Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Leading like a quarterback

So, it's happened to me more than once.  I've been compared to Brett Favre, hall of fame quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.  Most recently it happened last week by some friends on Voxer and my brother.  I don't always see the resemblance but apparently others do.  Here are a couple of pictures for comparison.  The one on the left is me in November, growing a beard for men's cancer awareness.  The one on the right is Brett Favre taken by Kirby Lee of USA TODAY Sports.
 
After hearing from my Voxer friends and my brother, a blog post came to mind- How is being a Principal like being the quarterback of a football team?  Here are my thoughts.

Putting players in the right positions.
Some would argue that the coaches put the players in the right positions.  I would disagree.  If you've ever watched a really good quarterback, they know where everyone should be.  The quarterbacks are the ones who make sure the linemen, receivers, and running backs are in the best place for a successful play.
Principals serve the same role.  We need to make sure that teachers, support staff, and students are all in the right places, able to work together to learn with and from each other.  A strong team of teachers, in the right place with the right people, can make all the difference in the world.

Looking over the defense.
Once the play is called, it's time for the quarterback to check out the defense.  The play may call for a run but the defense has stacked the line so that's not going to work.  The play may call for a pass but the defense has one on one coverage on each receiver with help over the top so that's not going to work.  But sometimes the play fits the coverage and then it's "Game on"!
Principals need to look over the "defense", too.  It might be time to have a "No Office Day", but a student or teacher concern takes over the day.  It might be time for a drill, but the weather isn't cooperating.  There might be an assembly planned but the performance group doesn't show up (Yes, this happened to our school once.) so you need to go to plan B.  But most of the time, the play call matches up with the defense and it's time for learning.

Executing the right play.
The play has been called and now it's time for proper execution.  If all of the players do their jobs, including the quarterback, the chances for success are pretty high.  The defense may make the execution a little more difficult, but as many would say, the offense has the upper hand because they know where they are going and the defense players needs to react to the offense players.  Even when the play is executed correctly, things can go wrong so the quarterback needs to make adjustments for the next time the play is called.
Principals need to make sure to execute the right "plays", too.  The teachers, support staff, and students all must do their part.  If they do, the success of the class period or school day is almost certain.  But even when the right "play" is called, there may be a need for adjustments by the principal, the teachers, the support staff, or the students.

Audibles.
The play has been called.  The quarterback looks over the defense.  The play is set, and then the defense adjusts.  That's when a quarterback must call an audible.  Brett Favre was a master at this, but it took some time to get to his level.  It's the reason Packers fans never gave up on a game whether the Packers were way ahead or way behind.  We just wanted to see what Brett would do next.
Principals have to call audibles sometimes, too.  My hope is when we do call an audible, it's for the kids and not for the adults.  Creating a before or after school club for kids who have an interest in something is a great example.  It might be for the environment, for coding, or to get some homework help.  Call the audible and find a way to support it and fund it.  The kids will thank you.  

Hail Mary.
For quarterbacks and teams, this is their last chance.  It's either amazing or disappointing.  Enough said.
For principals, a Hail Mary could be a staff meeting to rebuild trust or put a rumor to rest.  It could be a family meeting with a student and a teacher.  It could be a meeting with a teacher about performance and ways to improve.  Whatever the case might be, it could be a last chance to make a difference and hopefully it is amazing.

The team gets the win.  The quarterback gets the loss.
If you're a good quarterback, you might take the credit for the win and put the blame on others for the loss.  If you're a great quarterback, the team gets the credit and you take the blame for the loss.  I have never met Brett Favre in person, but I am positive that he feels that all of his wins were because of the team that surrounded him and nearly all of the losses were because of something he either did or didn't do.
Principals feel the same way.  The reason any school is good, or is considered a winner, isn't because of the principal.  It's because of the staff, students, and families that a school is good.  Principals need to get all of the pieces in place, work on the climate and culture, listen, and make a decision that they know is in the best interest of kids.  The people in the school get the credit for the success of the students.  On the other hand, if something isn't going well, it's the principal who should take responsibility for the problem.  If she or he then works with their team, positive changes can be made to get the school back on track.

I'm very fortunate to work in a great school district and a great school.  The reason we are great is because we are a team.  We are the BEST school, with BEST standing for Believe, Encourage, Share, and Trust.  We believe this about one another and strive to be better every day.

I'll end with a personal story of my "famous" looks.  I was in a bowling alley in Wisconsin when Brett Favre was still playing.  I am not a good bowler and was wondering why this person was taking pictures of me bowling.  The only thing they would learn from my bowling is what not to do.  After a few minutes, they walked closer to me and I asked them why they were taking pictures.  Until I spoke, they honestly thought I was Brett Favre.  Although I am not Brett Favre, I do look a bit like him, and I hope those I learn with think I'm a pretty good quarterback for our school.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Last thoughts for June

I hope that you are all enjoying this first week of summer break.  I've had time to catch up on paperwork, meet with staff and families, and read a book (I read "Hacking Leadership" by Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis).  More importantly I was able to spend lots of time with Jen and Lauren, highlighted by Lauren getting her license yesterday!  I'm proud and thankful, as my taxi driver duties are over, at least for the time being.  I've just got a few things for you.

  • Please remember to think about your reflections and share them with me.  Here's what I wrote last week.
    • I always like to reflect on the day but now I'm reflecting on the year.  Here is a blog from edutopia that might provide some ideas of how you can reflect.  And here is a blog from my friend, Geniene (the one from 10000 days of running), that might help you, too.  As I look back at our school year, some thoughts come to mind.
    • I had the privilege of visiting your classrooms every day.  The one thing I need to do better is providing individual feedback more often.  The miniobservations are alright, but I plan on dropping you a voxer message from time to time.  If you're not on voxer, that's alright.  I'll just email you a link so you can hear what I'm saying about you.I had the privilege of connecting with students every day.  The one thing I need to do better is contacting families when I see the good that students are doing, not just when I have to call because of a poor decision.
    • I had the privilege of great conversations with staff every day.  The one thing I need to do better is finding the time to not just talk about school.  I need to get to know each of you better so that I really can figure out what makes you such great educators.
    • What three thoughts come to mind for you when you reflect on the year?  I'd love to hear about them.
  • We have a number of great candidates for our 7th/8th math position.  First round interviews will be on Monday, June 27th starting at noon if any of you are interested in joining us.  Colleen and I will be taking care of second round interviews on Thursday, June 30th.
  • Take time for yourself this summer.  I'm going to reconnect with Jen and Lauren starting tomorrow as we travel for a few days.  And if you read the first paragraph, we have three drivers now!
  • Take a chance and try something new this summer.  I'm thinking about writing a book.  Anyone want to join me?  I have no idea what I'll be writing about, but it will probably have something to do about education.


And here's a fun video from Lex Prin about differentiation that I thought you might like.


Thanks for taking the time to read this over.  I'm taking some time off and will be back online Monday, July 27th.  Remember, in the words of John Gunnell...
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.
Jay

Friday, June 10, 2016

Reflecting on the year

I always like to reflect on the day but now I'm reflecting on the year.  Here is a blog from edutopia that might provide some ideas of how you can reflect.  And here is a blog from my friend, Geniene (the one from 10000 days of running), that might help you, too.  As I look back at our school year, some thoughts come to mind.

  • I had the privilege of visiting your classrooms every day.  The one thing I need to do better is providing individual feedback more often.  The miniobservations are alright, but I plan on dropping you a voxer message from time to time.  If you're not on voxer, that's alright.  I'll just email you a link so you can hear what I'm saying about you.
  • I had the privilege of connecting with students every day.  The one thing I need to do better is contacting families when I see the good that students are doing, not just when I have to call because of a poor decision.
  • I had the privilege of great conversations with staff every day.  The one thing I need to do better is finding the time to not just talk about school.  I need to get to know each of you better so that I really can figure out what makes you such great educators.
What three thoughts come to mind for you when you reflect on the year?  I'd love to hear about them.

Calendar
Friday, June 10th         Half day with ice cream and yearbooks.  Here's the schedule!
                                       Don't forget to be outside at noon to wave good bye to the kids!
                                       If all of your work is done, you may leave at 1:00 today.
I'm in all next week with my final day on Friday, June 17th.

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
"The successful warrior is the average man, with laserlike focus."- Bruce Lee, martial artist, actor and filmmaker
"I can't take back the past, but I can fight for the future."- Shannon Thompson, writer
(from Pinterest)
"Failure makes success so much sweeter, and allow you to thumb your nose at the crowds."- Wilbur Smith, writer
"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."- Jim Rohn, entrepreneur and motivational speaker
(from Pinterest)
"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none."- Thomas Carlyle, historian and philosopher
"Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."- Gail Sheehy, writer
(from PixTeller)
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship."- Louisa May Alcott, writer
"What are the aims which are at the same time duties?  They are the perfecting of ourselves, the happiness of others."- Immanuel Kant, philosopher
"People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy."- Oliver Goldsmith, writer
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
Family smore for 6.10.16

I cannot believe that the school year is over.  It seems like there was so much I wanted to do that I either didn't do or ran out of time to do.  And guess what?  We still had a good year.  Thanks for all that you do, and let's make today the best Friday of the week!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell, Baraboo

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Celebration Day!

I think it was 8 years ago when we started the end of the year tradition of Celebration Day.  The format has morphed and changed but the reason for Celebration Day is still the same.  It's a chance for us to celebrate the kids and each other.  There is something to celebrate about everyone, even on the worst of days.  I look forward to being out and about with all of you today!  If you take pictures, tweet them out with the #mertonint hashtag or send them to me (text or email) and I'll tweet them out.  Wouldn't it be cool to get our hashtag trending?

And on a related note, a big THANK YOU to Matt, Wendy, and Sarah and the PTO for all of their work on Celebration Day this year!  The day should be awesome!

Calendar
Monday, June 6th             Final kickball game at Arrowhead 4:30PM (It's a B day!)
Tuesday, June 7th             Final staff meeting  8:15AM (It's a C day!)
                                           Final exchange of staff recognition awards
                                           8th grade Day Away
Wednesday, June 8th        Culver's Night- staff servers welcomed! 4:00-8:00PM
                                           8th grade dance 7:00PM (It's a D day!)
Thursday, June 9th           Awards assembly 9:15AM (It's an A day!)
                                           8th grade graduation 7:00PM
Friday, June 10th              Final day- noon dismissal
                                           Ice cream and yearbooks (linked schedule)
                                          *Everyone outside to wave good bye to the students at noon!

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
"It's the curiosity that drives me.  It's making a difference in the world that prevents me from ever giving up."- Deborah Meier, educator
(from Dyslexia Newsletter)
"I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations."- Beatrix Potter, writer
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward."- Vern Law, baseball player
(from Pinterest)
"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do.  Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.  Try to be better than yourself."- William Faulkner, writer
(from Pinterest)
"Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back.  Remember that and be very gentle with yourself."- Julia Cameron, writer and teacher
"Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along."- Hugh Allen, musician
 
"You don't always win, but every time you lose, you get better."- Ian Somerhalder, actor
"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes...but no plans."- Peter Drucker, management consultant and writer

As I sit at home tonight, after a great day at school meeting with grade levels (these meetings invigorate me and show me how much you care about our kids and each other), working in the garden, and listening to our talented musicians, I am in awe of all that you do each and every day for our kids and one another.  Now that was a run-on sentence of the nth degree, but it speaks volumes about each of you.  We have nearly made it through the school year and some educators would be mailing it in, but not you.  I see kids learning everywhere I turn.  They don't take a day off because you don't take a day off.  Now here's something I need you to do.
Enjoy today with the kids!  Keep the expectations high, but know that they are kids who are excited to share the final days with their friends and with you.  You may not hear what the kids say about you, but I do.  And I hear from the families about how Merton is a special place.  It's special because of all of you.
Again, enjoy today with the kids!  I know that I will.
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell, Baraboo, WI