS!




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Sunday, December 6, 2015

The Folly of Comfort

Update for Dec 7-11


Comfortable shoes -- There's nothing else like them.  They are like the perfect pillow for sleeping or the hoodie we throw on to keep warm during a cold winter night.
At the end of a long day, no one is lacing up a pair of dress shoes to relax.  Instead, we often go for a warm pair of slippers or a pair of old running shoes that you can easily slip on without untying them.
I've been having some issues running lately where the muscle around my shin tenses up. It's not something that makes me have to stop running, it's just annoying and it slows me down a little.  I sound like a car that has a flat tire as my tensed leg strikes the ground with a flat "slap" on the pavement.
I've tried different stretches, paces and routes trying to find a solution.  I decided to go back to an old pair of running shoes to see if maybe my new ones were the issue.  
I laced up my old Sauconys and they felt great -- Why did I ever stop wearing them?
After about a mile and a half into a run in my old shoes, my feet and knees started hurting.  Instead of going for a 6 mile run, I ended early.  What was I thinking?  I stopped wearing these shoes when I started getting injured -- Why was I going back to them?
Instead of going the distance in my old comfortable shoes, I ran less than normal.
I share this because in the midst of change, we sometimes are tempted to go back to our old ways, putting on "comfortable shoes", rather than face the challenge.
Our project is hard work and we have miles to go.  If we are going to keep moving forward and increase the depth and authenticity of the learning experiences we help create with kids, we should build off of what we do well.  
Let's commit to strategically increasing our distance and pace and avoid seeking out comfortable solutions.
Have a GREAT week!
-Herb

Articles Worth Reading --

The Links Between Teaching Reading And Math http://www.heinemann.com/blog/oconnell-reading-math-11-30/


Video Worth Watching -- 


Upcoming Dates --   
Dec 7 - PTO Meeting, 7PM
Dec 8 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45 - ADE Media Center
Dec 9 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Ed Team Meeting, 12:30; IAT Meeting, 3:45
Dec 10 - PD Series by Donna - "Dealing with Challenging Children", 3:45 ADE Media Center
Dec 11 - KG Toys for Tots Fire Station Visit

Dec 16 - ADCC Staff Meeting, 3:40 - ADE Media Center
Dec 18 - 5th Grade Talent Show, 1:15ish; Holiday Parties, 2:30ish

 Dec 21-Jan 3 -- Winter Break  
   
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Sunday, October 4, 2015

Being Comfortable with "Stuck"

Update for Oct 5-9
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doh.jpg

When I started writing this update, I was stuck.  I didn't know what to write or what the focus would be this week.  I thought about the topics I had written about already - culture, learning, shared vision - but was still stuck.

 So I just went with it.

We go through each day at school as prepared as possible and ready to make decisions on the fly.  A website called busyteacher.org claims teachers make 1,500 decisions each day.  I think that's a low estimate -- 27 to 30 students, a litany standards, and schedules all demand fast decision-making. Thankfully, it's a skill that is strong with most teachers.


But there are times when we are just stuck. 

 We don't know what to do yet and we have that uncomfortable feeling of ineptitude.

That feeling of not being able to do something is just part of being stuck - It comes with the process of learning.

 The good thing about being stuck is that we get the opportunity to grow and get stronger through the process of getting unstuck. 

 Figuring out how to proceed often leads to collaboration, reflection, investigation and seeking clarity. Those are pretty remarkable outcomes from not knowing what to do next.

 So the next time I am stuck, I am going to remember that it's part of learning.  We don't have all the answers (I doubt we ever will).  But accepting that getting "stuck" is part of learning will help us be more comfortable when we don't know what to do next.

 Have a great week!

 -Herb
Articles that pushed my thinking --

 Leadership is a Choice http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2015/09/leadership-is-choice.html?spref=tw

 Three Things We Need To Remember When We All Hit "The Dark Side" http://www.inc.com/betty-liu/three-things-to-remember-when-we-all-hit-the-dark-side-.html

 Learner-Centered Vision Will Frame Next Generation Learning http://gettingsmart.com/2015/09/learner-centered-vision-will-frame-next-generation-learning/

 Innovation... Just like your mama used to make: http://eepurl.com/bAfcR1
Video that made me chuckle --


http://abc7news.com/society/baseball-announcers-poke-fun-at-group-of-sorority-girls-taking-selfies/1013853/

 Upcoming Dates
Oct 5-9 -- Fall Conference Week, Conference Night is Oct 7.

Oct 5 -- PTO General Meeting, 7pm

Oct 6 -- Building Improvement Team meeting, 8am; I-Time Begins!

Oct 9 -- Fire Prevention assemblies (See email); Interims due if no P/T Conference

Oct 10 -- Community Cardboard Challenge, Heritage Middle School, 9-12pm

Oct 14 -- IAT Team meeting, 3:30

Oct 16 -- COI Day, No School for Students

Oct 23 -- Staff Meeting w/ Dr. John

Oct 26 -- Yearbook Cover Contest begins / State of the Schools @ Bradley H.S.

Oct 28 -- IAT Team meeting, 3:30

 Nov 2 -- PTO Meeting, 7pm

 Nov 3 -- Hilliard U Day, No School for Students

 Nov 5 -- Steering Committee Meeting in PM at CO

 Nov 6 -- Board Building Tour, AM before school

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