Removing Rotten Apples

It’s time to talk about a tough topic in education and principaling. Removing rotten apples. AKA the principal’s responsibility ensure poor teachers do not stay in the classroom or profession.

One of the hardest parts of being a principal is dealing with ineffective, poorly behaved teachers. The paperwork, the politics, the emotional impact. Ugh. 

And, honestly few principals are trained for it and most were decent, compliant educators before becoming a principal. It’s HARD to sit across the table from a misbehaving or poorly performing employee. And there are rules, laws, and consequences to holding employees accountable. Not to mention the toll it takes on you since your heart is likely designed to help people.

But it’s needed. In fact it’s unethical to NOT take action. One rotten spoils the group. You’ve seen it with fruit, but it’s true with humans too. One person who is negative, mean, spiteful, unethical, corrupt, unwilling to work with certain kids, or simply unable to teach effectively etc does so much damage to children, teammates, schools, communities of teachers, novice teachers, and the profession.

Principals, do the hard work. Protect your students, your school, our profession. Be ethical. Be fair. Provide support, clear expectations, and opportunities to grow and change. But don’t allow poison to take root in your school. Even in a teacher shortage. 

Finding Your Life's Calling, Your Purpose and LOVING It!

 

A few years back, I engaged in a professional development at school and one of my amazing Global Studies teachers led us through an excerise where we identifyed our passion, our mission, and our purpose and I loved the visual and process.  I googled some images to refresh myself on the specifics of it and found a few variations of it (see below).

I feel like I'm finally living this now.  I've found my purpose--- it inclues what I LOVE (education), what I'm good at (Gallip Strengths Finders assessment top 5, below), and what the world needs (education reform; supporting students, teachers, principals, schools, districts, and creating innovation in education).  And... well, it feels so good to live in your passion and purpose.  AKA Zone of Genius. 

To be fair, I've always worked in my field of passion, my calling: education.  I've had so many wonderful and unique roles, experiences and opportunities in the past two decades and I'd suggest some of those were me operating in my Zone of Excellence.    This is a step beyond. I'm in my Zone of Genius. My brain is on fire, I'm juggling so many things and I love them all.  It fills my bucket and keeps breeding more and more ideas, connections, and fullfillment.

The great news is that one of my strengths and passions is helping others find their Zone of Genius and connecting them to resources, opporutnies, and experiences that help them grow into their Zone of Genius (or Excellence, or Competence).  

This brings me to my Gallup Strengths Finders Survey results.   For years, I've taken assessments and I've gotten results that were a literal mixed bag... a little bit of this, some of that, a little more of these and not those.  Like the Myers Briggs.  But I always felt my results would be different on a different day and I know I changed over time-- I felt being a princpal changed some of my MO and how I saw and interacted the the world.  For example, I always said I went from wanting/liking/aiming to living in a black and white world, to living in shades of grey because of being a princpal (doling out discipline is not as clear cut as it may seem on the outside as various points of view definitley have merit to consider and understand).  I also became way more extroverted (though still likly an introvert at heart).  

Back to Gallup.  Take a look at my results:  

So, I took this assessment back in 2019.  I didn't expect much.  I got the top five list and the summary, and then comprehensive report and I was stunned.  THAT IS ME.  It makes sense.  Those are certainly things I do! I have always collected THINGS--- articles, books, (dogs?!).  I like to be busy/productive, I like to focue on making me better, I am strategic yet innovative, I like to connect with others and connect others to others, and I love ideas... big ideas, little ideas, novel ideas and new ideas.  This is me.

With all this in mind, this year I've had time to think and learn, to mentor and grow, to try new things, and to live in my strengths without distraction.   It has been soooooo cool.  And, so incredibily fulfilling.  And I found my ZONE OF GENIUS.  I am tapping into what I am good at every single day. 

I say all this to say, if you haven't found your zone of genius, if you feel like you are spinning your wheels in a different zone, if you are longing to live in your calling area, your passion that fulfills your purpose and your mission--- THE WORLD NEEDS YOU.  It's time to take the big leap.  It's time of reflect and determine your zone of genius and to take aciton to live there.

AND--- I'm launching a 5-series, in person workshop in late March to help IGNITE your idea/passion and LAUNCH it!  Stay tuned for more info!  Email or message me if you want to be on the list to know about it when details are announced this week.

PS Remember, I apolize for typos, brain works fast, fingers type fast, but not always fast enough!

Life’s Journey: full circle, making laps?

 It’s funny how our life’s journey sometimes brings us full circle, and every taking laps around some waypoints.

On Monday, I headed over to Sunset Elementary to visit with my friend, mentor.  Pulling in presented an unexpected wave of feelings.  You see, after my family moved to Maryland in the 1980s we lived right there for a few years while my parents learned the area. I went to Sunset Elementary for 1st and 2nd grade. I walked over, climbed the big hill and walked past the playground into school every day! 

Fast forward a bit… 2008… Sunset was home of of first assistant principalship!!! Now that was pretty special! There were even a few teachers still there! 

Walking in this week flooded me with so many memories. So many memories! 

‘Fixing Schools’ quote

 “Effective schools are not perpetual motion machines. You cannot simply get them set up, put them in motion, and watch them go. They require continual leadership to keep going. You can fix schools all you want. If their districts are dysfunctional, they won’t stay fixed.” 

​Karin Chenoweth in Districts That Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race, 

Poverty, and Achievement (Harvard Education Press, 2021)

My New Sunday Wellness Routine

Balance. 

I am working to be a more balanced person. I used to be ALL work.  My work was just never done.  But being all work didn't mean it all got done. To be more balanced, I bought a paddleboard and snowshoes, I started new hobbies like hydroponics and brewing kombuca, and I turned a space bedroom into a craft room.  These have been helpful!

Now, this week, I've given myself a new checklist for Sundays to ensure that I take a break, enjoy a slower pace, and that I fill my bucket. 

My Sunday list now includes:

• Read for fun
• Play with pups
• Be outside for part of the day
• Rest and take a nap if I want to
• Go through all my photos from the week and mark favorites, send some to my digital frame and some to my family
• Connect with friends
• Make something (craft, meal, treat)
• Plan week (got a new planner I LOVE).  I now spend at least 30-60 mins looking at the week as a whole and each day to know precisely what's coming and be prepared for it.

What's your strategy for balance and wellness? What fills your bucket, refuels you, and helps you be ready for the week ahead yet gives you time to decompress and be human?

Welcome back!!!

And then there comes a day way more than a decade later when you are having so many EXCURSIONS IN EDUCATION that you have to revive the blog you started forever ago!

WELCOME BACK! 

I can't wait to update where I am at these days, all the journies and connections happening on my excursion right now and to track it all through this blog.  My aim is to blog nearly daily.  To create an archive of everything happening around me and to process it for me and share it with you!  

So where am I... well I am a princpal on sabbatical this year.   During my sabbatical, I am:

• A doctoral candidate at NCU aiming to finish this year!
• Seeking a second masters at UMBC in Public Policy
• A fellow with the Maryland General Assembly supporing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and its Accountabilty and Implementation Board
• A contractor to MSDE through Insight Education supporting 6 assistant principals in the Maryland's Promising Princpal's Academy.
• A business owner of A to Z Education Consulting, LLC developing a company that networks top notch education thinkers in all areas to provide top-notch programs and services that model the way forward for education reform and propell education refrom to a national topic that shows the promise, mandates progress, celebrates everyone along the way
• An education entreprenuer learning the ins and outs of business
• A tech geek trying to keep up with all the processes, tools, resources and new stuff!
• A course creator, a program created
• An author--- I've drafted my first book!!!!!
• An adjunct professor at McDaniel College and admin intern supervisor
• A member of the Leading Lady Collective with AliceAnne Loftus
• and I'm becoming a much more balanced person--- a good daughter, sister, and aunt; the leader of the pack of 4 lab rescues, an engaged neighbor (go little library!) and someone who prioritizes my health and wellness who has hobbies and is constantly learning new things!
• Kombucha is brewing
• Hydroponic garden is ready to start again
• Paddleboard is waiting for warmer weather and I'm trying to organize a snow tubing trip!
• Tomorrow... we learn to crochet....
• My craft room is soooooo cool!!!! I make shirts, wood burn, vinyl projects and more!

So... just a few things going on.  It's all so very energizing.  This is my space for raw reflection (sorry for the typos!! -- where is that darn spellcheck button on blogger?!). My fingers can't keep up with my brain these days... and there are just so many sticky notes and lists.   

This blog will chronical all of these areas.  It will also serve as a place where I process my education passions and observations and dreams.  

Thought this won't be limited to any content, it will focus mostly on education and also education policy, and some of my main focuses are:

• Mentoring and Coaching school leaders (dissertation topic)Early childhood education
• Innovative instructional transformation
• Education reform
• Teacher wellness, supporting our profession.... saving our profession
• Math instruction 
• Ensuring targeted instructional approaches for each student
• Empowering students to take action, to advocate for themselves and the world around them

It's been a fabulous year.  The spring promises to be a wild and amazing ride!  I hope you'll subsrcibe and engage!  Share the journey with me, send me your ideas, provide your thoughts and counter thoughts, share resources.