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

Recently, I had the privilege of talking to Dr. Kyle Palmer about the lessons he has learned in his years as a teacher, principal and district leader. Photo by rebe_zuniga – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39015620@N00 As we talked about the successful professional learning teams his teachers have led, Kyle commented that when our hearts hurts when students fail, then we are willing to do whatever it takes for them to learn. His commitment to building strong cultures was a good reminder of why your school leadership matters. Meet Dr. Kyle Palmer Kyle Palmer is currently in his second year as Executive Director of Human Resources for the Center School District of South Kansas City, MO. Before this transition, Dr. Palmer spent the previous ten years as principal of nationally recognized Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, MO. Kyle began his career as a 4th grade teacher in Ankeny, Iowa in 2000. In 2013, he was named the Distinguished Principal for the Clay-Platte region of Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals in 2013. Under his leadership, Lewis and Clark Elementary was designated as an “National Model PLC School” by Solution Tree in 2013 and 2015 as well as an “ICLE Model School” in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In his “spare time” Kyle consults with the ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education), Solution Tree, and as a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. Interview Takeaways Here are some of the topics we discussed together in this episode: After years of leading a school, Kyle talks about the changes he experienced leading from a district level. He explores why some leaders fail when they focus on so many tasks that they fail to accomplish any well. With a unique perspective on both building and district leadership, Kyle offers thoughts on what challenges or pitfalls that principals may want to avoid. Kyle discusses the research he has done into Professional Learning Communities: why some work better than others. As he thinks about partnering with parents, Kyle also discusses lessons he want principals to keep in mind about keeping perspective. Let’s Wrap This Up Kyle is a passionate believer in the power of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and transforming schools to be more future-ready. Kyle’s research and dissertation on the “Existence of a Knowing-Doing Gap in PLC Implementation in LPS” led him to a deeper understanding about the power of establishing a culture that focuses on the practices of people working in a collaborative culture focusing on student learning. In the end, each of us can benefit from remembering that positive cultures drive positive changes. Now It’s Your Turn How can you seeing your school from another’s perspective to refresh your own? How can you stay focused on the main goals of your school so that you are not sidetracked by its many other urgent demands? What is one step you take today to stay connected to heart of education – helping all students learn? You can stay connected with Kyle via Twitter @drkylepalmer or by email at kylepalmer@gmail.com. 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 PMP141: How Culture Drives Successful Learning Communities – Interview with Dr. Kyle Palmer appeared first on Principal Matters.

Next week, I have the privilege of gathering together with educators and school leaders for a Leadership & Learning Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Guest speakers Jeff Zoul, Jack Berckemeyer, and Christine Handy will be on hand to share best practices. I’m looking forward to circling up with other educators who enjoy being life-long learners. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Gearing up for this time of learning reminds me of last year when I heard a presentation by Will Richardson, educator and author, who shared stories about new ways students are interacting with learning today. Here are three examples he shared: He talked about Nate Butkus, a 7-year-old boy who has started his own science podcast. He shared the story of a young man in India, Siddarth Mandala, who is beta-testing self-protecting “shock” shoes for women to protect them from rapists. He showed photos of students who are building tree-houses in their school cafeteria to replace traditional furniture. The common thread among all of these students is the new ways they can learn today: their abilities to find resources, access information, and see examples that feed and inform their passions. If we are living in a new world of learning where students constantly have access to create, design, connect, and produce inside and outside of school, Richardson asserts we must rethink three areas: beliefs, contexts, and practices. Here’s are three questions Richardson explores: How does this change our beliefs? We must be willing to rethink what we believe is effective learning; we cannot simply base this on tradition. Instead of making “student-driven learning” an elective or encore period, let’s completely design school around their passions and interests. How does this affect our contexts? Research shows that more students are actively disengaged rather than engaged; and technology often places us in “echo chambers” where we only access information from others with whom we share common interests. We must rethink how to keep students engaged in learning that is truthful, discerning, and meaningful. How does this influence our practices? We must become “skill” centered instead of “content” centered if students are to demonstrate mastery. We must move from the ever-increasing world of assessments for knowledge toward a world of application for learning. If students are really learning, they should be mastering new skills, not simply memorizing information they can easily access via a Google search. Another Example of New World of Learning Richardson’s presentation reminded me of a former student of mine, Jesse Haynes, who is now studying at the University of Tulsa. As a college communications major, Jesse’s professors have allowed him to begin podcasting as an independent study. Last year his podcast, The Others, a fictional narrative of a man stranded on a tropical island, hit over 1 million downloads. Jesse did not wait for a college degree to pursue his passions or reach a million listeners with his content and creativity. Instead he combined his degree plan with his passion, and he’s already practicing and applying those skills now. Jesse’s examples as well as the ones Will shared point toward an important question for each of us to consider even in our own professional or personal growth: Whose permission do you need to produce, create, design, or share your ideas? This is our new reality. People are longer just relying on traditional classes or internships to learn new skills, to share ideas, to begin businesses, or to launch products. So, what does this new reality mean for those of us in educational leadership? An Example from My Own Learning Let me give you an example from my own life. In 2012, after I was named Oklahoma’s assistant principal of the year, I had been asked to present at graduate classes or workshops. I realized I had a learned a lot valuable lessons to share from my years as a school administrator. I began to ask myself how I could find more opportunities to train, teach, or share with aspiring school leaders. One path for doing this would have been to pursue my doctoral studies in education. This may have helped establish my credibility as an expert in my field. Or maybe it would allow me to someday teach at the university level. But I made a different decision. I decided to being blogging instead. By sharing content online, I was able to catalog the lessons I was learning. I was sharing these ideas with school leaders while still practicing in my own school. And as a result, I was able to self-publish my first book, start a podcast, and see my second book published by Solution Tree Press. All of this content creation has opened doors for me to work with school leaders across my state and across the nation. Here’s my point. I did not wait for someone’s permission to begin learning, growing, and sharing ideas I thought were important. It’s easy to see how that has affected my professional growth, but why does this matter for your school leadership? As I visit with school leaders, I hear many of them share their disappointment, anger, or disillusionment at the public’s perceptions of our schools. We live in a time when public schools are under constant assault. Whether it is the portrayal of public schools as failing institutions or the lack of funding for schools, principals face challenges on two fronts: one, we must be creating the best environment for learning. And two, we must also be advocating for why our schools need public support. In light of these conversations about the possibilities we have for producing, designing, learning, and growing, here’s my next question for you: Whose permission are you waiting for to take back the narrative about the importance of your schools? 3 Ways to Take Back the Conversation About Your School We have never lived in a time when we have access to so many options for sharing, publishing, illustrating, and highlighting the good work happening in our schools. Here are just three examples of ways you can be doing that right now: 1. Start a weekly school newsletter. You may have a talented teachers or group of students who can help you collect great photos, images, or stories about learning, activities, or competitions happening throughout a week of school. Set a schedule for sharing this out. Whether you do this through Microsoft Publisher a Word template or by starting your own school blog, set a time each week to share a link with parents and your community members. At my school, we shared a summary of the week every Friday afternoon. It’s a great way for parents and community members to hear specific examples of positive learning happening in your school. Here’s a great example of a new school blog from Canton, Oklahoma Principal Adam McPhail. 2. Use social media to promote your school. Whether it’s via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, choose a platform where you can post images, reminders, and updates for parents. One year I even paid to boost Facebook posts we wanted to be shared outside our own school community. When Aspasia Carlson was principal of John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, she set a great example of how to use Twitter to showcase her school. It’s no coincidence that she had amazing support from local foundations who enjoy supporting these great students she highlights every day. 3. Share stories with your local newspaper or other media sources. Whether it is print media or television, media outlets are constantly looking for ways to engage an audience, increase traffic to their websites, and capture new subscribers. You can help them do this by sharing lots of great images and stories about students from your school. Don’t wait to be asked for a good story. Discover who are the best contacts for your local media outlets and begin emailing them the same updates you do your parents. They may not publish everything you send them, but when they do pick up on one of your story, then the reach of your school has just expanded to all their members too. Include Students in Your Messaging In connection with all these steps, I also believe it is important that you learn to engage students in ways to broadcast about your school. Last year we had student leaders who would create their own Twitter hashtags for events happening at the school, making videos to share in student assemblies, or broadcasting livestream from games or competitions. Students are smart and creative. Use their talents to expand the ways your school is communicating. Last year, for example, when I visited my state capitol to talk to legislators about the need to increase school funding, I didn’t travel alone. I took a small team of students with me. Lawmakers were happy to meet students, talk to them about the processes involved in government. Plus, we share photos from the visit via social media, our newsletter, and with local media. Let’s Wrap This Up As I listen to others talk about the new era of learning available for students, let me encourage you to think about how these same opportunities apply to your own school leadership. You may not own a media company, but you have powerful tools available to you every day for sharing with others about why your schools matter. Public school leaders do not need to wait for someone to discover a silver bullet for changing the narrative about our schools. We already have access to do that today. Imagine what happens if hundreds, thousands, or millions of educators unite around a commitment to talk about the great things happening in our schools. The momentum we can build could completely change the way people talk about schools. Now It’s Your Turn What ways can you embed practices in your schedule for sharing about your school’s successes? Think of one new action you take this school year to celebrate the good work happening in your school, and then find others who can help you reach that new goal? 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:Encore079 Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? appeared first on Principal Matters.

I’ll never forget the semester I transitioned from assistant principal to principal. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Even though I had been in school administration for nine years at the time, the move to a new position brought back the old feelings of isolation. I also felt the creep of anxiety I had experienced as a new administrator almost a decade before. As the pressure mounted, I finally asked myself and important question: What lessons did I learn as an assistant principal that I should remember as I face the new pressures as a head principal? One lesson I had learned was that the best moments of my leadership normally involved asking my teachers, staff or fellow administrators for help. Instead of trying to solve problems and reach solutions by myself, I began to reach out to team members to ask for help. The more I practiced collaboration, the more support I found. Eventually, collaboration helped secure more stability and peace of mind. And I began enjoying – instead of dreading – the new tasks involved in my new role. Meet Jen Schwanke Every school leader has the responsibility of carrying the weight of hard decisions or final calls. With that responsibility also comes the opportunity to ask for help. Whether you are a new school leader or a veteran leader, it is safe to say you’ve hit hard times in the tough decisions involved. That’s why I’m excited to share this interview with author and principal, Jen Schwanke. Last semester I was introduced to Jen Schwanke, the author of You’re the Principal. Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders. Jen began her career as a language arts educator in 1998, and is currently Principal of Dublin Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio. She began her career as a language arts educator and also served as an assistant principal at the middle school level. A graduate instructor in educational leadership, she has written frequently for literacy and educational leadership publications and blogs about her experiences in learning and leading at jenschwanke.com. In her book, Jen shares so many practical takeaways, scenarios, and role-playing scripts for the real-life problems that principals face: meeting a new staff, developing solid professional development, managing discipline, implementing change, and so much more. I encourage you to listen-in to the topics we cover in our podcast interview, including: Why new school leaders need mentoring and leaning on one another for support and growth The pressures faced by both new and veteran school leaders and the power of admitting you need help or sometimes hate parts of leadership How a discipline-scenario gone bad helps gain perspective for the work ahead Practical suggestions for new school leaders wanting to lead effective professional development for teachers The power of relying on team members and working collaboratively for strong outcomes Let’s Wrap This Up As the saying goes, ‘You are no Superman, so tuck in your cape and ask for help’. When you do, you can also enjoy the rewards that come from shared knowledge and expertise. Whether you are a newer or older leader, you serve with perspective and strength when learn to you rely on others. Now It’s Your Turn What are ways you are relying on the strengths of others to help serve students? How can you reach out to other leaders in order to support their work as well as enhance your own? Think about ways to engage your teachers in the important tasks of teaching one another best practices and commit to not doing the work of leadership alone. You can find out more about Jen at her website, jenschwanke.com , or follow Schwanke on Twitter @Jenschwanke and Instagram @jenschwanke. 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:140 Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders – Interview with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

Great teams understand the importance of depending on one another. Photo by joncandy – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/37195744@N03 With the many roles of a school leader, one of the biggest challenges is moving from independence to interdependence. In other words, how do you shift from a school culture with teachers isolated from one another to a place of shared ideas and teamwork – a culture of strong collaboration? How do you practice teamwork that works and improves student outcomes? In a recent webinar presentation, Ms. Diana Lebsack, Principal of Yukon Middle School and Oklahoma’s 2018 Middle School Principal of the Year, shares her experiences in leading stronger collaboration. Meet Diana Lebsack For the past four years, she has served grades 6-8 with a school population of 2,000 students and 130 teachers. Prior to Yukon, she spent ten years in school leadership as a high school and middle school principal in Putnam City, Oklahoma. In 2018, Diana was named Oklahoma’s Middle School Principal of the Year. Her school has a strong commitment to shared decisions and professional learning communities. In this conversation, Diana shares three main takeaways: 1. Define Expectations for Collaboration Defining expectations starts by setting the stage early. One way is by modeling collaboration through hiring with teams. When interviewing, frame your hiring questions with PLC samples, beliefs, and models of collaborative learning. Ask questions like: What experience do you have in PLC’s and what have you learned in the past? This allows you to identify where candidates have strengths or need growth before they join the team. Ask yourself if they have the capacity to work collaboratively? If so, they will be a good fit for a school committed to collaboration. Explain your beliefs and discover how a candidate’s values match those of your school. 2. Set Clear Frameworks for Collaboration Do teachers know the cycles, evidences, and resources for collaboration. Consider these questions from Solution Tree’s All Things PLC flowchart: • What do you want students to know? • How will we know when they learn it? • How will we respond when they have not learned it? • How will we respond when they already know it? Every PLC meeting should be focused on one of these tenets based on where you are in the cycle of learning. Also, you can share docs via Google Drive. Set schedules and dates when evidence is due from each of your collaboration teams. Use your faculty handbook to include an index of resources including Every SMART Goal form, and include a form shortcut sheet, and a weekly email to touch base on PLC focuses. In other word, provide the resources teachers need to succeed as teams. 3. Define Healthy Collaboration with Checkups How are you modeling collaboration for your teachers? Are you openly talking about PLC’s throughout the year? Share these four quadrants with your teachers and ask them to self-reflect their teams by identifying where they fall in these areas: • Quadrant 1: High Productivity/High Relationships • Quadrant 2: High Productivity/Low Relationships • Quadrant 3: Low Productivity/High Relationships • Quadrant 4: Low Productivity/Low Relationships Once teachers have reflected and identified current practices, you can have honest conversations about how to move forward toward Quadrant 1 as the ideal. Let’s Wrap This Up As you begin a new semester, don’t let the process of learning overwhelm you. Moving from independence to interdependence is hard work, but it is worth it to see teachers grow as teams and students meeting shared learning standards. Now It’s Your Turn What is one step you can take toward strengthening collaboration for your school? How can you restructure your hiring process, revisit your framework, or provide checkups for your professional learning communities? Don’t let the hard work of learning derail you from taking one step at a time toward improved student outcomes. You can see the video and slides for this presentation here. If you’d like to connect with Diana Lebsack for more information, you can reach her by email at diana.lebsack@yukonps.com. 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:139 Building Stronger Collaboration – Interview with Diana Lebsack appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, Education Week shared a post, A Look at How Principals Really Drive School Improvement, with a summary of a study conducted by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. Researchers studied over 600 elementary and secondary schools over seven years, comparing student test results with surveys from teachers and students about their experiences in school. Then the group conducted 12 deeper case studies, comparing elementary and high schools with rising or declining test scores.” Co-author, Elaine Allensworth, summarized the findings by saying: “We just keep finding over and over again, the more students feel safe and supported in school … the stronger the learning gains and the bigger the improvement in learning gains. It’s easy to get caught up in all the other things you could be doing as a principal and lose sight of the importance of students feeling safe and supported.” As you launch a new semester, consider the way you are cultivating positivity in your school culture. Whatever level you serve, I’m excited to introduce you to the ideas promoted through the Kindness Campaign being led by Daniel O’Donnell. Meet Daniel O’Donnell Daniel is the Director the Kind Schools Network, a national campaign with StandforChildren.org focused on “teaching kids to practice kindness on a regular basis and manage their emotions, actions, and statements, they become better equipped to navigate our complex world.” Daniel was raised in Springfield, Tennessee, the youngest in a family that strongly valued education. He attended public schools through high school, then graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Political Science and Music. He joined Barack Obama’s campaign in the summer of 2007, leading efforts to register, organize and mobilize voters in seven states. After the 2008 election, Daniel joined President Obama’s administration as the Deputy White House Liaison to the US Department of Energy. Moved by the love of his hometown and the desire to make a difference more locally, Daniel returned to Nashville in 2012. Among his many responsibilities, Daniel now directs the Middle School Kindness Challenge Campaign. In this week’s podcast interview, Daniel and I discuss the following: How he became involved in the Middle School Kindness Challenge campaign and why it’s important for school leaders What influences middle schools currently face that warrant a national campaign to foster kindness The student outcomes by schools involved in the challenge (over 26,000 lessons have been used by schools across the nation) How educators can participate in the challenge and see improvements in student behavior and performance Feedback from schools where the Kindness Challenge is making a difference How can principals and educators can connect to find out more information Let’s Wrap This Up It is no secret that schools with strong cultures see greater gains in student achievement, but sometimes we need reminders or resources to keep cultivating those cultures. You can sign-up now to participate in the Middle School Kindness Challenge for this new semester by visiting the website https://kindnesschallenge.com. If you’re not serving the middle level, consider how to use these resources in creative ways at your level. And pass this challenge along to someone who may be leading at the middle level. The post PMP:138 Middle Level Kindness Challenge – Interview with Daniel O’Donnell appeared first on Principal Matters.

One day I was walking through one of my high school buildings when I heard the sound of a teacher yelling for help. I sprinted toward the sound, and I found a teacher trying to guide a student into the hallway. He was a special education student I knew – a teenage boy whose development level was closer to that preschool student. He had become so violent that he was knocking over furniture. Thankfully, when I stepped in, he responded to my request to come to the office. He was crying so much, however, that I had to hold him up as we walked. It was almost like cradling a toddler. I found out later from the teacher that the boy’s mother had been taken to the hospital for surgery. He had very limited verbal skills, and his emotional outburst was closely tied to the fear and concern he was experiencing. As an education leader, I know you also deal with situations that often place you outside your comfort-zone. Sometimes you are managing situations involving students with special needs. But you also deal with students at every level who struggle with emotional or behavioral outbursts for various reasons. This school year I have talked to many principals who recognize the growing number of students living in environments where they may have experienced trauma. This can range from children who are experiencing violence or tragedy to others who live in unsafe or unstable environments. Students touched by trauma can often have difficulty learning. For school leaders, it can be a difficult balance in knowing how to provide a safe learning environment for all students while also finding ways to help students heal. Dr. Barbara Sorrels As I’ve searched for helpful resources, I was privileged to be introduced to Dr. Barbara Sorrels. She is the author of two books, including Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trauma. Dr. Sorrels is also the executive director of The Institute for Childhood Education in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a professional development and consulting firm for those who live and work with children. She has more than twenty years of child care, kindergarten, and elementary teaching experience, as well as more than five years of experience teaching graduate and undergraduate students at the university level. In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Sorrels and I dive into a discussion on ways educators can learn to reach and teach students exposed to trauma. Here are the topics we cover: How understanding of brain science influences the way you work with students Advice for teachers or school leaders searching for behavior strategies that work with students who experience trauma Examples from teachers and schools engaged in learning options that may include manipulates, environmental changes, rhythm, play, and movement activities The challenges or opportunities in managing students with severe behavior or anxiety issues while also maintaining a safe learning environment for all students in the classroom or school I encourage you to listen to our conversation and to check out Dr. Sorels’ resources. For my Oklahoma listeners, you may be interested in an upcoming workshop she will leading in Oklahoma City on March 13, 2019, on Strategies for Working with Students Experiencing Trauma. You can find out more information here. Or you can reach out to Dr. Sorrels directly via her website: http://www.drbarbarasorrels.com. Let’s Wrap This Up There is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution to working with students touched by trauma. Understanding is the first step. And then exploring helpful strategies, developing shared plans of actions, and committing to “right fit” practices for your students can also help. As you think about the students in your school, think about the ideas Dr. Sorrels discusses in her practice and how they may apply to the ways your school is reaching and teaching students. Now It’s Your Turn Who are the students in your school whose lives have been touched by trauma? As you think about ways to maintain nurturing and productive school environments, how can you better understand the stories students bring with them to school each day? How can you stay committed to building trusting relationships with those in your school community so you can find creative, effective ways to respond to student needs? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address here, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! 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:137 Reaching and Teaching Students Exposed to Trauma with Dr. Barbara Sorrels appeared first on Principal Matters.

I’ve been on the road a lot lately. And as I travel, I often think about how to reach my destination while also making the experience a positive one. For me, that means trying to learn while I drive by listening to helpful podcasts, audio-books, or news programs. Or sometimes it means connecting with friends or colleagues for phone chats. As we wrap up another semester of the school year, my family is also planning a road trip. During the holidays, we normally travel back east for time in West Tennessee with my parents and family members there. It’s a long road from Oklahoma there, so we try to make the trip as enjoyable as possible: good snacks, and good books, music and movies downloaded on devices. But long road trips can also be difficult when you grow tired of the road or sometimes grow tired of one another. And sometimes the journey through a school year can be a lot like a road trip. You pack up the car with lots of hope and anticipation, but hours into the drive, you grow tired of being on the road, and maybe the passengers grow tired of each other too. How do you keep driving toward a positive destination on the long journey of a school year? Recently, I was presenting at a workshop for Assistant Principals when we began discussing how to manage difficult moments or crucial conversations while also staying focused on the positive. I was reminded of two authors whose work has been helpful when thinking about working with school teams on the destination of completing a successful school year. First, Dr. Todd Whitaker has some great takeaways in What Do Great Principals Do Differently. I’ve heard Todd present several times, and he often reminds principals that if you spend your time focused on the group of negative team members in your school instead of the positive ones, you will inevitably find yourself leading from a mindset of reaction instead of empowerment. Todd’s advice is to keep your eyes on the most positive members as a first priority. As you include them in decision-making and ask what is best for them, you inevitably raise the tide for the entire school culture. I’ve also heard presentations by Dr. Anthony Muhammed, author of Transforming School Culture: How To Overcome Staff Division who explains that school leaders cannot ignore negative culture. When team members are pulling down others, you must be willing to have crucial conversations that threaten positive expectations and remind others of the non-negotiables of your school. When you are willing to confront these “resisters”, you place the focus back on the destination and goals of your school. This is a difficult balance. A couple of years ago, I was sitting in a presentation with Dr. Muhammed when I asked him how to reconcile the need to focus on your positive members while also addressing negative ones with crucial conversations. He explained that it is irresponsible to avoid tough conversations, and the balance of strong leadership is the ability to focus on the positive but not allow the negative to infect your culture. A Road Trip Analogy I’ve been thinking about these lessons as I drive to visit schools and work with school leaders. Just like a long road trip, you manage so many dynamics while you “drive” your school through each day. Several years ago, my wife and I loaded up our children for a long trip to Tennessee for Christmas. When it was time to return home, my kids asked if we could stay an extra day. I had set our return date so I could have some additional time to prepare for the return to school so I told them we needed to stick with the schedule. We loaded up the morning of our return, and started down the road. I noticed no one was talking, and as I looked in the rearview mirror, I could see all four of the kids were crying. No one was talking, but there were a lot of tears. Two narratives were going through my head. Narrative one: I want to get back home because I have a lot of work to do before school begins, and I don’t like to feel rushed. Narrative two: We actually have time to spend an extra day and maybe I need to ask my kids why staying an extra day is so important to them. I looked at my wife, and she looked back me with an expression that read: “This was your decision, now what are you going to do about it?”. Before long, I pulled over and we had a long conversation. I explained again why I wanted to get home soon. They explained how hard it was to be such a long distance from my parents and how much they’d like just one more day. After listening, we had a decision to make. In this case, we decided to give them one more day there. I turned around and headed back to my parents’ home. And guess what? We had one more joyful, fun-filled day. The drive home the next day was a lot easier. Looking back now, I know that situation could have gone a lot of directions. But the lesson I learned as a dad is that reaching destinations and goals is just as important as maintaining positive relationships along the way. And as school leaders, we need to keep that idea in mind as well. Let’s Wrap This Up As you think about the journey you are on this school year, you will likely be looking at both sides of the coin when it comes to focusing on the positives while also addressing negatives. Yes, you must invest and rely on your strongest team members for creating positive outcomes. At the same time, you cannot ignore the crucial conversations necessary to maintain a healthy school culture. And as you do both, you are driving toward a destination that will require lots of patience, wisdom, and collaboration along the way. Now It’s Your Turn As you drive the road ahead, what ways can you stay focused on the positive outcomes you want to see for your students and teachers? How can you focus on the destination while also having crucial conversations along the way? And what is one step you can take today to add some joy to the journey for those around you? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address here, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! 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:136 Crucial Conversations for Reaching Targeted Destinations appeared first on Principal Matters.

In a recent conversation with author and generation expert Dr. Tim Elmore, he shared how many students are affected by “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out).For many young people, this condition is demonstrated by a preoccupation with wanting to constantly know what is happening with peers or social media contacts. FOMO can sometimes lead to levels of anxiety that make it difficult for them to disconnect from social media. (See Psychology Today article by Dr. Elmore here.) When Kim Coody, Principal of Glenpool High School, near Tulsa, Oklahoma told me she was creating FOMO experiences for her student, I was intrigued. She explained that this school year, her staff has committed to increasing engagement with students so that they fear missing out on school. What has this looked like for her school? Kim’s Bio Kim Coody has spent 21 years working with Oklahoma students as a special education teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal and high school principal. Kim has 15 years in secondary administration experience at Glenpool Public Schools. She began her administrative career as the high school assistant principal for 8 years. She spent 3 years as the principal at Glenpool Middle School before being named the high school principal in 2015. In 2018, Kim was named Oklahoma’s OASSP High School Principal of the Year and represents the Oklahoma Association of Secondary Principals as President-Elect. Kim prides herself on Glenpool High School’s high graduation rate and her staff’s commitment to building positive relationships with students. Leadership Takeaways In this week’s podcast, Principal Coody shares several ways her school has built a strong culture: 1. Increasing positive “FOMO” with welcome back videos2. Greeting students as they come to school3. Developing more engaging lessons4. Finding real-life applications for learning5. Shadowing a student for a day6. Piloting job shadowing and internships for seniors through Oklahoma’s ICAP (Individual Career Academic Plans) As a result, Glenpool students are finding relevant applications for their learning, seeing fewer disciplinary referrals, increasing attendance rates, and making academic gains. Listen-in to this week’s podcast for ideas that can inspire you in your school leadership. You can view a webinar version of our conversation or see Kim’s slides and photos HERE. Now It’s Your Turn How do your students view their experience in school? What are ways your team is enhancing your learning environment so that students are afraid of missing out on school? What ways can you put yourself in the roles of students to see school from their perspective? What is one way you can introduce them to real-life applications of learning? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address here, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! 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:135 Using FOMO for Positive School Culture with Kim Coody appeared first on Principal Matters.

How do engage students while also understanding the unique challenges and strengths of Generation Z students? Several years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Tim Elmore through his curriculum and online resources for leadership. He is known as an expert in researching generational trends and is the author of dozens of books on developing leadership. He may be best known for his Habitudes series, lessons using images to teach leadership principles for students from public schools to university settings. Over the past couple of years, Tim and I have developed a strong working relationship. I have attended and spoken at his conferences, and I have heard him present and speak several times as well. On a personal level, I view Tim as one of my mentors. As I’ve talked to him, read his books, and watched him lead others, I have come to admire him as someone who practices what he teaches. Tim’s Bio Dr. Tim Elmore, President and Founder of Growing Leaders, is a best-selling author and international speaker. Dr. Elmore uses his knowledge to equip educators, coaches, leaders, parents, and other adults to impart practical life and leadership skills to young adults that will help them navigate through life. He has spoken to more than 300,000 students, faculty, and staff on hundreds of campuses across the country and provided leadership training and resources for multiple NCAA and professional athletic programs. In addition, a number of government offices in Washington, D.C. have utilized Dr. Elmore’s curriculum. In addition to teaching leadership to cooperate leaders, universities and graduate schools across the U.S., he has also shared his insights in more than forty countries–including India, Russia, China, and Australia. He has written more than 25 books, including his newest book, Marching Off the Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World, released in 2017. For years, he worked alongside internationally recognized leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell. According to Maxwell, “No one teaches leadership better than Tim Elmore.” Engaging Cultures & Developing Gen-Z Leaders Listen-in to this week’s podcast conversation to learn more about: 1. How schools and organizations can create engaging cultures 2. The foundational principles that work in developing engagement 3. The specific differences among generational mindsets 4. Ways to leverage the strengths and challenges found in the emerging leaders of Generation-Z. Let’s Wrap This Up If you are an Oklahoma reader or listener, mark your calendar for June 5-6, 2019 as CCOSA, our state administration association is hosting Tim as a keynote for our state leadership conference in Norman, Oklahoma. In late June 2019, Tim is hosting a Round-Table for Principals event in Atlanta, Georgia. Tim’s team is also offering Principal Matters listeners the opportunity to sign-up for the chance to win a free registration. Now It’s Your Turn What is one way you can create stronger engagement for your school or team? How can understanding the differences in the emerging generation better inform your practice? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address here, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! 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:134 Creating Engaging Cultures with Dr. Tim Elmore appeared first on Principal Matters.

Five years ago this month, our son Jack was diagnosed with a rare disease called Kawasaki that brought our normal world to a stand still as we circled together searching for answers and praying for his healing. The disease inflames the blood vessel, and if untreated, it can be fatal. As I look back at his recovery years later, I remember how overwhelmed my wife and I were at the time. I remember seeing our little boy in his hospital gown, hooked up to tubes and wires. When he went into shock during treatments, he had to rest for several days while his medical team reevaluated. Eventually his condition stabilized enough for him to receive the helpful IV solutions he needed. After ten long days, treatments normalized his body, and he was finally healed. It was a Thanksgiving I won’t forget as we celebrated having our little boy home again. The good side of this difficult season was that it brought me back to all those areas of life that matter most: faith, family, and friends. I remember during those days, how encouraged we were by the flood of love and support from others: our friends, school, and church. We were thankful for an expert team of doctors and nurses. We were thankful for my school, where my team worked hard to protect me from interruption and sacrificed every day to fill in the gaps. We were thankful for so many prayers and visits. Memories are often good reminders of the many reasons to be thankful. As you start the holiday season, here are three very quick “thank-you’s” to keep in mind today: 1. Your family Don’t forget to thank your better-half who sacrifices for you every day. For little ones in your life who provide you with both encouragement and challenge. For your extended family members who hug, call, or send messages. God gave you your family for a reason so be grateful for the ones you have. 2. Your friends For old and new friends who make time to check-in and visit. For the blessings of meals or just catching up during good and hard times. Give thanks for the community that surrounds you and reminds you that you are not always strong enough alone. 3. Your calling For work that is more than a job but is an extended family. For educators who care more about relationships than they do about compliance or legislation — everyday heroes who unify around what matters. Not everyone has the privilege of working with people dedicated to building better communities. Let’s Wrap This Up This past week as I watched Jack, who is now 13, walking around the house, I was struck by how tall he is becoming. His long legs and arms are outgrowing all his clothes. He is healthy and enjoys running cross country or playing Fort-Nite with you his friends. I’m thankful to watch him grow up. And I’m thankful for the many prayers, visits and supports from our friends, family, and teammates who surrounded us then and still support us today. This week, please take time to reflect on what matters most. And in case you haven’t heard it lately: Thank you for the part you play every day in serving your families, schools, and communities. Happy Thanksgiving! Bonus Songs I also wanted to share some joy from my family to yours. A little background info: My wife and I have four children: three girls and one boy. During Thanksgiving break a few years ago, I took time to record a couple of songs that I wanted to include as podcast bonus tracks. During Thanksgiving, we host family members including cousin, Joy, who is one year older than our oldest daughter. When the girls were little, our two oldest and Joy were very close, and we wrote a song together called “3 Little Girls.” When Joy grew up and attended college nearby, we were singing the song one day when we decided to record it together at the kitchen table with a microphone, their voices, and my guitar. Here are the lyrics and a direct link to the recording of the song: Three Little Girlsby William D. ParkerThanksgiving 2012Music recorded Thanksgiving 2016 1. One time there were three little girlsThey played in a make-believe worldOooh, ooh, oohPretending they were mommy’s thenThey held their Barbies and their KensOooh, ooh, ooh Chorus:And they wrote a little songAnd everybody sang alongoooh, oooh, ooooh 2. One day the three grew into teensThey shared their make up and their dreamsoooh, ooh, oohThey laughed and dreamed of life awayWhere they could span the globe somedayoooh, ooh, ooh(chorus) 3. A few years later and they metAt the church where one was wedooh, ooh, oohThey laughed and cried some happy tearsAs they thought back on those yearsoooh, ooh, ooh(chorus) O Holy NightThat same day, Joy also blessed us with a solo of O Holy Night, one of my favorite Christmas songs. If you want enjoy this simply beautiful song, listen in here. Happy Holidays! Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook When you enter your email address here, you will automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! 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:133 Three Reasons to be Thankful appeared first on Principal Matters.