Month: June 2019

Here’s the thing that people who don’t work in schools don’t get. Teachers and kids are READY and have earned a summer break. Until you have worked in a school, you may not understand that fully. There does come a point of officially winding down, refreshing, and moving to next. That’s one of the things that happens during summer break.

When I was a middle school teacher, sometimes we’d be concerned about the 7th grade class. And usually we’d be concerned about the maturity level of the boys. Our wise principal said, “The best thing about 7th grade boys is the summer between 7th and 8th grade. They’ll come back as different people.” The first couple times I heard this…I was skeptical. Then it happened. And it happened again. And it happened everytime.

Then I went to another school with older kids. And the same kind of worrying was heard about the ‘next class’. And I’ll be darned if something didn’t happen to those kids in the ‘next class’ over the summer.

My money is on the fact that they did grow up a little. But the concerns were always expressed at the end of the year. when everybody is tired and ready for a break. Then we go away, refresh, regroup, and come back fired up. And the kids rise to the expectations of next.

So enjoy your well earned summer break everybody. We’ll see you back, ready to grow, learn, laugh, cry, and change some more next year!

Here’s a pretty cool thing. Our school board president recommended an educator/writer to me. The educator’s name is Tom Hierck. Looks like he and I are of the same vintage. He fired up his career in 1983, I fired up mine in 1984. As I read Tom’s work, I find myself nodding a lot and highlighting big chunks of text. Those are good signs that I’ve hit ideas that challenge me. I try not to spend too much time highlighting everything with which I agree. Not as much growth potential there. I like the tougher stuff better.

I first read Managing Unstoppable Learning. Great book, highly recommended.

When I write ‘whoa’ that’s usually an idea that challenges me. Example:

Now I’m reading Starting a Movement.

Just underway in this one. Through reading, I get introduced to Lyle Kirtman. Mr. Kirtman shares a list of 7 competencies for high-performing leaders in education. I wanted to share them via this blog today:

1. Challenges the status quo
2. Builds trust through clear communications and expectations
3. Creates a commonly owned plan for success
4. Focuses on team over self
5. Has a high sense of urgency for change and sustainable results
6. Commits to continuous self-improvement
7. Builds external networks and partnerships

I am excited to read on and learn more about each of these competencies, while considering them about myself as a leader, as well as my leadership colleagues.

I love my job.

Good day all!

Tweeted this recently, “The outdated model of a silent classroom as a sign of learning is long gone. Instead, teachers and school leaders listen for the hum and buzz of students as they explain ideas, justify their thinking, pose questions to one another, and make decisions with classmates.” -Frey/Fisher

The idea really hit me as we were working with a group of adults.

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We hummed, buzzed, explained, justified, posed questions, and made decisions. Just like we want kids to do. Silence would have produced nothing but silence.

The cool thing is that the outstanding educators in our district know this and do this!