Second Monday

Today marked the second Monday of the school year. I must say our school has existed in a state of confusion. I cannot pinpoint many things that have a clear and concise method for occuring. The only thing I know is that our staff has to create or recreate items on a daily basis. I believe this is due to continuous cuts made over the course of a decade. However, we do not allow that to be an excuse for not getting the job done.

We have begun our walk-throughs, and we are seeing some positives. However, there are many teaching strategies that need work. Lecturing is dominating our classrooms and coupling that with worksheets doesn't sit well. We still have a long way to go with the curriculum needs of our school.

Visibility is at the forefront of our administrative efforts. I, along with my assistant principals, have been in every classroom multiple times. Seeing is believing, and I think our staff is ready to open their doors and ask for assistance in delivering their content.

I think of this school year much like my daughter's room. Sure it is messy, but that is just her floor that is distraught. The room is still in good shape. After some tidying up, her room will shine. Our school is messy with some out-of-date practices and methods, but with some collaboration and discussion we will too shine.

Ready or Not, Here They Come!

The teachers that is! Our teachers embark on the 2010-2011 school year tomorrow. They will report to school tomorrow and participate in one of four PD opportunities. In the afternoon, our administrative staff will be working with them in their Professional Learning Communities (PLC). We are going to change the way we operate, and for the better. Too many times teachers to work independently, and miss out on all the core knowledge the other teachers possess. The TEAM approach, Together Everyone Achieves More, is going to be the Groveport Madison HS way.

Is this change the way we in education see it? Working together, instead of in isolation? Will teachers conform and embrace this, or will they be stubborn and obstinent? Isn't collaboration the natural way to learn?

Time. Our teachers will be given time to collaborate. They will have an administrator that will be on their team. Data will be collected and displayed. Curriculum will be reviewed and refined. And, students will achieve more. Teachers will be professionally rewarded and satisfied. Administrators will be heralded for leading change and increased achievement. But, in the end, it will be the teachers working together on the same side, with the same goals that will make the difference.

Tomorrow will be a new day!

Back to School

The administrative team along with the guidance staff start back to school tomorrow. It has been a rough summer to be honest. Closing out the school year never had an end to it. The main office and guidance office were tiled. This caused all of us to pack away items that may have been needed to review for the summer. Enough complaining!!

I am anxious to get this started. I feel that this is the year to make significant gains in student achievement. Our administrative staff is new and excited to get working and couple them with our veteran guidance staff and excellent administrative assistants, and I am pleased to be in this situation.

We are going to tackle this year with a simplistic plan that takes alot of dedication and focus. We will collaborate in Professional Learning Communities and carry the mission of "Every student, every lesson, everyday!"

Credit Recovery Program Recognized

Our local NBC News affiliate came out today to do an interview with me. Tanya Hutchins, Education Reporter, asked me about our credit recovery program. I think she di a nice job with the piece. It is always helpful to provide students with multiple opportunities to succeed. Especially, since we know how important a high school diploma is for future growth.

July is here, what happened to June?

For the past two months I have tried to close out school and begin thinking about becoming the Head Principal. I have been serving as the Assistant Principal for the past 4 years. I was excited May 28th when graduation ended, and excited again June 7th after the closing staff meeting. However, I just haven't been able to close the school year our and begin solely thinking about the upcoming year. Summer school is being housed in our building, and even though I am not directly responsible, I still have some obligation to the discipline that may occur. This has some effect causing the year to linger, and I find myself standing on July 1st.

Other factors that I was not prepared for have been replacing the tile in the main office and guidance office. I am thrilled for this, but I have moved my office in transitioning to my new title, but I haven't moved in because I am waiting for the tile to be laid. That happens next week, and carpets will be cleaned, and walls are painted , and . . .????

To add to my personal pain, I was vacationing in Florida last week. We visited Destin, FL, and were oil free for 5 of the 7 days. I absolutely took 99% of the time off from work. I mixed in a couple emails and a phone call. Now, I am paying for the vacation, but isn't that how it works? You look forward to the trip for months, and the day you return to work the papers are piled to the ceiling. Back to life, Back to reality!

Integrating Technology

I am currently working with a small group of teachers on a technology grant. A team of 4 freshmen teachers will be integrating technology into their instruction using a TPACK model. Roughly, it is combining technological knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and content knowledge to deliver instruction. To say the least, the timing is awful. The year is ending and that means graduation, prom, master schedule, teacher check out, etc. To add to this, our principal is moving to another district and I have been named the principal for next year.

I must say that the requirements for receiving the $$$$ holds me accountable to know what is going on. I am taking a course, attending meetings, and having dialogue with teachers not only in my school, but schools across the state. We are sharing ideas and learning from one another. The situation, even with the poor timing, is becoming a nice burden to have at 10:00pm. I can log on and share my ideas before I go to bed. No more racing mind, because I have a forum to release the mind. Nice, I know!

I say all of that to say this: Technology is a must in the classroom. It is time for us to quit being the gatekeeper and to allow the students to take over as the facilitators. They know what to do, we just need to guide their energies and demand that they reflect on their learning. Get out on the front lines and then move out of their way. This is hard to do. I recently said that telling teachers to get rid of their chalkboards, is like asking all dogs to quit chewing bones. Absurd, right? No, the only absurd thing would be to make technology optional for teachers to use.

All Students Learn

Today, I attended a conference for being an effective facilitator for our District Leadership Team (DLT). The focus was on the creating and maintaining the three structures of a district; the DLT, building leadership teams, and teacher based teams. At the conference I ran into my former principal and he offered a way to truly get people riled up. He said to go into the DLT meeting and ask the members if all students can learn. Undoubtedly they will say yes. After they say yes tell them they are all wrong. It isn't that all students can learn, but instead all student learn.

He was right. All students learn. The bigger and more important question is what do we teach them? When do we teach it? Students will learn that you do not care about them, or that you feel sorry for them because they are poor, or that they will never be successful because of their zip code.

When you are with your students or your children, think about what you are teaching them at that particular moment. Are you teaching them something you want them to learn?