Month: January 2018

Years and years ago, I started a Twitter account.  I had no idea how to use it or what to use it for.  All I knew is that it was something new and apparently everyone using Twitter loved it.  At the time, I was a principal at a middle school, and I remember seeing other educators like Eric Sheninger (who was also a principal)  using it and thinking to myself, how on earth do they even have time to be on Twitter that much and do they ever work? 

I followed famous people thinking that would be interesting. It wasn’t.  I didn’t know what to “tweet” about, so I didn’t.  I honestly just didn’t understand Twitter and why it was so great.  Frankly, I didn’t really want to understand it.  I believe there were better ways to spend my time, so, I chose to not to use any longer.

Fast forward a few years later to my time at the district office level.  I was in classrooms all the time and really liked the idea of tweeting out all the great things I experienced.  I created a district account to share these classroom positives and realized people enjoyed seeing these tweets.

I took Twitter a step further and started figuring out educators I wanted to follow and learn from.  I started by looking at Twitter profiles of my educator friends to see who they were following so I could give them a follow too.  I also began following publications in education such as Edutopia as well as the KS state department of education and other government agencies and politicians.  Seeing what these groups & people tweeted about gave me even more ideas of how Twitter could be a powerful tool in education.

Eventually, I came to understand what all the twitter lingo was and how meaningful the use of a hashtag was for following chats or groups.  I admit I am not a big fan of chats as they are super fast within a 30-minute time frame, but I am a fan of reading the chats by searching the hashtag and learning from other educators.

What I realized I had done at the beginning of my Twitter experience was thinking it was like Facebook.  I was already using Facebook and liking it, so I thought Twitter would be the same.  For me, they have completely different uses.  I use Facebook as a social tool and Twitter as a professional tool.  This helped me to see the benefits of Twitter as an educator.   There are some people that use both and are able to blend their personal & professional life.  It is really a personal preference but, for the most part, I prefer to keep them separate.  

Here’s the difference for me.  Facebook is where you find people you already know (family & friends) whereas Twitter is where you find people you should know (experts in the field). I use Twitter to find people that will help me grow professionally.  I follow topics that are interesting to me in the field of education.  For example, I follow #ahstrojanfam, #joyfulleaders, #cultureed, #momsasprincipals and many others.  Facebook is timeless and connects you to past memories. Twitter is all about the here and now.  What can I learn that is current?

I am often misunderstood when it comes to my use of Twitter.  My focus at AHS is around two areas; Great Instruction and Culture.  I believe that Twitter supports these two efforts perfectly.   What I hope teachers will understand is that it isn’t about having a Twitter account but how the tool is used professionally.  Twitter is merely the vehicle to so much learning & growth.

The way I see it, we are no longer bound by time or geography to learn what is most useful for us in our professional learning.  Twitter has had a tremendous impact on my learning, and I’m definitely not on Twitter all day long.  Quite the opposite.  Because Twitter is so easy to use once you learn how, I can get what I need in the time frame I’m willing to spend which can be anywhere from 3 to 30 minutes.  

So, here are several ways and why I use Twitter every day.

• CONSUME information – It is the best way to stay current on instructional practices.  I am kept abreast of the latest professional reading in education.  I am able to gain information about workshops, edcamps, conferences, etc.  I’ve been given an unlimited amount of ideas for ways to appreciate the staff.   I read current blogs and articles which I then share with teachers if relevant.  I gain new insights into instructional strategies & ideas from teachers in every content area.  
• COLLABORATE  with other principals around the country – Because of Twitter, I was able to grow an incredible professional learning network (PLN).  I am a part of #momsasprincipals, #wisewomen, #joyfulleaders, and #principalsinaction.  The #momsasprincipals and #wisewomen are two groups that I connect with every day on Voxer, which is a walkie-talkie app where we can talk and listen to one another on our own time. 
• COMMUNICATE to our school community & beyond – I love to share what I see in AHS classrooms!  There is exceptional teaching and learning every single day.  I believe that if we don’t tell our story, someone else will.  I share pictures of what I do whether it be a blog I wrote or something I did for staff.  No, this is not to brag.  I share ideas because I receive ideas from my PLN.  We all give & take what we do so everyone learns from each other.  
• CONNECT with students and experts – I often take selfies with the students.  No, I don’t love taking selfies, but it is a way to connect with them, and they often ask.  I will never turn them down.   I love joining experts in my field whether it be teachers, principals or leaders.  I learn a tremendous amount from them.  
• MODEL how to use social media correctly – Our students are watching us.  How are we modeling digital citizenship?  We know that colleges and business are looking at social media before hiring.  If we, as leaders in education, don’t model appropriate use of Twitter, who will?

I hope that teachers will have the same experience that I have had by connecting with others in their field, sharing their classroom successes and finding professional learning that is quick and ready to be used immediately in their own teaching.  I know that if they try the vehicle that is Twitter, they won’t be disappointed in the journey & destination.

  

 

Years ago I was sitting in a workshop, and the presenter asked this question, “It’s common sense, but is it common practice?”  I remember thinking what a simple question yet it really had an impact on me!  How many things in our personal and professional life are common sense but aren’t necessarily common practice?

Every year in my professional learning network, there is a movement to select one word that will guide and impact you for the new year.  I love the idea of one word much more than creating a resolution that I know I’ll break after 24 hours.  I’m always inspired by the one word others choose, as they all give me pause to think about how that word resonates with me.

Keeping in line with the common practice question, my word came easy this year. 

INTENTIONAL

After reflecting on this word and how I want it to impact my year, I decided to start with changing the title of my blog as well as the look and feel of it.  After seeing so many other quality bloggers that inspire me as a leader in education, I decided that a new title should reflect my one word.   My “intention” for this blog is to reflect my passion for teaching, learning, students, and teachers.  And so,  “The Intentional Principal” is now the name of my blog.

I also love inspirational and motivating quotes, so it seemed fitting to add a quote from one of my favorite role models in leadership, John Maxwell.   It states, “The more intentional you are about your leadership growth, the greater your potential for becoming the leader you’re capable of being. Never stop learning.”  This quote epitomizes who I strive to be in leadership.  

Being intentional is about being deliberate and purposeful.  I actually have a list of commitments that I keep near me at all times to help keep me accountable.  Each week I review this list to see how I am doing.  I am certainly not perfect, no one is, but it’s essential for me to try to be better each day.  When I reflect on my commitments, I always see areas I need to work on for the next day or week.  It’s been valuable for me to have them written down as it truly helps me be more intentional.  

• I will maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE throughout the day and in all situations.
• I will ENGAGE with 3-5 students, staff, and parents every week in meaningful dialogue.
• I will be PRESENT every day by being mobile, visible, accessible and visiting classrooms.
• I will GREET students & staff with a smile and a handshake.
• I will continue to GROW my Professional Learning Network
• I will BRAG about all the fantastic things happening at AHS through the use of Twitter, Facebook and other forms of communication.
• I will CELEBRATE our staff at every staff meeting and as much as I can in between
• I will MODEL what & how I learn from my own PLN on Twitter and Voxer
• I will REFLECT & LEARN by sharing on a weekly blog
• I will INVOLVE staff to both lead and participate in meetings
• I will COLLABORATE with teachers in various settings & committees
• I will FOSTER collaboration among teachers by:
  • Pineapple Chart/Magnets, providing the time when needed, professional learning time, asking for feedback, walkthroughs with teachers, book studies, etc.

I believe when we are intentional, the most significant impacts are made.

Today was pretty amazing!  Why?  Because I had several teachers that got excited about Twitter!

One teacher didn’t really think learning about this tool would be beneficial as an educator.   It was all just a waste of time.   But, he was willing to TRY.

I saw excitement and passion about how Twitter could be used with students to share their learning. He is excited to TRY it with them.

Another teacher said, “You have really opened my eyes to a new perspective on Twitter today! Thank you for being so resourceful and so generous in sharing with us! I appreciate you!!”  It made her nervous, but she went out of her comfort zone and TRIED.

I heard a teacher talk about how he connected with another educator and built a relationship in their field.   He was excited how Twitter made that possible all because he gave it a TRY a few years ago.

Another teacher already using Twitter said, “I have used Twitter personally for nearly ten years. Committed to using this account in 2018, as an educator.  Thanks for the encouragement.”  You can still TRY and learn something new even if you think you already know what you need to know.

Ultimately, it’s all about giving something a TRY.  As educators, we need to TRY new things as often as we can because you just never know when you’ll have that A-Ha moment of excitement that you can’t wait to share with your students!

What will you TRY next?

 

Being a principal is both rewarding and stressful.  There are parts of the job that I love and others that just have to be done.  Some days I go home exhilarated and some days I go home exhausted.  There are highs & lows, positives, and negatives but ultimately I can’t imagine doing anything else.  The duality I experience moment to moment in my day is what reminds me that the feelings I have are never permanent and those tough experiences allow me to appreciate the positives so much more.

I am about to embark on yet another time frame of dichotomous emotion.   Our district is rolling out the yearly culture survey.  This survey is given to parents, students, and staff and we use the data from the survey to see how we are doing in several areas.  

Here is where I have to be honest.  It is one of the most challenging things I’ve had to go through as a head principal.  Why?  Because I take my position very seriously. Because I want to do the best job I possibly can. Because school culture is vital to me.  

When I reviewed the survey last year, I went through the gamut of emotions.  At times I felt joy, pride, excitement, delight, and peace.  At other times I felt sadness, anger, discouragement, frustration, and worry.   The culture survey is much like the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang in which these feelings are so interconnected they give rise to one another.

Because the yearly climate survey is anonymous, it is often an avenue for those who are upset to only make statements that aren’t constructive but are mean-spirited.  I was told last year that I wasn’t “wanted at all as a principal.” That I was “nothing more than a tweeting bird.” That parents were angry “my kids didn’t go to the school” and several more things I just choose to not think about.  I’m not only a principal, but I’m also human, and those statements hurt a lot.  

After my grieving period, I knew that I also needed to look at the feedback that was constructive and address it.  I truly value feedback.  I would prefer feedback to be face-to-face and constructive as I have been in many coaching sessions with professionals that have given me honest feedback.  It isn’t always easy to hear but I listen and strive to do better if I know better.  

Perceptions on the survey comments included that I was “late all the time” and “on my phone all the time.”  These were more constructive for me to address and I did so.  Did I believe I did either of these things?  No. But if the perception was out there, what could I do to help correct those things?  

I started to arrive earlier each morning and I bought a smartwatch so I could have my phone near me but not be looking at it all the time. I also shared the survey and all the comments with the staff.  Yes! ALL the comments. It was tough but it was the best thing I ever did.  I know that if I don’t model how to appropriately listen to feedback, then how can I expect the teachers too?  

So here we are again. Another year later and the survey is being launched.  I will admit my stomach is in knots and I’m nervous.  It’s hard not to be based on last years’ experience!  I also know that research tells us when we have a good experience anywhere, we tell 3 people.  If we have a terrible experience, we tell 12.  I wish we lived in a world where the opposite was true.  

Here is what I hope will happen with this year’s culture survey.  I hope those with a good experience will share their thoughts.  I hope those with a negative experience will be constructive in their views.  I can assure you that all of the input is appreciated and taken to heart.

As the building leader, I only have positive intentions each and every day.  It is my continued commitment to our school that drives me to help our school be the best every single day.  I’m ready for the range of emotions and welcome the feedback.  I hope you’ll take the time to complete the culture survey whether it be in Andover schools or your own school district.  

Welcome back to school and welcome 2018!  I absolutely love the idea of a new year and fresh start.  I always reflect on how the previous year went and what my successes and failures taught me.  It’s always interesting to me that the toughest times or the failures are always what brought me the most significant lessons.  Whenever I learn a new lesson, I know I haven’t truly learned it unless I’ve changed a behavior so I’m always self-assessing and asking myself, “can I do better?”  Not only do I reflect & strive to improve, I know that I need accountability to make sure I am making a needed change.  Accountability and feedback are what we need most in our world to help us become our best self.  I have used many people professionally & personally to help me but providing me feedback, even if I don’t want to hear it.  This is the person I have a relationship with,  cares about my success and is willing to have an honest dialogue.    If we don’t know it, we can’t grow it!  So I challenge you this semester too.  What did you learn?  Have you changed as a result of that learning?  Who gives you accountability and feedback?  Who is your truth teller?