Lessons and Reflections from the Principal's Office

 A LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A SUMMER ACADEMY ON STUDENT APATHY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.

While working on my Ed Specialist degree, the dissertation investigated the effects of a Summer Academy, examined a problem, looked into an index, built a hypothesis, studied populations and defended the published document.  
Here are those results in a 60+ page paper.  
Here are the results in a few word summary:  
Continue the Summer Academy and continue to learn.

School year cycles
The school year is marked off in seasons.  There is the excitement of returning back to school in the late summer and fall. Anticipation of new teachers, new friends and new opportunities for success. Procedures and routines develop into habits and by Halloween, we are well into our year.  Hunting season in our school gives way to Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks scream right past.  #RubberbootFriday is as much a tradition or outfit as a way of life.  Weather forecasts and the threat of #snowdays after the break requires redoubling (Does this mean 4x?) the effort some days to keep everyone focused but we get through. Scheduled 3 day weekends become make-up days get traded for  and we try to keep from going into June with our school year.  Spring break and the promise of warmer weather, motorcycle days and playing outside keep everyone driven.  State testing consumes all waking thoughts, discussions and agendas till we get to the end!  Finally, end of the year procedures, events and picnics keep us all working in overdrive till the last day before summer school starts and things go around again.

Lessons for all of us
Mixed emotions surround the last day, for students, parents and teachers alike. For some, it is stress. For others, a sigh of relief.  Others hate leaving their friends.  Some begin to wonder about meals and security.  Some just like learning and want to stay.  Tears are shed, yearbooks signed and promises made in efforts to assure each other that we can all make it without each other.  Even the principal learns. For instance, while working on yet another degree, the course load kept my mind occupied with finances, light-bulbs, research and writing. However a leadership lesson was buried behind all these distractions.

Lessons for the leader: Problems
After three years as "leader" of this building, I saw leadership in even another light. Prior to this year, I carried the belief that all I needed to do was articulate the problem with the team and the "right" decision would rise to the top on it's own.  After the discussion, we would all together see the right way and agree to this Utopian plan and walk away content and fulfilled. Throughout the year I began to notice a few discussions took longer than I thought they should.  I thought we could wait it out and consensus would occur. Sadly, this passive perspective of mine failed us.  So I had to learn to make those "executive" decisions, even when I felt it unnecessary.

Here, while riding over Cottonwood Pass west of Buena Vista Colorado, the decisions are simple:  Do we go up? or Do we go down? The input is from two people. Weather, bike condition and timing are our only variables. Decisions are simple!

School decisions are infinitely more elaborate. 

A solution: Decisions
The need for a solution was greater than the actual striving of a perfect solution and coming to an answer. We needed results versus just studying the problems in order to serve our goals better.  I began to see my role as the leader was to lead, inspire, motive but also make the final decision.  I was responsible for the outcome and not just a contributing member of the debate.  We could have the debate, discuss the options and perspectives but after allowing voices, we NEEDED a decision. I could not RUSH the answer but needed to make the call. I could not choose to not decide.  I needed to make a choice.  We would all have to abide by the results.  I could not waiver, change sides or redo the choice.  We (read I) had to grow and change and play without a net!

Manifestations
Personally, I began to realize that I did not have the luxury of waiting every time and dragging the decisions out!  I needed to change.  I needed to reduce the frustration in the staff by doing my job. I needed to make better decisions.  Making better decisions in my world means:
...Gather input better by being more approachable.
...Value diverse opinions like we value diverse people.
...Continue to examine and organize data.
...Investigate opinions of all stakeholders.
...Make the decision in a timely manner, based on all the known variables.
...Share and communicate the resolutions with those same stakeholders.
...Filling the requirements and responsibilities of the job, regardless of my personal desires.
...Serve my constituents by supplying what they need and not what I want to give them!

Anything else?  What did I forget?  (I guess if somebody has to tell me, I might not really learn it!)

Looking forward to next year, I see continued growth, change and progress throughout myself, the building, the district and our community. When we spout the mantra "learning for all" we MUST include the Principal, too. This means me!

Thank you.

Tom McCracken

What to do at the beginning of school year?

They say "rules are meant to be broken..."

When riding a bike we learn a few things. First, we learn how to ride. Then, we learn where to ride!

Education is to "make men both smart and good." Aristotle 

    It is far too dangerous to learn to ride a bike on a busy street.  Many of us learned to ride on an empty parking lot, up at a school parking lot or a quiet cul-de-sac.  After we had the basics down, we were ready to learn the "rules of the road."  It was the procedure of riding a bike that we learned first. Then we learned how to ride on the street.  Watch out for cars was something we did normally but riding in traffic took attention to detail.  We learned both the procedures and rules together.

     Similarly at school, there are things in class that we must do to successfully operate like procedures and routines in classroom.  There are also expectations and rules that we choose to abide by to ensure success and civility. Foundational to success are clearly establishing these components together as a group or class.  Stories that illustrate their applications are effective at instilling these characteristics for each class.  Addressing these very early in the school year establishes working relationships, connections of trust and a high standards.

     Let me illustrate with a story about us loading up a bunch of high school students, traveling 4 hours on a school day to attend Six Flags over St Louis.  We had to leave at 5am to arrive at the park when it opened at 9am.  This trip was the culmination of a year of struggle and stress through the At-Risk math classes I was teaching. All my students were invited and about half paid the admission fee to attend.  Other colleagues mentioned my trip roster looked like I was taking "ISS on the road!" since most of those students had spent at least a day in In School Suspension. On the big day, I'd show up at 4:50am, asked for a volunteer to help load a few items onto the bus and everyone wanted to participate in loading.  Anyone of those students would do anything in their power to accommodate my request.  Not because I had power over their grade but because I had a relationship with them.  They did not care how much I knew but could see how much I cared and wanted to help.  Interestingly, only my current students were allowed to attend.  Friends of students were not allowed simply because they did not have the connection or trust necessary to work in this type environment where procedures were established and freedoms were imparted with appropriate responsibility.  In class, we had procedures for everything from passing in and passing out papers to speaking.  Of course the students expected procedures from traveling 250 miles across the state!  These trips were always incident free!  These trips were fun but these trips were front loaded and preparations made ahead of time.

Idea/Hint/Optional Suggestion:
     This year consider spending a bit more time on procedures early in the year.  Even if it seems artificial and contrived, students appreciate the attention to the detail.  Work with students to determine the best way to do things in the classroom.  Discuss how you might attend to daily events such as attendance, seating charts, addressing each other and other vital details that establish a safe environment where students feel comfortable taking those educational risks necessary to learn.  Don't forgo content but don't expect to accomplish too much.  A pretest or student data sheet, survey or something to send home and bring back along withe the syllabus may be sufficient the first day.

     The curriculum and rules will always be there.  Scores will always need to go higher!   Expectations will always look about the same.   They will have components of treating self, others and things but often times, the memorable teachers have good procedures.  Everyone knows it is important to talk nice to others, but not everyone knows how to request to use the restroom.  Take a bit more time early and make up plans on how to address the details. Then watch to climate of the classroom shift to tasks, goals and accomplishments.  Students may even surprise us!

Rules are made to be broken...

...but procedures are to be followed!

Special credit and thanks to many professionals like Harry Wong and Hal Urban for articulating similar ideas in their works.

A student sitting quietly is???

...Complacent, compliant, engaged, quiet, bored, afraid, thinking or learning?

this thistle is the Scottish flower...

From a distance, the flower has great color, shape and form.  Up close, we see thorns and tangles.

Our students sitting quietly at their desks may not really be the best way for them to learn, although it looks good from a distance!

 

 

Last week we asked the best three things about teaching.  Here are a couple of responses:

 

The best three things about teaching are?
1.  Something new each day

2.  The challenge of reaching "those" kids
3.  Taught me how to be a parent.
Sent from my iPhone

 

The best three things about teaching are?

1. Building relationships w/ kids

2. Watching kids exceed their expectations

3. #1



 

 

And another thought: If you want something you've never had, you'll have to do something you've done...

 

What would you do with 3 hours of free time?

Vacation blog!  Oxymoron?

 

Another interview question:  What would you do with 3 hours of free time?  Three days?  Finally, three weeks?

Consume or improve?   Most people I prompt answer in one of these two ways.  Some are willing to admit they would spend time investing in themselves, taking care of personal needs or wants.  Others would fill their time with helping others, often creating energy from energy by getting their energy from others.  Is one more impoartant than the other? 

In either situation, taking care of self is just as important as taking care of others.

Those taking care of themselves first may be adhering to the advice given on a plane, as mentioned in an earlier post, when the steward says "in the unlikely event of a drop in cabin pressure' please put the drop down mask on _________?_________ first?  Does she say to put it on your child first, or yourself first? Of course, she says to take care of yourself first.  Unless we take care of ourselves first, we will be in no condition to assess and address the needs of others!   Many recognize their needs and even identify and articulate the issues clearly but without the ability to follow through, our understanding s in vain!  We won't be able to help.  Recollections from mountaineers struggling to conquer mighty obstacles often pause when the servant attitude implies we take care of others first. 

On the others hand, folks often find energy serving and taking care of the needs of others.  This drive, passion or even gift often times lurks in the background.  This servant works to put others in the limelight, spotlight and center stage.  A true servant is motivated to put others first.  How does this align with our earlier thought of take care of ourselves, before we can take care of others?
Another option may be a combination of both!  In an attempt to simplify, we may have oversimplified!  Maybe we can't enjoy an either/or situation?  As I sit here, unwinding and trying to enjoy a week of vacation, I struggle with feelings of guilt for not doing enough.  I struggle considering to myself, I should be working on something.  I am distracted thinking this time a loss in productivity!  But then I wonder if I am doing myself a disservice by not truly letting things go and unwind.  What or where is the balance?  Is there a balance or is it all or none?  Will it be alright?  Will everything get finished? 
Yes, there is value in both work and relaxing. 

Conclusion:   Work hard to relax during vacations!  Those in our teams deserve our best.

picture credit:  Table Rock lake, Lampe Missouri photo by author of ZGR and SBG.   (Happy b day SBG)

What does it take to lead a team?

How much does a teacher have to know about the class?  A leader about the team?

A manager about the crew?  A salesperson about the customer?

What major metropolitan downtown?

This Book Review of The Way of the Shepherd by Dr Kevin Leman  (@drleman)  And  William Pentak  addresses these questions.  My take-aways from this book were simple and easy for me to follow since they focused around an acrostic: S.H.A.P.E.  This post connects those traits to the classroom.

Leadership and teaching go hand in hand.  Sales and teaching go together.  Motivation and drive are also components of education.  The corporate world and educational world have many overlaps.
In this quick read about a shepherd sharing with an apprentice, a metaphor is used to outline how the best leaders know their teams like a shepherd knows the flock.  He uses this acrostic to outline a few points.
STRENGTH
Each of us has different strengths.  A good leaders capitalizes on this and serves success by serving to the strengths of the team members.  A good teacher fosters success by knowing the student’s strengths and abilities, both positive and negative.
HEART
What one person likes will differ from what another likes.  Our desires, affections and heart drive our free or discretionary time and efforts.  “What would you like to do if you had 3 hours of free time?”  This question speaks to the heart contents.  A good teacher knows what the students like, and plans accordingly.
ATTITUDE
Often time, our attitude is the only thing we can change, just by changing our thoughts, focus and actions.  We must believe and then behave together for our attitude to shift from negative to positive.  Master teachers display a great attitude in themselves, even if it is part of the role and expect it from their students.
PERSONALITY
Besides saying “what a great personality” we view this trait as one defined by our base or simplest nature, form or style.  Often, a sense of humor, ethic or perspective helps articulate a personality.  How a person engages with others forms that foundation.  Personality styles and learning styles are the hardest to learn in others, but once mastered, student success is inevitable.
EXPERIENCE
Finally, experience is the thing we bring with us, everywhere, continuously adding to the past, equipping us for our future.  Those that can learn from other people’s experiences seem wise, but those learning from their own mistakes may end up learning the lesson better.  The teacher has little control over the prior experiences a student brings to the room.  Yet the subtle teacher builds mutual learning experiences for the class to compound the effectiveness of the content. 

These traits are simple to remember, easy to apply and universal in their prevalence. We all have every one, to one extent or another.  As leaders, our task is getting to know the traits of those around us and then use this understanding to further everyone.

How well is that working? #onthemap It seems to be working very well here at WMS!

 
The Way of the Shepherd: 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People
By: Dr. Kevin Leman, Bill Pentak
Zondervan / 2004 /