No Comparison

Each year a local news source publishes the salaries of all local government employees in our area. This release includes law enforcement, educators, town officials, etc. Since the funding source of the salaries are tax dollars, it is public information. This annual report serves as quite the conversation piece. Since the school district is the largest employer in the area, the majority of the folks on the list work for the public schools. I must admit that each year my curiosity eventually wins out and I find myself scrolling through the list. I find my name. The list of salaries is ordered from greatest to least, I begin looking at those names found above me on the list. My mistake has been that I compare myself to those who make more money than me. This practice has yet to reap me any positive benefits.

Comparing or critiquing others adds absolutely no value to myself. The amount of ones salary does not necessarily reflect ones value or level of success. I came into the education field to be the best educator I can be, not the best compensated. I am an educator to help kids, not my personal gain. My target is not to make more money than the folks above me on the “list”, my goal is to help the folks around me be their best. The only person you should compare yourself to is, you yesterday. Get better every single day.

Instead of making comparisons,  I choose to compete with myself. I’m going to continue to learn something new each day. I’m going to keep evolving. Personal growth will be my focus, not how I feel I stack up compared to others. I’ll read, reflect, and reach out to those around me. I’ll look in the mirror and constantly try to improve who I see.

Will the Moment Define you?

March Madness is upon us! What a glorious time of year it is for college basketball fans! Without a doubt, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is a great sporting event. As I write this, teams are punching their tickets for the Sweet Sixteen. This past weekend I watched game after game and witnessed countless critical moments. I'm talking about that split second of the game where the momentum shifts in the favor of a team. In these moments one team's spirit soars while the other team's will is broken. 

A definitive moment occurred towards the end of the Gonzaga victory over Northwestern in their second round matchup. Northwestern was fighting back from what had been a huge deficit. A Northwestern player's shot was blocked by what appeared to be a clear goal tending/basket interference violation. The basket should have counted. The referee missed the call. The Northwestern coach, Chris Collins, came out into the court to argue the call and was immediately issued a technical foul. This was a huge momentum shift back in Gonzaga's favor. That was the split second that determined the game. What could have been a three point game with just a few minutes to play turned into a seven point lead and ultimately a six point victory for Gonzaga. 

In every game there will be key moments like this. I believe the lesson here is that we cannot always control what happens to us, we can only control our reaction. Danny Bauer says regularly on his podcast that life is 90% what happens to us and 10% how we react to it. Regardless of what you do each day, you will face challenges. Life isn't always easy. We must not let our emotions influence our reactions in a negative way. We will not always win. The ball will not always bounce in our direction. Our job is to focus on what we can control. We should react to adversity with positivity and a smile. 99.9% of the problems that walk into our door can be solved. Sometimes educators can be quick to hit the panic button, overreact, and not embrace challenges with a positive mindset. Maintain the necessary discipline to stay focused and approach adversity with a "can do" attitude, not "why me." Don't let the moment define you. You define the moment. 

Walk in Their Shoes

"How many of the students who walk by you each morning came from a house filled with chaos just ten minutes before they arrived at school."

Since reading Kids Deserve It this summer, this particular quote has resonated with me. The quote reminds me how difficult life outside of school is for many of our students. The 8 hours that students spend at school each day can be a sweet reprieve to the adversity and chaos that students often face at home. Like many educators, I have middle class roots and cannot really relate to what its like to grow up in or live in poverty. Just last week, an interaction at school caused me to reflect about what life must be like for students with challenging home-lives. My thoughts placed me in the shoes of a homeless student who attends my school and the obstacles he and his family must face on a daily basis. What does he have in his control? Is he concerned about where his next meal is coming from or if has completed that night's homework? Should I blame him for having an attitude at times? What struggles does he face and watch his family face on a daily basis?  I wonder why he is so protective of his younger siblings. What has be protected them from?It is imperative that we have patience and empathy for students who face adversities that we can only pretend to understand. Our goal must be to enhance their lives. School needs to be a place of comfort and peace for our students.

I think back to a particular student I taught about 12 years ago. He was intelligent and hard working. He always gave 100% while at school. I noticed one winter morning that he arrived to school smelling of gas. I found this peculiar. I was unable to immediately think of a plausible reason why he may possibly smell of gas. I took him aside and asked him what was going on. He went on to tell me that he smelled of fuel because his parents left for work really early, before he was awake, and that they left the kerosene heater on for him so he would not wake up cold. The only heater they had in their home ran on kerosene.  It was his responsibility to cut the heater off before he left for school, before putting himself on the bus. I distinctly remember how upset he was the day that he was afraid that he forgot to turn the heater off. Heaters like this should not be left unattended. The frantic look and the complete state of concern he was in that day were unforgettable. Luckily we were able to reach one of his parents at work. I was afraid that he may have tried to leave school in order to check on the status of his home. Growing up middle class, I took things like having a home equipped with central heating system for granted. I share his story to remind us all that our students face circumstances that we are not aware of and may not truly understand. 

It is our job to offer stability to students who may come from difficult situations.We must advocate for students and be their champion. We must be dependable and compassionate. We must be patient, kind, and loving. We must provide relief and cushion for the harsh conditions they may face when they are outside of our care. They may come to us hungry, sad, and hurt. While they are with us, it is our job to make them feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. We cannot control what happens to our students outside of school hours but we absolutely control what happens to them and how they are treated while they are in our charge. 

Time

There is a phrase that I am done with. It is right up there with "we have always done it that way." It is often a cop out. It is overused and misused. Sometimes it is a straight-up lie. The phrase that I hold in such disdain is....I just don't have time.

In our busy and modern lives time is precious. I understand there are acceptable uses of this term I hold in contempt. I have used IDHT (I don't have time) on countless occasions. It made me feel better. It helped me save face when I didn't have a good excuse for not trying something new or different. I have used IDHT when I really meant things like:
Trying out that new idea is not a priority for me.
That is a risk that I am not ready to take.
I have no clue what that is or how to do it.
That is way outside of my comfort zone.
I am too afraid to fail.
I wanted to try that new idea but I got distracted.
I don't think it is a good idea.

Using IDHT is a poor excuse. I strive to not use it anymore. Educators need to be bold and take on challenges. We cannot keep offering students the current version of school. It is time to innovate. Try new things. We owe it to our students to push ourselves. Be genuine. If you think something is a bad idea, be truthful and say, "that is a bad idea." Don't use lack of time as an excuse not to challenge yourself to become better for students. Our time is precious and it is up to us to make the best of it. Repeating lessons, activities, and strategies that are ineffective, but comfortable, are the ultimate waste of time. Taking opportunities to be bold and inventive maximize our time. Make time for things that are important. Make student learning your top priority and don't be afraid to try new things.

It is the Process

I was thinking of one of my favorite quotes on the way from home from school this week.

"Its not about the product, its about the process."
-Inky Johnson

Inky has several inspiring videos that can be found on YouTube. I'll give them a listen every once in a while, especially when I need some motivation. I have even shared the video with a 5th grade student of mine. The young man is definitely a work in progress but when we cross paths at school, I will say to him, "Its not about the product...." and he will respond with "its about the process." I am proud of teaching him this quote and hope the wisdom sticks and helps him in the future.

This week on the way home I was reflecting about past and present goals. I was thinking how in the past I have lost focus on the process and focused instead on the product. The product being a promotion. I was focusing too much on being named principal of a school because "I was ready". I felt that I already deserved to be the principal of a school. My thinking was all wrong, I was focusing on the product and not the process. I still dream of being a principal one day. It will happen, eventually. My job now is to be the best AP that I can be and continue to learn and grow to prepare for the future and whatever it brings. I should only focus on getting better.

Luckily, I had my epiphany within the last year and came to the correct conclusion that it is about the process and becoming better for kids. We must focus on our daily performance, growing ourselves, and continuing to learn. Regardless of what happens, I will focus on my growth. I will focus on getting better. I will continue to own my professional development. I will reflect. I will challenge myself. I will pursue excellence. My ultimate destination in life is not the most important thing, what I learn on my journey is. I will not be satisfied with the husband, parent, or educator that I am today. I will continue to evolve because it is all about the process!

Be You

This week's big event for me was an interview for a principal position. My school district holds an event titled Aspiring Leaders. The event combines activities such as an interview, several role playing activities, and situational problem solving scenarios. This was my second year participating in the event. It is not a professional development opportunity, it is a competitive process the district uses to gather information regarding filing principal vacancies.

This year's event provided me with an important lesson. The lesson is to be yourself. I mentioned that I participated in the event last year. Last year, during the interview process I could have performed better. While answering questions, rather than speaking from the heart, instead I searched for the "perfect" answer. I was nervous, too. Rather than just speaking my mind, I attempted to answer the question almost from a textbook standpoint. The result was likely stiff and impersonal. I was afraid to make a mistake. This year my strategy was to be myself and to trust my instincts. I listened to the question and did my best to respond with what I thought or how I would handle the situation. I did not search for a correct answer, I shared my answer. In a few weeks, I will receive feedback on my performance, so then I will know how I did. However, with the honest approach I am more confident with my interview.

I share this experience because I think it is valuable and translates to life and school. We cannot always worry about finding the textbook answer. We cannot approach challenges in a rigid manner. Be comfortable. Be yourself. Trust your instincts. Find your right answer. Believe in what you have learned from your experiences. You cannot be someone else. You can only focus on being the best version of yourself and for that to happen you need authenticity. You have to put your voice out there. Put your personal touch on your work. This lesson is very transferable to the educational world. Your classroom cannot be generic or cookie-cutter. It needs your spin on it. Your lessons must include your interests, in addition to the interests of your students. Your classroom needs pictures of you outside of school. Your office needs pictures of your family. Students and teammates must know who you are. If you go about your job without inserting your personality, your performance will only be a fraction of what it could be. Whatever you do, make it yours.

Intentionally being more intentional

Life in a school is often unpredictable. Much of what happens is unplanned and spontaneous. There is a great need for educators to be proactive, we all know so much of what we do is reactive. Many times I have sat at my desk checking email or working on a project, and I receive a phone call where I am forced to react to several "fires" that arose one after the other. I truly believe that if you can get out and about in your school, you can get ahead of these "fires". If you are out observing and interacting in the building you can actually prevent problems from occurring. I also believe that the most important work of school leaders happen outside of the principal's office.

I am making a goal to be more intentional in my daily actions. To accomplish this, I think it will take discipline and planning. One of my mentors often says "Plan the work and work the plan". I am pretty sure that he stole that saying from one of his mentor but there is great wisdom in this borrowed statement.

Some of the things that I want to do more of are: informal classroom visits, positive communication with staff (written and verbal), positive phone calls to parents, and working with students directly in their classrooms. These actions will allow me to take a more active role in contributing to the culture and direction of my school. In the grand scheme of things these activities represent the "real" job of school leaders.

In order to make this happen I have found I must build them into my schedule. I am a huge advocate for my Google calendar and I have found it helpful to schedule my goals into a daily schedule. It doesn't have to be Google or a digital platform. If you use a paper calendar by all means put it to use! I may not always be able to make all of the appointments that I plan for myself, but if I do not insert these activities into my daily schedule the chance that they will happen will decrease significantly. Make a list of the things that you really want to accomplish during your day and plug them into your calendar. Keep what is most important at the top of your agenda each day.

If you have an idea, or best practice you use for making your days intentional, I would love other educators to add their proactive tips or calendar items in the comments section of this blog!

Everyone's Favorite Teacher Podcast

Around New Year's Resolution time, George Couros challenged fellow educators to share in video, a goal for 2017. Here is mine. My goal was to host my own podcast to showcase champion teachers who put their heart and soul into the profession. I am happy to say that this goal has been realized! In the past two weeks, I have recorded the first two episodes of Everyone's Favorite Teacher Podcast (available on iTunes). This could not have been achieved without the support of my wife, Meagan. Follow her on twitter @MeaganhParrish and check out her blog. She is a phenomenal teacher who integrates technology consistently into her 4th grade language arts classroom. She takes risks and pushes her students every day. She will be presenting at the NCTIES Conference this year. Meagan and Danielle Simerman (@dksimerman) will be leading a session on using Google Apps for Education (GAFE) as a platform for digital portfolios. Meagan serves as executive producer and lead consultant for the podcast. She handles everything on the technical end and without her the podcast would not happen. Recording the podcast has been very exciting and I look forward to refining the process and improving upon the finished product.

I am also extremely thankful for the two teachers who agreed to be my first two guests of the show. Jenny Hudson and Derrick Pate. Jenny (@petiteflower975) and Derrick (@FourOaksPate) were both brave enough to take a chance on my passion project. I believe in these first two episodes I was able to capture their love for students and teaching. I couldn't have found two better educators to have as guests! Thanks Jenny and Derrick! Here is a link to Derrick demonstrating his rap skills.

My goal now will to be to continue to push myself. I need to learn more about the profession I love. I need to continue to evolve as a learner and a leader. I want to connect with more awesome educators and share their stories. If you would like to talk with me or if you know a champion teacher who would be a perfect guest on the podcast please send me an email to FavoriteTeacherPodcast@gmail.com. Lets grow and learn together! BTW, my next guest is going to be awesome!

Get Fired Up!

There has been much (needed) discussion in education these days regarding compliance, engagement, and empowerment. Clearly we want to move away from classrooms that breed compliance. Students do not need to be completing an endless list of mundane tasks. Students need to be challenged and involved in their learning. In an engaged classroom, students enjoy what they are doing and would likely continue doing it even if they did not have to. Engaged students are active participants in their own learning. They are motivated because they are involved in tasks that are of high interest to them. Empowered students have freedom, voice, and choice regarding their own learning. Empowered students have design responsibilities. They choose pathways. Empowered students become responsible for their own learning.

The time has come to expand the compliance, engagement, and empowerment conversation. The message that I want to really drive home this week is not about student engagement, it is about educator engagement. All school administrators, teachers, and leaders need to challenge themselves to move beyond compliance. Students need educators who are engaged and not simply going through the motions. Running a smooth school or classroom is not enough. Students need educators to follow their hearts, take risks, and be ultra intentional. How can we expect our students to be engaged or empowered if we are not putting our hearts into what we are doing? Are we giving kids our best or are we giving them our average? Are you on cruise control? It's time to take ownership of our own learning. Start a reflective blog. Listen to a podcast on the way to work. Here is a link to  a podcast I've began hosting. Participate in a Twitter chat so you can be exposed to new ideas. Arrange a Voxer Chat with you and a group of your like minded peers so you can share and learn. Sign up for an EdCamp. Check out new titles on Amazon and order a new book. Make a goal to read more and stick to it! No matter what, do not allow your passion for education to dwindle. Fuel your passion so others can feel your flame!

Fantastic Teacher Award

Recognition and awards often come too far and in between in the educational world. Unfortunately, champion teachers do not always get a trophy at the end of the year. All teachers do not get a participation ribbon. In my opinion, we need to celebrate teacher successes much more and not just those found in standardized test reports. We need to celebrate the life changing moments. The small gestures that build self-esteem and help establish confidence, deserve to be recognized. We need to celebrate teachers for risk taking and for innovating. I witnessed a special  moment recently in a parent meeting that was worthy of accolades. This particular meeting had the potential to be difficult. During the meeting, at a time where the tone of the meeting could go either way, the parent said the most heart-warming comment to the teacher. The parent said, "I love you because of the way you make my son feel." "He says that he loves how you talk to him." Upon hearing this the teacher's eyes understandably welled with pride. I am 100% sure that mine did. It was an honor to be a part of such a special moment when a teacher was given such a heart felt compliment that was completely honest and genuine. To me this was the ultimate reward. This was her gold star. Not only is it awesome how she treats her students, it is wonderful that the parent took the time to share her beliefs. I am guessing that compliment alone will inspire this teacher to work even harder and with even more vigor. I believe she should take this memory and picture it as a trophy that dwarfs large shrines such as the Stanley Cup. She should place this prestigious award into her mental trophy case and whenever she needs to remember this past achievement she can take it down from its case to admire its beauty.  Teachers who make this kind of impact in a child's life may not always receive recognition but they certainly deserve it.

Trust the Process

There is a newcomer in the NBA who has caught my attention. He is Joel Embiid. He plays for the Philadelphia 76ers (the Sixers have been dismal for the last decade) and Embiid is becoming quite the personality in the NBA. His backstory is inspiring. Although he was a top draft pick, he suffered several foot injuries that caused him to miss his first two NBA seasons. Now healthy, he is producing on the court. He plays with flair, enthusiasm, and charisma. He has also adopted the nickname, "Trust the Process."

Watching exciting Embiid highlights on ESPN and hearing the crowd chant, "Trust the Process" grabbed my attention. Trust the process is an awesome concept. It was certainly a good message for me to hear. The phrase tells me to stay the course and to be patient. You might not always get the product that you want but if you stick to your plan and stay true to your WHY, I believe things will eventually go your way. Don't get rattled. Believe in your self. Be confident.

When you have a bad day, trust the process. When life is hard, trust the process.  When you start to feel sorry for yourself, trust the process.

Trust the process!

Chase a Moment

Recently I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The TED Radio Hour. On this particular episode, The Hero's Journey, host Guy Raz was talking with children's author Jarrett Krosoczka. Jarrett shares the impact that mentors had on his life. (I will include a link to the show at the bottom. You should give it a listen.) Jarrett is able to cite precise moments that these mentors touched his life. I found the accounts he shared especially inspiring from an educators' perspective. They inspired me because they were normal people performing normal actions. While listening to his accounts, I could not help to think "I could have done that." My fellow educator, you could have been these mentors. We all could have been one of these individuals in this author's life that impacted him in such a positive manner.

I was so charged up after listening to Jarrett's story because it was simple. With no fear of being redundant, we all could have made this impact! In our daily interactions with children, in what may seem the smallest, most insignificant moment, we can make an impact. It could be the music teacher, telling a student how great a child sounds playing their recorder. It could be the encouraging feedback a language arts teacher gives a student on their creative writing. The beautiful thing is that this could happen at any time If. It can happen if we live in the moment. It can happen if we are always present. It can happen if we are always there for students. It can happen if we see the positive in every situation. It can happen if we remember the potential our students possess.

Moments are out there. Chase them. Chase small, seemingly insignificant moments that just may inspire students to succeed. Chase moments where you can make a difference. Chase moments where we can boost a student's confidence, foster a memory, or strengthen a relationship. Slow down. Share a kind word. Notice a student's hard work. Make an impact. Take an extra step. Make a child's day. Never forget that the smallest gesture or act could have an enormous impact. You might just positively alter the trajectory of a student's life. Give chase!

Quotes I Live By

I am trapped in the middle of Snowmageddon 2017. We got about 2 inches of sleet and snow. Now the temperatures are in the low 20s and the roads are not clear. There is probably a good chance that we are looking at a 3-4 day weekend. This means....extra time to blog! 

I am a sucker for good quotes. I thought it would be fun to make a list of my 10 favorite quotes and blog about them.  This was certainly fun for me to write, I hope you enjoy at least reading the quotes.

1. "There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs."

I ran across this quote last week. I think it perfectly captures the growth mindset educators need to adopt. It is something that our students need to know.  If we want to accomplish our goals, we have to put in the work. I am close to believing that there is no such thing as talent. People get where they are because of hard work, experience, and sweat equity. 

2.  "Was it a bad day or just a bad five minutes?"

This quote bounces around in my head in the midst of a challenging time. We have to remind ourselves that 5 minutes does not make a day. We cannot sweat the small stuff. Things will not always go our way. When they don't, we have to accept it, and move on accordingly. 

3. "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."- Simon Sinek

This powerful message is from Simon's Ted Talk and his book Start with Why. I find it important because it reminds us that things like passion, relationships, and attitudes trump gadgets, strategies, and whatever the latest educational fad is. Stay within your golden circle and you cannot go wrong. https://youtu.be/sioZd3AxmnE   

4.  "There is a brilliant child locked inside every student." -Marva Collins
This gem by Mrs. Collins encompasses the approach we must have towards every year, every class, and every student. We are all born with potential. The role of educators is to help individuals make this potential into reality. We must be able to separate a student's current path with their potential.I have kept this quote on my desk in the past. It helps me remember that every student counts. 

5.  "Education shouldn’t be about raising statistics. It should be about raising and fulfilling human potential.” -Dave Burgess

Someday we have to get through to politicians that there needs to be a better way to evaluate teacher performance than through our current model of utilizing standardized testing. Growth, which is not emphasized under most accountability models, is more important than proficiency. There is so much more to teaching and learning than what can be assessed in a multiple choice test. There is a major disconnect between classroom innovation and the tests. There is so much that our students need, that cannot be assessed in a standardized test. Education would have more to offer if the rules could be changed so that our goal was increasing student potential.

6. "It's not about the product. It's the process," -Inky Johnson
This quote comes from a young man with an enormous heart. I recommend you watching his story:  https://youtu.be/AeZZ-hM2fSY. Inky stresses that our efforts and hard work do pay off. We may not always achieve the desired result but through a relentless pursuit of excellence we are able to reach success.

7.  “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”- Haim G. Ginott

I am not sure what I can add to this one. Ginott sums up how much power the classroom teacher yields on a daily basis. This quote also reminds me of the term "intentionality" that Baruti Kafeli speaks of. Educators must be intentional in everything that we do. Nothing should be left for chance. Students need a voice and choice in their instruction daily but we accomplish this through careful planning. We must choose to be an instrument of kind!

8.  “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

This is the quote I think of when I catch myself having a pity party. It reminds me that our efforts are not always met with reward. Many times our efforts go unnoticed. There will be cold, rainy days at carpool. Lunch trays will be spilled on you. You will be fussed at for something that was not your fault. There will be tough moments. Persevere and triumph. It is better to try and fail then to put forth no effort.

9. "Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be." -Rita Pearson

If that quote does not fire you up than you should look for another profession immediately. We can all strive to be that one, special teacher for each child who crosses our threshold. All students need someone to believe in them. Students need someone who will listen and advocate for them. Reach out to your students and let them know that you are here for them!  https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion

10.  "Be the change you wish to see in the world."- Gandhi

This one is my mantra in life. It was read by the speaker at my MSA graduation ceremony. It is how I try to approach every situation. This quote may be short but it speaks volumes. It is a challenge and a standard to hold your daily actions to. Actions are more important than thoughts. Instead, put your thoughts into action. Be the change!

Head out of the Clouds

What a marvelous winter break it was! This year's winter break had a little bit of everything. There was memorable family time with my immediate and extended families. There was a mountain trip to a bed and breakfast. There was time for blogging, reading, and self-reflection. I was able to read several professional books and engaged in my Twitter PD.  My Twitter PD consists of participating in chats and interacting with my PLN. Life moved slowly. I moved slowly. I watched all the sporting events possible. I played a little Words With Friends. I have never been so relaxed. I returned to work rested both physically and mentally.

Then the students returned to school this past Tuesday. This return to the "real world was a shock to the system. It rattled me. I almost lost the momentum that I obtained from the break. During break, life was slow and controlled. My system had to adjust getting back into the work flow. Don't get me wrong, I embrace the mission and would not rather be doing anything else that what I am currently doing. I am an assistant principal at a small elementary school that is in it's opening year. I work with a wonderful principal and a fantastic staff. The community we serve is very warm. I have not even mentioned how awesome the students are!

Several days on the way home this week I found myself reflecting back on how returning to work felt. Tuesday morning started busy and Friday ended the same way. There was a bullying issue that required an investigation. I spoke with all students involved. I met with teachers and parents. There were phone calls, questions, procedure reviews, notations in our bullying log, etc. It is a thorough and extensive process. There were also classroom coverage challenges to meet. There was also bus discipline, job interviews, a fire drill, classroom visits, and mentoring opportunities. We all know life in a school is never dull or boring!

I am not complaining but these are not what I read in my leadership and educational books. This was not what I Voxed about with my PLN. I did not Tweet about tracking down lost lunch money. There was a disconnect. In the Utopian world that I had been immersed in, there were no mundane tasks. Everything was big picture. Everything was easy to understand. Things were not complicated. There were no layers. Nothing was messy. Our everyday tasks and opportunities may not always be glamorous nor would they be items that we would choose to do. But everything we do completely matters. We must approach every interaction like it is the most important thing in the world. We have to stay true to our mission. We must be our best. We cannot allow things to drag us down. We may never truly know what impact we can have in our daily actions, so we must approach them all with our best efforts. Our students need us to be the champions that they all deserve! Life in a school may not always be how we picture it but nevertheless what we do makes a difference and the impact that we can make in the lives of children makes it ALL worth it.