Trust is really important. As I leader I try to be keenly aware of my words and my actions. I think about and reflect on how I treat people, how I handle hard situations, and whether or not I am consistent in my responses to situations. I know that in order to build trust I must act with character. How YOU experience ME is important. I strive to get better at connecting with each of you and I hope that I competently and effectively serve the staff, students and families in this school.
This week I sent all of the grade level data team leaders an email about black history month and our ideas for making this a focus for February. I was really excited about the continuation of Diversity and Inclusion Week and the conversations that our study of famous black people would bring to our school! I wanted to get HONEST feedback from our data team leaders because this year is crazy and the last thing I wanted to do was put one more thing on your plates. The feedback I got from all of them was incredible! Everyone loved the idea and hopped on board. But, what I was the happiest about was the HONESTY with which one team in particular, shared their concerns. This team did not have a problem with with black history month but instead they weren't sure if they could accomplish the task in the appropriate way with all they had happening in their particular grade level at this time of year. They wanted to be supportive and participate but asked if they could do so a little differently! This might sound weird but the fact that people on our staff feel comfortable sharing how they really feel and what they're really struggling with makes me so HAPPY! I do not want you all to feel like you have to agree with everything I say! I want you to feel like you can come to me with your honest feelings and concerns and know that I will support you! I hope you all know that this is the kind of leader I strive to be.
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I didn't even know it, but today I realized that I had lost some hope. Weird right? How do you lose hope and not even know it? Well I think it's the same as when you have a really small hole in your tire and you drive along, day after day, thinking everything is just fine. Then one day all of a sudden your tire is flat! Yep, that's exactly what I think was happening to me. Luckily though, I caught my loss of hope before it all ran out! You know, kind of like when you go in for an oil change and they check your tires and say they found a small hole that needs fixed so your tire doesn't go flat? Don't you feel lucky when that happens? It's like you dodged a bullet and avoided an annoying situation. That's exactly what happened to me today. I sat down at my computer to check email and this was the first thing I saw:
Of course I quickly clicked the link! Take a look for yourself!
When I watched Isaiah's video I couldn't help but feel hope being restored inside me. I felt like what we are doing and the messages we are sending are making a difference. The children here in our school are taking the lead from us and we are paving a beautiful path for them. Now, I feel energized. I feel like my hope (that I didn't even know I had lost) has been restored. If you know me, you know I LOVE words! Words can help. Words can heal. Words can provide hope. Words can also damage. And, words can destroy. For these reasons, I have worked for years to make sure my words are intentional, purposeful and skillful. That's why it's a very big deal for me to choose a word to guide me each year.
I spent a long time reflecting on my word for 2021. This year, I chose the word, CHALLENGE. Now, many of my friends asked why I didn't choose an easier word like RELAX or CHILL! Well, first, it's important to mention that I truly believe that my word chose me. Second, I wanted to make sure that my word helped me grow and helped guide me through what I had a feeling was going to be a "CHALLENGING" year. Unfortunately, I was right about that. As you've noticed, so far, 2021 hasn't been a walk in the park. We're two weeks in and we have had a lot of turmoil to endure. This year, as I live out my word CHALLENGE I want to: 1-Challenge myself to stand up for what is right, even when it might be uncomfortable. 2-Challenge myself to be a better leader. 3-Take on challenges with an open mind and heart when I am faced with them. 4-Stay positive and hopeful in the face of challenges. 5-Be brave and courageous when challenges arise. The challenges are here. I am sure even more are coming! I am ready to live out this word and I can't wait to see what it teaches me. I hope you have chosen a word, too. If you haven't, I implore you to read the book One Word That Will Change Your Life. Check out a preview here. And, when you choose a word be sure to share it with others, hang it on your walls, print it on things, let your word take on a life of its own! You will be surprised by how much you learn from it. On September 11th 2001, I was a first year teacher. I taught 6th grade social studies. On September 12th, 2001, I walked into my classroom and looked into the faces of scared children who were looking to me for answers. I didn't have any answers, but I tried to offer hope. Hope that America would rise up and become better in the face of such disaster. Hope that our country would come together and lift each other up and hope that the future would be better than our present.
Today, you walked into your classrooms. You may be a first year teacher; a fifth year teacher; or maybe like me, you have lost count of how many years you've been at it; no matter how long you've been doing this I would guess that you felt a little uneasy this morning. You may not have been sure what your students would be asking you about today, you may have been worried that you wouldn't have the answers they needed. But, what you can do, what we can ALL do, is share a message of HOPE! Take some time to think about it. What is YOUR message of hope to students. My message is that we rise up in the face of adversity. We can look at the mistakes of those who came before us and those who have caused unrest and chaos and learn how we can be better. We can make an effort to be a positive force in our world by doing things for others such as volunteering, spreading kindness, standing up WITH people who need an ally. This is the time to talk to students about the power of THEIR RIPPLE EFFECT! One small act of kindness, goodness and hope will spread far beyond what we can all imagine. As teachers we have a responsibility to positively influence the children we are given the opportunity to spend our days with. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! |
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