As A Teacher, I Wish You Knew (Part 2) #iWishTeach

Wow, if only I knew how much this blog series was going to take hold!  Last week's post, "As An Admin, I Wish You Knew" stirred so much conversation!  I am thrilled about the interest from educators, from around the world, who wanted to share their voice for Part 2!

So here is part 2!  I reached out to all of my online connections in education and asked them to answer this question...."As a Teacher, I wish you knew....."  Listed below are their responses.

These are from educators all over the world who chose to take part!  I found so much truth, honesty, and heart in many of their responses!  And look for Part 3 next week, as we hear from PARENTS!

"That I wish more people took what I see as my calling seriously. I'm not just a teacher; I pour my heart and soul into the lives of the next generation."

"I try my best each day, each week, each month and each year to help every student grow (academically, socially and emotionally). Sometimes I feel like my best isn't enough. " 

"I wish you knew how hard it is for me to test your children for the wide variety of testing that I am obligated to do. I hate it. It tears me up inside to see the students wiggle in chairs as they are tied down with invisible ropes to take a test to get a number. Your child is NOT a number to me. They are a unique gift to this world and this way of testing cannot and will NEVER reflect the miracle your child is. I am so sorry that I have to do this to them. It hurts my heart."

"That during the school year almost every minute of my day is spent thinking about how best to help my students. I wish you knew how much I want to be trusted to do what I know is best for them, rather than given directives that are not child based. I wish you knew that I want to be the best teacher that I can and help every student I come in contact with, so that they can develop into lifelong learners and great people who are highly successful." 

"That I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about ways to help your child."

"That I hate grades--probably more than you and your child do--and that makes me the most conscientious grader your child will ever have. I want all my students to make straight As, and, contrary to popular belief, I take no joy whatsoever in "giving" a student a low or failing grade. "

"That I have two children of my own, and I k ow exactly how you feel."

"That I wanted to be a teacher. I didn't become one because, as people joke about teachers,"I couldn't think of anything better to do" or "I wasn't smart enough to do something better,""

We are not just teachers. We are mentors, family therapists, nurses, psychologists. 

"How much time I spend away from my own family to make sure the 120 kids that I teach have an opportunity to shine, grow and succeed."

"That I go back to my classroom every night after my kids go to bed to make sure the next day in my class is the BEST day for everyone else."

"I wish you knew that I want my students to be brave and bold and try new things. Never be afraid to make mistakes because your brave actions might inspire others to try new things. Your actions may show others it's ok to make mistakes because that's how we learn. I wish students and parents knew we become a family and we are all in this really hard thing together. We're going to laugh and sometimes want to give up, but we're a team."

"As a teacher, I wish you knew how much I love. Everything that I do, everything I say, every standard and expectation that I set comes from a place of love. All the time I spend doing non-teaching paperwork or attend endless in-service and faculty meetings comes from a place of love. Every activity, all the homework that I assign and all of the tests and quizzes that I write are done out of love. Every conversation, every new idea and every different way that I try to explain something is done from a place of love. This doesn’t mean that I love to do all of these things. As a matter of fact, a lot of these are things I would rather not have to do. But, I love what I teach. I love how important it is and I love that I have the opportunity every day to be able to come to school and express that love of learning. This would be enough to be able to have a successful and fulfilling career for most, but for me its goes much deeper that just the love of what I teach. 

Ultimately and what the most important thing that I wish you knew is how much I truly love the kids that I teach. I love when the light of knowledge is switched on in a student. I love the student who doesn’t care because I know that I can make a difference. I love the student who is bored because I know I can get his attention. I love the student who is passionate about what I teach because I know that I can stoke that fire even hotter. I love the student with a dozen accommodations because I know that I can find a way to break through. I love the student who is a discipline problem because I know all that student wants is to be heard and understood. I love all my students because I have never forgotten what it’s like to be a kid. All the kids that I teach are in their own special way a mirror of the student I used to be. And the most important thing that I wanted when I was a kid was to be loved. So, I love, respect and treat the kids I teach the same way that I wish I had been loved when I was young. Love is the most powerful and positive emotion and I am extremely fortunate to give that love freely by teaching."

"I wish that people realized that teachers are people too. We make mistakes, and sometimes it effects 150 students. We try our best, but sometimes we just slip up. I wish people realized teachers are people too, and didn't talk to us like we just made the biggest mistake in all of America. As a teacher, I admit to my students when I mess up to show them that it's important to own up to our mistakes, and sometimes students respond with "Gah Ms. SoAndSo you can't make mistakes!" The worst is when parents berate you over email for a small mistake. It kills my confidence, and makes me feel like I can't do anything right. I wish people treated me like I was a person too."

"That I lay awake agonizing over things I can't fix at 2am; your child's progress, my lack of patience, that email from an angry parent, a better way to teach the lesson I did that day... It does nothing but undermine my confidence and give me heartburn but I want you to know that I CARE."

"As a teacher, I wish you knew how much I sacrifice in my own life for my students. My nights and weekends are spent analyzing data, speaking to colleagues about ways to make my classroom the most effective and efficient, and planning unforgettable learning experiences. I believe so much in your potential and in the possibility of YOU that I'm willing to devoted my time and energy off contract just to be a part of making your dreams come true. I wish you knew why I push you so hard in class, why I won't give in and tell you an answer, why I refuse to cut corners or allow you to cut corners just because it would be easier. I wish you knew that watching you discover your own potential and passions and abilities is what keeps me coming back year after year. The challenges you pose with your diversity, background stories, and life experiences don't intimidate me...they motivate me. You motivate and inspire me. You are why I never give up, never let up, never give in. You. You are what matters. And I am honored to be a teacher."

"Just because we don't have a classroom full of kids in the summer doesn't mean we aren't working all summer! We are always thinking and buying stuff for our classroom. We love your kids as our own and want nothing more than to build life long learners that love others. We never stop thinking and praying for our students even five years after you have taught them. "

"That reading to your children and in front of them is probably the single most important thing you can do to help them be prepared to begin school. And don't stop just because they start school. Reading is so important. "

"That when I look into your child's eyes, I see my own children. I know that you are hoping your child will be nurtured and valued when you send them off to school. Just know that I strive to do that everyday."

"I wish you knew how much these little children touch our lives and hearts forever. That we really do miss them when they go. That we can't wait to see who we get next year ... even the little stinkers!"

"Everywhere I go and everything I see connects to my classroom. My job is to teach children and every human interaction I have or see is an opportunity to learn. My eyes are always open and the wheels are always spinning."

In the end, so many of the comments come back to this....love.  Teachers love kids!  It's not always easy, and we don't always get it all right, but we try and try again!

Thanks to all who participated!  I look forward to sharing next week's post from the perspective of Parents!

***want to share what you wish people knew about teaching?  Share using the hashtag #iWishTeach

As an Admin, I Wish You Knew (Part 1) #iWishAdmin

I became an administrator a little over a year ago.  Never did I even imagine all that goes on behind the scenes of a school. Man my eyes have been opened!

As I was driving home the other day, I thought about the fact that there are many elements to education that people don't understand if they're not in that side of it.  And sometimes we want to tell people about it, but it feels like we're bragging, or complaining, or sharing too much.

So I had an idea....I wanted to reach out to about 40 of my administrator friends that I am connected with and ask them "What do you wish people knew about administrators in education?".  And the responses that I got were powerful.

And then I thought, why stop there?  So from that idea a new mini-blog series was born.  This post is the first in a 4-Part series of "I Wish You Knew".  This week's post is from administrators across the globe.  Then over the next 3-4 weeks I will be releasing a "As a Teacher, I Wish You Knew (Part 2), and then "As a Parent, I Wish You Knew (Part 3)", and then "As a Student, I Wish You Knew (Part 4)".

I truly hope these posts inspire you to stop and reflect on your own preconceived notions of each of these extremely important jobs in education; administrators, teachers, parents, and students!

So here's this week's post.  All submissions were submitted anonymously to inspire people to be as honest as possible.  Some made me laugh, some made me think, and some made me tear up. I polled about 40 administrators from all over the world to gain these insights.  Please feel free to join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #iWishAdmin


"That I care about my students the same way I care about my children. My students are my children. Not numbers, not subgroups, not codes in the system. These children are my children and I want them to know that."

"That I can make more of a difference if Central Office Administration would allow me the flexibility to try new risky ideas with my campus. I want to do things differently, but cannot if they do not allow us. We cannot make changes if the top is not willing to make changes themselves. Allow me the opportunity to help by letting me take risks and bringing in more innovation into the classrooms."

"That this work is hard. Everyday I show up and give it my all because the kids, teachers, support staff and community deserve it. I work longer hours than my family would like me to, but I do it because my school deserves it. I do it with a smile and a grateful heart, and I try to make it look easy. Our kids deserve the very best and I hope that I can live up to that for them."

"We never stop thinking about your kids, both in their successes and their struggles. Sometimes we have to place that hard call home, but we never give up hope even if you think we might."

"That I care as deeply as teachers, parents and support staff. Sometimes "admin" are seen as aloof, in an office, detached. Not so. I want what's best for these students just as I want what's best for my own two sons. I try not to get "stuck" in policy, I dislike students being defined by test scores and I want teachers to be respected and valued. Our goals are aligned. I love my job."
  
"It is hard work. Our tasks are always secondary to the tasks of those that we serve. Breaks are seldom, and lunchtime frequently comes after students have been dismissed. Our days never play out as we have them planned. And days, weeks, months, years all pass very quickly."

"Unfortunately, as an administrator, it can be easy to become cynical. People usually seem more willing to tell us about the things that we aren't doing well/could do better. (Please, if you are happy with something that we are doing - share that with us; it will make our day!) It is our responsibility to seek out the positives and share that message. Our kids and our teachers need models of positive energy, not cynics."

"We aren't perfect. Based off of the information and resources that we have, we do the best that we can. We, too, always want to do better/more. We care about kids, and hopefully our actions and decisions reflect that."

"Our job is a lot of fun. It has to be one of the best jobs in the world. Even in the hard times, I can't imagine any other job that I would enjoy more than being a building principal."

"That I care about your children very much and work tirelessly to support them. Please trust the school when we tell you something, it's for your benefit and your child to be supported."

"That we always keep our students at the center of every decision we make. Even if it's not easy, if it's in the best interest of children, that is what we do."

"...that we REALLY DO make every decision with the best intentions, with all information we have, and what is in the best interest of the students. Promise!"

"As an Administrator, I wish you knew how hard it is to be in classrooms but not be able to "teach" in them. Yes, we get plenty of opportunities to interact with kids, but there is something special about having your own classroom of students that you are able to develop that unique relationship with over the course of the year. Cherish that and know that I'm jealous!"

"I wish people knew how deeply I missed teaching. I wish they knew that I am as invested in relationships with students in my current role as I was in the classroom. "

"I wish there was more trust between teachers and administrators. That there was no question that the one group always believed the best about the other, that there was generous trust among colleagues, and that all energies were spent on investing in the lives of our students (not tangentially related issues). "

"I wish people knew how much I wish I could do more to reward our teachers. Their work is so valuable."

"I wish people knew how lonely the admin job can feel at times."

"I wish people knew that I am trying as hard as I can to prioritize tasks well, that I know that things can improve in this area, but that I am growing in the right direction and improving each month and semester."

"How much I dislike having state tests tied to teacher evaluations."

"Every decision I make is based on "What is best for kids""

"My best days are when I'm in the classroom."

"I'm in awe of teachers are able to do on a daily basis."

"I believe teaching is the most noble profession there is."

"That I love my job because I love working with children AND teachers. Being an administrator is so unique because we get to be part of the learning process for both the kids and the adults in the school. I want you to know that that means I spend a lot of my time advocating for students and what they need but also for what teachers need to further their professional learning too. You will see me in lots of meetings and preparing presentations and that may look like I'm not involved in the school but I'm really creating the foundation of learning for everyone. I want you to also know that I make sure I get to a class a day so that I can see the hard work from my advocating as well as the work of all the teachers and students in action. That means that I won't always be in my office to answer every call or email when it happens. Lastly, I want you to know that I do not enjoy being a disciplinarian for students, nor for teachers; however, I accept that part of my job as a tool to help everyone find their path for growth and improvement. That means that whether I am discipling a child or observing a teacher, I'm doing it to help them grow, not catch them being "bad". In the end, I want you to know that you can trust me, that learning is always at the heart of my actions."

"I have rarely had a full-night's sleep in the last three years...it weighs on my mind what I could do, what I should have done, what I wish I had done, what I want to do next, what I wish I could have said, what I'm not doing right now...it is both exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time!"

"It would be great if every now and then, you asked, "How can I help you?" rather than "What can you do for me?"

"Your "major issue" is important to you (and it is to me), but please remember that I have 50 other's "major issues" fighting for my time and attention!"

"Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a school administrator. The internship, the coursework and the readings help but they do not compare to real-world experience. One of the first times I sat down and met with an angry parent I was scared to death. Now, after hundreds of meetings with parents I have come to enjoy them. The first time you have to make a difficult decision you question yourself and you wonder for days if you made the right one. Now after having made many difficult decisions I still question myself, but I don't worry as much."

"Just like administrators are constantly learning, we realize that you are constantly learning as well. You need to know that we don't expect you to be perfect. To be quite honest, we are oftentimes in awe of the work you do and your dedication to your students. We may be the ones evaluating you and some folks may call themselves "lead-learners", but deep down we know that you are the experts. "

"It is important for you to realize that as the school administrator, we often feel responsible for everything that goes on in the building. This can lead to us spreading ourselves thin or sometimes not giving you the time that you'd like. There are going to be times when we have just left situations in which we were just hit, kicked or screamed at. And you may be the next person we see. While we are going to try our best to always stay positive, there will be times when we slip. Please forgive us when this happens."

"More than anything, we want you to know that we are doing best. Sometimes our best looks awesome. Other times our best doesn't look so hot. Just know that we won't stop trying. Because like you, we are learning and getting better each and every day."

"that sometimes we feel powerless. We want to help, but some things are out of our control. Sometimes we feel helpless. Like when a teacher comes to us to share heartbreaking news about something she is experiencing in her personal life. Or when a hard to reach student is finally beginning to experience small successes and then he tells us he is moving to a new school. Or when parents come to us with legitimate concerns regarding our parking lot, yet those safety concerns stem from other parents not following the expectations or being courteous. This is the hardest part of our job. This is what keep us awake at night."

"that when parents are upset about a tough decision we have made, we wish they would come to us to discuss it rather than turning to social media to complain about it."

"Administrators want to help everyone be successful. They want to help teachers grow, they want to make parents feel welcomed, they want their school to shine and be successful, but their ultimate focus is to provide exceptional learning experiences for students. Every decision that they make is in the best interest of ALL students. Principals don't have agendas for a small group of students, They have to make every decision for ALL students. Principals are people, too. They make mistakes, they have feelings, and while they are charged with working with and meeting the needs of a number of stakeholders, their needs matter, too. It is a lonely seat. Principals need support, encouragement and cheerleaders. When things are going well, everyone wants to be a part. When things are not going so well, the principal is the first to be abandoned. Being a principal is one of the hardest jobs, but it is one of the most rewarding professions."

Are you an administrator in education?  What do you wish more people knew about being an Admin?  Share your thoughts using the #iWishAdmin hashtag and look for the next post in this series (As A Teacher, I Wish You Knew) coming next week!

  

 

Be One ft. @NatalieGrant #BeOne

If you know much about me, you know I love music.  Always have.  One of my favorite vocalists is Natalie Grant.  I feel like I've grown up with her.  I still remember attending a KSBJ Brown Bag (free) concert at a Chik-Fil-A when she was just releasing her debut album and being in awe.  And then over the years after attending 3 or 4 other concerts with her.

Well, Natalie just released a brand new song called "Be One".  With all the doubt and insecurities I've been feeling over the past few weeks as a new school year has started up and so have the trials, this song came at a perfect time.

One of my favorite lines is, "we pray but never move, we say but never do.  It's time to get our hands dirty".  When I heard that line it hit me like a ton of bricks.  How often do we sit there and pray for something better to happen, for our problems to dissolve.  But then we wait.  We wait for God to do all the heavy lifting.  We have to make sure that we are doing something as well.  We can't talk about being kind to others, but never follow through.  We can't pray for solutions, and then sit around.  We have to do the work too.

We have to get our hands dirty.  We have to stand up and do something.

"Be love there's a whole lot of hurting" was another line that I loved.  Everyone is fighting some kind of battle. Everyone is in some kind of pain.  We can so often get so caught up in our own that we forget.  But I have to make it a daily decision to have my choices reflect love, because I don't want to be someone who is adding more hurting to the world.  And I'm not perfect, and I make painful mistakes every day.  But I try to continually keep those words at the forefront of my mind.  Be love, there's a whole lot of hurting.

And finally the words, "why sit around and wait for a miracle to come, when we can be one".  Wow.  Could that be any more true?

We have the ability to change lives.  We have to opportunity to be a miracle in someone else's life.  I've seen it time and time again as an educator.  Every day is another amazing chance to change someone's world.  We can't miss our opportunity.

It's our time to stand up.  To spread love.  To not wait for a miracle, but to be one. #BeOne

Doubt

Well I've just completed my second week with kids at Webb Elementary.  I've held off on writing these first two weeks for a bunch of reasons.

These first two weeks were filled with amazingness.  They were filled with awesome lessons from teachers, great interactions with kids and families, and exciting moments in the hallways and at recess.  But these weeks were also incredibly challenging for me, especially week one.

I'm at a much larger campus this year, with more kids, more staff, more parents, and more grade levels.  We're now a PreK-5th grade campus.  And this year, more than ever before, I have seen more heartache and pain.  I've already worked with children who break my heart from the homes they come from.  But more so, I've dealt with more venom from parents on social media and in person then in all my years in education combined.  Especially in the first week of school.  And it took a toll.  It ate away at me.

And as it ate away, I began to allow doubt to take hold.

I often think about the power that doubt holds over us.  We have days that we doubt if we're a good spouse, or friend, or brother/sister, or parent.  We doubt if we're a good teacher.  If we truly know what we're doing.  If we were cut out for this.  We doubt our talents, our skills, our genius.

Doubt is one of those things that can rip us to shreds.  It can destroy us if we let it.  Every single one of us on the Webb Elementary campus matters.  My team may hear me say things about mattering or telling them that they matter and then begin to think it's just a series of words I've decided to throw together.  But in reality I've seen first hand the power of understanding that each of us truly does matter.

And it's funny.  You see I take time every day to try and remind others of their worth and value, and yet I so quickly can forget my own. 

Through the negativity and destructive words I read and heard, I began to wonder why I was so terrible.  If I was truly that unwanted and disliked by families in Navasota.

And after a bit of prayer, I did what I always advise others to do.....I found my people.  I sought out my friends and co-educators who knew me.  Who knew my heart.  I cried with them.  I prayed with them.  I shared my pain and my struggle, and they built me up.  They spoke words of truth that brought me back.  They helped remind me of who I knew I was, but had begun to forget.

We can't allow doubt to take root in our lives.  We must surround ourselves with others who will remind us when we forget.  Others who will lift us up.  Who will help us celebrate every single success.  Because even the smallest successes are worth celebrating.

So for those of you out there today who are feeling doubt creep in, push it away.  Tell it to back off.  Look yourself in the mirror and remind yourself just how incredibly unique and important that you are.  Because we all bring something great to the table and we can't let doubt steal our gifts away.

The Little Things

This summer has been a true summer of learning for me.  One in which I learned the most from examples that others around me set.  And as I took those lessons and started changing the ways I did some things in my life, I figured it could be good to share a few of those lessons with you!

What I learned the most this summer, and it was something I already knew but it was nice to be reminded of, was that the little things truly are what matters most.

It's those little things that can end up making the biggest difference.  But because it's "the little things" sometimes we overlook making sure we do them.  Here's a few "little things" I was reminded of or taught this summer....


1.  Make People Feel Important

This summer I had to book a last minute hotel for one night in Austin.  I was trying to find somewhere pretty cheap to stay and I had seen that a new Holiday Inn Express had opened up on the south side of Austin, so I went ahead and booked there.  While at the first day of a conference I was attending, I got a call from the hotel, before I had even checked in.

It was about noon, and and I answered the phone.  The hotel told me that they were just calling to tell me how excited they were to have me as a guest that evening and they just wanted to check if there was anything they could do before I got there to make sure I had a great arrival.  I was taken aback.  Never before had I had a hotel call me before I checked in to tell me they were excited I was staying with them.  Much less even ask me if I needed anything prepared.

When I arrived, they were incredibly friendly and kind.  And when I woke up the next morning, I had a hand written card slid under my door.  The card was written to me and told me that they hoped I had a great stay and that they hoped I would return again.

These little things this hotel did didn't cost them anything.  But man did they make a difference.  That was over 3 months ago and I still tell everyone about that stay.  I even called the manager to let him know how important his staff made me feel.  The next time I stay in Austin, I can guarantee you I'll be staying there again.

2.  Use a person's name when speaking to them

I had the extreme pleasure of spending, on several occasions, multiple days with Brad Gustafson.  If you haven't heard of, or aren't following Brad Gustafson, you are missing out.  This man is a fireball of energy and one of the most encouraging and inspirational people I know.  Brad doesn't even know that he taught me this next lesson.

As I spent over 9 days total with Brad this summer, there was one thing that he continually did that I noticed and it impacted me pretty greatly.  Every where we went, every place that we came in contact with others, he spoke to the people working at that establishment and used their names.  His first question was always "what's your name again?".

When we would check into a hotel, get in a cab, eat a restaurant, it didn't matter.  Brad asked for their name and in the entire conversation we would have with the person, he would continually use their name.

It was something so simple.  So easy, but I swear we consistently received better service because he did it.  And I watched the interactions.  The people Brad did this with had a more pleasant air about them when he did it.  Do you know why?  Because they felt noticed.  They felt seen.

Any job that requires the worker to be a servant to others can sometimes be thankless.  And just that act of using their name makes such a difference.

3.  Notice the Loners

People see me present or spend time with me in a small group and get this picture of me as a boisterous and outgoing person.  The reality of the matter is that I can be very introverted in large groups or crowds of people I don't know.

I'm the person, in a room of people, who will go find a back table in a corner and sit at it and sip my water (Erin Klein and I love sharing this in common).  I'll talk if you come up to me, but I don't actively seek out others.  In my traveling and speaking I've found that there are quite a few of us presenters who are full of energy on stage, and off stage more low key and reserved.

What can happen though is people like me can begin to feel out of the "circle" of people actively interacting.

Something I learned from Ben Gilpin, Adam Welcome, Theresa Stager, Tony Sinanis, and Melinda Miller this summer was the act of continually seeking out those "loners" like me, and finding ways to make them feel involved or included.

Ben, Adam, Theresa, Tony, and Melinda have no idea that they ever did this for me, but each of them did in different ways.  Whenever I would try to slink away or hide off at a quiet table, one of them would come find me and either sit with me or pull me back into the circle.

It reminded me that I need to do the same with others.  When people get into social settings they can feel intimidated, not worthy, sometimes an outcast, and so many other things.  What people need are reminders that they belong.  They need someone to reach out a hand and pull them back in, or to just go and sit with them.  This again goes back to wanting to be noticed.

4.  Give them a Voice

I remember creating a session for a conference I was attending this year.  It was a panel type discussion but I hadn't selected any of the participants when I submitted the proposal.  I just said "Tech Ninja and Friends".

When I arrived at the conference, I reached out to a few people I knew to see if they would present as part of the panel.  These weren't "well known" or "traveling presenters".  They were teachers who only left their school for this one major conference and for edcamps.

But I remembered what it was like when someone I respected asked me to speak with them, and I wanted to return the favor.

I still remember what one of the presenter's wives walking up to me after the presentation (which had about 1,500 people in attendance to watch) said to me.  She had tears in her eyes and she said, "thank you for including him.  It made such a big deal to him that you would even ask him, much less share a stage with him".

What that reminded me of is that those of us who have large followings or influence, we must continually bring others up with us.  We must continually find ways to give others a voice to speak and share.  Each of us are in education for a reason and each of us have something of incredible worth to share.

5.  Favorites, Retweets, and Interactions

Finally, something I was reminded of this summer was yet again the power of social media.  I have people that I look up an incredible amount to.  People I respect immensely.  People that when I finally get to meet them in person I get shy, really want a picture, and want to shake their hand.  I think we all get like that sometimes.

Throughout this summer I had the honor of having online interactions (and a few face to face) with some of my EduHeroes like Erik Wahl, Steve Spangler, Dave Burgess, Kim Bearden, Ron Clark, Angela Maiers, and so many more.

Interactions that my wife can attest to, had me taking screenshots of things and dancing around the house.

Just the simple action of favoriting someones tweet.  Sharing their idea and giving them credit, or just sending a "you're doing awesome things!" message really makes a difference.

And then I remember one of my last keynotes of the summer having the organizer come up to me and say, "you know we have a lot of guest speakers, but you do something I haven't seen the others do.  Every time any person comes up to you and talks to you, you give them the same excitement, the same attention as the other 100 that came up to you before them. You make each of them feel like they're the most important person and like they're the first person who's ever come up to you".  I had never really thought about it much before, but I know I do it for a reason.

I do it because everyone deserves to feel special and to know that they're important.  And if I've been given even a little bit of a platform to speak on I want them to leave knowing at least that, because I also know exactly what it feels like to feel invisible.



So there are a few of my lessons I learned from this summer.  A few "little things" that can make a world of difference.

I know I'm not done learning, and by no means am I an expert at any of the above listed items, but I am continually practicing.  Continually learning. Continually getting better.

So, what are some "little things" that you've noticed that can make a big difference? Share them in the comments below!

A MUST Read: "Crash Course" by @KimBearden

Ever since I was in High School, I've always admired Ron Clark.  He's been someone who has inspired me, and was one of the reasons I knew teaching was for me.

Almost 3 years ago I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Ron Clark Academy.  It was an absolutely incredible opportunity.  One that still helps shape decisions I make today, now as an administrator.  It's one of those experiences I will never ever forget.

While at the Ron Clark Academy I met a woman by the name of Kim Bearden who taught at RCA (who also happens to be the co-founder of The Ron Clark Academy).  The moment I met her I was in enamored and in awe.  Her passion, her grit, her creativity, just everything!  I soaked up every once of information I could from her.

Over the last three years I've had several interactions with Kim and Ron through social media, at different conferences, and Kim even came on my EduAllStars podcast! (you can watch her episode HERE).

Then last year Kim released her first book "Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me".  Because I loved learning from Kim, I bought the book immediately.  But it wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I actually found the time to sit and read it.

And I don't know why I waited.  There are only a few books that I have cried while reading.  As I sat on a plane, flying back from Indiana, I didn't just cry, I sobbed.  I couldn't put the book down.  The honesty, the heart, the passion, the joy, it was all there.

I shared about my love of the book on social media and Kim tweeted back.  It's one of those moments, when one of your teaching heroes, messages you back and you can't believe it!  I still have the tweets screenshot haha.

But the book moved me.  It showed a side of Kim that I hadn't known about.

It moved me so much, that I contacted Kim, found campus funds, and purchased a copy of the book for every single member of my staff at Webb Elementary.  The message in the book is one that every teacher should hear and I wanted my staff to be able to experience it, as well as have it serve as our fall book study book.

What I love about Kim's book is how it's written.  Every chapter is written as a "course".  They're all bite sized so that it's not overwhelming.  I also absolutely love that every chapter ends with a "Class Notes" box (little reminders from the chapter) and a "Homework" box (ideas of ways that you can stop and think about what was shared and implement it in your own classroom.

From connecting with your students, abandoning needless worries, recovering from mistakes, embracing your gifts, to nurturing ingenuity and originality, to so much more.  This book really feels like it hits every note!  I especially love how Kim talks about creating magic moments.

But in the end, what hit me the most was Kim's extraordinary heart for her students.  It is evident and written onto every single page of the book.

I am still so deeply moved by this book I had to write about it and share it with all of you.  So, if there is one book you stop and read this school year, I truly hope it's "Crash Course" by Kim Bearden.

Head Held High

I've always prided myself in the fact that when I blog I try to share a real and honest portrayal of education and who I am.  I've been passionate about sharing the good as well as the bad.  So today it's time for me to share....

If you've been following this blog for any amount of time, you know that I took over a reconstituted campus this past school year (Navasota Intermediate).  I hired my entire staff.  We worked tirelessly hand in hand to change the course of the campus. We utilized technology, we connected with others from around the world, but most importantly we were able to teach our kids just how much each and every one of them mattered.

We took children who were beaten down and believed they were worthless, and made them believe something totally different.  We taught them that each one of them were a genius.  That each one of them deserved to be celebrated.  We connected with the community through food drives, hot dog cookouts at apartment complexes, family fun nights, and more.

We brought in guests for our students, learned from Olympic Gold Medalists, authors, singers, other classes from around the world.

We had "Teach Like a Pirate" Day, Book Prom, Superhero day, Huge reading initiatives and so much more.

We welcomed our kids with a red carpet and all my teachers dressed up as superheroes.

My teachers got to learn from some of the best in the field; Tony Sinanis, Erin Klein, Tom Murray, Greg Smedley, Angela Maiers.

I worked hand in hand with my administration to build up my team and to continually show them throughout the year how important they were.

I lead after school tutoring, Saturday school, and we all pulled small groups.

Every single person on my campus, parents included, worked their tails off this year.

And this year definitely had it's trials. It wasn't an easy year by any means, but I was proud of the work we did.

Then last week, I got accountability information from the State of Texas.

When we look at campus accountability there are four areas we ultimately hope to meet.  But if we meet at least 3 that is a success.

I sat in a meeting with 5 other principals in my district.

As I sat in that meeting, one by one, I heard campus after campus celebrate that they had either met 3 of the indexes or all four.

Then we got to my campus.  I flipped open the accountability packet.

One.  Just one.

We met one of the accountability indexes.

I was crushed.  I felt like every eye was on me.  I felt destroyed.

I didn't say a word the rest of the meeting.  I cried the entire way home.

I remember sending a Vox to two of my best friends and I told them I thought I was done.  That I clearly didn't know what I was doing.  That obviously I wasn't a good leader, that these scores showed otherwise.  That all that work was for nothing.

I've debated long and hard about sharing this story.  This side.  But it was Ben Gilpin who encouraged me to share.  The reason why?

Because this is what a high stakes accountability system can do to us.  It can, in the matter of a few seconds, make us forget all the ways that we touched and changed lives, and instead focus on the scores and act like that is the only true measure of a "good education".

Now don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying that the scores aren't important.  They are.  BUT, they are only a piece.

And in a matter of minutes, I got lost in the scores and judged my entire year on one day of testing.

It breaks my heart to think of how many other educators feel the same way with this high stakes testing that has become so common place.

I'm still reeling, but today I can sit here and still look at last year as a resounding success.  I know lives were changed.  I know we made HUGE strides in so many areas that those 4 indexes don't and can't ever measure.

So today, even though I've cried many tears, I stand up ready to face another year.  To keep growing.  To keep stretching.  Today, I stand with my head held high.