tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19775179421152851892024-03-18T06:14:02.268-07:00Steele ThoughtsThe thoughts and reflections of a passionate educator.Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-69070117073753208422021-11-24T12:34:00.000-08:002021-11-24T12:34:53.472-08:00Things I'm Thankful for in Education<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRKnRgJ8p2EGDDrYZlhxkDWg_HkmI0_O0ZHs1qvNYWnf2xOwiqzeladFZx60KPnSVz4dpKJ7B6wWyBpwFZh7NwOIp9D5i0QcFVP2d9CC9ZlwKKm-dOhYf1VLabZTHWj7a6mltbHnhEwk/s1600/Things+I%2527m+Thankful+for+in+Education.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRKnRgJ8p2EGDDrYZlhxkDWg_HkmI0_O0ZHs1qvNYWnf2xOwiqzeladFZx60KPnSVz4dpKJ7B6wWyBpwFZh7NwOIp9D5i0QcFVP2d9CC9ZlwKKm-dOhYf1VLabZTHWj7a6mltbHnhEwk/w400-h225/Things+I%2527m+Thankful+for+in+Education.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>I’m grateful for a career in education. Here is some stuff that I really appreciate:</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3d679a51-7fff-f74c-15a8-a11e1b91e7f2"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parents who give teachers the benefit of the doubt.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Colleagues who are always pleasant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Custodians who take pride in their work.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers who give shoutouts to their co-workers.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students who are kind to their classmates.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Central Office staff who ask what they can do to help.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CNP staff who joke with the students when they are serving them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In-person schooling.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nurses who demonstrate compassion in the midst of the drama.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Administrators who understand their most important role is to support the teachers.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Librarians who create inviting spaces for the school community.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Legislators who recognize that they may not have expertise in education.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paraprofessionals who show extraordinary poise with challenging kids.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Opportunities to make others smile.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secretaries who are patient as they answer the same question for the tenth time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers who recognize that their students have a lot of stuff going on at home.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Counselors who are gracious with anyone who happens to walk into their office.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SRO’s who spend time in the hallways.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff members who jump in to help when their co-worker has a family emergency.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have many things to be thankful for in my school. I bet you do too.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-40963359033148340842021-05-04T15:48:00.000-07:002021-05-04T15:48:25.839-07:00I don't know...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnddghwrMJjFqs8DvJiJFnzHjeDk8IBjsxpgER5gAzc2UqM38k3OIHZZdWliXzZ7vZtiuotJirJpQk4j0YNMErli4c8ZyHtZbV8OYfS03nbGvL7MOuye-PseKV5tuTzZ-DYMFcAg5pfc/s1600/I+didn%2527t+know...+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnddghwrMJjFqs8DvJiJFnzHjeDk8IBjsxpgER5gAzc2UqM38k3OIHZZdWliXzZ7vZtiuotJirJpQk4j0YNMErli4c8ZyHtZbV8OYfS03nbGvL7MOuye-PseKV5tuTzZ-DYMFcAg5pfc/w320-h180/I+didn%2527t+know...+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Teachers…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I don’t know about that time you had family stuff going on, and you really needed to stay home… but you came to work anyway.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you stayed at work late to help a student who was behind.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you got a lesson ready for a colleague who was dealing with an emergency.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time that the student was mumbling under his breath, but you didn’t let it get to you.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time the parent sent you the nasty email, but you responded with poise and professionalism.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you gave the student chance after chance… when they really didn’t deserve it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you put extra energy into planning a cool classroom experience for your students.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about all those times you sacrificed personal time, so you could give students quality feedback on the assignments they turned in.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you had a disastrous morning, but you still smiled for your students, and you still jumped into the lesson with a positive attitude.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about all those times your principal said or did something dumb… but you still showed support to your administration.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time the student brought a terrible attitude into your classroom… but you responded with grace and compassion… because you figured they had something else going on.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about that time you did something special for a student. Nobody knew about it… but you did it because you care about your students.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I don’t know about all the times you rose above your own fears and anxieties to deliver a great education for your students.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">As teachers… you do remarkable things… and mundane things… every day… that make this school a great place. I don’t always know about them. But they matter. And so you matter. Thank you for teaching our students.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Danny<br /></p>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-48391624889191782962021-01-16T05:25:00.000-08:002021-01-16T05:25:15.916-08:00To a Teacher in a Pandemic<p><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have seen many stories this year about the academic struggles of students. Many teachers have a lot of student failures -- more than they have experienced in their entire career. And it can be demoralizing. But teachers… <i>you</i> have not failed. You have bent over backwards for your students. You have given them chance after chance after chance… and many of them are continuing to make decisions that don’t seem rational to us. While you all are not responsible for the decisions of your students; many of you all are taking these grades personally. You hurt because your students have not been successful, but you also hurt because you know many of your students are confronted with challenges at home which are out of their control. And so you hurt because your students hurt. I always appreciate conscientious educators, but I don’t want you to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6fa3f9f9-7fff-ae77-ca2c-befb06a09db8"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you Google school mission statements, you will see phrases like:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We will challenge students to reach their potential…”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We will maximize learning opportunities…”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We will inspire students to be life-long learners…”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We will provide a safe and nurturing environment…”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The imperative of providing a safe environment is the obvious reason so many schools have transitioned to a virtual learning model. Safety trumps “best practices.” But how do we fulfill our academic mission in a pandemic? To put it bluntly, we refuse to give up. We continue to maximize opportunities for students; we continue to challenge; we continue to nurture; we continue to inspire. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how many opportunities do our students deserve? I’m not sure how to answer that except to refer back to the mission. And consider what is missing from most mission statements. Timeframes. Timeframes for gaining knowledge… timeframes for developing skills… timeframes for learning. The goal is that they will become responsible; clearly many of our students are not there yet. So we push on.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my former teachers became the Teacher of the Year for his district several years ago. A reporter asked him for his advice to teachers. This is what he said: </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Teach every student like you are their lifeline. You are their last chance to succeed. You don’t know what each child has been through. You don’t know how many chances each child has had.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you look at your list of students, you may see a lot of failures. When I look at our list of teachers, I see a lot of lifelines. Do the students deserve another chance after you have given them so many already. Perhaps not. But as one teacher told me, “This is the year for grace.” That would suggest that “deserve” has got nothing to do with it. The mission of all educators is about our collective commitment to our students. So thank you for making that commitment. I hope we will all be able to look back on this year and remember it as the year we refused to give up on our students.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-59581617205026600982020-11-22T16:25:00.002-08:002020-11-22T16:25:20.613-08:00When the Mission is the Problem<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>The mission is vital; it is the essence, after all, of what drives any organization. But there are times that commitment to the mission may actually undermine core values that are more fundamental to the organization. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div>When I <span style="text-align: left;">was a counselor at Space Camp in the summer of 1992, I knew little about the story behind the Challenger explosion which happened just six years earlier. After watching the Netflix documentary, </span><i style="text-align: left;">Challenger: The Final Flight</i><span style="text-align: left;">, I was left with a sense of sadness about the seven lives which were prematurely and needlessly snuffed out, but I was simultaneously struck with lessons for leadership and organizational culture.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaIKTa5bvapDtB4oHeqg6snPZAPiF4DIJifK5ErgMYDn5Tie8qLfY0ZzWWNxGH3fOTdAHvLHq6MvegqWsLMno7kjTDh31_m-UDH0LxdaFuzokVPy65mhbBBSFYs7bykT3P5oR9lj1Z4s/s884/IMG_9513.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaIKTa5bvapDtB4oHeqg6snPZAPiF4DIJifK5ErgMYDn5Tie8qLfY0ZzWWNxGH3fOTdAHvLHq6MvegqWsLMno7kjTDh31_m-UDH0LxdaFuzokVPy65mhbBBSFYs7bykT3P5oR9lj1Z4s/s320/IMG_9513.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Engineers who worked on the solid rocket booster had documented concerns for years about the integrity of the seals which contained the extremely flammable fuel in the boosters. Specifically, there were repeated alarms about the O-rings which were responsible for the seal. Contract engineers, as well as some staff who worked within NASA, had maintained there needed to be a complete redesign of the seal. But NASA was dependent on the national government for funding, and this entailed significant political pressure within the organization to maintain a rigorous flight schedule with the space shuttle program. They did not think they could afford to ground the fleet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The launch of Challenger, which was scheduled for late January in 1986, was delayed by thunderstorms around Cape Canaveral and then further threatened by a snap of sub-freezing temperatures. As was routine, a team of NASA managers conducted a flight readiness review to ensure that the launch could move forward. Because of the unusual cold weather, this involved meeting with the contractors who were responsible for the manufacture of the different systems within the space shuttle to ensure the mission was safe to proceed. The company, Morton Thiakol, was responsible for making the solid rocket booster. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The engineers at Thiakol overwhelmingly recommended that the launch be delayed because of the cold weather. In response, the Project Manager at Marshall Space Flight Center responded: "Good God, Thiokol! When do you want me to launch, next April?" After further deliberation, the managers at Thiokol overruled the engineers and gave approval for the launch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>An inquiry into the Challenger explosion by the <i>Rogers Commission</i> released a report which indicated the explosion was the result of a bad seal in the solid rocker booster, as well as a flawed decision making process which did not maintain the necessary safe guards for a successful and safe shuttle program. </span>NASA executives felt political pressure from Congress to keep the shuttle missions on schedule. That pressure was felt by the program managers, and it also trickled down to the contractors. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over 27 years in education, I can't tell you how many times I have witnessed colleagues avoid telling tough information to supervisors. They avoided hard conversations because the truth would be uncomfortable for the boss. They weren't sure how the administration would respond to news it didn't want to hear. In education, we need to have hard conversations about student achievement, staff morale, equity, the impact of a global pandemic on the school community, and myriad other issues. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Leaders need to have these conversations, and in fact, cultivate them. They need to be willing to listen to bad news. They need to be willing to hear the truth, even when it gets in the way of the "mission." And they need to create a culture in the organization where everyone feels comfortable speaking up.</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHRq8UTfYPk_uhN4UhEi1Hnlq1O35LBiyXUDHumb7nlNo5UvHFYpccB5q9xDsc9VugjGLu8xiO6OzBifQbumqSceXPR3iF5K1D8ItOumzPzi2HhxM_JCQwWGzLZUh6YVmw2jrhcmblI/s746/IMG_8417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="746" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHRq8UTfYPk_uhN4UhEi1Hnlq1O35LBiyXUDHumb7nlNo5UvHFYpccB5q9xDsc9VugjGLu8xiO6OzBifQbumqSceXPR3iF5K1D8ItOumzPzi2HhxM_JCQwWGzLZUh6YVmw2jrhcmblI/w400-h215/IMG_8417.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-53968229358568936892020-11-05T16:21:00.000-08:002020-11-05T16:21:03.254-08:00Letter to a Discouraged Student<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">To a discouraged student,</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0a899229-7fff-836e-a17c-c0c01d4b79dc"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You're discouraged. I know you are. Your heart sank when you saw the grades. But those letter grades don’t define you.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last spring didn’t go like it was supposed to go. You missed out on activities. You missed seeing your friends at school every day. And this year isn’t normal either. It’s uncomfortable to wear a mask at school. Remaining “socially distanced” isn’t much fun either!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are having to learn in ways you never learned before. All the technology and all the directions can be confusing. And you are having to be more responsible for your learning than ever before. You are being asked to learn independently and keep up with your own work in ways that many college students are not even able to handle. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We might not know about all the distractions at your house or that your Wi-Fi keeps going out. We might not know about all the hours that you’re having to watch your siblings. We don’t know that your parents might not be able to help you figure out how to submit your assignment online… or explain the project that doesn’t make sense to you. We don’t know about your part time job or that you usually don’t get a full night’s sleep. You’re already a great employee… but you aren’t getting any points for that in the gradebook.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You've never made the honor roll, but you have worked hard for your "C’s". You're kind, but we don't have a rubric for kindness. You smile every morning, but facial expressions don't go in the grade book. You're always on time, and you're never in trouble, but there wasn't a question on the test about that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That letter grade does not represent the qualities that are most important about you; it certainly does not represent your hopes, goals, and dreams. You have potential that is not measured by that last test. You have gifts that were not assessed by that last quiz. You didn't make the honor roll... but we still think you're a neat kid.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You're bored, and it's hard for you to care about assignments when you don't think they have anything to do with your life. You're good at things that we don't seem to care about. You're passionate about things that aren't on the syllabus. You're tired of being compared to those around you. You feel like you don't measure up -- like you are inadequate. But your grade does not reflect your IQ or your worth. It is arbitrary. I'm sorry that the grade is so important to all the adults. Your future employers will care about other things too. They will care if you work hard; they will care how you work with other people; they will care that you don’t give up… even when the job gets really hard. You may not feel successful now… but please persevere. You will be a valuable employee. You will be a wonderful neighbor. You will be a great citizen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You're discouraged... but I want you to know we care. I want you to know we believe in you. We want you to know that you have a bright future. You have talents and gifts that we may not even know about yet. We haven't found out how to measure them. But you have them!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are amazing... and your worth will never be measured by a letter grade. So please don't give up. We want you to graduate. We need you to graduate… because you are our future. And your education will open so many doors for you. Your teachers care about you and they care about your future. We might not know your whole story, but we care about your success, and we’re invested in you. I care about you… and I'm in your corner. Keep on keepin’ on!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ~ Danny Steele</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-40833567059757449072020-10-18T08:05:00.000-07:002020-10-18T08:05:39.874-07:00Letter to a Stressed Teacher in 2020<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNHCvi36Knj3yplfwTlLP8aouoH4TaPEx611DYLuwigrt_ll8pSeu-LQ5U2GjoJDKcY4DFtycyYPjQPSRI9lXZyAuJq_ih7x7iQvmcinR8ysNOjIWvVQQJgvZV5tPwlPasjO4d0iXtjk/s1600/Letter+to+a+Stressed+Teacher+in+2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNHCvi36Knj3yplfwTlLP8aouoH4TaPEx611DYLuwigrt_ll8pSeu-LQ5U2GjoJDKcY4DFtycyYPjQPSRI9lXZyAuJq_ih7x7iQvmcinR8ysNOjIWvVQQJgvZV5tPwlPasjO4d0iXtjk/w400-h225/Letter+to+a+Stressed+Teacher+in+2020.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Teacher Friend,</p>You're stressed. I know you are.<br /><br />I'm a principal, and it's easy for me to say, "Hang in there -- thanks for all you do!" But I want you to know exactly what it is that I'm thankful for.<br /><br />Last spring was a whirlwind. I'm sorry that so many of you didn't really get to say good bye to your students. You invested into their lives all year, and then the rug was ripped out from underneath you. That hurts.<div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry about the anxiety you experienced all summer, not knowing what your job would look like in the new year -- not knowing if all your students were ok.</div><div><br /></div><div>Your school year may have started late; you may not have had all your students in your room. You probably had to learn new ways of delivering instruction. You had to learn new technology... and that technology didn't always work! You had to rearrange your classroom! And it's hard to teach with masks. It's not easy to connect with students when you can barely see their faces, or in many cases, they're not even in your room. You became a teacher because you want to build relationships with students, and it's never been so hard. However your school year began, I know it wasn't normal... and it was ridiculously challenging.</div><div><br /></div><div>You love being a teacher, but you are worried about your health. You are worried about the health of your students. You are worried about the health of your own families.</div><div><br /><div>But you push on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for taking time to prepare meaningful lessons... even when you feel yourself dragging.<br /><br />Thank you you for providing encouragement and support to your colleagues when they're down.<br /><br />Thank you for being kind to your students... and for realizing that may be the only kindness they experience all day.<br /><br />Thank you for working to motivate your apathetic students. Sometimes your efforts don't seem to make a difference. But you keep trying... because that's what teachers do.<br /><br />Thank you for your willingness to learn new ideas from your colleagues. I admire your commitment to being a better teacher tomorrow than you were today.<br /><br />Thank you for trying to connect with students who don't seem reachable... because you realize you may be their only lifeline.<br /><br />Thank you for making all those phone calls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for your patience with the students who may be disruptive and annoying... because you know that those students still need you.<br /><br /></div><div>Thank you for working to ensure your students have a brighter future.</div><div><br />Thank you for being the kind of teacher that you would want your own kids to have.<br /><i><br /></i>I know you're tired, and you have a right to be. I'm sorry that we just put another kid in your class... making it even harder to socially distance. I'm sorry we just asked you to fill out another form. In spite of the challenges, you maintain your passion for kids; you hold on to your commitment to making a difference. I never take that for granted.<br /><br />You're stressed... but you push on.<br /><br />To me... that makes you awesome... and I appreciate you.<br /><br /><span> </span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Danny Steele</span><br /><br /></div></div>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-79087816693590201722020-10-15T15:45:00.003-07:002020-10-16T03:25:00.293-07:0010 Things I Believe About Education and Leadership During a Pandemic<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA6jMhPlZN3Hkkgn29pBZu7Izg7R3yLFR5TMCCwThbtfH4NKDaTIMYopeWbFvN55y9yc9uaW2dAOT_Y7Csh5Pa-TbT5XCAgGcbzvsuOLz3nPCdE4vc4qXqZOYD9wQeaJcdj86CmkG9pM/s1600/10+Things+I+Believe+About+Education+and+Leadership+During+a+Pandemic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA6jMhPlZN3Hkkgn29pBZu7Izg7R3yLFR5TMCCwThbtfH4NKDaTIMYopeWbFvN55y9yc9uaW2dAOT_Y7Csh5Pa-TbT5XCAgGcbzvsuOLz3nPCdE4vc4qXqZOYD9wQeaJcdj86CmkG9pM/w400-h225/10+Things+I+Believe+About+Education+and+Leadership+During+a+Pandemic.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This pandemic has underscored an important truth that many educators have always known: we need each other. <b>Nothing can replace human connection</b>. Nothing can replace personal interactions. Nothing can replace relationships. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers do care about their students, and they understand that connecting with students is more important than ever. But they cannot carry the weight of the responsibility for the social and emotional health of all their kids. That’s too much to bear. It takes a village.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As many parents have found themselves trying to help their own kids who have had to do some learning at home, they have been reminded that <b>teaching is not easy</b>. It's a skill... and it requires a great deal of patience.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We ask our students to be life-long learners. Well… as educators are confronted with the reality of adapting to radically different instructional models… this is the perfect opportunity for us to <b>practice what we preach</b> and model for our students a little bit of “life-long learning.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The realities of COVID and virtual instruction have underscored the need to <b>provide equitable learning experiences</b> for every student. Not all students have access to technology and WiFi. And not all students have parents who have the time and ability to help with school work at home. As educators, we have to be mindful of that reality and we must work to close the opportunity gaps.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>5. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s <b>easier to throw stones than it is to make tough decisions</b>. And sometimes, being a leader involves coming to terms with the fact that any decision you make will be the “wrong” one to a whole lot of people.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">6. </span><b>Patience… flexibility… support… and grace</b>. If this is not what we’re bringing to the table right now, then we’re bringing the wrong stuff. And y</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">our colleagues need to know that they are not alone. No one should struggle in isolation. And you can still build a positive culture in the face of adversity. This is the magic of camaraderie. It is the beauty of knowing that we’re all doing this together. And we’re not alone.</span></span></p><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">7. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs applies to educators now more than ever. Leaders need to remember that when they’re talking about culture, mission, and all that stuff at the top of the pyramid… they have staff members who are worried about safety, security, and all that stuff at the bottom of the pyramid. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, teachers don’t need their administrators to inspire them, motivate them, or even lead them. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, what teachers need... is for their administrators to <b>listen to them, understand them, and validate their experiences</b>.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Leaders</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"> need to acknowledge the challenges and trauma that are confronting those they are leading. They</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"> need to be willing to listen to bad news. They need to be willing to hear uncomfortable truths. And they need to <b>create a culture in the organization where everyone feels ok speaking up</b>; they</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">need to ensure they are creating safe spaces for candid communication. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9. Educators are confronted with two moral imperatives that are sometimes in conflict: First, we need to provide the best possible education for every student. Second, we need to ensure that all of our students and colleagues are safe. Most students learn best when they are in school, so <b>we need to have them there when it is safe to do so</b>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">10. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students are resilient. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers are resilient. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">They both have challenges... and they both need continued support and encouragement.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Hope abides</b>.</span></span></p><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-f44e1130-7fff-cfac-22f6-3f8850467445"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-22f02e7e-7fff-1fab-6114-627ddc961e2d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-27295123819236941132019-11-24T09:20:00.000-08:002019-11-24T09:20:48.017-08:00Maintaining Staff Morale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR5zHjjw-ErwXYlxlh4n363s7pnE3lR73Z2VYuF-1CrXq7EQGvJO8q9O4SLGHZdYx9NcOu6xJDGY15C5ZMnbq6En9lVY8IuhPTV7g8cOvJgl8McmOFxXocnYeauJ8G0xJKgrZsku9g3c/s1600/EdWrite+Now+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1024" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR5zHjjw-ErwXYlxlh4n363s7pnE3lR73Z2VYuF-1CrXq7EQGvJO8q9O4SLGHZdYx9NcOu6xJDGY15C5ZMnbq6En9lVY8IuhPTV7g8cOvJgl8McmOFxXocnYeauJ8G0xJKgrZsku9g3c/s320/EdWrite+Now+pic.JPG" width="320" /></a>David Weinberger once said, "The smartest person in the room is the room." This poignant adage speaks to the power of collaboration, and it is something I got to experience first hand this summer. I had the very cool privilege of working with ten talented and passionate educators to write a book - Volume III of the Education Write Now series. Under the leadership of our skilled editors, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaneeBell">Sanée Bell</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeff_Zoul">Jeff Zoul</a>, and with the support of our amazing editor, <a href="https://twitter.com/laurendavis510">Lauren Davis</a>, we each wrote a chapter. Our goal, and the focus of this project, was to provide solutions to common challenges in our schools and classrooms.<br />
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I tackled the challenge of maintaining staff morale, and you can check out my intro below:<br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"Teaching is hard, and it can be emotionally draining. Educators deal with the pressure of standardized tests. They are tasked with teaching rigorous academic standards but also developing strong character while responding to the social and emotional needs of their students. They have the often overwhelming challenge of identifying students at risk of suicide. They work under the pressure of state mandates and district initiatives. Their schedule and position often create feelings of isolation. They may struggle to keep up with evolving technologies and shifting standards. And recent news stories of teacher strikes across the country have underscored the reality that teachers are underpaid and often struggle to make ends meet. So teacher burnout is real, as are the teacher shortages we constantly hear about. </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What can we do to mitigate the impact of pressures that confront teachers every day they come to work?. What can we do to stay motivated in spite of the adversity? There is hope. Administrators and teachers can both play a role in creating the kind of school culture that fosters strong morale. This chapter will outline ten strategies for administrators and ten strategies for teachers. While schools are often underfunded, staff morale does not need to be a function of fiscal resources. Educators have tremendous potential to impact the attitude and joy of all those in the school building through clarifying their values and shifting their </i></span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">perspectives. So here we go." </i></div>
<br />
You can get some other teasers by checking out blog posts from my colleagues linked here:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://drjoyblog.com/2019/09/22/edwrite-now/">Lynell Powell</a><br />
<a href="https://rdene915.com/2019/09/29/edwrite-now-post/">Rachelle Dene Poth</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi96xzYCx1LPDxlu1aIadbw0rY4u_Ol35QKzEvRHgZybj_paMaJcZyKaIeO3hG9xzfCfVmfn7ly2YzNANZjhAOZAfusS1MMZVvGT1eHWCz8XFDS7eGP2tGuhJU9zw_5hCNX_PxXEH8EJI/s1600/Education+Write+Now+Vol+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi96xzYCx1LPDxlu1aIadbw0rY4u_Ol35QKzEvRHgZybj_paMaJcZyKaIeO3hG9xzfCfVmfn7ly2YzNANZjhAOZAfusS1MMZVvGT1eHWCz8XFDS7eGP2tGuhJU9zw_5hCNX_PxXEH8EJI/s320/Education+Write+Now+Vol+3.png" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://jcasatodd.com/edwritenow19-challenges-and-solutions-and-an-unforgettable-journey/">Jennifer Casa-Todd</a><br />
<a href="https://joshstumpenhorst.com/making-libraries-relevant/">Josh Stumpenhorst</a><br />
<a href="http://www.davidgeurin.com/2019/10/the-power-of-perseverance.html">David Geurin</a><br />
<a href="https://jeffreyzoul.blogspot.com/2019/10/promoting-positive-student-behavior.html">Jeff Zoul</a><br />
<a href="https://saneebell.com/2019/11/03/the-unthinkable-and-unspoken-barrier-to-student-success/">Sanée Bell</a><br />
<a href="https://rosscoops31.com/2019/11/13/edwritenow/">Ross Cooper</a><br />
<a href="https://katielmartin.com/category/learner-centered-innovation/">Katie Martin</a><br />
<br />
We were all fortunate to have this amazing professional experience, and we sincerely hope that educators benefit from the wisdom, insight, and strategies found in this volume... but we all understood that our mission carried an added significance. All of the royalties generated from this book will support the <a href="https://will-to-live.org/">Will to Live Foundation</a>, a nonprofit foundation working to prevent teen suicide.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for the opportunity provided by <a href="https://www.routledge.com/k-12">Routledge Publishing</a>. I'm grateful for the vision of Lauren, Jeff, and Sanée... and their passion to see this project through. And I am grateful for the honor of working along side Jennifer, Ross, Rachelle, David, Katie, Lynell, and Josh. It is our hope that other educators will find this volume a useful resource as they seek to refine their craft and improve their corner of the world. <i> Education Write Now: Solutions to Common Challenges in Your School or Classroom</i> is out now. Check it out <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Education-Write-Now-Volume-III-Solutions-to-Common-Challenges-in-Your/Zoul-Bell/p/book/9780367225759">here</a>!<br />
<br />Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-11592612586487457512019-11-07T10:14:00.000-08:002019-11-08T08:21:15.460-08:00Rethinking Fundraisers<br />
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On the way to school, my daughter told me about the talent show going on today. I asked her if she needed money, and she indicated she already had the three dollars. And she told me a little story from earlier in the year. "Dad... when we had the faculty / student basketball game, only one student in our homeroom didn't bring money. But my teacher opened his wallet and put in the three dollars so everyone could go. It was so sweet." I responded, "That was sweet of him. I wonder how the student felt."<br />
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If you bring $1 you can go the game. If you bring $3, you can go to the school dance. Bring $5 and you can support your classmates at the talent show. These fundraisers during the school day are ubiquitous in schools around our country and at every grade level. As a principal for eight years, we had them at our school.<br />
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I regret it.<br />
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When we provide these extra experiences only to the students who have the money, what message are we sending to them? What message are they <i>receiving</i>? I have become convinced that these practices reinforce inequity, and they are harmful to students.<br />
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Kids can't control the income of their parents. Why should the quality of experiences enjoyed in school be a function of something out of their control? I realize that everything is not equal in the "real world" but our schools should be undermining systems of inequity, not reinforcing them. Some students enjoy extra advantages at home because of the income of their parents. And now these students also enjoy extra advantages at school, courtesy of the three dollar fundraiser. They get additional socialization with peers, bonding with friends, and engaging with teachers outside of the academic setting. They get "downtime" outside of the regular classroom. They get the added energy and inspiration from participating in something out of the routine of the normal school day.<br />
<br />
<br />
I realize schools want to generate more funds. But we shouldn't do it in a way that embarrasses students. And we shouldn't do it in a way that some students miss out on fun experiences enjoyed by their more affluent peers. We can do better. <br />
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You might remember Harper Lee's great quote from <i>To Kill a Mocking Bird</i>: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." I'm challenging us to rethink our fundraisers during the school day. Consider the kid who doesn't get to go to the dance because her parents don't have the money.<br />
<br />Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-83575604401366303062019-10-30T15:28:00.000-07:002019-10-30T15:28:12.477-07:00The Unforgettable Interview<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1ixmt9lQnc2p-UGD7umQJyBdAPHWQ9YnGYf87lMsWq7gDMeHbN394KH9Mw2ntgHkB_BZiKlyH6pKP7dO9hbqV4XDkOQiPdM0mr7XBCV97XUaQLbRooh608ak9ovnMgK2tUfBw5pIrzE/s1600/The+Unforgettable+Interview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1ixmt9lQnc2p-UGD7umQJyBdAPHWQ9YnGYf87lMsWq7gDMeHbN394KH9Mw2ntgHkB_BZiKlyH6pKP7dO9hbqV4XDkOQiPdM0mr7XBCV97XUaQLbRooh608ak9ovnMgK2tUfBw5pIrzE/s320/The+Unforgettable+Interview.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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About 6 or 7 years ago, I interviewed a teacher named Jake Huggins. He seemed like a nice guy; he had a few years under his belt; and I thought he might be a nice addition to our faculty. But he took away any doubt when he answered one question. This was always my favorite question:<br />
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<i>"Jake... in every school in America, you can place teachers on a continuum. On one end of the continuum are teachers who don't seem to want to be there. They're always complaining about something. Their colleagues wonder why they haven't retired yet. They're a drag on the collective energy of the school. But on the other end of that continuum are the teachers who are always excited to be at work. They love the students; they value their colleagues; and they lift the spirits of all those around them. When graduates come back to visit, these are the teachers they want to see. So Jake... what is the difference between these two teachers? What is the 'X factor?' Because that's what we're looking for here." </i><br />
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Most teachers would talk about passion, or talk about the fact that the second teacher isn't just coming to work for a paycheck; they're coming to work to make a difference. I think those are good answers, but Jake said something different -- something I'll never forget. He answered something like this:<br />
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<i>"You know, I think every teacher is idealistic when they start their career. Almost every new teacher has passion; they love kids; and they want to make a difference. But after several years, you hit a little bit of a wall. There's this reality check. You realize this job is hard. There are a lot of papers to grade. Some students make it really hard to teach. And parents are not always supportive. I think some teachers just don't seem to move beyond these frustrations. They burn out. But others are able to maintain their sense of purpose in spite of the challenges. Their work is hard, but they remain convinced that it matters. Some students are challenging, but they are aware of how much they need a teacher not to give up on them. They deal with adversity, but it doesn't steal their passion. These are the teachers who get to make a difference year after year."</i><br />
<br />
We hired Jake. And this past week, he was named the school's "Teacher of the Year." So I salute Jake Huggins... and all those other teachers who got past that "reality check" and retained their passion for students. They are making a difference... year after year.Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-25090907670049145862019-10-09T09:50:00.000-07:002019-10-09T11:01:15.220-07:00The Girl with Red Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06EKy6fxKQC_UExzR9Oc5lZ7T3Adq_TLBjqyXnv-KZBlfF8qVINDnHHcoSuL6f0WGiNcuadhCIiq-2VINqL_cfVkQUAbsJhO8IdAhDiP4HrPg2Jv5l3uq4YyaZi_mnOpJWkIt1SbIATw/s1600/The+Girl+with+Red+Hair.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06EKy6fxKQC_UExzR9Oc5lZ7T3Adq_TLBjqyXnv-KZBlfF8qVINDnHHcoSuL6f0WGiNcuadhCIiq-2VINqL_cfVkQUAbsJhO8IdAhDiP4HrPg2Jv5l3uq4YyaZi_mnOpJWkIt1SbIATw/s400/The+Girl+with+Red+Hair.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
She was just being defiant. I was certain I needed to suspend her.<br />
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She had streaks of bright red hair - like fire engine red! We had a large high school of 1800 students, but I was in the hallway a lot, and I couldn't help but notice the hair. I casually warned her a few times that she would need to change the color of her hair because our code of conduct didn't allow "unnatural hair color." Several days passed, and I still noticed the hair. As an experienced administrator, I knew I had bigger battles to fight, so I always tried to steer clear of "going to the mat" over dress code violations, but at this point, it seemed like she was just being defiant. So I confronted her during a class change. I told her I didn't want to suspend her, but she seemed to be leaving me no choice. I basically said, "What's your deal!?" Her eyes got wet, and I could tell she felt shame just having to talk to me. (She was never in trouble, had never been sent to the office, and aside from the hair color, went totally under the radar.) She went on to share the personal drama she was having to live through at home. She finally said something that knocked the wind out of me: "Dr. Steele, I feel like the color of my hair is the only thing in my life that I can control."<br />
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This is a moment that I will not forget. As I write these words, my eyes are welling up... thinking about this young lady's feelings of desperation... thinking about the lives that many of our students are living... thinking about the challenges confronting many of the kids in our schools - challenges completely unknown to the adults in the building. When I heard her story, my preoccupation with hair color suddenly seemed absurd. I know we need rules. And students have to be held accountable for following the rules. I get it. But it is vital that we take the time to hear and actually <i>feel </i>the story of our students. We will never understand our students if we don't stop to genuinely listen. But we can't just listen to their story; we have to actually care about their story. When we do that, our perspective will forever be altered. That is when we can connect with students; that is when we can impact students; that is when we have the chance to really make a difference.Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-15143433150298785892019-01-03T12:44:00.000-08:002019-01-03T12:44:49.736-08:00How Will Your Staff Remember You?<br />
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If you're an educational leader, you may have led (or will lead) hundreds, if not thousands of teachers, counselors, librarians, cafeteria workers, para-professionals, registrars, bookkeepers, custodians, maintenance technicians, secretaries, bus drivers, and nurses. You are a leader... and you are creating a legacy every day you come to work. You are leaving your mark -- an indelible impression upon the educators entrusted to your care. How will your staff remember you? I wonder...<br />
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They may not remember your mission statement or your strategic plan.<br />
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They may not remember how many diplomas hung on your wall.<br />
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They may not remember how many times you were quoted in the paper or how many times someone took your picture.<br />
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They may not remember how eloquent you were in faculty meetings or how well you crafted your emails.<br />
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They may not remember how well you aligned the curriculum.<br />
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They may not remember how thorough you were in your evaluations or that you submitted all your reports on time to the central office or state department.<br />
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They may not remember all the professional development workshops you coordinated.<br />
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They may not remember how many teams you led or how many committees you chaired.<br />
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They may not remember the test scores you touted or the press releases you wrote.<br />
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These are all good things, and most effective leaders reflect some if not all of the qualities or behaviors on this list. The fact that your staff may not remember this stuff might bother you. Don't let it.<br />
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<b>There are plenty of things that your staff will remember.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
They will remember the time they saw you mopping a spill on the floor when it wasn't really your job.<br />
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They will remember that you listened -- that you always had time to listen.<br />
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They will remember that you could be silly, that you appreciated practical jokes, and that you never took yourself too seriously.<br />
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They will remember that you would ask them about their family members, and they will never forget that time you visited them in the hospital.<br />
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They will remember that time you gave them a "shout out." They will remember how good it made them feel.<br />
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They will remember that you always had their back.<br />
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They will remember that you were always upbeat... even in the face of adversity.<br />
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They will remember how much you always encouraged them, and that you were one of their biggest cheerleaders.<br />
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They will remember that you never took them for granted.<br />
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They will remember that you treated everyone in the organization like they were important -- that you valued everyone's contributions.<br />
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They will remember that you didn't ask anyone to do things that you weren't willing to do yourself.<br />
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They will remember that you always figured out a way to shine the spotlight on someone else.<br />
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They will remember that you always seemed to appreciate how challenging their job was.<br />
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They will remember that you genuinely cared about all of your colleagues.<br />
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They will remember that time you made a bad decision... but you owned up to it.<br />
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They will remember that time you supported them in the parent conference. You don't remember it. But they do.<br />
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They will remember that you always tried to give them the benefit of the doubt.<br />
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They will remember that you always knew their family is the most important thing in the world to them. And you allowed them to take care of them without feeling guilty.<br />
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They will remember that you always kept the focus on students.... and that you never lost your love for kids.<br />
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Continue to engage in all those activities that characterize effective school leaders, but remember that you are leaving a legacy that transcends test scores and strategic plans. It's much more likely that your staff will remember you for all the little things. You were their leader... and you encouraged them, supported them, and inspired them. They will remember you because YOU made a difference... and you knew THEY made a difference too!Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-30428683552420143432018-12-31T10:22:00.001-08:002019-11-27T09:23:49.524-08:00Life is Beautiful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favorite movies is an Italian film called, "Life is Beautiful." (The film has nothing to do with this post... but if you haven't seen it, you should.)<br />
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We celebrate Thanksgiving once a year, and that is the traditional time to reflect on what we are grateful for. It occurs to me though, that when we think about the little things that we are grateful for, we are continually reminded that life is indeed, beautiful. Gratitude should not be a "holiday thing." It should be a way of life.<br />
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<b>I'm thankful for:</b><br />
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Non-stick pans<br />
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Cherry tree blossoms<br />
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Dates with my wife<br />
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Honest plumbers<br />
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Apple Music<br />
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"Hot and Ready" $5 pizzas<br />
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Cruise control<br />
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People who's glass is always "half full"<br />
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Saturday mornings<br />
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YouTube<br />
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The willingness of my kids to laugh at my jokes<br />
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My garlic press<br />
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X<br />
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Comedy that makes me laugh until I cry<br />
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OJ that is not from concentrate and doesn't have pulp<br />
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Scented candles<br />
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Warm towels, right out of the dryer<br />
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The dedication of teachers<br />
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Salsa that has just the right texture<br />
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The versatility of melted cheese<br />
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Waterless hand sanitizer<br />
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The cultural contributions of Leonardo Da Vinci, Run DMC, and Maya Angelou<br />
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Lawn mowers that start on the first crank<br />
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The benefit of the doubt<br />
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Woodford Reserve<br />
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3 day weekends<br />
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The efficiency of microwave ovens<br />
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Mocha Frappuccinos<br />
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The life of Jimmy Carter<br />
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Coconut shrimp<br />
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The smell of new born babies<br />
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And other stuff.<br />
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<b>I think life is made beautiful by the little things. I hope to always remember them.</b><br />
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<br />Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-5846065364937338632018-12-30T11:35:00.000-08:002018-12-30T11:35:42.544-08:00Reflections on Exceptional Teachers<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I think back on my teachers who were most effective, there is something they all had in common: they all seemed excited to be teaching us. Teachers should always be aware of the attitude and energy they bring into class. I promise you, the students are aware of it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When teachers show up for work, deliver quality lessons, and treat the students well… even when they don’t feel like it… they demonstrate their professionalism. And they earn the admiration of their colleagues.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My daughter has talked for several years about how much she loved her 5th grade teacher. When I asked her what she liked about her. Her response: “She liked <i>us</i>!” So simple… yet so profound. Kids gravitate to the teachers that like them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a teacher that both my sons had in high school. They both raved about her. When I asked my younger son what he liked about her. Without hesitating her, he said: “She cares so much! She cares so much about her job!” The kids notice. Never forget… the kids notice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">We talk a lot about students being engaged. It occurs to me that one of the hallmarks of an exceptional classroom is the TEACHER being engaged. Kids love it when their teacher is active, involved, and energized. And they can tell which ones are really “into it” … and which ones aren’t. </span><br />
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a great classroom, the students aren’t the only learners. The TEACHER is a learner also. When teachers are curious, when they are vulnerable, when they continue to grow… they provide stronger instruction, and they provide a great example to their students.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s nice when teachers are creative, dynamic, and innovative… but I actually think I prefer patient, flexible, and kind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I asked a principal one time what makes his teacher so awesome. He said she is relentless about trying new strategies or finding resources to help kids understand math. She will do whatever it takes to help them succeed. Exceptional teachers will do whatever it takes!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good relationships with students usually do not happen accidentally. They are cultivated by exceptional educators intentionally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Teachers don’t have to be funny, creative, innovative, inspiring, or charismatic. But they have to care about their students and take pride in their work. If they do those two… they will have a remarkable career.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exceptional teachers teach… and then reteach… and sometimes tutor individually… because they realize not every student gets it the first time, (or even the second time.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can’t control the home environment of our students, but exceptional teachers control their classroom environment. Under their care, the students can feel safe, feel supported, and feel loved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exceptional teachers don’t need WiFi to engage their students. Technology is a great thing… but the passion of the teachers is always the most important variable in the classroom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Great teachers make it look easy…. But they actually work really hard at it. Greatness never comes without commitment and sacrifice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most effective teachers are the ones who realize they’re the most important variable in the classroom.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The legacy of an exceptional teacher is not built in their lesson plan book… but in their conversations with students. The lessons are important… but the relationships are essential.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passionate teachers don’t just inspire their students… they inspire their colleagues. They have the potential to impact the culture of the entire school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Most exceptional teachers did not start out that way. But... they reflected on what worked and what didn't; they learned from their colleagues; and they always kept their focus on students.</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Every teacher has the potential to be a </b></span><b style="white-space: normal;"><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">better</i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> teacher.</span></b></div>
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Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-12416069772315801592018-12-15T13:17:00.000-08:002018-12-15T14:31:05.777-08:00Will You Check On Me?<br />
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When a former colleague of mine, Joe Turner, was named "Teacher of the Year," a reporter asked him for his advice to new teachers. He responded:<br />
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<i> "Teach every child like you're their lifeline... like you're their last chance to succeed."</i><br />
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When I read this, it shook me to my core. I shared it with our leadership team and it inspired an initiative at our school that we simply call "Lifelines." This is not a formal program; it is not structured; and there is no paperwork. We simply ask our staff members to be a lifeline to 1 or 2 students who would benefit from an adult in their corner. As a faculty, we commit to going above and beyond to care about these students.<br />
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Not too long ago, our counselor gave me my three "lifelines." One of the challenges for me with this project, is that I don't teach these students. I may not even see them every day. The hallways are crowded, so class changes aren't always great opportunities to have conversations with students. And it can sometimes be awkward calling kids into the office just to check on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo2tf8GcrNncHUUhV3ste_R1Kh7RWbyxovbD1OKloVGPBzvczFFDukWHtJusknAZLLpJr5xShWF4vrQt72sCwegnproH_zwvtYiheESbTQVXiGDabqY4rqTs3Nm7sxZEzhoRpsQ46aHU/s1600/IMG_2864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="750" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo2tf8GcrNncHUUhV3ste_R1Kh7RWbyxovbD1OKloVGPBzvczFFDukWHtJusknAZLLpJr5xShWF4vrQt72sCwegnproH_zwvtYiheESbTQVXiGDabqY4rqTs3Nm7sxZEzhoRpsQ46aHU/s320/IMG_2864.jpg" width="320" /></a>But a couple weeks ago, I had an idea -- a new strategy for making regular connections with my 3 students. I called "Caleb" down to the office, and I said, "Caleb... will you do me a favor?" He smiled and nodded, "yes." I continued, "I usually have good days, but not always. Everyone can benefit from others checking on them. Will you do me a favor and check on me every day, just to make sure I'm doing alright." He smiled again and said "ok." I documented this process on Twitter.<br />
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I had this conversation with two other students, and the results have absolutely fired me up. These three students are making regular eye contact with me in the halls, they are smiling at me, and they are asking me about my day. This gives me a regular opportunity to connect with them, and it is teaching them to think about the well being of someone besides themselves. As the year progresses, I hope to have longer and more substantive conversations with these students, but for right now, I'm stoked that these guys are connecting with me everyday. I love that we have three students who are now checking on their principal!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bOl5uhs3G641-eLeCA23j1SLPN9ttLuAKQh7gnPopAOZ4hG_F-BU1Kkr_zisMjiOSxlv0xcBVuXKnNC73dx_Sk4dC5MoXmB_6FnJYO3lXpyUYErlHcoAfZSiU3SlpuAgetvh5cKzTW4/s1600/IMG_2861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bOl5uhs3G641-eLeCA23j1SLPN9ttLuAKQh7gnPopAOZ4hG_F-BU1Kkr_zisMjiOSxlv0xcBVuXKnNC73dx_Sk4dC5MoXmB_6FnJYO3lXpyUYErlHcoAfZSiU3SlpuAgetvh5cKzTW4/s320/IMG_2861.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-77809388156819791112018-07-05T14:11:00.000-07:002018-07-22T19:26:29.423-07:003 Ways to Inspire Teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my experience, teachers are hungry for inspiration. They are committed to their work, and they see the value in their work... but it can still be draining. They want leaders who will refill their bucket. In my experience, these three strategies can go a long way toward energizing teachers.<br />
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<b>Support them</b>. Over the years, it has become clear to me that support is the number one quality that teachers desire in their administrators. They want to know that when things get challenging with a student or dicey with a parent, someone has their back. When teachers feel supported by their administrators, they feel emboldened and empowered. They become more comfortable taking risks. When they are confident in their safety net, they can dare to be spectacular.<br />
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<b>Remind them. </b>I believe that every teacher chose this profession because they love kids, and they want to make a difference in their lives. But there are times for every teacher when the "calling" can seem more like a "job." Students can be unruly. Parents can be aggravating. Mandates can be overbearing. And grading can be overwhelming. (Not to mention high stakes tests!) These challenges have the potential to steal the joy of teachers. But they don't have to! It is important for administrators to help teachers keep these challenges in perspective. Good administrators work hard to keep teachers focused on the best interests of students. They continually remind teachers about the value of their work and about their potential to impact children. And teachers who remain mindful of their ultimate purpose, hold on to the passion that fuels their fire.<br />
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<b>Show them. </b>The best administrators don't just talk about the importance of teachers collaborating; they collaborate themselves. They don't just ask teachers to try new technology without taking any of their own risks. And they don't just encourage teachers to build relationships with students; they connect with kids too! Few teachers are inspired by administrators who talk a good game but never back it up. Good leaders don't <i>manage </i>from their office; they <i>lead </i>from the hallway... and in the classroom... and in the cafeteria. They are engaged, and they are intentional about setting an example. They are "walking the walk." These administrators are not simply telling teachers the way; they are modeling the way. And teachers will find this type of authenticity inspiring.<br />
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When teachers are excited about teaching, their students will be more excited about learning. Good administrators don't hope for positive energy in the school; they bring it, themselves. They don't wait for their teachers to be inspired; they work to inspire them. They realize that they can impact the motivation of their teachers. And they make a difference!<br />
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<br />Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-49324008925719149672018-07-04T05:24:00.000-07:002018-07-22T19:13:57.551-07:00Reflections on the Flag, our Heritage, and the Role of Empathy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_MuIqjrXauxUNEMFos3UGrea-5fBoLUlS4v7vCVOC8AejrJ-K83ivcUBc7GgtTc6WGrs_D-e5KXun9VqkAICBFlUnWW7RlGXRCsUsQyCf2nx181Pmm5uvtd3aL3N_6NWP9KTS1W1QQc/s1600/Reflections+on+the+Flag%252C+our+Heritage%252C+and+the+Role+of+Empathy+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_MuIqjrXauxUNEMFos3UGrea-5fBoLUlS4v7vCVOC8AejrJ-K83ivcUBc7GgtTc6WGrs_D-e5KXun9VqkAICBFlUnWW7RlGXRCsUsQyCf2nx181Pmm5uvtd3aL3N_6NWP9KTS1W1QQc/s400/Reflections+on+the+Flag%252C+our+Heritage%252C+and+the+Role+of+Empathy+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">If you ask someone what the American flag represe</span><span class="m_-1140586500857057767gmail-text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">nts, they'll most likely say something like, "liberty and justice for all." They probably would not say something like, "My heritage." ... because that term does not mean much by itself. What is meaningful are the ideals and values of the heritage. And make no mistake about it, we have a complicated heritage. I say this in part, because the values and ideals of that heritage have evolved. (This includes the "Christian heritage," by the way. Anyone who does not think that our understanding of the values and morality of the scriptures has evolved, has not read the Bible closely or has totally forgotten what was in it.) </span><br />
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<span class="m_-1140586500857057767gmail-text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I believe that empathy is at the heart of morality. In fact, that is the essence of the Golden Rule. I am glad that our society has grown more empathetic over the centuries. As a country, we eventually decided it was wrong to own people; it was wrong to allow children to work in coal mines for 12 hours a day; it was wrong to deny voting rights to women; and it was wrong to deny an equal education to African Americans. As our empathy increases, our sense of justice becomes more refined. </span><br />
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<span class="m_-1140586500857057767gmail-text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I have ancestors who owned slaves. I'm not proud of that part of my heritage. I have ancestors who died fighting for the confederacy. They may have been nice men, but they were on the wrong side of that war. My parents taught me the value of love, kindness, and compassion. I'm very proud of that heritage. My wife's grandfather was a professor at the University of Alabama and was instrumental in recruiting the first African American students to the Engineering Department. I'm stoked about that heritage. We all have a checkered past. I suspect that we all have a heritage that is worthy of honor AND redemption.</span>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-24054493926374327002018-06-19T14:52:00.000-07:002018-07-22T19:09:42.738-07:00Leadership Lessons from Andy Griffith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I grew up watching Andy Griffith, and I still watch reruns several times a week. The theme song is one of the most nostalgic sounds I have ever experienced. (By the way, the black and white episodes that feature Don Knotts as Barney Fife are really the only ones that I care about.) As a parent, I was very intentional about cultivating an appreciation of the show with my kids, and I’m proud to say they all like it. There are some great leadership lessons embedded in that sitcom, and I reflect on five of them are below.<br />
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In episode 14, <a href="http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/The_Horse_Trader">“The Horse Trader,”</a> Andy learns an important lesson about integrity. The show begins with Andy admonishing Opie about the dishonesty involved in selling “licorice seeds,” and then he proceeds to mislead a newcomer in town about the exploits of a rusty old cannon he and Barney are trying to sell. After Opie confronts him about the hypocrisy, Andy is reminded that integrity is not just for kids; it’s important for adults too. I cannot think of a more important quality for leaders than integrity. Leaders must earn the trust of those they wish to lead. They do this by following through with the things they say and by always being true to their word. They practice what they preach.<br />
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In episode 46, <a href="http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/The_Keeper_of_the_Flame">“The Keeper of the Flame,”</a> Andy believes Opie was responsible for burning down Jubel Foster’s barn. Opie insists he didn’t do it, but he doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt from his Pa. When Andy realizes the barn burned because of an illegal moonshine still, he goes back to Opie to apologize. It’s important for leaders to trust their people and assume their best intentions. When a leader realizes they are in the wrong, it’s important that they be willing to swallow their pride, and in some cases, apologize to those they have wronged. Good leaders are always committed to repairing the “relationship damage.”<br />
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In episode 70, <a href="http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/Lawman_Barney">“Lawman Barney,”</a> Andy realizes that Barney has been intimidated by two farmers who are illegally selling their vegetable on the side of the road. Ultimately, Andy is able to inspire and empower Barney to exercise his appropriate authority and get the cooperation of the farmers. That is what great leaders do; they inspire and empower their followers. They give others a sense of purpose. They are committed to helping others find strength and courage that they didn’t know they had.<br />
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In episode 126, <a href="http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/Back_to_Nature">“Back to Nature,”</a> Andy, Barney, Gomer, and Opie and his friends are out in the woods on a camping trip. When Barney and Gomer set out to look for Opie, they get themselves lost. Andy not only finds them, but he is clever about getting them back to the campsite in a way that allows Barney to save face. Good leaders are always looking out for their employees. They demonstrate empathy and recognize the importance of staff morale. They are always mindful of ways to throw a positive spotlight on someone else.<br />
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I don’t actually remember seeing episode, 215, <a href="http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/Opie%27s_Piano_Lesson">“Opie’s Piano Lesson,”</a> but to my knowledge, it is the first and only episode where an African-American has a credited role. Rockne Tarkington has a small role as Opie’s football coach. I can’t imagine what it’s like to watch a television show about a town, when no one in the entire place looks like me. When my kids watch that show, I suspect they notice the silly hijinks of Barney and the loving relationship between Andy and Opie. I don’t think they pay attention to the color of anyone’s skin. They take that for granted. I’m not sure what African-American children think when they watch that show, but it wouldn't surprise me if at some point they don’t think, “I wonder if I would have been welcome in Mayberry.” As leaders, we must be sensitive to the life experiences of all those under our care. With respect to race, we need to do our best to ensure that all our students have access to role models who “look like them.” We want all of our students to feel included and to feel valued.<br />
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If we are paying attention, our entertainment has the power to do more than just entertain. It can teach us; it can inspire us; and at times, it can even convict us. I can find inspiration just about anywhere. (I can certainly find it in re-runs of the Andy Griffith Show.) Where have you found YOUR inspiration?Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-44951731794392525922018-05-20T12:26:00.001-07:002020-05-12T12:36:02.049-07:00Knock-Knock Jokes, Magic Tricks, and Cinnamon Rolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPlYmZvHr3zKPZQkIEY1wJ0dYLwGN9u-hGRHhmmVG-W8QMH51ZZgzcTsBHK6Jgc6S2-MheexHyLBZTYbzZIjOjjE4I5uhy2KvZiWyInPc0wkibGDZOCvnAUgqTo3Y51cjqM-LLGJK07k/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="708" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPlYmZvHr3zKPZQkIEY1wJ0dYLwGN9u-hGRHhmmVG-W8QMH51ZZgzcTsBHK6Jgc6S2-MheexHyLBZTYbzZIjOjjE4I5uhy2KvZiWyInPc0wkibGDZOCvnAUgqTo3Y51cjqM-LLGJK07k/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0bKo02AEROn0MGToExx3bgMYXj8_O5sgZ47G_VP8WccCE3vtcbNQNd55Ugj-krVwXt0HwDE0ze6-OP8Rhm3eptEntuIYJFZEUVHOdzN85kyAMLvgu2yrcmGcrz3E9dO7CncO9X-YU2M/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1484" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0bKo02AEROn0MGToExx3bgMYXj8_O5sgZ47G_VP8WccCE3vtcbNQNd55Ugj-krVwXt0HwDE0ze6-OP8Rhm3eptEntuIYJFZEUVHOdzN85kyAMLvgu2yrcmGcrz3E9dO7CncO9X-YU2M/s200/IMG_0139.JPG" width="185" /></a>Not long ago, I remember telling our custodian some knock-knock jokes. She laughed... and that made me feel good -- although she may have been laughing more at my silliness than the actual humor of the jokes. But we both had fun with it that day; we both enjoyed the interactions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi1ovjNfzi-SZmdFDKaeypwY1VKRFMoafWEQ-ktFEVuDAhdBmSzUaq-InoBkFC5RGvM5Po0-uMX_ocL2JhXO1BNt-T1rtNLUfxnovm-lbY6tfw1XBwAUkN5qlsXBkZ93tjpAV9mkrxRE/s1600/IMG_0192.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi1ovjNfzi-SZmdFDKaeypwY1VKRFMoafWEQ-ktFEVuDAhdBmSzUaq-InoBkFC5RGvM5Po0-uMX_ocL2JhXO1BNt-T1rtNLUfxnovm-lbY6tfw1XBwAUkN5qlsXBkZ93tjpAV9mkrxRE/s320/IMG_0192.PNG" width="179" /></a>I remember a day earlier this semester when a student stopped me as I was walking around, and said, "Hey Dr. Steele... do you have time for a magic trick?" What principal has time for magic tricks? But I stopped... and was thoroughly impressed with his slight of hand.<br />
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Every morning, I am in our cafeteria, helping to supervise students eating breakfast. We have an amazing CNP staff, and one of their special talents is making cinnamon rolls. I'm glad to see the lunch ladies every morning, and they seem glad to see me. Several years ago, I made a point to talk to them about how good their cinnamon rolls were. I didn't think much of the conversation at the time, but I did want them to know that I appreciated them... and their baking talents. The next time they served cinnamon rolls, there was a treat packaged up for me in the window between the kitchen and the serving lines: my very own cinnamon roll, set aside in a container. The sticky note read, "Enjoy... Dr. Steele!" For the last several years, on days when cinnamon rolls are being served, there is a special one waiting for me in the window. If I don't see it, they will call my attention to it. What a tasty tradition!<br />
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<b>So what do knock-knock jokes, magic tricks, and cinnamon rolls have to do with instructional leadership? What do they have to do with raising student achievement? </b><br />
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Nothing... I suppose.<br />
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But they have everything to do with culture. They have everything to do with relationships. They have everything to do with building the type of school where students enjoy learning and adults enjoy working. And this is the kind of school where kids and staff members thrive. School culture is not about the big things; it's about the little things. It's about the thoughtful gestures... and the high fives... and the conversations with students in the hallways... and all the smiles. Don't ever forget the smiles. And yes... sometimes, it's about knock-knock jokes, magic tricks, and cinnamon rolls.<br />
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<br />Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-1911160419108137782018-03-14T14:51:00.000-07:002018-07-22T19:34:52.042-07:00Every Kid <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN0mtiGO_QtdZgQil8Lj6rAr8JmFp4FV6XhmowFm8kgQDBBmrBYl6WfYoZXM9qN79YLEsE5ih7BDFKTCStnBqE0XYX_6AoSA2ftSnxsTAz2bxLZwqvrXCnpjt27jP6gzuN96qzVbJldw/s1600/A+Twitter+Challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN0mtiGO_QtdZgQil8Lj6rAr8JmFp4FV6XhmowFm8kgQDBBmrBYl6WfYoZXM9qN79YLEsE5ih7BDFKTCStnBqE0XYX_6AoSA2ftSnxsTAz2bxLZwqvrXCnpjt27jP6gzuN96qzVbJldw/s320/A+Twitter+Challenge.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WKeTTpJ0qc0QRTl-KxkcUX0aB3r2WuZ3hT6901znLR62qpF8fcLDV6Z_3q8lFMYcc11VOOuk7KTf2X_yz2mMbzgQhPTauH7inV97trTBCqjuHbpfcTfW2iec2hd1g7aG8YXYpYDmpwI/h120/A+Twitter+Challenge.png" style="display: none;" />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO4k_sjjo3zf0GTNek0ADVjCXjiX1zz41PG3rpss4VvZejeL_8f-tIlDQgyZ6AqeXg98_niFpS-klDCmZ1tOtzg4iinBP-sDnlA8ycHwhZPCBNNxFnTWCgIRS-bAjCOHUNbXEVtBZEJ0/s1600/IMG_9225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="750" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO4k_sjjo3zf0GTNek0ADVjCXjiX1zz41PG3rpss4VvZejeL_8f-tIlDQgyZ6AqeXg98_niFpS-klDCmZ1tOtzg4iinBP-sDnlA8ycHwhZPCBNNxFnTWCgIRS-bAjCOHUNbXEVtBZEJ0/s200/IMG_9225.jpg" width="200" /></a>Early on the morning of February 28th, a "twitter challenge" caught my eye. It was from Leigh Ragsdale (@leighmragsdale), a principal in Missouri. This challenge struck a chord with me. It seemed like a valuable activity. When you are aware of a good idea, I've learned that it's good to go ahead and implement it if you are able. Don't wait! Don't procrastinate! So after I finished the morning announcements that day, I asked all our students to get out a sheet of paper, and write down the name of one adult that they trusted -- someone that they could talk to if they needed. I told them that if they could not think of one, they could write "nobody." I collected all the papers, and we began putting our data into a spreadsheet.<br />
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Out of about 500 students, we had 38 who wrote "nobody." That's 38 too many! We want every student to feel connected in our school, as I know you do in your school. We want every child to have an adult they feel comfortable talking to.</div>
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I made a slide show of the pictures of our students that wrote "nobody." We watched this slideshow at our faculty meeting last week. There were no names attached to any of the pictures, and we did not discuss who taught these students. (Our students, who are all in the 6th grade, have 7 or 8 different teachers, so everyone taught some of these students.) We viewed these pictures in complete silence. It was a sobering moment -- one that I will not soon forget. When it was over, I told our teachers, "It is my hope, that if we do this activity in a few months months, we won't have any students who write "nobody." That evening, our activity inspired the following tweet:<br />
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There were a number of people on Twitter who asked me what I was going to do with the data we generated. One person responded, "What are your next steps?" That left me feeling a bit convicted. Showing the pictures at the faculty meeting was a good activity, but it was not enough. The fact is, some of our kids don't feel sufficiently connected... and we don't want to just <i>hope </i>that they get connected. We don't want to leave it to chance. So... yesterday, I gave the list of these students to our counselor, and I then emailed our teachers, asking them to connect with her to "adopt" a student on the list. This isn't a formal process, but it reflects our faculty's commitment to ensuring that every student in our school has an adult advocate. We don't want any student falling through the cracks. That is our goal. Every kid is important. Every kid matters. And they need to feel it.</div>
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Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-27115612758898995512018-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:002018-01-07T10:47:35.932-08:00Why I Love Teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a principal, and I love teachers. I am privileged to see the awesome work they do every day.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They understand there is more to teaching than delivering instruction. They respect, encourage, and value their students... so those students leave the class feeling better about themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They provide encouragement and support to their colleagues when they're down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They are kind to students when they see them... because they realize that may be the only kindness those students experience all day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They strive to motivate apathetic students. Sometimes their efforts don't seem to make a difference. But they keep trying... because that's what teachers do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They supervise students at their duty and in the hallway in between classes. Their presence helps to deter mischief and ensures a more safe and orderly environment for the kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They spend countless hours grading papers... because they know their feedback will help students grow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They teach... and then they reteach... and sometimes tutor individually... because they realize not everyone gets it the first time (or even the second time).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They define their success by the success of their students. They understand that ultimately, it's not about the teaching; it's about the learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They learn new ideas from colleagues... and sometimes from the internet... because they are committed to being a better teacher tomorrow than they were today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They recognize that they can't control the home environment of their students, but they resolve to give them the best possible classroom environment... one where they feel safe, feel supported, and feel loved, because they know that is the best kind of environment in which to learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They take time to prepare meaningful lessons... even when they don't feel like they have the time... or the energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They try to connect with students who don't seem reachable... because they realize they may be their only lifeline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They have patience with the students who may be disruptive and annoying... because they know that those students still need them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />They provide structure and organization in their classroom... because they know some students don't have any at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They strive to be the kind of teacher that they would want their own kids to have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They recognize that ultimately, their job is not about the lesson plans, grades on a report card, or scores on a standardized test. They teach to give their students a brighter future.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They don't always get to see the fruit of their labor. They invest their time and energy into their students, often times without a "thank you." They pour their heart and soul into their kids and may not get to see the results. But they keep doing it. And I love them for that.</span></b><br />
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Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-76505481003506232792018-01-02T09:15:00.000-08:002018-07-22T19:25:23.904-07:00My Top 10 List for Principals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Great principals do a lot of things right. Here are ten of the most important things they do right:<br />
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1) Great principals recognize the <b>value of every adult</b> in the building, and they praise their staff members as often as possible.<br />
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2) Great principals <b>support their teachers</b> at every turn -- with challenging students, challenging parents, and challenging colleagues. They trust their teachers, they have their back, and they always try to give them the benefit of the doubt.<br />
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3) Great principals don't spend much time in their office. They are in the halls, in the classroom, at the bus stop, at carpool, in the lunchroom, or wherever the actions is. And they <b>engage</b> with those around them.<br />
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4) Great principals do not try to do it alone. They <b>involve others</b> in the decision making process whenever possible.<br />
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5) Great principals pay attention to student achievement, and they spend <b>a lot of time in classrooms</b>. They promote strategic instruction and meaningful assessments. And they ensure that data from those assessments informs teachers' practice as they work to meet the academic needs of their students.<br />
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6) Great principals intentionally foster a culture of <b>collaboration</b> in their school. They recognize that their teachers are stronger when they work together, so they create the conditions in the building that facilitate this process.<br />
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7) Great principals are never content with the status quo. They have high expectations for themselves and everyone around them. They articulate a <b>bold vision</b> for their school and inspire others to elevate their game.<br />
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8) Great principals understand the importance of <b>staff morale</b>, and are intentional about creating good working conditions for their faculty.<br />
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9) Great principals commit to bringing <b>positive energy</b> to work everyday. They realize that positivity is a nonnegotiable quality when creating a school culture where students enjoy learning and adults enjoy working.<br />
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10) Great principals always <b>make it about the kids</b>. They work to build relationships with their students, and they ensure that the best interest of students drives every decision in the school.<br />
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Sometimes I succeed with these... and sometimes I fail. I will always keep working at it.Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-81607026715357881062017-11-22T09:32:00.001-08:002018-07-22T19:38:24.084-07:00A Thanksgiving Thought<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One of my teachers sent the following email to our staff yesterday. The subject line of the email was: "A Thanksgiving Thought." With his permission, I am posting it below in its entirety:</span></div>
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>"I want to share a comment that was made to me today. It could be both good and sad. A student asked me how my day was going and I said, "Great! How is your day going?" She said, "Okay, but it is sad." I asked her why it was sad and she said that today was the last day of school this week and she really loves it here. She said she would rather be here than home. Those words really made a big impression on me. I thought about how I am so excited to go home and have a few days off to be with my family. I thought that maybe she just loves TSGC that much or maybe she doesn’t want to be at home because it isn’t that great. Whatever the case, the fact that she loves our school means a lot to me. No matter how frustrated we are and think, “These kids are out of control today and I just can’t wait for the end of 8<sup>th</sup> period to get here!!”, there are some of our students that aren’t that excited about it. We never know what they are going home to and sometimes we probably don’t really want to know some of the things these kids are going through. I couldn’t imagine not looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving break because my home was full of love and it was my safe place. I say this as encouragement to all of us that we do make a difference and these students are worth it. We may be the only smile they get today. I know I am not the best teacher at times and can be negative when I shouldn’t be, but I also know that I am in this because I truly care about these kids. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and I hope that it is always a positive difference. Although some students may be disrespectful, some may seem not to care, some may get on our nerves, and some may never stop talking…What we do in the classroom today makes a difference in the world <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1356974060" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">tomorrow</span></span>. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and give your students a smile and some words of encouragement today.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>Greg Ragland</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>P.S.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>I apologize for any bad grammar or run on sentences and everything else that is written incorrectly."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There's not much I can add to this. We all have much to be grateful for. One of the things I'm grateful for... is having colleagues like Greg Ragland... colleagues who are committed to making a difference for kids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You can follow Greg Ragland on Twitter @GregRagland</span></div>
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Happy Thanksgiving,</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Danny </span> </div>
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Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-34946331207495099702017-11-05T12:07:00.000-08:002018-07-22T19:34:27.215-07:00Letter to a Discouraged Student<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5539616295037529575" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
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To a discouraged student,<br />
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You're discouraged. I know you are. Your heart sunk when you saw the grade. But that letter grade doesn't define you. You did your best... but no one knows, and no one seems to care. You studied... but your teacher doesn't think so. She doesn't know what happened at your house last night. She doesn't know why you didn't get much sleep.<br />
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You've never made the honor roll, but you have worked harder for your "C" than some of those other kids worked for their "A". You're kind, but the teacher doesn't have a rubric for kindness. You smile every morning, but facial expressions don't go in the grade book. You gave a pencil to your classmate, but that didn't earn you any points. You're always on time, and you're never in trouble, but there wasn't a question on the test about that. I'm sorry we care so much about that letter grade. It certainly does not represent your hopes, goals, and dreams. I'm sorry you're embarrassed when the teacher handed the papers back. You're gonna be fine. You have potential that is not measured by that last test. You have gifts that were not assessed by that last quiz. You didn't make the honor roll... but I still think you're a neat kid.<br />
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You're bored, and it's hard for you to care about assignments that don't have anything to do with your life. You're good at things the teacher doesn't seem to care about. You're passionate about things that aren't on the syllabus. You're tired of being compared to those around you. You feel like you don't measure up -- like you are inadequate. But your grade does not reflect your IQ or your worth. It is arbitrary. I'm sorry that the grade is so important to all the adults. After you graduate, no one will care about that grade. They will care if you work hard; they will care how you work with other people; they will care about many things... but they will not ask you about your GPA. You may not feel like a good student, but you will be a valuable employee. You will be a wonderful neighbor. You will be a great citizen.<br />
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You're discouraged... but I want you to know I care. I want you to know I believe in you. I want you to know that you have a bright future. You have talents and gifts that we may not even know about yet. We haven't found out how to measure them.<br />
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But you have them.<br />
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One size does not fit all, and I'm sorry we have not figured that out. You are amazing... and your worth will never be encapsulated by a letter grade. So please don't give up. Albert Einstein said, "If you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid." I'm sorry you feel so judged. I'm sorry we keep giving you trees to climb. If you're a fish, forget about the tree -- just keep swimming.<br />
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I'm in your corner ... <br />
Danny Steele</div>
Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com129tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977517942115285189.post-371443834687054452017-08-29T18:21:00.003-07:002018-07-22T19:28:19.198-07:005 Ways to Raise Teacher Morale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You may have heard it said, "We're here for the kids... not the teachers." You may have even said it.<br />
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It's true. We <i>are </i>here for the kids. Students are the reason that schools exist, and every decision should be driven by the needs and interests of the children. However, don't make the mistake of thinking that student needs and teachers interests are mutually exclusive propositions. I would actually argue that they are inextricably linked. To put it simply, happy teachers are more effective teachers. In fact, the morale of your faculty is an important component of a strong school culture. <br />
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Here's the good news: it's not that hard to raise the morale of your teachers! But it usually doesn't happen by accident; you must be intentional about it. <br />
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Here are 5 ways you can raise the morale of your teachers:<br />
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<b>Keep your teachers focused on the difference they are making for kids.</b> Being a teacher is a profoundly gratifying career. It's easy to get bogged down in the administrivia, though. The daily grind of planning lessons, grading papers, and dealing with the knuckleheads can sap the energy and joy from teachers. We need to remind our teachers why we come to work each day. We keep the focus on our students and not the "hassles" of the job. We remind our teachers about the difference that they make in the lives of their students. Our teachers are heroes in the classroom every day, and we never want to overlook that. When we help teachers keep their eye on the ball, they are more likely to keep their head in the game. When teachers remember their "why," it can carry them through the stresses of their day.<br />
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<b>Involve your teachers in the decisions of the school. </b>In my experience, teachers are more motivated when their administration leads collaboratively. When teachers are involved in the decisions of the school, they are more invested in the process. When their opinions are valued, <i>they </i>feel valued. Listen to the feedback of your teachers... and take it seriously. When teachers feel included in the decision making process, they will take ownership of the entire school, not just their classroom.<br />
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<b>Trust the judgment of your teachers. </b>Teachers are professionals. Treat them like professionals. Respect their experiences, and respect their expertise. I realize that principals are responsible for the entire school and are ultimately accountable for everything that happens. But micromanagement is the quickest way to destroy the morale of a faculty. Give your teachers an opportunity to prove themselves. Good leaders will quickly learn which staff members require closer supervision.<br />
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<b>Give your teachers the benefit of the doubt. </b>Trust is foundational to any healthy school culture. When you are frustrated with something a teacher said or did, assume that they had good intentions. Don't start off being judgmental. When your default setting is to give teachers the benefit of the doubt, it will not go unnoticed. Your teachers will feel supported, respected, and valued.<br />
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<b>Notice the little things your teachers do... and recognize them for it. </b>Praise your teachers often. Give them shout outs in front of their colleagues. Thank them for the little things they do that make a difference for their students, for their colleagues, and for the school. Be specific, and be genuine. Never take your teachers, or the important work they do, for granted.<br />
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As teacher morale increases, so will the positive energy in the building. Students will notice it; parents will notice it; and anyone who visits the building will notice it. In my world, there is never a time when teacher morale is irrelevant. I strongly believe that teachers who feel good about coming to work and who feel good about the work they do, will be more effective employees. They will bring a higher level of energy into the their classroom, and they will demonstrate greater resiliency when confronted with adversity. <b>And the kids will benefit!</b>Danny Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17790379024894061867noreply@blogger.com32