Category: Education

Pause…Reflect…Just DO It !

Life is filled with circumstances, conditions, and situations that will cause you to rethink your original plan, make a mental adjustment, and reacquaint yourself with your inner being.  I am purposefully avoiding the word “obstacles!” There are also those situations that will simply cause you to jump in and get busy! I refer to those situations as “Just DO It” moments! The “Just DO It” moments are things you must do, regardless of how much you talk about them! They are items on YOUR TO-DO LIST, and you are committed to  checking them off! I have had many in my lifetime.

I think my most devastating “Just DO It” moment, may have been when I was on vacation and had received an email from my dissertation chair.  Imagine being on vacation and receiving  a “CHANGE this, ADD that”, dissertation REVISION email! My reaction to that email almost ruined my vacation! My first reaction was to complain to my husband. Our plans for lunch were delayed by my repeated rants,” I am not changing it! I am not! I am not changing a THING!” Then I reverted to how many pages I had already written and how many graphs I already had created! Lastly, I proclaimed myself finished! I sat on the side of the bed and started new rants, “I give up! This is stupid! I have a life!” My husband in his ever so calm voice, simply said, “really.” He then told me to get dress so we could go to lunch because HE WAS HUNGRY. He refused to be a part of my ranting. He knew, I wasn’t finished. He knew I wasn’t quitting. He knew I was having a moment. He knew, that after reflection, I would just DO It!

I moped around and sulked for a few minutes before  putting on my favorite “Just Do It” t-shirt.  I am sure you have one, it is a  mental must have!  Yes, I made the revision. Yes, I have a pompadour. No, I didn’t quit! Yes, WE had lunch!

In our roles as educators and guardians of the children, we are often faced with “Just DO It” moments. Some require us to stretch ourselves, to give a little more, to do more, and to make personal reflections. After all, we have a SPECIAL CALLING! The kids that come before us are the leaders of tomorrow; what we DO or DON’T DO, will impact their futures. I have always felt that the children entrusted in my care should receive the same care that I would like my child to receive.  I know that being an educator can be arduous. I understand that exceptional educators stretch themselves because they love kids and they love what they do. I realize teaching oftentimes means making sacrifices. I understand that preparing lessons can be time consuming. I know there is ALWAYS something on the To-Do List that never ends! I understand that sometimes, all educators need to reflect and regroup. I also know that EXCEPTIONAL educators will continue to do an AWESOME job, no matter what!

While you are reflecting, don’t overlook the REWARDS of being an educator, they are immeasurable!

Hooves Up to the educators who “Just DO It!” 

The Zorro Circle

It is 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning; my hubby is downstairs exercising.  I am upstairs typing a blog. It sounds a little wacky! No, I don’t live in a dysfunctional household. We both fell asleep while the television was watching us; now neither of us can fall asleep. I went to bed with the intent of starting my day at a normal hour but that’s not happening today! Lying in bed has resulted in me mentally creating an elaborate schedule of “must do’s” for the day. My mind is spinning with ideas  and one of my favorite rules prevailed, “If you lie in bed for 30 minutes and can’t fall asleep, get up and DO SOMETHING!” I put a load of clothes in the washer and started a blog! A “Must Do” and a “Me Do!”

I’ve been deliberating over setting some goals for myself. After all, it’s the beginning of a new year! I narrowed my goal setting to the circles that consume my world: home, work, and ME! I know my plan will work well because it’s grounded in research. I am setting my personal goals based on information gleaned from my favorite orange book, The Happiness Advantage! Yes, I am still hooked on “happiness” and orange is one of my favorite colors!

In the book, the author wrote about the  Zorro Circle, named after the swashbuckling movie character “Zorro.”  The author elaborates on Zorro’s transformation from a binge-filled alcoholic to a masterful swordsman. He accredits Zorro’s conversion to his  astute mentor and to Zorro’s ability to successfully navigate within manageable circles.  Zorro’s first task was to become confident and skillful within a narrowly defined circle.   After mastering the smallest circle, Zorro’s mentor widens the circle, thus prompting Zorro to perfect his craft even more.  As the tale continues, Zorro becomes well known for his skills as a swordsman and dedicates himself to helping those in need. While the act of helping those in need resonates to many; the symbolism of the circles may sometimes be overlooked. By initially limiting the size of Zorro’s circle and gradually expanding its size, Zorro’s mentor had ensured that Zorro would accomplish his goal!

When I set my goals for this marvelous new year, I’m keeping the  Zorro Circle in mind. My goals will be challenging but obtainable! I am going to keep my circles large enough so I must stretch and small enough so that I can advance to a larger circle!

As you set goals for the new year, whether they are goals for home, work, or self,  ensure that they are reasonable and obtainable!

Less stress, more happiness!

Orange Sprinkles!

Follow the Orange Sprinkled Road…

A few days ago, after what can be described as a “not so typical day at school,” I was in my office laughing and talking with a few team members. We were digesting the day, not dwelling on the events that had happened, and certainly not complaining. We were rebooting and preparing ourselves for tomorrow, the day that followed the “not so typical day.” After a few laughs, we realized that the “woes of the day” were a fleeting memory in our past. When you are committed to following the Orange Sprinkled Road, you know how to skip!

As a school family, we have recently completed a 21-Day Orange Challenge. The students, teachers, staff, and I have collected every orange sprinkle that came our way! As a school family, we collected 2, 910 orange sprinkles! I am certain that there are some sprinkles that lingered in the air, but 2,910 orange sprinkles represent a lot of HAPPINESS! The written messages are so heartwarming that I read them for pure pleasure. The kids wrote about their peers helping them understand difficult assignments, their teachers noticing new gym shoes, peers lending school supplies, and my morning visits to their classrooms. The younger kids drew pictures of their sprinkles of happiness. There are drawings of kids sharing toys with peers, dreaming of superheroes, reading books, and spending time with their families! Each time I read a happy note, I received an “awe” feeling. It was truly rejuvenating! Throughout the day, I continued to share what the kids had written or drawn.

We know the story of Dorothy and the yellow bricked road; now take a journey on the Orange Sprinkled Road! Look for sprinkles of happiness each day! Savor moments that make you smile and laugh! Enjoy times with family and friends.  DO something that makes you happy because YOU deserve to be HAPPY! Research indicates that happy people have less stress than people who live on Negative Boulevard.  Research further indicates that happy people are more determined, creative, and goal-oriented than those who reside on Negative Boulevard. I am following the Orange Sprinkled Road to Positive Drive. I hope you are my neighbor.

Sprinkles!!!

Don’t Forget about Karen!

Believe it or not, I’ve been up since 4:00 a.m. and I am still on summer vacation! I’ve checked my work email, browsed on Amazon.com, done some leisurely reading, and now, I am writing a blog! No, I haven’t had coffee! As a matter of fact, I haven’t had a cup of coffee the entire summer. A Mocha Frappe here and there doesn’t count! I am occupying myself until the sun officially peeks through the clouds so that I can complete my brisk 4-mile walk. Yes, I am still in hot pursuit of my sunshine!

One task on my summer to do list, was to re-pot or transplant my plants. Note, the verb “was”; my plants have been re-potted and are ready for their return to school. I re-pot them every so often, transplanting allows their roots to spread, thus allowing the plants to grow tall and strong. My plants have names: Karen, Derrick, Susan, and the new guy, Frederick. Karen, Derrick, and Susan occupy a cozy window in my office where they soak up the sun and office vibes. Frederick is a succulent; he sits on an accent table opposite my desk. Frederick had a growth spurt during the summer, he now looks like a miniature tree! Now he is tall and slender; not quite as handsome as short stocky Frederick. I also have an orchid and a Chinese bamboo plant; one I received from a parent, the other from a student. The orchid’s name is Violet, her petals are a deep purple. The Chinese bamboo plant is named Mr. Wisdom, his planter is a wise owl. All my plants really thrive at school and that’s a wonderful thing. All living entities should thrive at school!

While transplanting plants are in the plants best interest, one of my darlings didn’t like her rehabbed home. After her re-potting, Karen was sad and droopy for a few days. As a matter of fact, I thought she was a goner! She was wimpy and limp for 2 days! On the third day, she started to perk up and I knew she was adjusting to her bed of special formulated soil. I didn’t need to investigate the justification for Karen’s limp leaves; I had read several articles that focused on her ailment while completing research for my dissertation. Karen was simply going through the transitional period of adapting to a new change. For Derrick and Susan, the change had been an easy adjustment. Karen, on the other hand, had struggled. Maybe she enjoyed the comfort of compact soil. Maybe she failed to realize that her leaves were curling and turning yellow. Obviously, she hadn’t realized that her demise was near if she wasn’t re-potted. She needed me to take the time to re-pot her.  She needed me to stand vigilant while her roots adjusted to the new soil.

As an educational leader, I am constantly looking for the precise formula that will ensure that my kids are receiving the best instruction possible. Instructional practices are often redefined because the needs of kids are constantly changing. Change is easy for some and harder for others. As my team of committed teachers moves forward, I will have to remind myself that some of my teachers will be like Derrick and Susan, and some will be like Karen. It’s all part of the process!

Where’s the Net?

Ed and I recently returned from his family reunion, an event that was on the brinks of being cancelled. Our 4-day getaway to the Gulf was shorten to 3 days and a portion of our family mingling-time was spent monitoring the unpredictable path of Hurricane Barry. Our plane had safely landed in New Orleans on Thursday but our return flight on Monday was skeptical. Weather forecasts portrayed Barry as being horrific; his massive force likened to Hurricane Katrina! On every weather channel, viewers saw a weather reporter either pointing to a colorful map or standing in boot high water battling with the wind. After a day of experiencing Mother Nature’s rage, we opted to leave the Gulf a day earlier than originally planned.

Confident that our path home had been secured, we hopped in a rental car and headed to Kessler Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi for the family reunion festivities! We spent several hours laughing with relatives we hadn’t seen in years, partaking of scrumptious meals, listening to music, and playing games. On the last day of the festivities, Tony, President of the Wash/Jones Family Reunion Committee, called for a family meeting. The objective was to select a host and a hosting city for the next family reunion. As one might expect, securing a volunteer for the monumental task required some persuading. Generally, people are hesitant to journey into the dark unknown.

While enticing someone to grasp the family reunion torch, Tony spoke of family traditions and the importance of being connected to family and friends. He simplified the process of hosting a family reunion by detailing his organizational skills and giving accolades to those who had helped to plan this year’s celebration. As he continued to lure a future host, he spoke of psychological security. He mentioned that he ensures psychological security at work when collaborating with his leadership team. He emphasized that there is no right or wrong way to plan a family reunion. He stated that the greatest task would be getting started and added, “once you get started, others will pitch in.” He mentioned that several family members had hidden talents and those skills would be an asset to the future host. As he continued to talk, a brave soul assumed the torch for the 2020-21 Wash/Jones Family Reunion. While listening, I reflected on the impact of psychological security in the school environment. I wondered if some teachers were resistant to implementing new strategies and thinking outside of the box because psychological security had not been established. My second thought… How could I advance psychological security in my school?

Psychological security ensures that individuals feel emotionally safe when venturing into the unknown. Psychological security in the workplace is like a safety net to a trapeze artist. The net assures that if the acrobat falls, he or she will recover, grip the horizontal bar, and swing again! It is a welcomed layer of protection! With his mere words, Tony had ensured psychological security.  A brave soul had seized the family reunion torch. As a school leader, I must inspire confidence in my teachers. I want them to be innovative and passionate about teaching. I want them to venture into the dark unknown!

Kids Are the REASON!

During the previous school year, our district introduced a web-based professional development program whose underlining objective was to encourage us, the educators and leaders of the district, to better understand our students by better understanding ourselves. The PD refreshed many ideas that seasoned educators knew and had possibly placed on a back burner. Numerous lessons focused on building relationships with kids and finding balance in our lives. Through interactive lessons, we were reminded to refresh our personal batteries in order to bring our “best selves” to school. The PD referred to this refreshing process as “finding your sunshine.” As the school year progressed, “I’m going to find my sunshine!” became the spoken mantra among my teachers. While I was not actively seeking my sunshine during the school year, I am certainly an explorer now! As part of my exploration, I have committed myself to a daily fast-paced walk through my subdivision. My route encompasses 4 miles and allows me to do some detective work. I find detective work to be an accurate description of my keen observation of details. I am not a snooper; everything is in clear view! One might refer to me as “Sharon Sherlock.”

On this morning, my eyes focused on our community park. The park is well maintained and provides an engaging play area for children. The activity center features swings, covered sliding boards, and a climbing wall. The manicured grass and an assortment of bountiful flowers accentuate the area. There’s even a newly installed picnic table. As my roaming eyes continued to scan the area, I realized what was missing! The bench that had provided a beeline view of the activity center was gone! I stood there a little puzzled, wondering why the bench had been removed. I knew that I hadn’t visited the park in maybe 3 years, but I loved that bench! I had sat on the bench while my son, nieces, and nephews had swung, climbed, and taunted each other! From my family alone, there were 2 generations of little ones who had enjoyed our community park. Now the park had changed, the bench was gone! I wondered if I had missed an important Association Meeting to discuss removal of the park bench! After all, I have a voice and the residents of my subdivision have spent numerous hours discussing seasonal decorations! At that moment, I couldn’t comprehend why anyone would remove the park bench and replaced it with a cold steel picnic table!

While walking, I continued to think about the removal of the park bench. When I passed the park on the return route, I stopped and paused. With a clearer mind I considered some possible reasons for removing the park bench. Had the park bench served its time and simply needed replacing? Was purchasing a steel picnic table more feasible than purchasing a park bench? The population of my subdivision had substantially grown, with the population increase, were there more preteens and teens who visited the park? Had the park bench become a gathering place? Were the surrounding residents being disturbed? Lastly, did I even have a voice regarding the removal of the park bench? The park is maintained by our local park district. As I looked at the new steel picnic table, I realized that it provided a beeline view of the activity center. I saw that the picnic table was sturdy and securely installed. I also noticed that it had been installed in area that was very visible to the public. In summary, replacing the park bench with a picnic table may be the better alternative!

In the field of education, mandates, policies, curriculum, and instructional practices are always changing. Some changes are initiated at the state level, some at the district level, and some at the building level. In some cases, we have a voice and a choice; in others we have neither. We are faced with directives and requests that cause us to pause, regroup, and move forward. As educators, we must adapt to meet the needs of the children we have been entrusted to educate. The expectations are great, but we are Winners because we are Educators!

Oh No…Not My 10Se!

Here’s the disclaimer: ” I am not a loon, but I do find teachable moments in the oddest of circumstances!” Today’s blog is inspired by a personal mishap that could have turned into a major pitfall if I hadn’t weighted my options before reacting. The incident isn’t fatal.  As is with most unplanned occurrences, first impacts may appear devastating.

As the title indicates, I have a new cellphone. Mind you, I am not a cellphone stalker waiting for the latest trending cellphone to hit the market. In fact, this is the first time that I have purchased a cellphone that is currently featured in a major marketing campaign. I typically keep my cellphones until they retire themselves! Such is the case that caused my recent purchase. While visiting the store of my cellphone service provider, I was amazed with the upgrades to these handheld minicomputers. I was equally flabbergasted by their prices! As timing would have it, my provider was marketing a BOGO deal. I left with 2 cellphones, 1 wireless charging dock, 1 black phone case, 1 glittery phone case, and 2 screen protectors. I was pleased with my purchase and received several compliments stemming from the upgrade.

Now, let’s fast forward, 3 weeks after the purchase. I was driving with my cellphone lying in my lap. Unexpectedly, my S10e, in its glittery case, slid off my lap and landed between the driver’s seat and console. The minicomputer was retrieved; all functions worked as expected. My rapid heart palpitations started the next evening at exactly 5:50 p.m.  I noticed 2 major fault lines on the screen of my prized acquisition! Of course, I did the usual. I held the phone to the light and imagined that I was seeing a glare. Next, I wiped the screen with the softest cloth and slowly ran my finger over the fault lines. Reality quickly settled, the unmentionable had happened, my S10e had suffered a severe injury! My reaction was to quickly solve the problem. I searched the internet to find someone qualified to perform surgery on my S10e! I was dismayed when my first called ended with, “Sorry, we are not fixing that phone yet!”  I continued to hound the internet until I found a cellphone repair guru who promised to replace the screen for $199.00.  At 10:00 a.m. the following morning, I was at the guru’s shop. I had digested that I would have to forgo a couple pairs of new sandals in lieu of repairing my cellphone. I was so thrilled to find someone who could repair my S10e that seeing a sign that read, ” Cash Only! Sorry, our internet is down.”, didn’t faze me. I handed my cellphone over to the only person who could perform the delicate surgery. I quickly described the incident that caused the fatal injury and asked if the screen could be replaced. After a few sighs and grunts, the cellphone surgeon said, “You don’t need a screen. You need a new screen protector.” I asked him to remove the screen protector. He was correct! My cellphone screen was in perfect condition! I was thrilled! My first response was, “Thank you!” My second response was, “This is a good day!” He smiled and recommended that I purchase a new screen protector.

So, here’s the epiphany! Sometimes as educators, we think and feel that things are downhill. We lean more towards the negative than the positive, and we spend too much time contemplating things beyond our control. Then suddenly a strong gust of wind propels us to the top of the mountain. While standing on the mountain’s peak, we proclaim, “Today is a Great Day!” As educators, we must build relationships with our kids, celebrate our successes, and always give 100 % of ourselves.

With the opportunity to impact the lives of children; Every Day is a Great Day!

YOU are a Marigold!!

Today is the first weekend that my kids have been officially out of school. When I say “kids”, I am referring to my McCord kids. My son is well beyond elementary school age. I’ve reflected on the school year and personally, I believe that it went well. There are, of course, some things that need tweaking, but overall, awesome things happened! I associate well with having more positives than negatives. So, I am going to rephrase the previous statement…The school year was AWESOME!

I had the opportunity to meet and work with some amazing people. Their smiles, calm demeanor, and laughter made the school year pass quickly. Their objectivity and willingness to try new things ensured that our kids advanced academically. Their support and commitment guaranteed that our kids had many memorable experiences throughout the school year. Our PFC fulfilled its commitments, even when the going was rough. It’s quite a task to be a mom, work a full-time job, and then organize gala events for 300 or more. My kids, our Masterpieces, were my delight! I enjoyed getting to know the kids, working with them during Academic Block, and planning events that made them feel special. There’s nothing negative that I will take to heart about a single kid. Some make you laugh when they enter the room and some are more challenging than others, but they are just kids! They are “unique little people” who are developing cognitively, physically, and emotionally. Some kids need more guidance, and some need more attention. After all, if they were perfect, knew everything, and made good decisions all the time, they wouldn’t need us. I met wonderful parents and grandparents that were delighted to see their kids and grandchildren happy and enjoying school. I was grateful to have their support and delighted to see their smiles at our Masterpiece Ceremonies.

This is a “thank you” to the Marigolds that made this an AWESOME year for our MASTERPIECES! Enjoy the summer, you DESERVE IT!

Stop…No More Soup!!

Today is Presidents Day, a day to recognize the commitment and dedication of the United States Presidents, past and present. I’ve done some googling and uncovered some interesting facts about the US Presidents. Next year, I will suggest that my 6 graders create a trivia game. If you can turn learning into a game, the kids are hooked. I also spent some time catching up on school related tasks, although the finish line is always moving. And… Yes, I did some shampooing! My stairs were screaming for a makeover!!

While completing tasks, I pondered the subject of my next blog. As I was completing my last “household” task for the evening, my blog topic surfaced!! The most amazing things happen when you least expect them! I had cooked a pot of soup. I must say, it was quite tasty! It was filled with my favorite vegetable choices. The task at hand required me to pour the remaining soup into a large plastic storage bowl, seal the bowl with its coordinating lid, and place the bowl in the frig. Seems like a simple task, especially for a skilled principal like me! Well my eyes were working correctly but logic was on vacation! Although I saw that the bowl was filled, I continued to pour more soup into a bowl that was filled to the rim!! There was absolutely, no way that the coordinating lid was going to fit. As a matter of fact, I made more work for myself because I had to clean the counter top after the spillage!! Now this is when the “principal brain” snaps into gear. I likened my mishap in the kitchen to instruction in the classroom.

As I was cleaning the counter, I thought about my recent visits to classrooms. The teachers had been excited about the topics they had presented.  They had appeared very confident and knowledgeable. From the corners of the classrooms, I could see what the teachers couldn’t see. Their glows of “enthusiasm” had blocked the looks of “I got It!”; “Please let me try It.”; “Stop talking!”; and “I need some personal help.” All cries, from the kids sitting at their desks. From the corners, I could see the signs, the kids were wiggling, they were drawing, they were looking at anything but the teacher. I wanted to say, “Stop talking!”; “Let the kids explain it!”; “Let the kids Do It!”; and “Let them get into groups!” That same voice should’ve screamed, “Stop pouring the soup!” when I was pouring too much soup into a bowl that was too small.

The just of the blog is simply this, “Sometimes, we Do Too Much!” Occasionally we think that a little more is best when we’ve already served the perfect portion of soup. From time to time we forget that we can always add a dash of salt to a bowl of soup. Sometimes we forget that one day the kids will have to make their own soup.

To my amazing teachers, I say: “Let the Kids MAKE Soup NOW!” Who cares if it is bland, lumpy, or chunky! It’s their soup! “Their Soup will taste better with practice and time!”

What do PRINCIPALS DO when SCHOOL is CLOSED?

Here’s the million-dollar question, “What do principals do when school is closed because of inclement weather?” I’ve heard of some really daring principals doing some cool things like snowboarding, sledding and skiing! I’ve even heard of a very talented principal making a rap song for his students. There are also some principals who enjoy the day relaxing and catching up on favorite television shows. Well, this principal hasn’t fallen into either of the before mentioned categories. I have contemplated boiling a pot of water, going outside, tossing the water into the air, and recording how quickly it freezes. Note, “contemplated.” I haven’t done this because, I am the only person at home; therefore, there is no one to take a picture. Plus, I am sure that someone will think that I am truly “crazy” since the windchill factor is currently -22! This principal has used her “school-closed day”shampooing the carpet, catching up on school work, and reading a book that I started during the summer. I know, I don’t sound COOL~ but I do sound COMMITTED! I know that you are not interested in my housekeeping skills or how I created a meticulous schedule, so by default, I must tell you about the book that I’m reading. Don’t frown! I am not getting theoretical, although the book is researched based, it’s an easy read.  If you take out the fluff and acknowledgements, it’s only 124 pages of type 12 font. You can handle it! I ordered the book after reading a tweet from a principal who accredited the book for changing the dynamics of his school. So, before I even knew that I was inheriting a blue-ribbon bound school, I ordered the book. While I am not trying to increase sales of “The 7 Mindsets” by Scott Shickler and Jeff Waller, I must admit, I love what these guys have written.

I fell in love with the book, “The 7 Mindsets”, after reading the introduction. Shickler and Waller emphasized ensuring that children see the value in what they have done as opposed to waiting for affirmation from someone else. The authors further emphasized that adults speak a different language than children. Whether using a parent’s voice, teacher’s voice, or principal’s voice, adults are not making connections with kids because they are not speaking their language. The writers highlighted a few common memes often used by adults to motivate kids.  Adults have used these memes because the memes have been inherited! That’s right, more likely than not, these memes have been used to motivate us at some point in our lives. These “hand-me-down” memes have the opposite impact on “new generation kids” because “they” interpret the memes differently. For example, an adult may say, “don’t make the same mistake twice” hoping that the child whom he/she is speaking with should learn from his/her mistake and move forward. Shickler and Waller surmised that children digest the meme to mean, “Mistakes are bad and because mistakes are bad, don’t try things that are difficult.” The authors have interviewed people that kids know and admire. The book is filled with historical connections related to current curriculum. There are motivational quotes from noted people whose contributions are known by kids. Each chapter highlights 1 of 7 mindsets that will lead to ultimate success.

I am not going to write another sentence about the book…. JUST READ It!

I will be visiting my kids when the weather warms and our doors open.  We will be discussing the first mindset, “Everything Is Possible!”

BLUE RIBBON here We Come!

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