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

My mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s. The condition began about ten years ago when we thought she was simply becoming more forgetful. Photo by Diego PH – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@jdiegoph?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit But as her short-term memory declined, we realized she wasn’t just suffering from old age. Over the years, she has lost the ability to recognize her own children and grandchildren, and she forgets whether or not her parents are still living–even though they passed away more than thirty years ago. Music and the Brain On Sunday afternoons, we like to take our children to visit Grandma at the memory care center where she now lives. We keep an electronic piano in her room because she has loves playing and singing hymns. When I visit, I sit at the keys and open a hymnal. As soon as my fingers touch the keys, Grandma joins in and doesn’t miss a beat. She remembers the tunes and words of all her favorite songs. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…” We will sing one song and then another. I’m not a brain scientist, but I have studied learning styles and child development, and memorization is often easiest when combined with music. It works for children, adults, and apparently for my mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s too. Research confirms that it is also good practice for brain engagement. My Daughter’s Playlist Occasionally, my daughter Katie and I will drive over together to see Grandma. Katie is a freshman in high school and she has a great playlist on her iPhone. She tags them with different titles, but one she calls “Dad’s Playlist.” It is a compilation of mostly acoustic or musical numbers. On our drives over, we turn up the volume in my car and sing along. One of my favorite duets is one from the musical Greatest Showman with Zac Efron and Zendaya singing “Rewrite the Stars.” What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine Nothing could keep us apart You’d be the one I was meant to find… As fun as it is to connect with my family through music, I would like to ask you a question about your own playlist–not just the songs or music you enjoy, but what is on your mental-playlist? Our brains are powerful organs. And just as digesting nutritious food tends toward better health, what you digest with mind shapes your view of yourself, the world around you and forms life-long habits and memories. In a world of constant access to technology, advertisements, news, and information, our brains encounter stimuli at alarming rates. In an article by FastCompany.com, Daneil J. Levitin, shares the following: “Information scientists have quantified [that in] 2011, Americans took in five times as much information every day as they did in 1986—the equivalent of 174 newspapers. During our leisure time, not counting work, each of us processes 34 gigabytes, or 100,000 words, every day. The world’s 21,274 television stations produce 85,000 hours of original programming every day as we watch an average of five hours of television daily, the equivalent of 20 gigabytes of audio-video images. That’s not counting YouTube, which uploads 6,000 hours of video every hour. And computer gaming? It consumes more bytes than all other media put together, including DVDs, TV, books, magazines, and the Internet (Levitin).” So how do you ensure that the intake for your brain is as healthy as what you digest with your body? Frankly, if you want to keep growing in your own critical thinking and reasoning, you must be proactive in what’s in your own mental playlist. As I’ve shared before in this series (you can see previous shares in PMP:111 and PMP:112), my suggestions are not prescriptive. But here are some suggestions from one veteran school leader to others: Four areas to reflect on as you regulate your own information intake: 1. Your Mindset A lot of education research has been shared in recent years on the power of keeping a learning mindset. Carol Dweck shares some powerful takeaways in her great book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Resist change, refuse to innovate, look at obstacles and give up–these are recipes for lack of growth. Not only do we need to encourage environments of risk-taking and experimentation for our students and teachers, we also need to practice those habits for ourselves. One way to do this is by simply being mindful throughout each day. Mindfulness has also become a buzz word of late. It is an important way for many people to guide their thoughts, practice meditation, or increase stress-relief. Although those are healthy practices, when I talk about being mindful, I’m simply talking about being aware of the present and being purposeful in engaging your environment. I don’t do this all the time, but here’s an example. When you are spending time in a classroom or observation, instead of simply relying on a rubric or evaluation model, take the first few minutes to simply be mindful. Look around your environment. Stare into the faces of children and watch whether or not they are engaged. Be aware your own interactions with others, even in the small moments. Are you treating others with concern and interest or acting if they don’t exist? Are you asking clarifying questions teachers so that you understand what is really happening? Being mindful keeps you aware that each moment can be an important one of learning or understanding. This applies inside and outside the classroom. The other day I was driving on a highway when I saw a railroad bridge suspended above the road. A freight train was speeding across. As I approached, I realized the amazing moment I was about to experience. I was sitting in a 2,000-pound steel and aluminum wrapped machine–rolling forward by use of a combustible engine, encased by intricately engineered parts, and carried on four rubber tires. As I was gliding across an asphalt road, I would soon pass under a metal bridge holding the weight of several freight cars, each possibly weighing over 200,000 pounds. What would my great-grandfather have thought of this moment? He had come to Oklahoma on a-cattle run in the early 1900’s and met my grandmother at the boarding house of Baptist minister. When he married the minister’s daughter, they returned back to Tennessee in a horse drawn wagon. Could he have ever imagined traveling at 65 miles per hour in automobile simultaneously passing under a speeding freight train? Why share this example of being mindful? Besides admitting I’m a bit weird, at that moment, I was choosing to acknowledge realities and perspective that are so easy to ignore in the fast-paced, modern world in which we live. Being aware of your surroundings allows you to slow the moment, appreciate its meaning, and experience more than simply going from point A to point B. Your mindset plays a powerful role in your openness to continual learning. 2. Your Reading If you look at my nightstand and iPhone you’ll find books I enjoy. Just this past week I finished Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and I listened to the audiobook The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. What are the ways you are purposefully engaging your mind with what you read? Although I enjoy reading or listening to education books, I also try to keep a book a fiction, historical fiction, or biography on hand. Stories provide a wealth of information about the experiences others have encountered. Reading allows you to take a deeper step into the mind of someone else—often their perspective or logic gives you a new or deeper understanding. Although my practice is only one example, I have a morning routine that includes reading a passage from the Bible. I usually digest some audio content on my commute to work. Later I may take in the news or a podcast on my drive home. And at night, I try to read some in a book of fiction or historical narrative. Over the years, my life has been influenced by the valuable lessons I’ve found in books. I’ve listened to the wisdom of heroes like George Washington or Fredrick Douglas; I’ve experienced new cultures from brave souls like Amy Tan or Chinua Achebe. I’ve survived death camp narratives with legends like Corrie Ten Boon or Louis Zamperini. I’ve cried and laughed with Kathryn Stockett and grieved and lamented with George Orwell. Whatever your favorite genre, books are a great way to enter the minds and lives of others and have your thoughts changed as a result. 3. Your Professional Development Just as important as it is to expand your mind through great literature, you also grow by encountering other strong education leaders. For years I felt guilty when I had the opportunity to attend a workshop, conference, or engage in great professional development. Yes, I sat through some required trainings with mixed results. But as I was able to learn about topics that immediately influenced my work, I found learning from others a powerful way of professional growth. The wonderful advantage of technology is your ability to access information via podcasts, webinars, or videos. Make a commitment to engaging with topics that you currently manage. Find great professional development like Solution Tree’s Professional Learning Communities Conferences. Or subscribe to podcasts by education experts like Justin Baedar, Jethro Jones, or Daniel Bauer. Consider these other ways to engage in powerful professional development that will expand your thinking: • Tour a neighboring school and look for evidence of best-practices • Talk to colleagues about ways they solve problems you’re encountering • Attend workshops or professional development • Start a podcast or begin a webinar series 4. Your Experiences Like all good teachers know, experience is an amazing teacher. But we often fail to learn deeply when we fail to reflect on our experiences. When I began blogging five years ago, I found it a way to journal and catalog ideas, steps, and lessons learned from my experience as a school administrator. Each time you encounter a new or old situation, you have the privilege of experience to gauge what is and is not working well. A few years ago, these ideas came home to me when I attended a workshop with author Pete Hall on the Continuum of Self-Reflection. Pete teaches that you have a natural process in experience that allows you continuous growth if you practice awareness of your experiences, reflecting on your successes or failures, taking action based on those lessons learned, and then refining your practice based on those cycles of learning. You can see Pete’s great book here. Yes, you can grow your capacity for learning by digesting information for others’ experiences. But your own experience provides a powerful way to assess, measure, refine, and apply lessons as you continue to grow in your practice. As Malcolm Gladwell revealed in his book, Outliers, people tend to master skill with 10,000 hours of engagement and practice. Even as you experience the ups and downs in school leadership, you are moving closer to mastery in some areas while still growing in others. Let’s Wrap This Up I find a lot of joy in knowing that I can connect with my daughter or my mother-in-law through their unique playlists. I sometimes wonder what memories or thoughts will be deeply embedded in my mind as I grow older. None of us has the guarantee of healthy brains as we age. But you do have a choice over the kind of information, thoughts, stories, music, and ideas you think about today. And as you purposely influence your thoughts through being mindful, digesting great books, enjoying professional development, and reflecting on experiences, you are adding to your own playlist of ideas to live by. And you increase your ability to keep positively influencing others. Now It’s Your Turn All of us enjoy learning from others who stay fresh in their own intellectual growth. As you take the next step investing in your own thinking, others will benefit from your awareness, lessons, and experiences too. What ways are you purposefully engaging in heathy practices for your own thinking? How can you be more mindful of the people, places, and situations you will encounter today and this week? What books will you be reading next for your personal growth? How can take advantage of workshops or professional development. What ways can you practice cycles of reflection on your practice and experience? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:114 Reflections on Your Learning: What’s on Your Playlist? appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I drove into the parking lot at East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I was greeted by bright yellow arrows on the parking lot, pointing the direction for incoming and outgoing traffic. Photo by D. Keith Robinson – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/32193516@N00 A beautiful flower bed had been built in front of the school. A friendly security staff person met me at the front door and showed me to the main office. Inside, a secretary asked my name and offered to get me a drink. As I waited, I noticed the clean hallways, the overall sense of order and the sense that this was a place people liked to work. East Central High School is an urban school with a recent history of challenge and struggle. Just 5 years ago, only 50% of students graduated on time. But since that time, East Central has become a turnaround school with new Advanced Placement Programs, increased STEM offerings, and 80% graduation rate. One reason for the changes has been leadership. Mike Crase, Principal of East Central High School, is in his fifth year of leading a movement. Previously, he was an assistant principal at Webster High School and before that a teacher and coach. He is in his 26th year of education with 12 years as a school administrator. But the past five years have been the most rewarding and productive in terms of student outcomes. Looking at the Numbers Since Mike has been serving at East Central, he has seen transformation in at least four ways: 1. A previously failing school has transformed into a culture of positivity. 2. Restorative partnerships with students, teachers and parents have increased good behavior, academic outcomes, and social expectations. 3. Learning to manage difficult conversations has become a learned habit among all members. 4. Personal and professional growth are driven by relationships and data. During the past five years, East Central High School has cut suspensions by 80%, increased Advanced Placement offerings from 7 classes to over 20 offerings, and provided every student an individualized pathway for high school success. Relationships Matter Mike Crase, Principal East Central High School (3rd from left) surrounded by his office and admin team members But the data is only evidence of the relationships Mike has built. As I was talking to Mike, Assistant Principal Rex Langley stopped by and said he needed some assistance with a difficult parent conversation and I was invited to walk with them. When we stepped into a school conference room, we were greeted with a shout of “Surprise!” It was Mike’s birthday, and his office and admin staff had filled the room with a buffet of lunch and dessert. The difficult-parent story was a ruse, and you could tell Mike’s staff enjoyed him as much as he was enjoying being with them. Positive school cultures don’t happen by accident. As I walked Mike’s school, met students and teachers, and chatted with members of his admin staff, it was clear that the transformation at his school is the result of implementing purposeful strategy, learning restorative practices, and staying committed to continuous improvement. Even the yellow arrows in front of the school were purposeful. When Mike discovered students were running late to first hour, he realized parents only had one entry and exit point for the front of the school. So he directed a redesign of the front parking lot and opened a new exit lane. He and a team of teachers stood in the parking lot for two weeks to train parents how to enter and exit. And they passed out flyers explaining why good attendance and punctuality improve student outcomes. The result: increased student attendance and punctuality. In Mike’s Own Words Let me encourage you to listen-in to this week’s conversation via our podcast conversation. Mike shares many takeaways and explains how other leaders can connect with him to learn more about ways to improve school outcomes via his email address: crasemi@tulsaschools.org. He will also be presenting this summer at the High Schools That Work Conference in Orlando, Florida. Share his story with other leaders who need encouragement! Let’s Wrap This Up One of the best parts of visiting East Central was coming unannounced to his staff and students. Principal Crase had given me permission to drop by. When he came in from his rounds, Mike ushered me into his office to show me a large screen where cameras showed areas throughout the five-story building. Then he led me to observe students in the cafeteria and hallways. As we walked throughout his building, he told me individual stories about students. He stopped for handshakes and hugs with staff members. He greeted his students by name and knew their interests. His school had not just experienced transformation by numbers. The faces of his students and teachers reflected the same hope and optimism of their principal. Just like the arrows he painted in his parking lot helped direct traffic flow, his leadership had helped paint a map for turning around an entire school community. Now It’s Your Turn Think about the behavioral, academic, and social practices in your building. Even as you face the end of a school year, what is one new action you or team can be taking this week to encourage your positive culture and outcomes for your school? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:113 Building Positive School Communities – Interview with Principal Mike Crase appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I was little, I loved to stand in the garden as my grandparents tilled soil and put out spring tomatoes. Photo by Elaine Casap – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@ecasap?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit The smell of freshly tilled dirt, the sun beating down on my back, the brush of the ground with hoes and rakes—all these memories come back to me each spring. My grandparents didn’t just garden for hobby. They would can vegetables to use throughout the whole year. To grow that many vegetables, however, they understood the importance of good soil, watering and sufficient sunlight. I have a question for you about the kind of care you are giving to an important garden in your life. How are currently taking care of your body? If what you reap from a healthy garden requires good soil, seed, and care, how is your body any different if you want strong personal outcomes? As a school leader, you understand a lot about learning styles, school culture, and organizational leadership. But how much do you think your physical health plays into the outcomes happening at your school? In 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shared findings that student physical activity contributes to strong academic performance. Here were just three takeaways from their findings: • Physical activity can help youth improve their concentration, memory, and classroom behavior. • Youth who spend more time in physical education class do not have lower test scores than youth who spend less time in physical education class. • Elementary school girls who participated in more physical education had better math and reading tests scores than girls who had less time in physical education. (cdc.gov) As we encourage our young people to consider the effects of physical activity on their own learning, when is the last time you reflected on how your own personal health may be affecting your own leadership? I’m Going to Die! Over the years, I have learned some hard lessons about neglecting my own physical health. One day I was standing in a meeting with a group of leaders from across my district. I was the newest assistant principal and the youngest one in the room. As we were waiting for a meeting to begin, every person began to share what physical condition they were currently battling. Each one was taking different medications for ailments. They shared concerns about cholesterol and heart conditions. As I looked around the room, I began to panic, and I thought, “If I stay in school administration, I’m going to die!” Of course, I know every job is stressful, and eventually we’re all going to die. But as I began to seriously reflect on my own experience as a young administrator, I realized I had gained twenty pounds. I skipped meals or ate convenience food because school activities were more important than good nutrition. I had stopped exercising because I needed the extra time to catch up on emails or other school projects. Frankly, I was a mess and felt like it most of the time. I knew I had to make time for better priorities. And I as I did, I began to notice a difference in the way I worked. A commitment to better health, nutrition and exercise began to give me more energy, focus and creativity. Let me share five ways I have invested in personal health, not as a prescription, but just as an example of how one school administrator has learned to adopt healthier choices into his busy days. 1. Exercise I have a three-mile route I like to run in my neighborhood. For years, I tried to schedule time at the gym or exercise after school, but it just didn’t work for me. So, when I decided to begin exercising, I bought a pair of running shoes. Instead of waking up early to check emails, I wake up early to run. It’s was the easiest choice for me. I just put on my shoes, stretch, and run. It’s all over in 30 minutes. Even though it has taken me years to develop this habit, it is one of the most important for my physical and mental health. I have solved a lot of major problems and conflicts during those runs. I’ve prayed a lot during those runs. And I’ve come to see things from the perspective of my wife or others during those runs. Why is exercise so good for you? Here are a few reminders: First, it’s great for cardio-vascular health. Just like your car needs an oil change, your body needs oxygen flowing through every cell in your body. Also, when you have prolonged physical activity, your body produces an endorphin release – a natural high that increases your energy and even makes exercise something you can enjoy. 2. Nutrition I love food. In fact, when I was growing up, my mom always kept an extra-large bowl in the kitchen just for me. When we’d have chili, for instance, she always put mine in the largest bowl because she knew I’d want seconds or thirds. I was always active as a kid, so eating a lot didn’t seem to be a problem. But as I began work in education, I was a lot less active. In addition to exercise, I also had to make better nutrition choices. Most mornings I’ll start the day with oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Lunches are usually something light – a sandwich and fruit. My biggest meals are normally in the evenings and best when we can enjoy them as a family. The older I get, the less meat I am eating. Let’s be clear. If you decide to fill up on potato chips and soda, then you body will have to digest trans-fats and sugar. You’ll have less energy. Your heart will have to work harder, not smarter. And your brain will have reacted to the intake by a peak in energy and then a plunge in energy. Frankly, I’m not eating nearly as nutritiously as I need to be, but little habits create long-term results. As a result of better choices, I’ve been able to keep off extra pounds and my cholesterol levels have been good. Here’s another little secret I practice: Whenever someone delivers doughnuts or cake to the office, instead of giving into the temptation, I’ll take one and allow myself one bite and throw the rest of my piece away. I can honestly tell someone thanks for sharing the delicious treat with me, but I also just saved my body hundreds of unnecessary calories to burn. 3. Sleep and rest I’m putting these two categories together because they are connected. If you don’t set a time each night to unplug from technology and wind down, you will have a hard time sleeping. Yes, there are times when deadlines or activities push you into late hours. But you must create a habit of winding down. For the most part, I start my wind-down time around 9 p.m. each night so I can be asleep before 10 and wake up by 5 or 5:30 each morning. Also, I make a commitment not to work on Sundays. I know Sundays are historically days of rest of many people of faith. I used to think not working was silly until I realized I was staying engaged in school activities (grading papers, catching up on emails) seven days a week. When I began to protect Sunday as a day to worship, to rest and to be with family, I found myself prioritizing work better to finish important projects before Sunday. Try it and I believe you’ll find more creativity after giving yourself a whole day to break from work projects. 4. Moderation I’m going to be blunt here. If you enjoy alcohol, coffee, sweets, or meat, do so with moderation. First, you will feel better when you do. Second, you will most likely behave better too. If you’re like me, you probably don’t always enjoy being around others when their intake of anything becomes an unhealthy obsession. So, keep that in mind. And yes, the area where I struggle most is definitely with coffee – and I’m still working on it. 5. Inspiration If you think about how your body is designed for movement, it only makes sense that if you are engaged in moving, heart-pumping, endorphin releasing activity – when you take time for good nutrition and rest — your mindset and your brain benefit as a result. You will begin to think more clearly, and that is where creativity and inspiration have room to grow. For some people being active means a long hike or walk. For others, it is dancing. For some of my friends, it means hunting and fishing. Whatever activity it takes, take time each day to practice good habits for your body so you can enjoy the benefits that happen a result. Your mind is better conditioned for sharp thinking when your body is experiencing good health. Let’s Wrap This Up Recently, I gathered some fresh lettuce from a raised bed in my backyard that my wife and I shared for lunch. The vegetables we grow are not nearly as bountiful as my grandparents’ gardens. But the same truths apply to both: Good soil, watering and sufficient sunlight can produce yummy produce. As you think about the ways you are tending your own body, I don’t know where you are in the journey. You may already be active with healthy choices. Or you may be discouraged and battling health challenges. Whatever your situation, be encouraged to take whatever steps work for you. And know that that each positive step you take can help begin movement toward healthier results. Now It’s Your Turn Here are some questions for self-inventory: 1. How is your nutrition – what goes into your body – affecting your concentration and energy? 2. How is your physical activity – or lack of it – influencing the way you feel about tackling big projects? 3. Are you allowing sleep and rest to influence your levels of patience or endurance? 4. In what ways are you letting moderation – or lack of it – affect your relationships? 5. Does your overall physical health lead to more inspiration or tend toward more anxiety? Now what is one step you can take this week toward healthier choices for your body? The way you treat yourself will affect the way you treat others. So, do yourself and others a favor, and keep taking care of your body. As you do, you will find more energy and creativity for doing what matters. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:112 Reflections for Education Leaders – How Are You Tending Your Body? appeared first on Principal Matters.

I’m a frequent flyer. The more I fly, the harder I find it is to stay focused when flight attendants are reviewing safety procedures. Photo by Bambi Corro – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@bambicorro?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit They could be standing right in front of me with the safety cards in hand, but I’ve heard it so many times, I usually think about something else. On the other hand, I seem to pay more attention when the attendant says, “If the cabin loses air pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from above your seat. Place the oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting your child or other passengers.” It’s always at this point, that I think about a hard conversation I had with my wife the second year I was in school administration. One night after the kids were in bed, my wife Missy asked if we could talk. I had just opened my laptop to read some work emails, so I slid it aside and said, “Sure. What’s up?” “The kids and I have decided that you are a dad and husband on the weekends only.” She said without any bitterness or resentment in her voice. Just simple resignation. Then she looked me in the eyes. “Will, I think you are a shell of the man you used to be.” It was difficult to listen because her words so accurately described my state-of-life. After eleven years as a classroom teacher, I had made the transition into the office as an assistant principal in a high school with 1,400 students. One of my goals was to be the kind of administrator I had admired and dreamed of having when I was a classroom teacher. I wanted to be the person who teachers and students could look to for answers, solutions, and support. I woke up early every morning to check emails and plan out my day– hours before school began. I skipped lunches or ate quickly so that I could respond to emails or manage important situations. I supervised, observed, counseled, and evaluated. I attended after-school games and activities. And when I came home late each night, I’d fall asleep while trying to read bedtime stories to our four small children. When everyone was finally asleep, I’d stay up late to answer emails or plan for upcoming events or meetings. In my new role in school leadership, I had stopped exercising. I had gained too much weight. Frankly, I was a shell of the man I had once been. Each day the pressure of serving students, teachers, and parents weighed so much on me that I didn’t think I could sacrifice time by less important to-do’s like eating right, exercising, or spending more time with my family time or in reflection. My Letter of Resignation When my wife went to bed the night of our important talk, I opened my laptop. Instead of working on email, I made a decision. I wrote a letter of resignation. I explained all the reasons I would need to leave my position, how my priorities were no longer correct, and how I had neglected my family and personal health. I printed the letter, put it in a file folder and took it my office the next morning. When I sat down at my desk, I placed the folder on the corner where I could see it at all times. And I made a commitment: I’m either going to find a better way to serve my school while also caring for myself and my family, or I’m resigning and changing professions. That day was a turning point for me. I didn’t discover a silver bullet. My pressures didn’t change either. Instead I found some longer lasting solutions. I began taking small steps toward making time for areas of my life: my family, my mind, my personal budget, my spiritual growth, and my physical health. Over the days and years ahead, I made commitments to leave school earlier so I could be home for dinner. I started running again and working on fitness. I started eating lunch with colleagues and laughing more. And as a result, I discovered something: When you take time to invest in areas of your life outside of work, you find more creativity, inspiration and joy in serving others. In fact, I found my ability to connect with others, find solutions, and reach goals increase as I took time to take care of myself first. Self-Reflection for Education Leaders If you are leading a school, team or organization, let me ask you an important question: When is the last time you reflected on the foundational values, beliefs, and motivations for why you are serving others? Just like those airline attendants tell us when we fly: you can’t help others if you’re not first taking care of yourself. One of the best ways to practice putting on your own air-mask is by giving yourself permission for self-reflection. Self-reflection allows you to focus on ideas and thoughts that you can turn into powerful actions that later become productive habits. And one powerful way to do that is by using images as a launching point. Just like thinking about an air-mask may help you to think about your need for self-care. It may come as no surprise that most school leaders feel overwhelmed, overworked, and overcommitted. A leader’s job often involves putting out situational fires, responding to urgent needs, or satisfying the requests of a multitude of stakeholders. It’s no wonder that education leaders, in particular, must battle for time to enjoy the best parts of life and the best parts of their schools or organizations. And research supports the claim that the work can be overwhelming. With the ever-increasing responsibilities of the school principal, for instance, it should be no surprise that in 2012, the Center for Public Education found that the average principal stays on the job for five years or fewer (Hull, 2012). Self-Evaluation When is the last time you had a heart-to-heart conversation about your own need for self-care? How would you answer these three questions as you reflect on your own current situation? 1. I find myself dedicating the majority of my work to areas that reflect my strengths and give me the greatest joy in work. A. Strongly Agree B. Agree C. Sometimes D. Disagree E. Strongly Disagree 2. Because I invest in my own personal growth mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, and financially, I find fulfillment in my work as I do in my life outside of work. A. Strongly Agree B. Agree C. Sometimes D. Disagree E. Strongly Disagree 3. If money or compensation were no longer necessary, I’d still want to do the work I’m currently doing. A. Strongly Agree B. Agree C. Sometimes D. Disagree E. Strongly Disagree Let me encourage you to take inventory of your self-care. Those whom you lead deserve a leader who is taking care of himself or herself. One way to do that is by considering you actions, applying the truths learned, and cultivating the most productive habits toward serving others. If you’re going to help others, you must learn to first put on your own air mask. Area 1: Your Learning (mindset, reading, development, conferences, conversations, experience) Area 2: Your Body (nutrition, exercise, sleep, moderation, rest, creativity) Area 3: Your Influence (mentoring, serving, teaching, leading others, platform building) Area 4: Your Time (not wasting it, boundaries, scheduling what matters, tools, prioritizing) Area 5: Your Friendships (accountability, life support, reflecting w/others, bringing out best) Area 6: Your Spiritual Life or Moral Growth (faith, trust, Providence, community, hope, meaning) Area 7: Your Resources (stewardship, debt, generosity, planning, budgeting) Area 8: Your Intimacy or Loved One/Marriage (intimacy, commitment, beauty, joy, suffering) Area 9: Your Future Leaders (children, students, presence, mindfulness, honesty, resilience, unconditional love) Area 10: Your Legacy (perspective, goal-setting, letting go, giving back, paying forward) Fast-forward Seven years after our crucial conversation, my wife and I were ushering our kids into an elevator in Washington, D.C. As the doors opened on the third floor, we stepped out together into the lobby of a large hotel convention ballroom. I was wearing a tuxedo and my wife was in an evening dress. The girls were in Sunday dresses, and our six-year-old son was in a tie and vest. They had traveled with me as I was receiving an award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals for being Oklahoma’s State Assistant Principal of the Year. As we spent the next few days touring the city, I remember thinking back to those first few years of school leadership. Life was still busy and overwhelming at times. But I had found a new rhythm in my work, life, and family for being more than a shell of the man I had once been. Let’s Wrap This Up I wish I could say that I consistently practice all the important areas required for personal growth. The truth is that over the years, I have grown stronger in some areas while neglecting others. Sometimes my wife and I still have crucial conversations about where I need to reprioritize my time and energy. But as you take time to reflect, instead of neglect, areas of personal growth, you can continuously refocus my time areas that need improvement. After twenty-five years in the profession of education and fifteen in school leadership, would you let me share some of those lessons learned with you? That’s why Reflections for Education Leaders is so important. If you want to keep growing in your capacity to influence and serve others, you need time for reflection, learning, and taking action on your own personal growth. If your goal is to influence others in becoming future leaders, you can’t ignore this important safety notice: You need to learn to breathe first. Now It’s Your Turn Of the ten areas of growth, what is one area where you want to see personal growth? What is one area among the ten where you’ve already seen significant growth? Reach out to another school leader or email me at will@williamdparker.com and share one lesson you’ve learned from self-reflection in that area. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:111 Reflections for Education Leaders & Wearing Your Air Mask appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last year my student council members came to see me about an idea they had for finishing the year with positivity. Photo by Baim Hanif – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@baim?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit These student leaders wanted to end the year was by doing something to help others. They designed an amazing idea called “BARK” week. With the school mascot being a Bulldog, the theme fit perfectly. In order to set expectations in advance, the student council sponsor shared out the following announcements with her fellow teachers: Good morning! Student Council and the Leadership class wanted to start a Philanthropy Week this year, where we have events every day during one week, and all proceeds will go to a designated charity. The week we have chosen is May 1st – 5th. The kids came up with the name “BARK Week,” BARK is an acronym for Bulldogs Achieving Real Kindness. We are raising money for Pearl’s Hope in Tulsa, OK. It is a 10-month transition home for homeless women and their children, so they do not have to be separated. While in the home, women take classes on interviewing, teamwork, financial planning, cooking, etc. Pearl’s Hope ensures that the children and mothers have clothing, a car, a job, and a home before they leave. Attached is the t-shirt we will be selling for BARK Week. I was proud of the teachers and students for the positive mindset they had going into the final weeks of school. And the response was amazing. Community members participated in clothing swaps, students bought lots of tacos and ice cream, and in one week, our students raised $1,500 and lots of clothes donations to benefit an additional local shelter. It was another positive way to add to the momentum of the school year, but most importantly, these were learning to help others—lessons some of them will remember for years to come. More Ideas for Celebration This week, I want to share some ideas from a past episode on ending the year with celebration. You can see the original post from episode 065 here. Although it may be difficult to end the year with the same energy and enthusiasm you had at the beginning a school year, it is not unrealistic to dream and prepare for ways to encourage high expectations for the last days of school. In June 2016, blogger Vicki Davis shared a great list of tips for teachers who want to finish the year with celebration on her Eduotopia’s website. Check it out here. Her tips included 8 ideas for teachers to wrap up their last day of classroom time with ideas like: Coming up with a top-ten list of best moments from the year to share with students Turning final exams into a celebration time by providing desserts and treats available after testing Ending the year with water bottle toasts for every student Designing an entire lesson around sharing compliments Including surveys for remembering best celebration moments Writing letters to students so they remember significant ways they contributed throughout the year Planning an “Oscar event” by inviting students to come in formal wear for a celebration time Parading Seniors Another great moment for seniors included adding new element of celebration into graduation week. Seniors wore their caps and gowns and visited our elementary and middle schools the day before graduation. Students and teachers lined the hallways to applaud them. Younger students were inspired and seniors felt like rock stars. Let’s Wrap This Up Remember the enthusiasm you had as the new school year began? How can you end with some celebration and positivity? Yes, it may be hard to end with high enthusiasm when the list of to-do’s is long, but don’t forget how you end is as important as how you begin. Now It’s Your Turn How can you end the year with encouragement and inspiration? What are some ways you can plan now to end the school year with enthusiasm or celebration? What’s one step you can take this week with others on your team to plan ahead for events or moments you want students to remember years from now? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMPEncore065: Ending the School Year with Celebration appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last week I was walking back to my car from a visit to Oklahoma’s state capitol, when I saw a line of reporters, police, and education supporters stopped in front of me. Photo by LLudo – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/8458252@N05 I just happened to be on the street where Tulsa Public School Superintendent Deborah Gist and others from her community were arriving from a week-long march from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Teachers, parents, and children lined the streets with signs that read, “Support Education” or funnier ones like “My textbooks are as old as my grandma.” Police on motor cycles led the procession, followed by a high school band, and hundreds of others who had joined the marchers in their last few miles to the capitol steps. As Deb Gist addressed the crowd of thousands, she said, “This is not a protest. This is a movement.” And she praised supporters for the work they had done, called them to continue advocating for schools, and reminded them to vote in upcoming elections. Oklahoma education has been in the news a lot lately. This past week The New York Times reported “Oklahoma Teachers End Walkout After Winning Raises and Additional Funding.” Dana Goldstein and Elizabeth Dias explained that many teachers across the state would be returning to school after a two-week work stoppage that affected approximately 500,000 students from schools that participated in the rallies. Across the States Oklahoma is not the only state in the news for education rallies. Across the U.S. state legislatures have faced increasing pressure as teachers respond to years of unsustainable cuts to school funding. Just weeks ago, West Virginia teachers rallied for new state laws that have resulted in teacher pay raises. Kansas has been settling a constitutional crisis that required their state supreme court to step in last fall and force the legislature to fund its schools. Just last week, lawmakers there were told their budget is still $80 million short of the funding required, and lawmakers are scrambling to re-do the math and find a solution. Missouri schools face pressures from a court embattled Governor who just months ago removed state board of education members, fired the state education commissioner and cut school funding by $68 million. Now the Governor is facing calls for his resignation from his state’s attorney general and the majority leader in the state senate from his own party for revelations of sexual misconduct. Kentucky teachers have been rallying at their state capitol as their state legislature voted to override their Governor’s veto on a bill to increase funding for Kentucky’s public schools by $480 million. And teachers in other states like Arizona are conducting “walk-in” rallies and threatening walkouts if their state does not increase school funding soon. Thoughtful Analysis Across the U.S. many public-school systems have been facing especially difficult times as state legislatures have cut taxes for years. This week, Mark Wingfield, in the Baptist News Global, wrote an opinion piece called “When it comes to funding public education, don’t eat your seed corn.” In the article, he says: “Too many states in our union, and even our nation itself, have cut funding for public education to the point of eating their seed corn. And they have done so around the rallying cry of low, low, bargain-basement taxes. It seems there is no bottom to the desire to avoid paying taxes…This is neither wise nor fiscally conservative. It is, instead, selfish. There is a difference between fiscal conservativism and selfishness, by the way.” Wearing the Hat of Advocacy So, what are school leaders to do in the face of public policies that so dramatically impact our schools? The reality is that as school leaders, you are not only instructional leaders but you bear the weight resulting from good or bad public policy. You are often the ones asked to reorganize school budgets or master schedules with fewer dollars or fewer teachers on staff. When state or federal laws are passed that affect school policies, you are the one asked to be on the front-line for implementing change. As I have shared with school leaders across the nation on the many hats you must wear in leading schools, you must also wear of the hat of the education advocate. How can you wear the hat of the education advocate? Here are six tips: 1. Stay informed. Whether it is through an association membership or subscribing for alerts through your state’s legislative websites, find ways to stay informed with the facts. For instance, in Oklahoma, you can subscribe for updates from the House of Representatives at their website https://www.okhouse.gov. This feedback is essential to having current and up-to-date information for staying informed on what potential decisions may affect your schools. If you are a member with your state principal association, or a national association like NASSP, you will find the advocacy updates from those teams recent and useful. As much as I love the up-to-date information I find on social media, let me caution that social media posts are not always the best source for facts. A quick rule of thumb is to remember what you learned in high school: Find primary documents or check your sources before making informed decisions. 2. Be involved in advocacy. Contacting legislators may not be much fun, but it is important to be a voice of reason for to your representatives. Invite them to your school. Connect with them by phone calls or emails to voice concern or ask for support of upcoming bills. And of course, nothing replaces face-to-face conversations. Over the years, I have also included students in advocacy. Students provide the most powerful example of how laws directly affect their lives. Last year, I had a senior student share her story with one of our state senators about how her high school teacher and student council sponsor had inspired her to pursue her dream to become a communications major. She wanted to know why lawmakers were unable to support more funding to keep teachers like hers in our state. These real-life stories are important ways to engage in advocacy. Just recently, many districts in my state have designated teacher teams or parent advocacy committees to visit lawmakers on behalf of their local schools. 3. Know your representatives. Voting records and conversations are helpful ways to determine which elected officials sincerely support local schools. Because my state has a law that requires 75% majority agreement on any tax increases, Oklahoma has often been paralyzed in its ability to increase funding for schools. With such a small margin of error, a handful of representatives can easily train-wreck proposals for school funding. During this past budget crisis in my state, it was apparent that certain members would have to change their votes. By studying representatives, education supporters were able to identify which members should be targeted by outreach, emails, and visits. Also, remember that representatives are people too. When you reach out to them, do so with dignity and respect you want other showing you when they’re asking for your support. 4. Support and vote for pro-education candidates. Of course, long-term support for schools cannot happen if you are not an active voter. Register to vote, help others to register, make donations, attend town hall meetings, or volunteer for a candidate. We simply don’t have room to complain if we are not actively involved in the democratic process of electing representatives who truly represent the best interests of their communities. 5. Showcase your school successes. I am a big fan of positive messaging, which is why I wrote the book, Messaging Matters: How School Leaders Can Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. Advocacy and messaging go hand-in-hand. We cannot ask lawmakers to support our schools if schools are not places that inspire their support. As the chief communicator for your school, ask yourself these questions: • How are you highlighting, showcasing, and celebrating student and teacher success? • How are you encouraging parents to be involved in the great learning happening? • How are you sharing stories of success and achievement beyond your own community? Whether it is a weekly newsletter, social media posts, school gatherings, or press releases, keep your community informed of the powerful learning and growing happening at your school. Share these stories beyond your school community as well. Public perception drives public policy. So be an agent of influence by messaging positive and celebratory moments throughout every day with your school community. One of my favorite examples of this comes from Aspasia Carlson, Principal of John Marshall Mid-High School, in Oklahoma City. She consistently shares images, videos or highlights of successes happening with her students and teachers. Through her positive messaging with parents, community members, and local officials, she has rallied strong support and turned an at-risk school into a successful, thriving school. 6. Build and maintain positive relationships. One of the biggest lessons I’ve seen from recent events in Oklahoma is the importance of maintaining strong relationships. You must keep trust with your students, teachers, and community members. During the recent work stoppage, local boards of education across the state approved proposals to cancel school so that teachers could rally. I saw principals and superintendents standing with teachers and community members, bringing them doughnuts for their bus rides, or walking with them in long miles to the capitol. When it was time to return to school, these relationships were the glue that pulled many communities back together in shifting their focus to finishing school and rallying support for upcoming elections. Remember at the end of the day, your relationships are the most important part of maintaining learning communities. Let’s Wrap This Up These past few weeks in Oklahoma have been both rewarding and challenging. On the one hand, Oklahomans have seen bills passed that provide historic tax increases for school funding. On the other hand, many educators also experienced the discouraging realities of gridlock and name-calling involved in politics. Last night I saw a post on Facebook from a parent in our community that summarized why advocacy is worth it. Stephanie Ruttman, is a stay-at-home mother. She was responding to posts she had seen from teachers who felt disappointed that their advocacy had fallen short of the increased funding levels they wanted restored to schools. She wrote these words that I’m sharing with her permission: “I keep hearing teachers and parents say they feel defeated and that the walkout was all for nothing. Do not feed that lie. Starve it! As it goes with teaching, the impact this walkout has had on me and my kids and thousands of others across the state cannot be measured in dollars and cents.  Because of YOU, I know who my legislators are. Did not know that before. Because of YOU, I overcame my intimidation of contacting those legislators.  Because of YOU, I am so much more informed about the legislative process. Because of YOU, I will be an informed voter on my state representatives for the first time since I registered. Previously, I left that space unmarked.  Because of YOU, I know the questions to ask and I’m not intimidated to ask them of those running for office. Because of YOU, I have a standard in mind of what a rally or a protest or a movement should look like. Energized, peaceful, kind, clean, clever, and LOUD. Because of YOU, I have a new sense of determination to fight on your behalf for the funding you deserve to do your job to the best of your ability.  Because of YOU, change has occurred and change is a comin’.” She concludes with, “I know these sentiments don’t put food on the table or money into the state formula for you. But these sentiments DO propel me and countless others to fight harder for you.  The walkout may be over. But the movement is just beginning.” So how do you wear the hat of the education advocate? You stay informed, stay involved, know your representatives, vote, celebrate successes, and keep strong relationships. At the end of the day, you know you are adding your voice with thousands of others to positively influence the lives of students. Now It’s Your Turn What is one step you can take today to reach out to a legislator on behalf of your school? What successes or great moments of learning can you share out from your community? How can you keep building strong relationships with others so you are maintaining a positive influence in crucial conversations? Sources Cited: “Embattled Missouri Governor’s Budget Cuts $68M from Schools.” WPSD Local 6 – Your News, Weather, & Sports Authority, 22 Jan. 2018, www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/01/22/embattled-missouri-governors-budget-cuts-68m-schools/. Goldstein, Dana, and Elizabeth Dias. “Oklahoma Teachers End Walkout After Winning Raises and Additional Funding.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/us/oklahoma-teachers-strike.html. Hanna, John. “Kansas Lawmakers Work Weekend in Effort to Solve School Funding Crisis.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 7 Apr. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/04/07/kansas-school-funding-crisis/495733002/. Kuhn, Casey. “Arizona Teachers ‘Walk-In’ To Protest Low Pay And Low Funding.” NPR, NPR, 11 Apr. 2018, www.npr.org/2018/04/11/601419914/arizona-teachers-to-protest-low-pay-and-school-funding-shortfalls. Petulla, Sam. “West Va. Teachers Got Their Raise. Where Do Your State’s Teachers Rank?” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Mar. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/03/06/politics/why-west-virginia-teachers-striking-healthcare-pay-raises/index.html. Press, The Associated. “Kentucky Lawmakers Override Budget Veto in Win for Teachers.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Apr. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/kentucky-budget-veto-teachers.html. “When It Comes to Funding Public Education, Don’t Eat Your Seed Corn – Baptist News Global.” Baptist News Global, 9 Apr. 2018, baptistnews.com/article/when-it-comes-to-funding-public-education-dont-eat-your-seed-corn/#.WtHgAS_Mzwd. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:110 Six Tips for Education Advocacy appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last year I sat across my desk from a student whose father had abandoned him and left the state. Photo by Rémi Walle – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@walre037?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit A family in our community had taken in the young man, and our school had been in contact with the Department of Human Services on what to do next. That morning I had been watching a video by Josh Shipp called One Caring Adult. On a whim, I asked the student if he would watch the video on my computer with me. In his story, Josh Shipp shared his own story of abandonment, foster-care, abuse, and eventually finding stability and hope. His story was a powerful reminder of how one caring adult can change the life of a young person. After watching the video-clip, I asked the young man if he’d ever had one caring adult on whom he could depend. He said, “Yes, my adopted mom who lives out-of-state. But I left because I didn’t want to follow her rules, and I don’t know if she’d have me back.” After several calls and other conversations, his adopted mom arranged a flight for him, and he flew back to her home to start the next chapter in his life. Josh Shipp has a powerful story that inspires educators and students alike. Earlier this year, Josh spoke at the Oklahoma Middle Level Educators Association annual conference. Later, I was able to sit down with him for an interview. You can listen to our podcast interview or watch the video of our conversation. Who is Josh Shipp? Josh is a best-selling author, global youth empowerment expert, and acclaimed speaker. A former at-risk foster kid turned youth advocate, he is known for his documentary TV series Teen Trouble on A&E, that followed his groundbreaking work with teens. Josh has spoken at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT & UCLA. He is a recognized teen expert for media outlets such as MTV, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, ABC 20/20, & Good Morning America. He’s worked with groups of parents, educators & mental health professionals plus has spoken to more than TWO Million teens and parents live. His ultimate goal is to help as many young people as possible. He trains other speakers through Youth Speaker University and his online mentoring program One Caring Adult has a world-wide reach. Questions for Josh In this interview, Josh answers the following questions: 1. Can you share some of your own story with us, and why you are dedicated to reaching today’s youth? Josh shares about the influence of a foster parent named Rodney, an educator from Yukon, Oklahoma, who provided him with unexpected stability, firmness and fairness. After being arrested for writing hot checks, Josh has an important conversation with Rodney who tell him: “We don’t see you as a problem, we see you as an opportunity.” As Josh shared, “Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.” 2. Can you share one or two strategies on ways to have conversations with youth about uncomfortable topics? Some strategies that Josh uses when working through difficult conversations include: A. Be vulnerable. Vulnerability leads to vulnerability. Just like you catch a ball when it’s thrown your way, when you go first in taking risk, students will often reciprocate the appropriate vulnerability you model. With a half million foster kids in the U.S., Josh believed he was the only one. As he has learned to see life from the perspective of others, he has also learned that we must operate from the position of “Heal the wound, reveal the scar.” B. Give them a sense of control. When talking to a young person about a difficult topic, name the topic. Don’t avoid the obvious. Address the elephant in the room by saying, “I need to ask you about ____________.” Then give them a mile-marker. Let them know how long the conversation will last so they understand the controls involved. Also, with boys, Josh suggests side-to-side conversations that feel less threatening. 3. What are some lessons you’ve learned about building teams or training others that may be helpful for school leaders? Josh also builds and trains teams of motivational speakers on issues affecting students. As he has built teams, he shares three takeaways that have benefited his organization: A. Simulate inevitable challenges. If you can give someone a task that involves problem solving or reveals their ability to manage inconvenience or flexibility, you can see how they will handle tasks as responsibility increases. “With more responsibility, the air gets thinner.” Practicing scenarios with team members helps identify where they need to grow before stepping into the real situation. B. Use Focus Groups. When testing communication, outreach, or a new lesson or resource, Josh will often share it out with twenty members of his work community. He will ask three simple questions: 1. What was most helpful? 2. What was unclear? 3. What did I just ask for you to do? C. Keep Mental Focus. Josh asks his tem to always assess with the question: How can this be 10% better? Always focus on growth and improvement so your service and influence becomes better, not stagnant. 4. What is one parting piece of advice, and how can listeners stay connected with you? Josh’s parting piece of advice is: “Wishful thinking is not a strategy.” You must be willing to take bold, decisive action on your ideas if you want to move forward in helping others. If you want to connect with Josh and all his resources, including his menu of speakers he has trained in presentations to youth and educators, you can find out more about him at www.onecaringadult.com. Let’s Wrap This Up I do not know the end of the story of the young man who flew back home to his adopted mom, but I do know he was inspired by someone who had been through similar challenges. As a school leader, you also work with many young people who need someone to believe in them. Don’t forget the power of simply being someone willing to mentor or guide others. Now It’s Your Turn What is one action you can take today to encourage the student or teachers in your school to see themselves as opportunities? How can you turn good intentions into a positive and powerful actions today? Also, if you’re reading this April 11, 2018, don’t forget to celebrate #LoveMySchoolDay on your social media platforms. Share out posts of photos, videos, and use the hashtag #LoveMySchoolDay to celebrate the students and teachers whom you are serving. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:109 The Power of One Caring Adult with Josh Shipp appeared first on Principal Matters.

In 2016, a Pew Research report showed 62% of adults receive news via social media – a 49% increase from 2012. Photo by Stuck in Customs – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00 70% of people in western countries use social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Only 30% do not rely on social media in the U.S. and that percentage continues declining. Although access to information does not guarantee accurate information, it is undeniable that schools will not reach communities if they fail to engage them through the use of technology. Simon Mainwaring once said, “Social media is not about the exploitation of technology but service to the community.” Recently, I hosted a final webinar episode from my book Messaging Matters: How School Leaders Can Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. You can check out the video and slides here. The discussion includes three parts: Part 1: Building a platform with technology Part 2: Launching a school email campaign Part 3: Publicizing celebrations Part 1: Building a Platform with Technology Consider these six ways educators can create platforms for sharing ideas with school communities: Writing blog posts Creating podcasts Hosting webinars Using LinkedIn Using Facebook Using Twitter Writing Blog Posts Think about ways to share topics within and outside your community. Blogs can be informal, conversational ways to share lessons. Here are some sample topics to think about: • How to prepare for the first days of school • Books or articles of best practices in the classroom • How new legislation may affect school practice • What new school services or programs are coming • Ways to stay inspired certain times of the year Want to learn how to blog? Check out Michael Hyatt’s free tutorial How to Launch a Self-hosted WordPress blog in 20 minutes or less. Creating a Podcast Listen to podcasts for learning and think about creating your own. Here are some of my favorites: 10-Minute Teacher by Vicki Davis www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones www.tranformativeprincipal.org Principal Center Radio with Justin Baeder www.principalcenter.com/radio Better Leaders Better Schools with Daniel Bauer http://betterleadersbetterschools.com Thinking about starting your own? Check out Pat Flynn’s “How to Start a Podcast: Pats Complete Step-by-Step Podcasting Tutorial” (6-part series for free on Youtube). Hosting a Webinar Platforms like Zoom.us or GoToMeeting.com are great for hosing webinars. Other ways some people connect via live video shares include Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Live, or Instragram Live. Think about ways to share ideas through these live conversations on topics like the following: • How you have structured or organized a new initiative or program • What performance goals you have set for your team • How to deal with a difficult situation or implementation • Updates on resolving current challenges or upcoming events Using Social Media Whether it is through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, think of ways to keep your community informed with images and updates. Share photos or articles of interest. Don’t be afraid to duplicate or repurpose content among all these different platforms. Consider sharing content by using hashtags—a way for others to share like content. For educators, I suggest hashtags like #satchat, #atplc, #edugladiators, #edchat, #eduleader, or #leadered. Some hashtags are location centered, like #okaled in Oklahoma. Ask these questions for reflection: 1. What is one new way you can commit to sharing lessons happening in your school? 2. In what ways can you increase shares of practical examples of learning, leadership, or instruction? 3. If you had to choose one new tool for platform building, what would you choose? Part 2: Launch a school email campaign Another way to reach community members is by a consistent information sharing campaign through free websites like Mailchimp.com or Constant Constant. Our school used the free website, Mailchimp.com, for subscription emails. The benefit of subscription-based emails is the ability to track opens and clicks in order to see how many patrons are really interacting with information received. Other platforms for mass communication involve free resources like School Messenger or Remind. Some educators build beautiful newsletters using Smore.com. Our school shared a weekly summary with parents that became a great way to summarize all the events from the previous week and updates on upcoming events in a consistent weekly share. When you have a consistent schedule for sharing, you can often drive the conversations about school happenings, anticipating questions before they are asked about upcoming events. Here are some questions to consider about using an email campaign: How can you tie a subscription based email into the current website or network you have in place? Is there someone on your team who can handle the technical aspects of a campaign? How can you play an active role in deciding what positive news to share that matches your goals, vision or mission? Part 3: Publicizing Celebration Your community needs to hear consistent, positive happenings from your school in order to remind them of the benefits and growth students are receiving. How can you drown out the negatives often shared with the positive ones instead? Here are four suggestions: Creating promotional videos. Powtoons and Bitebable.com are free websites for creating promotional. Collecting data on current events, testing, or student growth to share. Providing consistent recognition of students, teachers, and groups. Hosting fundraiser or events that recognize good behavior for finishing strong at the end of term or semester. Let’s Wrap This Up We just finished watching a lot of great basketball during the month of March. Just like in a great basketball game, when it comes to communication, you must stay open, talk to your teammates, offer assistance, anticipate what is next, identify your strengths or opportunities, and stay in control where you can. Building platforms, utilizing social media tools, creating campaigns, and encouraging celebrations are not actions you should take alone, but they are actions where you can lead by example. Now It’s Your Turn What are some ways you can promote good deeds or student successes this week to your school community? How can you use technology tools to highlight the reasons why students and teachers are experiencing great learning in your school? Don’t become overwhelmed with all the options. Just choose one new tool to add to your technology toolbox of messaging. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:108 Using Technology to Message with Parents, the Community, and Beyond appeared first on Principal Matters.

On November 30, 2016, I sat down for a conversation with Oklahoma’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Shawn Sheehan. Photo by pipcleaves – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/53081753@N04 That conversation became episode 045 of Principal Matters. In today’s post, I want to replay that conversation. At the time, Shawn had just ended a campaign season in a failed attempt to win a state Senate seat. We talked about lessons in failure, the nobility of teaching, and empowering teachers. This school year, Shawn is a teacher in Lewisville, Texas. The story of his departure for higher pay has been shared on a state and national stage. On March 20, 2018, the New York Times ran the article: Their Pay Has Stood Still. Now Oklahoma Teachers Could Be the Next to Walk. As the nation watches Oklahoma’s response to an impending teacher work-stoppage, I thought it would be helpful to listen to a conversation from the past. Very few people have advocated as much as Shawn Sheehan for support of Oklahoma teachers, and his conversation will remind you of some important takeaways: 1. You cannot let failure define you, and you cannot give up hope on a better tomorrow. 2. You cannot let lack of support keep you from encouraging others to love teaching. 3. You must wear two hats: the hat of the educator and the hat of the advocate. 4. School leaders must empower their teachers by allowing them to take risks and dream big. I hope you enjoy the replay of the conversation. I hope it reminds us all why we must keep fighting to attract and retain quality teachers for our schools. Interview with Shawn Sheehan Oklahoma Department of Education Shawn is the 2016 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is an Algebra I teacher from Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. He is also the founder of the Teach Like Me Campaign, a national movement focused on counteracting negative public perception of teachers and redefining those assumptions through social media campaigns to boost morale among current and future educators. 4 Questions Shawn Answers 1. How has failure pushed you to re-focus on your priorities as an educator and a person? 2. Why “Teach Like Me”? Why are you so passionate about redefining the public perception of teaching? 3. What advice do you have for educators who are struggling during “tougher” political days ahead for schools? 4. What advice do you have for school leaders to better serve their teachers, schools and communities? Teach Like Me Links Teach Like Me –A website celebrating the positives of what teachers do everyday. Teacher Like Me Teacher Showcase Videos Teach Like Me –Shawn’s Intro Video Teach Like Me Video Series 1 Teach Like Me Video Promo Teach Like Me Video Showcase 1 Teach Like Me Video Showcase 2 Shawn’s website and blog Contact: You can find Shawn Sheehan via Twitter at his handle @SPSheehan Now It’s Your Turn As you wear the hat of instructor and advocate, what is one way you can inspire great learning within your school community this week? Great challenges always require great risk and innovation. What is something you need to move toward now instead of waiting for someone’s permission to achieve? What is one step you can take today to be the kind of leader you want your teachers and students to emulate? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:Encore045 “Teach Like Me” Interview with Shawn Sheehan appeared first on Principal Matters.

What kind of school environment encourages teachers to race tricycles down the hallways while also engaging in deep conversations about student learning in PLC’s? Photo by Justin Luebke – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@jluebke?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Kenny Ward, this week’s special guest, discusses how schools like his own must keep exploring ways to create cultures of learning and fun at the same time. In our conversation, he explores: How do you help adults learn in ways that encourage them in better practices? How do you cultivate a school culture where students and teachers want to learn and grow How do you understand your “why” so you stay motivated in leading and serving others? Principal Kenny Ward Kenny Ward is Principal of Bridge Creek Middle School in Blanchard, Oklahoma, a reward middle school where his team practices professional learning communities every day. He is also the 2017-2018 Oklahoma Middle Level Principal of the Year and has served on the Executive Board for CCOSA, Oklahoma’s state association for school leaders. He is active in connecting with other school leaders across the state and country in professional learning. He is also an adjunct professor at Southern Nazarene University. As a part of his doctoral dissertation and university work, Kenny has visited schools across the state as he researches best practices among school leaders. In this conversation, we explore three topics: Topic 1: Andragogy vs Pedagogy: Teaching Teachers, Not Just Teaching Students. As educators, we talk a lot about pedagogy: the methods we use for helping students learn. But andragogy, the methods we use for teaching adults, is a topic we may often ignore. Malcom Knowles categorized andragogy in five ways: 1. Need to Know 2. Foundation 3. Self-Concept 4. Orientation 5. Motivation When adults engage in a “power of struggle” with learning concepts, they are more open to meaningful professional development. For further reading on lessons from Knowles, go here. As teachers are evaluating their own instruction, help them explore the following questions: 1. How do you know if students are learning? 2. How are your fellow teachers reaching students? 3. How are you using your own “power of struggle” to motivate new teacher learning? Your brain must build the capacity for learning by practice–an important truth, not just for students, but also for teachers. For research on the brain and learning, Kenny recommends The Talent Code. Topic 2: School Culture–The Foundation for Strong Learning Kenny also explains how culture is the foundation for student learning. He recommends Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, a book that he studied with his teachers during their first year together. Kenny also shares some great stories of how his teachers and students simply have fun together–making school a place where students want to be. Topic 3: Understanding Your Why–What keeps you motivated? In the final part of our conversation, Kenny shares personal stories about his own troubled childhood, how he hated school, and his ability to relate to children in trauma. He recommends the book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. As Kenny explains, “If your why doesn’t make you cry, you haven’t found your why yet.” Let’s Wrap this Up If you are growing as a leader, you are also growing as a learner. And as adult-learners, we can benefit from understanding the cycles involved in our learning. We can either understand how to better engage the adult-learners (educators) in continued learning or we can “dump loads of information” on them with little result. Let’s keep exploring new ways to encourage learning, culture, and motivation. Now It’s Your Turn What ways are currently engaging teachers in continuous learning? How are you helping them “struggle” so they see areas of needed growth? How do you encourage a culture where teachers and students want to learn? What’s one way you can reconnect with your “why” as a school leader this week? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address below, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe for free weekly updates and receive free e-book! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;fnames[2]=’LNAME’;ftypes[2]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Principal Matters–The Book! School leaders are very busy, so each of the twenty-four chapters is designed as a quick-read and followed with take-action questions for follow-up or reflection. If you want practical ideas on understanding your purpose, managing school teams, dealing with challenges, and leading with courage, action, motivation, and teamwork, go HERE to pick up a copy for you or your team. Messaging Matters Harness the power of messaging to create a culture of acknowledgment, respect, and celebration. Written specially for leaders, this title is divided into three parts, helping readers to maximize their role as chief communicators with students, teachers, and parents and community. Each chapter includes suggestions for using digital tools to enhance messaging and ends with reflection questions and practical next steps. The post PMP:106 Rethinking How School Leaders Help Teachers Grow appeared first on Principal Matters.