Keeping the Roots Stronger

Tis the season!  When I talk to people about the holidays, they are either really excited or dreading the stress that comes along with it. Our experiences definitely influence the way we think and act during this time of the year, well, to be honest...any time of the year.  The good news is that although we cannot change our experiences, we can change our thinking and our actions.  We can slow down, prioritize, choose actions that are healthy and bring happiness. 

It doesn't matter the time of the year, educators have a responsibility to be our best for our students.  I recently attended a couple of PLC's and was so impressed with the focus and intention on teaching the standards and closing the gap.  The teachers led the process and collaborative made decisions about what to prioritize.  I thought of them, and all of you as I watched this video: Keeping the Roots Stronger.

It reminded me that although we may not see the immediate results of the time, commitment and dedication of your time and expertise, you do make a difference in the life of a child and that is worth celebrating!

November Motivation-Pooped or Pepped?

We have had an amazing start to the 2018-19 school year, it's so hard to believe that the 1st trimester is already coming to an end! As we get further into the year, it's easy to get into the whirlwind of the daily roles and responsibilities and allow the challenges to suck motivation, patience, focus, and energy.  So...how do we keep the momentum going, how do we overcome the challenges? 

Recently, I came across Jon Gordan's, (author of "The Power of Positive Team") blog and a few of his videos.  After reading and listening to a few of his short/quick messages, I had a renewed feeling of optimism and excitement about my work. 

A particular blog called Pooped or Pepped caught my eye.  I couldn't help but read it, the title is pretty catchy! He makes several great points about negative thinking and how replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can impact how you feel and act.  This has direct implications for the day to day work in education.  How do you think/act when faced with the day to day challenges? How do you handle change? or when decisions don't align with your thinking? How might you think/act differently?

Once I got into his site, I was drawn to other blogs, resources, and videos. Particularly a video called "Creating Success from the Inside Out!" It's a quick 50 seconds that caused me to think about the transformation of instruction occurring throughout Grand Island Public Schools. From student-centered instruction with rigor to the Academies of Grand Island Senior High.  When I walk into our schools, I can see the change is happening from the inside out.  At the core; PLCs, the implementation of standards-based planning, and using data to make decisions are major levers that have an impact on our students' achievement and their ability to "THRIVE in an ever-changing world"!

Achievement of our vision cannot be left to chance and will not occur without a focus on continuous school improvement! Intentional and specific goals, strategies, and actions determined through data analysis drive this work, and measurement indicators allow us to monitor along the way.  Campus leaders and staff are at the heart of implementation and represent the "how" of "Creating Sucess from the Inside Out"! If the continuous school improvement plan is a living process, growth is not optional, it is an expectation. 

Last week, Dr. Grover, Dr. McDowell and I completed our fall Data Rounds.  This was our opportunity to meet with every campus principal about continuous school improvement implementation and the impact as well as identifying specific ways the district can support the campus needs.  Our conversation centered around the following points:

• What is the implementation status of your continuous school improvement plan? Are you on track? 
• Is the impact of continuous school improvement what you expected?
• What has been the impact on student achievement?
• Next steps?

I truly value and appreciate this time to learn more about each campus, the strengths, and the challenges, and what supports are needed to achieve the intended goals. This process is meant to empower principals to be instructional leaders and create/sustain a culture of learning and high expectations for all (and that includes all of us at the district office).  Interestingly enough,  Jon Gordan created another video, Creating culture, that seems to articulate a message that aligns with continuous school improvement and has implications for all staff. 

In conclusion, the theme of Jon Gordan's work provides some real connections and insights to reaching our goals. Positive thinking, a learning culture, and teaming (working from the inside out)! all have an impact. There may be times where we get stuck in the mud and need to engage in Difficult Conversations and Positive Conflict,  change our actions, or seek the help of others.  It's ok, it's expected.  The power is in the team!  That is how we will achieve, "Every Student, Every Day, A Success!"

I encourage you to check out Jon Gordon's site and learn about other strategies to help you feel more  "pepped" than "pooped" at the end of the day. It's worth a few minutes of your time.