What I See at Trojan Nite….

Published on by Kristen Kuhlmann3 Comments

Trojan Nite has now come and gone for the 51st time in the school’s history.  This event is a massive effort that requires time and energy by the student council, their sponsor, teachers, and parents.  As I reflect on all things Trojan Nite, I’m feeling compelled to share so many things that aren’t truly seen that makes Trojan Nite so special to Andover High School.  

I saw….

Our student council spend countless hours both in and out of school organizing everything from work sessions, events, t-shirt sales etc.

30 staff members (over half of our teachers) volunteer their Saturday night out of the goodness of their heart because they love the students.

Students and staff begin their day at 8:00am and worked for hours setting up.  The seating, floats, costumes, etc., make it appear that the work was effortless once everyone arrives at 5:30.

Many of our parents donating their homes and TIME to allow for work sessions to complete the amazing floats each year.  

Our student council learning real world leadership skills every single year to pull together this massive effort together.

Students beaming with pride from the artwork they created for hundreds of students and families to see.  

Two girls who gave it their all to run the marathon while everyone passed them and finished, only to have their team come out and run with them on the track for the last lap.

Students in the stands supporting and cheering for the underclassmen and doing their best to make it a great experience for them.

Two teachers searching the crowd for the most spirited students to be selected to participate out on the field.

A student council sponsor losing sleep and working overtime to keep the tradition alive.

Students getting to know each other for the first time and beginning friendships that will last throughout high school, maybe even for a lifetime.

Students that were so proud of the costumes they designed for everyone to see.

Several student council members setting up and cleaning up and NOT participating in Trojan Nite so they can provide the experience to other students.

Elementary and middle school students in the crowd that were excited to be and even more excited to start their high school experience so they can be part of Trojan Nite.  

Students from every grade level gather in the center of the field holding hands prior to the team competition to show unity and pride for the event.

8 Teachers jousting each other and hopping in potato sacks because they wanted to represent the students that asked them to be their class sponsor.

63% of students attended the tradition, which is more than any other event during the year and includes every single grade level.

$7000.00 was raised from Trojan Nite so student council can continue to bring other awesome experiences to the students at AHS such as:

  • Class of the Year (COTY) Zoo Trip
  • Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Fun Fridays
  • Perfect Attendance rewards
  • Homecoming Dances
  • Winter Wishes & Vanity Fair
  • Student/Staff VB Game
  • Food Drive Prizes

I believe Trojan Nite is a mindset.  Not everyone can be an athlete, but it’s so much more than just an event for athletes.  It’s a chance to bond with your class.  It’s a chance to be involved in different ways every single year.  It’s actually a lot like High School.  I believe you get out of it, what you put into it.

A day in the life of a HS student…

Published on by Kristen KuhlmannLeave a comment

This week I participated in the #shadowastudent challenge that is organized each year by School Retool.  Here are my brief thoughts after completing the day!

  • My day began at 7:50am and ended at 2:50pm – 7 hours total.
    • Technically, this is how the student’s day goes
    • 6:00 – Wake up
    • 7:35 – Arrive at School
    • 7:50-2:50 – 7 Classes
      • “I also use lunch to get going on HW.  I try to use any second I can.” -Student
    • 3:00-3:45 – Used to take care of sick grandmother but now either babysits relaxes for a minute.
    • 4:00-6:00 – Starts homework, eats dinner.
    • 6:30-9:30 – Plays VB for competitive team on the other side of the town
    • 10:00 – Homework, Shower
    • Midnight – Bed
    • And according to the student, “then throw in life and it’s’ even more chaotic”
    • Her weekend
      • ACT on Saturday morning
      • Came home and cleaned her room and house.
      • Had kids over at 4:00 and went to homecoming dance that night
      • Got up for VB tournament that went from 6am until 9:30pm
      • She stated she just didn’t do homework from sheer exhaustion on Sunday night
  • Desk chairs are hard and I sat in them a lot.  I only stood up in one class. My back hurts.
  • I still love math and managed to get 2nd in a Kahoot quiz that was all about Trig!
  • I could have water in my classes!
  • Watched a short video that was created in 1951 for schools.  Great way to represent what was happening in 1951.
  • Just as I began to process information, it was time to go to the next subject.
  • I thought the classes flew by but the student I shadowed said they went too slow.
  • I still love all things history and social studies!
  • Grammar still stresses me out, but I rocked it!
  • There is a lot of Trigonometry in Algebra 2!  
  • She didn’t like the books they had to read in English class.  Said students aren’t given a choice in what they can read.

 

My wonder abouts?

  • How can students be given an opportunity to move more or stand up in classes?
  • What kind of chairs/desks/seating can we get for students?
  • Students have a much busier schedule than I ever did in high school 27 years ago!
  • When do students have time to just relax and enjoy life or be with their family?
  • I never had any time to process the material.  It was rushed and fast.  48 minutes isn’t much time for deeper learning.
  • Could students be given a choice in what novels they read?
  • During the video in 1951 they showed a classroom with students at desk in rows, I realized that I was sitting in a desk in a row. How much has really changed about classroom organization?  How can our 2017 classrooms look different than 1951?  Flexible seating?

Focus on what is right…

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I was challenged by the #principalsinaction group that I am a part of on both Voxer and Twitter to have a full day out of my office.  It was an incredible challenge that definitely kept me focused where I want to be, which is in the classrooms supporting instruction!  There was so much to celebrate, I felt I had to blog about the greatness I witnessed in classrooms that day!

1. Listening to our amazing band as they prepare for their upcoming concert.  I didn’t want to leave the music was so beautiful.

2.  Our theatre teacher engaged students how to render light.  It was hands-on and high level.  I left wishing I had been involved in theatre in high school!

3.  I enjoyed spending time with the FAA students. You simply can’t help but smile when you are in there. The students were singing, smiling, and enjoying their hands-on binders created by the teachers.  Every time I am there, my heart bursts.

4. An English teacher had her students in a high level discussion about the Great Gatsby.  There is nothing more awesome than hearing students in a high level discussion where they defend their discussion points. Hello Blooms Evaluation!

5. A math teacher had a great activity showing exponential growth and decay using skittles. Students were completely engaged and had to defend their work. Who knew Algebra 2 could be so fun!

6. In Social Studies, a teacher used something he learned at the professional learning day on Monday! Instead of just the textbook, he discovered google maps.  Using his classroom set of chrome books, students were actually looking at different types of landforms by “going there” using google maps!

7. Show choir was awesome today.  Their vocal teacher is exceptional in challenging them.   When they sing, it’s simply amazing.   There is always something impressive happening in the choir room.

8. Saw some amazing photography in photojournalism class.  We are so blessed to have a teacher with previous experience in photography and journalism.   These students had some exceptional work today.

9. The health teacher utilized our school nurse to come to his class and teach. It’s always great seeing teachers utilize resources and experts in and out of the building.

10. US History students created “Twitter profiles” around their learning of the Home-front. Students then used google docs to make comments on the profiles. It helped students to understand what people really went through.

I once heard a quote, “When we celebrate what’s right, we find the energy to fix what’s wrong” by Dewitt Jones.  As the building leader, I wanted to celebrate what is right today and every day.

Dr.  K

 

What is great leadership?

Published on by Kristen Kuhlmann5 Comments

As the presidential inauguration takes place this Friday, leadership has really been consuming my mind. Donald Trump is our President-Elect and holds the most powerful leadership position in our country.   For the past few weeks, we have watched him put together a leadership team which will become his cabinet.   News outlets have been leading by providing information regarding the election, the cabinet and the upcoming inauguration.   Friends and family consume my Facebook feed with their thoughts and opinions around this election and their views on leadership come through without ever using the word ‘leadership’.  Twitter accounts of leaders all over the world are showing their “leadership” in 140 characters or less!  Leadership is truly all around us.

Needless to say, my mind has been swirling regarding leadership and everything that I have learned about it over the past several years.  Reading books about leadership have consumed me the last few months.  Leadership is a fascinating topic of discussion and as someone who is a leader of a high school, good leadership is of the utmost importance to me.  So, what makes a great leader?   Perhaps this question is more subjective than I originally thought.  What I believe makes a great leader, may not be what others believe.  This felt like my opportunity to truly identify what my beliefs are regarding great leadership.  My top ten beliefs for great leadership in education are:

  1. Leadership is not a title.  Leadership is serving others.  Leaders can be a child that helps to shovel a snowed in driveway or an adult that pays for the coffee of the car behind him in a drive thru.  If you are serving in a way that genuinely helps others, you are leading.
  2. Lead with your heart.  We’ve all heard in education, “They don’t care how much you know, until they know you care.” This isn’t just true for students it is true for adults.  Take the time to know the staff so they know you care about them as a human and not just an employee.
  3. Acknowledge people.  When someone walks into your school or classroom, greet them with eye contact, a warm smile and a handshake.  It’s amazing how far a small gesture will go in building a relationship with them.  Everyone wants to be seen and validated.
  4. Be compassionate.  Before ever attacking anyone for anything, whether it be a student or a teacher, stop and think what baggage they may be carrying with them that day.  Don’t jump to conclusions, seek to understand.   
  5. Explore their needs.  Make sure students and teachers have what they need to be successful.  You don’t always know unless you ask.  Find the time to ask.
  6. Model what you expect.  More that is “caught” is not taught, it’s modeled.  Actions speak louder than words and everyone is watching.  Teaching is not telling no matter what your age.
  7. Be open to feedback.  To quote a tremendous leader, Flip Flippen, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”  When you receive feedback, just say thank you.
  8. Communicate that you care before you communicate your message.  This can go a long way when leaders have to communicate something that isn’t always fun to discuss.  There doesn’t have to be conflict to confront and issue.
  9. Affirm. Affirm. Affirm.  Never let a day go by that you don’t write, text, email or say an affirmation to someone, even those hardest to affirm.
  10. Empower others.  Leadership doesn’t mean you do everything all by yourself.  It doesn’t mean you take all the glory.  Share the leadership on large tasks and most definitely share the glory with those who helped make it possible.

 

And so it begins…

Published on by Kristen Kuhlmann6 Comments

On August 15, 2016, I welcomed  60+ educators back from summer break to begin a new school year.  This time, my role was not at the district level, but as the building principal of a high school.  This is my second time to be a head principal but first time to be at the high school level.  After completing my first semester at Andover High School, I am implementing all of the lessons I have learned so far in education.  I have been to countless trainings about leadership and really want to be the best leader I can for the staff at Andover High School.  I am always the first to admit that I am far from perfect and I make plenty of mistakes, but I have always learned from those mistakes.  I prefer to say that I will find a way to “fail forward”.  I have made a commitment to myself that if I know better, then I need to do better.  Therefore, any lesson, good or bad, is tucked away for me to draw upon as I lead.

I have always been interested in blogging, but never really had the confidence to do so.  I know that I will be expecting teachers to step outside their comfort zones and try new things, so I also need to expect that from myself.  Blogging is completely outside my comfort zone, but I believe blogging can  be very powerful both from a self reflective and communication standpoint.

I am a huge supporter of twitter and all that it has to offer for my professional learning.  I was thrilled to come across this information.  http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2016/11/30/join-the-edublogs-blogging-club-weekly-prompts-delivered-to-your-email/

By joining this club, I will actually receive weekly prompts every week about topics in education.  I was always so worried about trying to blog because I wasn’t actually sure what to write.  I’m so excited someone had the idea to send writing prompts to begin 2017!  I have no more excuses not to blog any longer.  I keep trying to think of questions to ask right now, but I don’t know what I don’t know.  I am nervous but excited because I always know that my largest learning growth happens when I take myself out of my comfort zone.

I do not follow a lot of blogs, but hope to read and learn about more of them as I create my own.  These are the current blogs I follow and am excited to add to this list.  I finally figured out how to subscribe to them so I get them sent directly to my email. (remember, I’m a very inexperienced blogger)

My goal is to blog once a month, possibly more and to stay relevant and current about what I am doing as a leader and what might be of interest to our staff, students and stakeholders.

I chose #oneword for my new year instead of a resolution.  My word is #commitment.  There are many things I want to stay committed to and this blog is one of them.  The blog prompts help keep me accountable and intentional.  It’s exciting now, but being intentional will come after a few weeks!

Here’s to my 2017 blogging adventure.

Dr. K