Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

Last week, my guests William Stubbs, Marlena Gross-Taylor, and Don Parker shared feedback on their personal and professional reflections around equity, racism, and inequalities. Panelists share powerful feedback on equity and racism. See YouTube version here. They each gave suggestions to help you decide how to respond in your own school community. In Part 2 of this discussion, they dive even deeper as they share several strategies, examples, and resources. Meet the Panelists: Marlena Gross-Taylor is the founder of Edugladiators.com, and provides education consulting and publishing services across the U.S. She serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Douglas County School District in Denver. William Stubbs is the Middle School Managing Director at UpLift Education in Dallas, Texas. He is a former Instructional Leadership Director, K-12 Principal, Dean of Students and Upper School Literature Teacher. He is also a co-moderator for the Twitter chat #BMEsTalk, each Tuesday night at 8PM Central Standard Time. Dr. Don Parker is a highly sought-after speaker and professional development provider. He is the principal of Posen Intermediate School in Posen, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. He is also the author of the new book, Building Bridges: Engaging Students at Risk Through the Power of Relationships with Solution Tree Press.  Discussions on Equity and Racism In this episode, we discuss three additional questions with summary responses below: What advice would you give to school leaders who are trying to reconcile the tension of leading as “neutral authority” while also leading with courage? William: Leadership is not for the faint at heart. Your core values and mission must align with calling out injustice and inequities when you see them. First, make sure of your own awareness of implicit bias and power structures. Being prepared begins with being a learner yourself. Your public and private beliefs and practices must align. That begins with family and friendships. When you’re having these discussions there first, you’ve exercised the muscles you’ll need for leading public conversations. Next, create safe places by relying on others who are experts in social justice discussions. Marlena: First, let’s call a spade a spade. Most leaders try to lead through appeasement. But compromising on your values means losing who you really are. There is no space to be neutral when it comes to racism and inequality. Be strong enough to say where you stand. Doing what is right for students always places you on the right side of a conversation. Make sure you are educating yourself in the literature and research. But this also includes having a leadership coach who can help you navigate organizational and situational roadmaps. Don: Being a leader is tough and having these conversations is challenging. Without challenge there is no change. Comfort and growth do not live in the same space. Yes, teachers have initiative fatigue, but cultural competency is not going away. We must guide others into these discussions by building trusting relationships. Once you have trust, guide them through inquiry. Use surveys, guided discussions, and help them discover these truths on their own through helping them reflect and grow. School leaders may be asking ‘how should I be responding’ to my students and community in the weeks and months ahead?’ What other suggestions or resources would you point them to? Marlena: Yes, we feel the pressure to respond. First, think about your feelings, why you’re feeling that way, and fill in the gaps by reaching out to leaders you trust to process what you’re feeling before sharing with others. Second, reach out to someone who can help you lead conversations so you don’t create more harm. Third, simply reach out to your staff and students, and relay your re-commitment to equity. Make sure you ask others how they are feeling, and then just listen. Don: First, ask others what they are feeling in one word. Then ask, why are you feeling that way? Explain you are creating a safe place and a shared space for finding ways to make this better together. Give others the right not to speak if that’s what they choose. Students must have the space to express themselves in a respectful way that leads to change and shared understanding. William: Be clear to name what you are talking about. In this case, it is violence and racism. Using Socratic Seminars provides a constructive ways to talk specifically about any issue. First, take your staff through the productive struggles, misconceptions and the core of understanding an activity that leads them through guided discussions. Once this has been modeled for staff, then your staff will be better equipped for facilitating these conversations with students. Use primary documents as the basis for leading conversations by bringing the facts, not opinions, to the table. Practice caution with your protocols so you have the right balance. What final thoughts do you want to share with other leaders and what resource(s) might you recommend? Marlena: My thoughts are not final because this is a conversation that must continue. Do more than just like, re-Tweet, or share a post about racism and inequity. Your way will look different from someone else, but this is a human rights issue. When the rights of blacks are diminished, the rights of everyone are diminished. Even after we find a vaccine for COVID, we cannot continue to see black people being killed. Participate in #edugladiators on Saturdays at 8AM Central Time via Twitter for ongoing conversations. Read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, this should be required reading for educators. Don: We have to be a role model for what we want to see in others. Think globally, act locally. The smallest deeds is greater than the grandest intention. Begin conversations at your local library. Let others share their feelings and experiences. If we are all taking small steps in the right direction, we can eventually affect great change. Don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out. Right is right. Stand up unapologetically. I recommend resources from the PUSH organization in Chicago. An injustice to one of us is an injustice to all of us. William: Think of the learner-lens and the leader-lens. You don’t switch to leading until you first understand the learner. Be genuine and authentic. Education is social justice. When we do it right, we are doing the work. Master your craft as an educator and then affect or change systemic problems as you see them. Connect with practitioners so you are learning from others actually do the work. They will provide a sounding board you will need for the work you are doing. New York City Leadership Academy and University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership. Both have helpful resources around equity. Also, check out the collaborative document on racism and understanding white supremacy via this doc. Now It’s Your Turn As you think about your own personal and professional responses to issues on equity and racism, reach out to others you trust for reflection and understanding. Keep in mind the importance of understanding issues from the lens of students before translating them as a leader. And keep learning by relying on good resources and educators who can provide real-life guidance and feedback along the way. The post PMP199: Panel Discussion on Equity & Racism, Part 2 appeared first on Principal Matters.

No community has been immune to conversations surrounding equity, racism, and inequalities. Panelists share reflections and ideas for school leaders. Go here for a video version via YouTube. As Marlena Gross-Taylor, one of the guests on this week’s podcast episode explains, these conversations have been going on for at least four hundred years. It seems this time, however, communities have reached a tipping point – with vast majorities of Americans expressing outrage, grief, and demanding change. How should school leaders be responding? What conversations, resources, and reflections can help you navigate these important conversations in whatever kind of community you serve – whether that is urban, suburban or rural? This week my guests, William Stubbs, Don Parker, and Marlena-Gross Taylor take time to provide powerful reflections, suggestions, and advice. Listen-in as they explain perspectives from their own personal responses as well as professional guidance. Meet the Panelists: Marlena Gross-Taylor is a dedicated and successful EdLeader with a proven track record of improving educational and operational performance. In addition to education consulting, she serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Douglas County School District in Denver. Originally from southern Louisiana, Marlena’s educational experience spans several states allowing her to have served K-12 students in both rural and urban districts. She has previously served as a Director of Secondary Schools, and has been recognized as a middle school master teacher and innovative administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She is a proud Louisiana State University alumnus and the founder of Edugladiators.com, that provides education consulting and publishing services across the U.S. William Stubbs is the Middle School Managing Director at UpLift Education in Dallas, Texas. He is a former Instructional Leadership Director, K-12 Principal, Dean of Students and Upper School Literature Teacher. William holds an M.S.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a B.A. in English from Shaw University. He is also a co-moderator for the Twitter chat #BMEsTalk, each Tuesday night at 8PM Central Standard Time, where educators from across the U.S. share ideas, research, and feedback on ways to encourage positive outcomes. Dr. Don Parker is a highly sought-after speaker and professional development provider. He is the principal of Posen Intermediate School in Posen, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Previously, he was the principal of Lincoln Avenue School, a K–8 school in Dolton, Illinois, where he improved the culture, implemented a resilience program, managed the implementation of restorative justice, and increased attendance and student achievement.  He is also the author of the new book, Building Bridges: Engaging Students at Risk Through the Power of Relationships with Solution Tree Press.  Question #1: As you observe what is happening right around the world and in your own communities, what have been your thoughts and reflections both personally and professionally? Marlena: The struggles of growing up in southern Louisiana are explored in a recent blog-post, Never Dim Your Light. Recent events have brought range of emotions, including sadness and grief. “Overwhelming” is one word to describe the personal grief as well as the gratitude of having others carrying these burdens together. William: It is important to check in on friends as each person reflects with a range of emotions. Right now there is a feeling of spiritual brokenness that this is happening again. At the same time, it is encouraging that other marginalized communities are also standing together. Don: Actually watching the death of George Floyd has brought emotions like anger, sadness, and sickness. Now we are wondering if protests will be what it finally takes to force a change. While it is disturbing to also see rioting, the growing response of peaceful protests may finally cause lawmakers and the general public to really listen. Question #2: What thoughts do you have for education leaders among various demographic groups for guiding their school communities through helpful conversations on equity and social justice? Don:   It’s important that education leaders know how to talk to students and staff. Think about the use of “peace circles” to guide safe conversations. Consider attending an upcoming free workshop for school leaders called The Cultural Competencies Hour of Power, including how to help students feel “Accepted, Affirmed and Appreciated” in our schools. Email dr.donparker@comcast.net for more information. William: First, school leaders need to know what conversation they are having. Identify what you are talking about. If this is the first time you are talking about equity and racism, admit if you need help. Reach out to others who are skilled in leading these conversations or become the first learner, including looking at your school data and doing staff book studies. One resource that may be helpful in guiding your own learning is a compilation of books, documentaries and categories that can be found here. Marlena: If you haven’t engaged in this level of work or in these kinds of conversations on equity and race, you should bring in someone who has. It is important for predominately white communities to better understand black communities without judgement. If you are uncomfortable leading these conversations, bring in others who can lead these conversations with confidence and sensitivity. If you’d like to reach out to Marlena for more information on her presentations, go here. Let’s Wrap This Up Please listen to the entire episode for wisdom, guidance, and reflection. Also, at the end of the recording, we keep the microphone open for several more minutes as each guest shares their own personal experiences in the past few weeks. Now It’s Your Turn How can you take advantage of being the “first-learner” in your own school community? What book-study or blog-post can you share with others to begin discussions on equity, cultural competency and racism? What is one question where you still more guidance? Next week, we will explore more questions in Part 2 of this important conversation! The post PMP198: Panel Discussion on Equity and Racism, Part 1 appeared first on Principal Matters.

Starting a new school year is like preparing for a marathon. Photo by Nadine Shaabana – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@nadineshaabana?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit The journey begins with training long before the race begins. And once the race starts, you need a lot of endurance for the road ahead. School leadership is the same. As you enter summer, the ways you “condition” in the weeks ahead may help set the pace for the year ahead. A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by a listener, D.J. Klein, from Jackson, Mississippi. He had just accepted his first position as an Assistant Principal and emailed me the following (that I’m sharing with permission): May 20, 2020: Good evening Mr. Parker, I hope all is well. I started listening to your podcast about a year ago and just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work and insight. I wanted to reach out to you to ask your advice. I am about to start my first full time administrative role as an assistant principal at a local high school. I was wondering if you have any resources or tips for my first year? I have started Jen Schwanke’s book “You’re the Principal [Now What?]…,” and it has been great so far. Thank you in advance! When I reached back to D.J. to share ideas, I asked him if I could record our conversation to share with other potentially new administrators. For the next 35 minutes, we talked through several ideas that may be helpful for you or someone you know who is stepping into his or her first year as an assistant principal: Book recommendations First I shared a few book suggestions. Although I haven’t read the newest book by Principal Kafele, I’m hearing great things about it. The Assistant Principal 50: Critical Questions for Meaningful Leadership and Professional Growth by Baruti K. Kafele is a popular read among many new assistant principals I follow online. And based on the feedback I’m hearing, you should also check out his free weekly virtual meetings discussing the book. I also sent D.J. a complimentary copy of my book, Principal Matters (Updated & Expanded): The Motivation, Action, Courage and Teamwork Needed for School Leaders 2nd Edition by William D. Parker, with new school leaders. Although I cannot give it away to everyone, I like sharing it with many of the principals I coach. I began this book as I was finishing my ninth year as an assistant principal and was stepping into my first year as a high school principal. It’s a practical reflection on the meaning behind leadership plus practical how-to lessons. In addition, here are two non-education reads that may help you re-think approaches to organizational leadership: Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t  by James C. Collins is a study of the common traits among highly successful leaders – what they focused to lead successful organization and what they did not allow to distract them. EntreLeadership: A Step-by-Step Guide for Leading Your Business to Success by Dave Ramsey is another book I found helpful. This book looks at how to organize a team of professionals in reaching shared goals. The applications to school leadership helped me develop my first “KRA’s”, or Key Results Areas, with my teams. 10 Tips for Your First Year as an Assistant Principal Finally, I shared with D.J. ten ideas to keep in mind the first year as an Assistant Principal. I unpack them in this podcast episode with follow-up to several questions for D.J. afterwards, but here’s the short summary: Discover the vision and values of your head principal and consider how you can support him or her.Figure out the administrative structural divisions and expectations. In other words, know your job description.Be friendly and introduce yourself to everyone: Everyone means teachers, parents, community groups, custodians, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses, upper admin, and of course, students.Listen a lot. Speak little at first (except to be friendly and courteous). This way you learn to know the lay of the land.Expect the best but guard your trust until you know who is trustworthy.Understand and follow your school policies. Your student handbook should reflect district policies. Be familiar with both, and make your handbook your new Bible.Follow those policies and procedures consistently, fairly, and firmly. Until you’ve learned the full context of your climate and culture, it’s best to avoid gray areas. If unsure, ask a trusted, experienced admin.Schedule the entire year in advance with priority tasks. Whether you chunk your calendar with observations/evaluation meetings, team meetings, or student activities, plan ahead. This way what is important remains a priority around which you can manage your other urgent to-do’s.Commit to personal self-care habits now and continue them even when you’re so overwhelmed you don’t think you have time to exercise, eat or sleep.Give yourself lots of grace! This first year is the hardest as every “first-year” is. Ask yourself what you’ve done during other new seasons to find your groove, and take similar steps in this one. Take one step at a time, don’t expect to finish your race in a sprint. It is a marathon. Let’s Wrap This Up In our conversation, D.J. mentions when I was named Oklahoma’s Assistant Principal of the year in 2012. As grateful as I was to receive the state award from the National Association of Secondary Principals, I was also aware of something more important: Enjoying your work as an assistant principal only happens when you take time to appreciate others, relish the small moments, and recognize the importance of the journey and people that will shape you along the way. As hard as any new position may be, let me encourage you to make the most of small moments and celebrate wins as they come. Learn from times you make mistakes. And keep growing – just like you did before you stepped into this new position. That cycle of reflection, growth, and application is what helped you grow to this point, and it will help you grow into any position ahead. And one more thing: Pass those lessons along to others because we are not alone in this important journey of education. Now It’s Your Turn Maybe you know someone who is taking their first position in school administration as an assistant principal or otherwise. Or maybe this will be your first year. If you could add to the list above, what other books or tip(s) would you provide? What questions do you still have? Reach back in the comments or email me at will@williamdparker.com. Think about another leader who may benefit from these takeaways, and share this post and episode with someone. Thanks again for doing what matters! The post PMP197: 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals appeared first on Principal Matters.

Even in uncertain times, it is good to remember that positive ideas can come from even the most difficult situations. Photo by Júnior Ferreira – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@juniorferreir_?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Juan David Campolargo, a seventeen-year-old high school student from Chicago, is no stranger to difficulty. Immigranting to the U.S. from Venezuela at age 14, he began to learn English for the first time, and over the past three years, he has become fluent in four languages, written his first book, and is preparing for college. Meet Juan David Campolargo Juan David Campolargo published his first book, Generation Optimism: How To Create The Next Generation of Doers and Dreamers, in December 2019. He was compelled to share his own story after reading an article about how Gen-Z students and millennials are generally described as pessimistic.  Based on his own story of overcoming the tragic murder of his father, he says, “The world will always have difficulties, adversities, and challenges that have never existed before. With all the negativity and pessimism, we may not be able to solve them. Unless we proactively create and encourage more people to be optimistic…we will never solve them.” When he’s not writing books,  he’s playing soccer, running, volunteering at the Museum of Science and Industry, or learning about science at America’s particle physics and accelerator laboratory. When Juan David reached out to me by email about his new book, I reached back with an invitation to be a guest on this week’s podcast to share about: How students like Juan can learn to turn difficulties into opportunities. What school closures have been like for him and other students, and the benefits of project-based learning.Ways schools could better serve students by finding and encouraging them to purse learning through their own interests. Reminders to educators that their positive or negative influences have exponential affects on the lives of students. Let’s Wrap This Up Another favorite quote of Juan David’s is: “A smart person learns from their own mistakes, but a wise person learns from other people’s mistakes.” Talking to him is a great reminder why we can all be optimistic about this generation of students. As you wrap up this semester of school, be encouraged that students like Juan David are still eager to make the most of difficult situations. Now It’s Your Turn You can find out more about him or check out his weekly newsletter at his website here. What students do you know who may benefit from hearing a student’s story of overcoming adversity? Check out his TedxTalk here and share it with others! The post PMP196: Generation Optimism with Juan David Campolargo appeared first on Principal Matters.

During school closures and remote learning, maintaining connection with students has been an enormous puzzle to solve. Photo by kenteegardin – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/26373139@N08 When 8th grade teacher Jena Nelson, from Deer Creek Middle School in Edmond, Oklahoma, switched to online delivery, she looked at this new difficulty as a new opportunity. Digging into her arsenal of costumes from her previous years as a drama and theater teacher, she decided that her students would have a surprise guest every day when they logged in for her composition lessons. These characters included a duchess, judge, detective, viking, and more. Meet Jena Nelson Jena Nelson is the 2020 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. She teaches 8th-grade composition and academic enhancement at Deer Creek Middle School in Edmond, Oklahoma. Jena is a 15-year educator and formerly taught theatre, musical theatre, and stagecraft.   A long time advocate for career-based curriculum, Jena has helped her students earn over 4 million dollars in scholarships and incorporates career readiness in all of her classes.  She has been selected twice to direct at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and Jena was also chosen as a presenter at  International Music Festival in Campina Grande Brazil. This year she was selected by Congresswoman Kendra Horn to attend the State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.   Exploring Ways to Stay Connected In this week’s podcast episode, Jena discusses several topics that will inspire your own service as an educator, including: Lessons in distance instruction from a teacher’s perspective, and words of encouragement for all educators facing similar challenges.Examples of engagement in the normal classroom settings and how those ideas transfer to distance learning.Why education is an inspiring career, and why Jena left performing arts to become a teacher.The power of a trusting relationship to save a child from traumatic childhood and place her on the path to graduation.How the partnership of relationship-oriented principals and teachers can create schools families. Let’s Wrap This Up As the fall semester begins, Jena Nelson will have the opportunity to travel her state as an advocate for Oklahoma teachers. She is thrilled to start her “revolution of morale” as she represents the profession she loves. But until then, she recognizes what sacrifices teachers, students and families have all made to finish out the school year. Staying connected has not been easy, but every effort to cultivate relationships has been worth it as everyone realizes the value of doing school. Now It’s Your Turn What ways can you encourage your teachers to give themselves a pat-on-the-back for rallying together in such difficult times? What ideas from distance learning do you plan to embed into your school practices even after anticipated returns to school next semester? If you’d like to follow Jena Nelson on Twitter, you can find her at her handle @oktoy2020. The post PMP195: Instruction from a Distance with Jena Nelson appeared first on Principal Matters.

School leaders share a common bond – whether you lead in an urban, suburban or rural setting. Photo by ChrisGoldNY – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/34325628@N05 During the last two months, I’ve also been thinking a lot about another common bond all school leaders now share: caring and serving from a distance. Whether your school is public, charter, or private – you wear many hats, including guiding instruction, ensuring school safety, or communicating with your community members. Although stories vary across the nation and world in managing closures and remote learning, many principals also have learned how to respond to students whose families have lost grandparents to COVID-19, parents who are sick, and students who are hospitalized.  Meet Patrick McLaughlin Principal Patrick McLaughlin This week I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Patrick McLaughlin. He is Principal of St. Francis Preparatory School, the largest, private, Catholic High School in the country. Located in Queens, New York, his school community has been at the epicenter of New York’s battle with COVID-19. For some perspective, at the date of this recording, May 8, 2020, the U.S. had seen 1,248,040 cases of COVID-19 with 75,477 deaths. New York state alone has suffered 321,962 cases with 26,120 deaths. That means Patrick’s state has experienced almost 21% of the deaths that have occurred across the U.S.  Patrick is a frequent listener of the Principals Matters podcast, and two weeks ago, he sent me this email I’ve reprinted in part here with his permission: “So many of our people have experienced death, illness, trauma and heartache here in New York… I have been doing videos to our school community once or twice a week. In between I send them written updates. Communication is such an important tool for us right now and I try to make both upbeat and informative. I am actually running out of spaces in my house to shoot the videos from. One was actually from my laundry room. My parents and students and faculty are very appreciative of all the times I have reached out to them. Communication is huge!” I was touched by his email and reached back to him. Later we set up a time to share a conversation about the lessons he’s learning during distance learning. Patrick has been fortunate to have spent his entire career in the same school, first as a student, teacher, coach, department chairperson, assistant principal and now principal. St. Francis Preparatory School is a highly diverse school in a highly diverse community. In this week’s episode, he shares how his school has learned to come together through diversity. He also explains ways his students serve and work together with students from their neighborhood public elementary school. Throughout this episode Patrick also explains: How COVID-19 cases have touched his school community and his own familyWhat steps he and his team members have taken to stay connected and communicate with students and famililes during school closuresLessons he is learning that may help other principals trying to stay connnected to their own studentsAdvice he has for principals who may be facing similar scenarios in the weeks or months aheadLessons in grace he is learning to show himself and his teachers in these new ways of doing schoolThe dreams he has for the future when students and teachers can one day reconnect and be together Now It’s Your Turn I hope you will listen to the entire show for great takeaways from Patrick’s experience. As you continue serving your school community this week, be encouraged that your students, teachers and parents recognize the value of relationships now more than ever. What ways can you continue reaching out, connecting and communicating with them? Even as you lead from a distance, what’s one step you can take today to give grace to yourself and others? The post PMP194: Lessons from Leading in New York with Principal Patrick McLaughlin appeared first on Principal Matters.

I don’t know about you, but it seems like every waking hour has been spent adjusting to a new normal, and the idea of relaxing almost seems unkind when you think of all the sacrifices people are making during times like this. Photo by Tadas Mikuckis – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@tadasmikuckis?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit In Oklahoma, school leaders have been managing distance learning for more than a month now. I know it’s the same wherever you are. School leaders are wrapping up their semesters this month or next. Many are still unsure what the summer will bring. Some states are lifting restrictions on social distancing while others are still responding to rising counts of hospitalizations or deaths. During times like this, it’s hard to keep perspective. Most days I find myself pulled between two extremes… On the one hand, the quiet and solitude of working from home means less travel, more walks in my neighborhood, and more time to practice music – one of my past times. On the other hand, I find myself fretting over a crippled economy, knowing that budget failures in states across the nation will equal fewer dollars for schools on tough times ahead. Staying Focused on What You Can Control When I hit this crossroads in my own mind, I have to remind myself of two truths: One, it’s important to understand possibilities, data, and projections so that you are aware of what may be ahead of you.  Two, it’s important to remember what you can control and what you cannot. Although you are able to affect the moment you are in, you have very little control of what will happen in the future. Having said all that, I just want to remind you that what you’re doing today still matters. As Jen Schwanke shared in one of our previous episodes, be careful not to spend so much emotional energy on what may happen in the future that you miss out on the needs of today.  Your students, teachers, and community members still need you in the present to reach out, stay connected, and provide necessary supports. Taking an Emotional Break But leading from a distance can also be tiresome. And this week I have been growing a little weary talking about uncertainties. In some ways, conversations on COVID-19 become circular – like the 24-hour media stations that keep rehashing the same themes over and over again, looking for new spins on the same stories. It’s not that the news is not important. It is. But sometimes you just need a break from it.  That’s why I decided today to take a break from COVID-19 in the rest of this post. In what follows, I’m going to talk about something absolutely disconnected from COVID-19 or even school leadership.  Instead I’m going to share with you some samples of music recordings I’ve been creating the past couple of weeks.  Free Resources for School Leaders Now, the last thing I want to do is become the strange uncle you wish you had not invited to dinner because he wants to show you every photo from his last vacation. So if you don’t want to hear anything about my music, you can stop reading (or listening) right now!  In the meantime, please check out the nearly 200 other free podcast episodes on school leadership at williamdparker.com, or find Principal Matters Podcast on iTunes or wherever you download your favorite podcasts. We’re almost to 400,000 downloads at present, so share them with others, and let’s reach that next milestone. Thanks for doing what matters, and I’ll talk to you again soon.  A Little Background… For those of you who are still around, here’s a little background for you. I have an electronic piano that connects to my laptop where I can sit and record while I play songs. Recently, I’ve been going through our church hymnal and picking out old ones I’ve been singing since I was a child.  I grew up in West Tennessee and spent most of my adult life in Oklahoma. Both states have deep traditions rooted in church and hymnody. Although many modern churches only sing new songs, which I sometimes enjoy, traditional hymns still speak to me in ways that modern songs often do not. I do not read music, and I am not a formally trained musician, which is obvious when you hear me play. And these are not polished, edited studio recordings. I just love to play music on my piano and guitar. And I normally I try to play songs the way I hear them in my own mind.   My Music Break So, if you listen to rest of this week’s podcast episode, I hope you’ll enjoy these old classics I play on the keys. They include: Be Still My SoulHis Eye Is on the SparrowI Need Thee Every HourHow Great Thou ArtIt Is Well with My SoulJust as I Am By the way, if you’d like to hear some other songs I put together on guitar while singing during these weeks of social distancing, I have another set I posted on YouTube – all by one of my favorite hymnodists, Fanny Crosby. Check them out here! Now It’s Your Turn I hope you enjoy listening to these songs as much as I enjoyed playing them. If they are encouragement to you, pass them along to others.  In the meantime, I hope you’ll take a small break this week from whatever has kept you busy to just do something you enjoy. You need to keep your emotional batteries charged if you’re going to lead an inspire others. Thanks for taking a break with me. And until next time, thanks for doing what matters! The post PMP193: Taking a Music Break from COVID-19 appeared first on Principal Matters.

When storms roll across my home state of Oklahoma, residents here have a few common reactions. Clouds over Owasso, Oklahoma, April 28, 2020 by William D. Parker First, we listen to the weather station. Oklahoma has the best storm-tracking radar systems in the world. Second, we check our storm closets or shelters to make sure we have a good place to hide if severe weather turns to tornado warnings. Third, we step outside to look at the clouds – an Oklahoma tradition that surprised me when I first moved here, but I now I’m like everyone else. Finally, we take shelter at the appropriate time, and when the storms pass, we go back outside to look for cool cloud formations or rainbows. The photo above is one I took after a recent storm. The colors and clouds were so stunning! As I think about my state’s storm season, I’m reminded that we also have school traditions this time of year. This season normally includes field trips, baseball games, soccer matches, proms and graduation ceremonies. But this spring 2020 none of those traditions are common. The COVID-19 pandemic has left us with a storm of changes for which we had not prepared any common practices. In this week’s podcast episode, Principal Jen Schwanke and I continue a conversation about leading from a distance. We discuss what it’s like to be a school leader in a time where norms seem to be constantly changing. Here’s a summary of topics we cover together: What are you doing for self-care? Starting something new is always hard. Jen explains how caring for horse reminds her that when things get difficult, you pull her up, adjust, and start over. As you are managing school and your own self care during these closures, take time to stop, adjust and start over as needed. How are you helping teachers adjust? Just as you have had to adjust to a new normal, your teachers (especially those with small children or dependent loved ones) have an especially difficult task. So give them permission to be flexible and be okay with what is possible, not what is perfect. Right now the mental health of your staff and students supersedes their academic progress. At the same time, there are lots of resources to support your teachers in preparing and creating diversified, differentiated instruction. Give yourself and others plenty of grace. Just like you are helping others accept a new norm, stop trying to everything perfectly. Find what works for your situation, talents, gifts and resources available, and do what works for you! When working with your community, show them grace too. Ask parents what works for them. Keep expectations fluid and rubrics flexible. It’s not the student’s fault this is happening. So this cannot be punitive. What about the gaps in learning? Stressing about the gaps is not giving your students or teachers enough credit for their resilience and ability to still learn. Let go of what you can’t control. Instead of worrying about what is next, focus your energy on what is happening now. Yes, you have to plan ahead as a leader, and you will face learning gaps when the time is appropriate. But don’t underestimate the abilities of your teachers to remediate and students to catch up when we again have the opportunity for face-to-face instruction. Let’s Wrap This Up Last night as I stood in my neighborhood watching storm clouds pass overheard, I was not in control of the raging winds and weather patterns. We took shelter at the appropriate times, and we observed with wonder the awe and beauty of nature after the storms had passed. As you continue leading from a distance during school closures, keep in mind what you can control and what you cannot. Keep inspiring others by taking of yourself, give others plenty of grace, don’t fret over the gaps in learning you cannot currently change, and trust your teammates. In time, we will return to some sense of calm after the storm. Now It’s Your Turn What is one way you can remind your teachers that you value and appreciate them while allowing for flexibility in their own performance from a distance? As we look at Teacher Appreciation Week beginning May 4, what is a creative way you can encourage your teachers to keep their self-care a priority while serving others? The post PMP192: Leading from a Distance, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

If you’re like me, you’re probably still adjusting to a new normal. Photo by Andrew Neel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@andrewtneel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Each morning I still wake up, walk the dog, or go for a run around the neighborhood. I login to my email and check my calendar for the series of meetings via Zoom or Google Meets. But life still doesn’t feel normal yet. School has always been a place marked by milestones. Normally, high school students would be celebrating prom and looking toward graduation ceremonies. Elementary students would be enjoying Spring field trips. Leading those same students from a distance is not the kind of “normal” anyone expected when this school year began. And like you, I’m still trying predict what’s next. I’m also curious what it has been like for you to lead from a distance? A Chat with Jen Schwanke In this week’s podcast episode, I had a chance to catch-up with Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary, and the author of the books, You’re the Principal! Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders and The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. We spent time reflecting on what it is like to lead from a distance, including challenges, encouragements, and ideas for staying connected.  Here is a quick summary of our conversation that may resonate with your own experiences: 5 Challenges with Distance Leading The falling price of oil and spiraling economy will mean difficult choices for state governments, which in turn means schools, in months ahead. How do we stay positive even when anticipating more difficult times?Distance learning has taken away what most students love about school but left them many with what they hate most about it. How do we still encourage them?Educators are grappling with the reality of what it’s like to be given a completely different job for fourth months. Are we giving them the credit and grace they deserve?Schools are presently unable to be on the front-lines of protecting student well-being. What can we still be doing to reach out to those most in need?Communities are relying on food services and facing technology inequities – we’ve taken the lid off of essential supports schools provides. How can we advocate for those services to continue for all students? 5 Encouragements in Distance Leading Educators have done amazing work delivering services in a very short time frame. We should be celebrating them.Teachers are shining with their professionalism during distance learning, especially when leaders choose not to micro-manage.  Let’s remind our teachers they are still the most valuable asset for student learning.Teachers must be trusted, and this time is no different. Yes, accountability still matters but leaders must show trust if you expect trust. Look at your students and what they need, and let that be your focus in leading. When unsure what to do next, keep that focus in mind.Do not compare your remote learning to someone else. Do what works for your school community and fits your strengths and abilities. 5 Ideas for Staying Connected with Students Stay away from assumptions of why kids may not be connected. Every student and family is facing unique and different challenges and situations.Give grace now more than ever and assume the best. People need encouragement in situations beyond their own control.Use technology that works for you. Whether that’s Google Meets, Pen pals, Flip Grids, Pair Deck – find ways for students to shine.Think ahead, but don’t fret over what is next. If we live in the ‘what-if’s” too much, we may burn up the emotional energy that is best used right now in serving people in the moment.Communicate frequently with your school community in whatever forum works best for them. Let’s Wrap This Up Jen wraps up this episode with a story from her dad who remembered growing up during the U.S. polio outbreak. He reminded her that although the outbreak brought our nation to its knees, we recovered and grew stronger again. I hope you’ll listen to the entire podcast episode for that story and more takeaways! Now It’s Your Turn This week as you lead from a distance, remember to show gratitude. Promise to not overdo it, so you have the emotional energy to encourage others. Do not compete with what you see other leaders doing. And do what YOUR students and teachers need by being yourself! Thanks again for doing what matters! Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP191: Reflections on Leading from a Distance appeared first on Principal Matters.

This morning I was running a three-mile track around my neighborhood. Photo by Tikkho Maciel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@tikkho?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As I passed the houses and occasional drivers, I felt a sudden kinship to my neighbors I’m not sure I’ve felt before. We don’t just share the same zip-code; we now share a common experience. And this experience spreads beyond our cities and states. We share a common bond across the entire world. If you think about it, we have only been in this distance learning journey a relatively short time. But it doesn’t feel that way. The first case of COVID-19 worldwide was reported in January. But none of us had any idea what would happen in the ensuing weeks. By early March, U.S. cases had been reported. Washington state was the first to close schools. And as the virus spread into a pandemic, U.S. schools across the nation responded with closures and implementation of distance learning.  In my own state of Oklahoma, March 25 marked the announcement from our Oklahoma State Department of Education that schools would close the rest of the year with distance learning plans beginning April 6. As I write this post on April 10, 2020, my family and I are in our fourth week of safer-at-home activity. And my children are finishing their first week of full-time distance learning lessons from their school.  Just as we all share a common bond with one another worldwide, as leaders, we also share common lessons during these times. When schools began closing and making plans for distance learning, my calendar quickly filled with Zoom meetings and phone calls from other leaders. As executive director for the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (an affiliate of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration), I have had a front-row seat with leaders across my state.  I also coordinate with other state leaders through NASSP, the National Association of Secondary School Principals. And as a Solution Tree author and speaker, I also have colleagues across the nation and internationally with whom I collaborate. What lessons am I seeing from leaders during these uncertain times? Here are a five: 1. Relationships still matter now as much as ever. For principals with small and large school populations, I’m hearing the same feedback: Reach out to your people. Make sure they know you care about them and their safety and well-being. Above all else, assure your teachers, staff and students that you care and want to be available to help however you can.  Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri, talked to me by Zoom and said, “I’ll be honest that is the hardest thing I think for most educators. We are all about relationships, and it took me a few days to really understand those relationships are still there. Now it is all about understanding how do I adjust to still connect with people.” He explained more, “As the building leader, I have used videos as one way to connect.  I spent some time calling families one-on-one by phone. You can still write a note and mail it to someone’s residence. I think connecting relationships are still important, but I think that looks so different now in the virtual world. That’s what I’m trying to stay focused on what I cando, not what I can’t do.” 2. It still takes a team! Don’t carry the burden alone. Just like a great school functions during normal times, you cannot accomplish your goals without a strong team. Ask for help and reach out to others when you need feedback. Utilize your teachers and staff for reaching students. Many elementary leaders I talk to are reaching students by using classroom teachers to connect and support students at home. At the secondary level, many principals I know are dividing up their students among PLC teams or Teacher Advisory Teams so that every student is being regularly contacted and supported.  Principal Chris LeGrande, at Guthrie High School, outside of Oklahoma City told me when closures were first announced, he and his two assistant principals divided up the phone numbers of every teacher and staff member in the building. They reached out to them by phone to hear their concerns and assure them of their support. Now that they have transitioned to distance learning, the same conversations happen among teachers and the more than 1,000 high school students in his building.   “I would say the best thing or the most exciting thing to me is the fact that we have required our teachers to reach out to their students to make contact and communicate with all of them,” Mr. LeGrande explained. “I think the overall theme is the fact that the kids just miss school and being around their friends,” he said. Terrence Simmons, an Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada, told me how they responded as a team. They launched distance learning for their students in three days, and the district website became a resource for parents wanting guidance and digital tools.   Mr. Simmons explained one of their strategies for reaching families. “We are actually having our teachers call six students per day to check in with the students,” he said. “Teachers have also set up work hours to be accessible to our parents by phone just to make sure that there’s good communication happening.” Nye County educators reached out to every parent to determine distance learning options, which include both online services for those with access and lesson packets for those without digital access. 3. Be creative and innovative in reaching goals. Whether it is keeping up with others through shared Google Docs or managing your own day by sharing calendars with your team, set a schedule for yourself and others that makes sense.  At Glenpool High School, outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Principal Kim Coody, batches all Zoom team meetings into one day each week. That way she commits an entire day to touching base with all her teachers and teams. The rest of the week she can focus on the individual outreach and additional planning needed. At the same time, Ms. Coody and her staff have found creative ways to stay connected with students by publishing school announcementsto social media with a traditional moment-of-silence, flag salute, and updates to students.  Schools are also finding creative ways to honor seniors with virtual meet-ups or live-streamed celebrations.  Although graduation ceremonies have been postponed at her school, LaDonna Chancellor, Principal of Bartlesville High School, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is still finding ways to highlight seniors. This Friday night, April 10, the high school stadium lightsare being turned on throughout the evening as a beacon for the small town and a reminder that the school recognizes and celebrates their senior class.  Whether you use social media, phone calls, drive-by visits for distance-waving, or group Zoom or Google Meet-ups with your school community, be creative in the ways you are reaching and staying connected with others. 4. Think ahead and plan for what may be next. Dr. Don Parker, Principal of Posen Intermediate School in Posen-Robbins School District, outside of Chicago, Illinois,described how his school already had plans in place in case of closures for bad weather.   “We were fortunate enough that we are in Chicago where we get a lot of snow and you know terrible weather conditions, so we were ahead of the curve in that we have e-learning plans,” he explained. “When we have snow days, we were prepared for students to learn from home by already having these plans in place. We also have what we call Blizzard folders where we have paper copies of lessons that students can do at home. If they are set up for e-learning, they can follow links in our website. Our teacher can also go online to update the lessons there.” For many principals, these closures may also mean planning for next year already. This may involve modifying enrollment plans online. Others are already anticipating what school may look like if closures continue for parts of the country throughout the end of summer or the start of next school year.  Eric Harrison, Principal of A+ Arts Academy, Elementary School on the Fair campus, Columbus, Ohio, explained to me how his school is already training their teachers in the use of online application platforms and content sharing. He is wishing for the best with the start of a new school year, but he doesn’t want to be caught flat-footed if closures happen for a longer duration. Leaders don’t only respond decisively during a crisis, they also think ahead.  5. Give yourself and others plenty of grace. Every new opportunity comes with challenges, and many leaders I spoke to were working more and putting in longer hours than they had during a normal school year. That means teachers, students and families are also adjusting to new norms. For some of them in difficult situations, the new norm is overwhelming and stressful. For those in more stable conditions, the inconvenience and changes can still cause anxiety. This is a good time to remember that your optimism, empathy, and decisiveness will help others remain positive. Someday your school community will look back at this time. And how you made them feel during this time will be even more important than what policies or procedures they followed during distance learning. Giving grace also applies to yourself. Take time to rest, rejuvenate and unplug when you can. Teachers and students don’t need you rattled and exhausted. They need you to remain strong. Give yourself grace in the process of leading during uncertain times. Let’s Wrap This Up As I finished up my run this morning, I looked at the empty streets. No buses were running. No lines of cars heading to the local schools. There is an eerie emptiness in this new era of distance learning. But as I reach out to my school friends, and my kids are logging-in to connect with teachers, I feel so encouraged by the positivity I see in education leaders and their obvious love for students. Leaders still set the tone. And as you lead in uncertain times, remember when you remain calm, gracious and patient, you influence the emotions of your students, teachers and community members as well.  And remember that timeless principles still apply even when timely practices are changing.  Relationships still matters. Teamwork is still required to accomplish goals. Creativity and innovative are needed to reach others. Planning ahead is still important. And throughout it all, giving yourself and others plenty of grace will help as you run the roads ahead. Now It’s Your Turn For more feedback from practicing principals on responses to school closures and distance learning, listen to the second half of this podcast episode for feedback from thirteen Oklahoma administrators who shared successes and obstacles their schools are managing. Special thanks to the following school leaders for sharing their lessons while leading in uncertain times: Chris LeGrande, Principal of Guthrie High SchoolGary Willis, Principal of Elmore City-Pernell High SchoolScott Kiker, Principal of Collinsville High SchoolKim Coody, Principal of Glenpool High SchoolJohn Potter, Principal of Pryor High SchoolEric Fox, Associate Principal of Jenks High SchoolRenae Dozier, Principal of Grove High SchoolJustin Mann, Principal of Del Crest Middle SchoolClay McDonald, Principal of Yukon Middle SchoolKyle Hilterbran, Principal of Clinton Middle SchoolEllen Vannoy, Assistant Principal of Jenks High SchoolJonathan Atchley, Principal of Irving Middle SchoolRandy Biggs, Principal of Frederick High School References: Bartlesville Public Schools Twitter Page (@bhsbruin). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://twitter.com/bhsbruin/status/1248416464949760002 Coody, Kimberly. Personal interview. April 8, 2020. Glenpool High School Facebook Page. Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.facebook.com/GlenpoolHighSchool/videos/238300313988643/UzpfSTEwNDcxNjM1NzU0ODc1OToyMjg1NzA2NDE4Mjk5OTY/ Harrison, Eric. Personal interview. April 6, 2020. Legleiter Chris. Podcast interview. April 1, 2020. https://williamdparker.com/2020/04/01/pmp188-covid-19-update-principal-reboot-finding-balance-continued/ LeGrande, Chris. Personal interview. April 8, 2020. Parker, Don. Podcast Interview. April 6, 2020. https://williamdparker.com/2020/04/08/pmp189-building-bridges-to-reach-students-with-dr-don-parker/ Simmons, Terrence. Podcast guest interview. March 25, 2020. https://williamdparker.com/2020/03/25/pmp187-reboot-for-principals-part-2/ World Health Organization. Timeline on Covid-19. Retrieved April 10, 2020 from https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/08-04-2020-who-timeline—covid-19 Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP190: 5 Tips for Running the Uncertain Leadership Roads Ahead appeared first on Principal Matters.