Keeping the Trains Running

I admit it. I am a sucker for analogies and metaphors. I love to use them, I love to read writing that masterfully employs them, and I am drawn to people who speak with them flowering their language. During the past two weeks, I have heard this phrase, "keeping the trains running," on two separate occasions. I began to explore that metaphor and all its meanings. It caused me to reflect on my job. As a Principal, I have to guard against that feeling that just “keeping the trains running on time” is enough. In education, just making it through the school day is not enough. We MUST ensure that every child who enters our doors is learning at their challenge level. Teaching to the middle is no longer an option. We need to diagnose where a student falls in the learning continuum, and we must provide whatever is necessary to take them to the next level.
This week, I had a conversation about a 6 year old child who was signing her own homework (pretending to be the parent) because there is no parent support at the house. How very sad that this child has no parental guidance, but how very exciting that this child has a teacher who challenges her and gives her the desire to learn and succeed. Teachers are the only bright spot some of these children EVER have. I ask that our faculty capitalizes on every minute we have to motivate a child to learn and to improve their circumstances. That little girl who is signing her own papers (in crayon by the way) may be very successful with the support of every teacher she meets while in school. It is my great desire that she has this support at every grade level while attending our school, Cherry Street. So, while we do want things running smoothly, we want to avoid derailment, our jobs are so much more than just keeping the trains running. It is about the journey that we give to our passengers, the children of this world.

Digital Learning Day

When I set out to write this BLOG, it was with the goal of stretching myself beyond my normal boundaries with technology usage. I have always been savvy with technology, and I consider it a hobby of mine to learn everything I can about educational technology in all its amazing forms. But, I had never written a BLOG, and I felt that if I wanted to move my teachers forward in Digital Literacy, I should model the behavior I was asking of them...I should do something uncomfortable yet challenging and positive. So, the result is this BLOG, and tonight I am creating my 10th post. 

Because I am putting my self  "out there" and harnessing the incredible powers of social media, my district technology team has been extremely supportive. After reading my Cheetah Chronicle (something other principals call their Monday Memo) which contained an article about DLD (Digital Learning Day), several of our teachers signed up to participate in the National Digital Learning Day celebrations. The district technology leadership sent the local news media over to film our students interacting with the technology.

What you see here is the video they posted on the web and aired on our local news station.   I am so proud of our district, our school, our teachers, and our students. My vision for a global technology presence by our school is just beginning. I see the teachers who are excited about technology. I see how engaged their students are as a result of the embedded tech. tools and strategies that teachers are premiering in classrooms. Cherry Street is on its way to celebrating Digital Learning every day and not just one day a year.  

Leadership Teams ~ A Book Recommendation

My First Book Review, and I Am in the Book!

Leadership and Teams, the Missing Piece of the Educational Reform Puzzle
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                      by Lyle Kirtman

About a year ago, my Principal at my last school said she was extremely busy, and she asked if I wanted to do a book review for a publishing company instead of her since she could not find the time to manage it. I jumped on the opportunity, because my 3^rd greatest strength is Learner, AND I would be getting paid. I used to be a peer editor for the professional journal, The Reading Teacher, and I never got paid for that.  So, I set off on working to review the manuscript. After I reviewed that first manuscript, the publishing company asked me to do more. 

It is one of those books that I reviewed as a manuscript that I want to recommend to you today. It was an exceptional book on leadership and the importance of building teams to help leaders be successful. One of the great attributes of the book was the number of leadership profiles that it analyzed. It gave me, a new leader, examples and non-examples of what leaders need to achieve success.

This month, I just got notice from Pearson that the book has finally been published. Well, I decided to do a book review, which I have seen many BLOGers do. It’s just this time, I really have a vested interest in the book since my name is listed in the credits as a reviewer of the book.

Cool Things about This Book:

The book analyzes 7 Key Competencies Leaders Need to Succeed

High Performing Leaders

1.       Challenge the status quo.

2.       Build trust through clear communications and expectations.

3.       Create a commonly owned plan for success.

4.       Focuses on team over self.

5.       Have a high sense of urgency for change and sustainable results in improving student achievement.

6.       Commitment to continuous improvement for self. (They are looking to learn from colleagues and any resource whether in education or other sectors. They are never satisfied with their own leadership ability. They know they can always learn and improve.) The high performing leader is open to criticism and looks for honest feedback on how they can improve.

7.       Builds external networks/partnerships.

It should also be noted the book emphasizes that a leader can generally only focus on sustainable change and improvement for a maximum of 7 competencies.

The book also coaches leaders how to assess their leadership style. It mentions numerous profile analysis tools and leadership assessments:

StrengthFinder (which I LOVE) and have mentioned in a couple of my entries here. 

Other inventories described are:

DISC ( Dominance Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) Profile

MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Inventory)

Values Inventory

WPI (Workplace Personality Inventory)

To note the importance of such inventories, the book explains that it is…”interesting that education which is so data based with students pays minimal attention to its leaders and employees on data that is seen as critical in other fields. Perhaps it is because the Human Resource field is somewhat underdeveloped in education.”

Here are the GREAT quotes that I keyed in on during the reading of the book. Perhaps they will interest you in reading it:

*The leader’s role is to insure that the highest quality of service is provided to the customer.

*Good leaders are clear in their expectations and do not tolerate people who sabotage results.

*A strong leader will not tolerate one child getting a poor education and preventing them from succeeding.

*Positive energy is infectious and builds a spirit of success which is unmatched.
Successful leaders move quickly.

*We are all different and our value systems are unique. Any plan for improvement has to work well with your values well or it will not be sustainable.

*People get hired for what they know but get fired for who they are.
Self-awareness is critical for improvement.

*Building an environment of trust is critical, and trust takes time. The basis of the trust cycle is that people trust someone they find predictable. Always check for shared understanding. Making sure that what a leader has communicated is understood by the receiver is critical to building trust.

*Leaders who have lower performing leadership profiles can be successful if they develop high performance teams to fill the gaps in their style.

*Be careful to prevent conflicts from growing. Don’t minimize them.

*When dealing with politics, be careful but don’t be paranoid. People will mislead others to help their agenda.

AND, most important to me, and why I enjoyed reading this book:

The bottom line: Knowing how to create and implement change is what the work of improving education for kids is all about.

This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.

The Elation of Eight

Today I had the opportunity to sit in some refresher professional development. It was awesome and really got my mind moving in the direction of possibilities. The training was on the Common Core State Standards 8 Mathematical Practices. As I reflect about the things that I thought were exceptional about the training I would say:

1. The trainer  -- Cylle Rowell, our District Math Coach, is highly motivating. She has such a passion about math and a love for students that she makes me feel as if I want to go back to the classroom and teach again just to try some of the exciting strategies she is showing us. However, Cylle tells me that the change to impact student achievement starts with the school leadership. I just need to "look for" these awesome practices when I am observing instruction in the classroom. Also, I need to train the teachers and support them as they learn these 8 practices for themselves.
2. Resources -- While doing our "reporting out" in small groups, we were discussing key concepts of the practices, and I (Self-Proclaimed SmartPhone junkie) was Google-ing this and that to support our conversations. I came across an amazing, DID I SAY AMAZING, website that has videos of each of the practices and what they look like in the classroom. Each of the 8 practices is described as it appears for students and as it appears for teachers. The site is www.insidemathematics.org
3. Knowledge -- I had attended Common Core State Standards training at a CCSS Summer Institute, a Jacksonville one-day professional development and several minor sessions. Yet, I had been paying attention to the new ELA standards and not the math. Our district has been coaching me on the math standards, and I feel more confident about them each time I am exposed to them. But TODAY, I really felt like I made a huge leap in my understanding of the 8 mathematical practices and all the benefits of students learning in this manner. I feel empowered to help our students!
4. Ideas -- It just so happens that I have been working with my school CCSS team to try and build awareness of the standards for our entire faculty. One of my super epic teachers has suggested the idea of presenting a CCSS best practice at each of our remaining faculty meetings. We have been exploring how to do this, and then EUREKA, today I walked away from this training with at least 7 (I missed the chance to use 8 again- LOL) different ideas how to create awareness that start at the faculty meetings and go even further.

As you can see, I am ELATED about EIGHT. I am grateful for a district that invests in its leaders and its teachers, and I am excited about next steps in moving my faculty toward the CCSS goals. I encourage you to experience the Elation of Eight!

The Moment Before the Splash

As I write this entry, I am looking at the calendar. We have 52 instructional days until our district's standardized testing window opens for reading, math, and science. Our writing standardized test is next month. There is a great deal of energy on campus. The teachers are very protective of their instructional time right now, and I am very protective of the school instructional time. Teachers are volunteering their morning time and their after-school time to provide tutorials for our children. AND, we just concluded our campus-wide data chats where I met with every single teacher and we discussed not only individual student progress but also class data trends and their action plans for the students. I have to admit, it was extremely rewarding to see some of the learning gains and progress being made by students at our school. Some students had line graphs that very steeply showed growth. 

Now we working very diligently to ensure success for our students, and I see evidence of it everywhere. But, I also have a huge lump in my throat, and I become very serious when I reflect on our school grade.  When I received my opportunity to be principal at our school, the school under previous leadership had been graded a B by the state of Florida but was actually very close to a D. The best way to explain it is--the state gave schools a safety net this year and only allowed them to drop by one letter grade. In all actuality, we were a C and only 9 points away from a D. Yikes. 

I have been at a D school in the past, and that school worked extremely hard to improve, and I assisted in the school moving from a D to a C and finally a B. It is a great feeling to reap the rewards of such hard work. However, the stigma that is applied to a D school is difficult to overcome especially with students and families leaving the public school system frequently to attend the charter schools. Our teachers and staff would like to avoid the stigma and all that comes with it. They deserve the best because they are an awesome, caring, and giving faculty and staff. Our students are lucky to have great teachers and staff to serve them.

So, I swallow hard and try to keep my positive viewpoint. However, I am a person that LOVES analogies. When I sought to describe how I am feeling right now, a memory from earlier this year came to my mind. During our fall festival this year, I volunteered to be in the dunking booth. It was a sunny day, but the water was cold, and I don't know anyone who enjoys that dunk in the frigid water. Sitting there on the board, I smiled and waved at each customer as they paid their money and got to throw the ball that might send me plunging into the water. Now, as I await the scores coming in later this year.....I have to compare it to this:

The Moment Before the Splash

I Digress:

It is at this time of year, the New Year, that many folks write their resolutions and their goals for the year. I have spent time thinking on those, and I have decided upon some worthy ambitions. But there are many, many thoughts that are with me as I turn the corner on a new year. I have tried to focus on the topic of education and my growth as a leader in my BLOG. However, I have noticed that in many educational BLOGS I subscribe to the person who writes the BLOG often has a belief or learns a lesson because of WHO they are. So, today,  I digress, and I share a personal moment in time that explains WHO I am and why I have the goals I do.

First I will share one of the events that has shaped me more than any other -- my mother died when she was 44. She was 5 months short of her 45th birthday. Well, this year I will arrive at my 44th birthday. Cancer took my mother's life, and at age 41 I spent 9 days in a hospital and missed 5 weeks of work because Cancer tried to befriend me. The number 44 and all that it stands for are terrifying to me. However, because I am a "half full" girl and have always been so, I only think sadly for a few minutes before I begin to clearly recall all that I have been blessed with in this life. I have an amazing family. My husband is my "rock", and my children are my delight. My father is my personal hero. I have been blessed with wise and true friends, and I continue to follow and learn from my mentors. My faith has wavered at points in my life, but it always returns to lift me and encourage me. 

So, you could say this is a special year for me. I want to live through this year and beyond! I want to really LIVE and appreciate this fabulous life we are given. I am reminded of variations of the same theme such as Tim McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying. And while it TRULY, REALLY, REALLY is a goal of mine to ride a mechanical bull, I am also reminded of the Latin phrase, Memento mori meaning "Remember your mortality." Popular belief says the phrase originated in ancient Rome:  As a Roman general was making his way through the streets during a victory parade, he had a man walk behind him to remind him that while today was a success, tomorrow he could lose or even die. The man is believed to have continually warned the general, "Memento mori."

I would like to remind everyone I know ... vita est brevis ... which means, Life is Short. This takes me back to the painful events of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. The students and staff of that school were involved in learning. I was shocked, just as everyone I know was, that the children had their lives cut short. This tragedy is beyond words, and because of my own history, I want to live every day to its fullest. I am especially lucky to work with children. Their innocence and hunger for learning make each day a new day filled with joy. It is my goal to do the very best job that I can EACH AND EVERY DAY for my own family and for the students who are in my care. 

Right before our school got out for Christmas break, one of our first grade teachers, Dee Dee Prevost, held a Star-Gazing Event where 1st grade students came to the school at night, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows, and they used telescopes to look at the brilliance of our solar system. Students saw Jupiter and the star, Aldebaran, along with several constellations. These are the experiences that cause me to pause and to value every moment. My husband attended, and as we watched the excitement build in the students as they sprawled on blankets to look up and count stars, we grinned at each other. I am grateful for such moments, and I pray that each day I remember just how short my life is. I need to live it and love it. 

The Joy of Work

     One thing I keep trying to emphasize during the course of this school year, both for my faculty and for myself, is the need for enjoying our daily work. We spend between 8-12 hours at our schools, and we must fill those hours with laughter and joy. Students must see the joy in our lives as we are often the only successful role models many of them will see. It is critical that we make learning fun and build opportunities into our schedules for celebrating the fun part of life. With the requirements of our state standards and other curricular mandates, teachers feel that there are always so many things to do and so little time to do them. As a whole, educators feel more and more pressure to get things done. However, we can not forget the medicine for our souls that fights stress. Whether we experience corporate stress or personal stress, stress is unhealthy and should be released. Let go of the stress and look for innovative ways to plug in some F-U-N.
     Our school media specialist is very talented, and she often injects fun into learning. She has hosted family reading nights for our campus and has the entire crowd answering puzzles about Harry Potter and Hogwarts. For instance, to increase the motivation to read, she has built a year long motivational reading program around exciting themes. This year, she chose the superhero theme to get students reading interests stimulated.  SHE ABSOLUTELY MAKES READING FUN. Every Friday, on our morning announcements, I assist in energizing the students to join in the fun. The excitement is contagious, and most of our faculty will wear superhero t-shirts on Fridays. Here is a picture of some of our wacky antics on the morning announcements.

This is from left to right:

Jeremy Centeno, Bay District School's Staff Training Specialist as Wolverine

Ema Rinehart, Student Anchor for the morning announcements just being cute

Yours truly, Principal Carol Rine, showing off her Spidey Sense

Talking through the full face Spider Man mask is not much fun, but if I get the students, teachers, and staff to laugh, then I have accomplished much! 

I believe having a sense of humor is critical in the art of enjoying our work. It often helps us to interpret events that occur in our daily lives. The way we perceive the events we encounter determines whether our perceptions will greet these events as a challenge, a threat, or as opportunities for growth-- leading us to ultimate satisfaction and joy. Humor provides us with necessary and different perspectives on issues. If we can bring levity to our situation, it no longer appears negative. If you encounter a tense situation, that is where you need to laugh the most. I wish you -- the joy of work.