Texas Principal

It’s the title of a number of books and has been mentioned in several twitter chats I’ve lurked through recently. Administrators are called to lead by example. It’s the easiest way to present new information, a new presentation style, or an idea that you’d like to see take root on your campus.

I’m a big fan of the book “From Staff Room to Classroom” which provides interactive and engaging strategies that get adults up and involved in the PD being presented. The idea is that the teachers will get comfortable with these strategies and adapt them for use in the classroom. Every professional development we have at campus, I pull from this book. I want our teachers to see that I am attempting to differentiate our trainings, as well provide USEFUL strategies…even if they don’t like the content being presented.

Between those strategies and my ever going attempt to infuse more positivity, we declared the month of February to be the “Luna Love” month. We’ve planned two or three different “lovely” activities each week to show how much we love our teachers.

For today’s I posted QR codes that they had to scan to receive how they could receive a free “prize”. We gave out chocolate, free jeans, passes, and some motivational posters. Cheap & easy, but positive!

The end result? I had two teachers figure out what QR codes were and download the app to get their prizes. I have one teacher who has created and printed out mini QR codes to post all over her classroom so that when students are done with their work they can scan them and find extension activities. I showed three fifth graders how to create a QR codes and let them create several with facts about our school, as we’re moving into the free choice period in our district.

All in all? Examples shown and examples followed. Success!

How do you eat the elephant, folks? One bite at a time!

following the leader,
Amber

Back in November, I decided to take a social media sabbatical. I really wanted to reevaluate why I was as involved as I was online and what my true purpose entailed. Professionally, I’d been burned this past semester and needed some distance. Personally, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my “presence”. ( I really have THAT many friends??) (albeit, this prolly had more to do with the being burned part.;)) GC wrote a post about the irony of trying to keep your personal life and professional life separate (http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/3432) and how impossible he thought that was. After my sabbatical, I concur. I asked the question of whether it was essential for a leader to be involved in SM: whether it be FB or Twitter or whatnot, and at the end of my month, I do know that for me, it is. I was no less busy, no less occupied, but I did feel as if I was missing something. I read several books…but had no one to discuss them with. I thought several PD thoughts…but had no one to dissect them with. I had several questions…but no one to ask them. The brevity of learning through my PLN is unmatched through blogs, texts, or even phone calls. Not knowing and being involved with my teachers (some who are true FRIENDS), was difficult. I genuinely felt as if I wasn't able to connect in the ways that were important to me. Some days are SO busy, I don’t get to every classroom, but being able to interact through a form of SM keeps me connected. While talking to a colleague at work, whose opinion I definitely value, she again pointed out that 10 years ago, it wasn’t necessary to be “online” to be successful, and those people did just fine. Compare that thought to a fabulous sorority sister who I shared that with and she said, “Yea…but this isn’t the same world!” And that’s the bottom line. I can’t lead from a place of fear. I can’t be different than who I am. I will be involved because it DOES make me a better person, and hopefully, a better leader. So there. sabbatical stopN, Amber PS: VERY curious as to other admin’s thoughts on “friending/tweeting” your teachers…and what your experience has been!

Today is November 30th, 2012. I, Amber Teamann, of sound body and sound mind, do hereby declare a social media sabbatical. 

Sounds so solemn, eh? Totally mean it. I am vowing to take the ENTIRE month of December off from social media. No FB, no twitter, no instagram. No Tumblr stalking or meme talking. I am taking a break.

Why? Amongst many a post of "unfriending them all" and "following them all".  

Amongst be yourself! no wait, be professional! no wait!

Amongst "facebook is the devil" and "don't be the old, unrelatable person who ISN'T on social media". I've made a decision. 

Sigh.

I am taking a month. A month to read, evaluate, and get some perspective on the kind of leader I want to be. The one who has relationships with their employees because of SM transparency? Or the one who dies on their transparent sword? Can you be transparent without SM in 2012?  Are you stronger/weaker because of it? 

Is everything I've waxed poetically necessarily true? Can I be a relational leader in this day and age and NOT be on social media? If so, how? Will that add a layer of complexity and "extra" to my plate?

Flip it. If you're NOT involved in social media does that make you less of a leader? What can you do to develop those relationships without it? (It obviously wasn't a problem some 10 years ago...so it HAS to be true.) But can it work for ME?

It'a lot to think about, right? That's why I am taking a WHOLE month. Will my whole PLN be there when I get back? Will the "surface" relationships I have through all these avenues fade? What does that say about them? How much do I dedicate to those who may or may not be...worth it. (So harsh!)

It's going to take more of an effort to keep up with my IRL friends. I might actually have to make REAL phone calls. 

GULP. 

It's a good month to take a break seeing as how we'll all be super busy. And I do still plan on blogging. (It's a work necessity, :))

I'll see you in a month. (I hope.)

epiphany seekN,

Amber

I am currently participating in a series created by George Couros called “Leadership 2.0″ . The series is focusing on what school leadership looks like in the context of today’s world and how innovative leaders are pushing their schools and organizations forward. Fascinating, right?

As I listened to Chris Smeaton, a superintendent from up north, speak last week on visionary leadership, it was impossible to keep up with the stream of his gems of greatness. I wanted to tweet almost every statement as a “what I should be doing” kinda note taking tweet.

A couple that stood out…

Having a clear vision is going to be what sets you apart as a leader. If you are content with the status quo and are content with just going through the day to day mechanics of a campus, you’re a manager, not a leader. There’s a difference. Why is it so important to have a vision?

The director of the Hunger Games, Gary Ross,  said that one of the most important things he does as a director is to sit alone, at his desk, for hours, before he begins and writes out everysinglething he can about the movie. From staging to angles to directions…he writes it all out the way he wants to see it happen. This is his vision. Everything that happens from this point on goes BACK to that vision. He talks about how on the set in the heat of the moment questions are asked that you may be tempted to answer based on practicality.

All decisions have to flow out of a single vision that you had alone, calm, without the questions, doubts or negativity that can surround you. Inevitability, those answers that should be based on logistics default to what’s practical.

A leader wants answers to questions that reference back to the clarity of their vision. The costume designer said that when she has a question, she thinks back to what Gary Ross’s vision is, not what she interpreted from her reading of the books/script. It’s HIS vision, not hers, and she makes decisions based on THAT. These are Academy Award winners here…grown, capable, creative minds. It’s not as if they couldn’t answer but they see the importance of the unified vision of their director, their leader.

Is your vision as an administrator so clear to your staff that they are able to conduct their classrooms in a manner that embodies that vision? I say staff because top to bottom, that’s how visible and impacting your vision should be. From the cafeteria workers to the janitor to the office staff to the students and teachers…everyone should know and be able to base their actions on your vision. A vision is more than just success on standardized tests. A vision defines how you feel about discipline, attitude, homework, community involvement. It transcends the mechanics of your job and instead becomes a campus mindset.

As I continue to learn and grow, I see even more how I (someday) want my campus to be a product of my preparation instead of the preparation being a product of the campus. I don’t want to adapt and adjust to the tone, but instead be the one who shapes and defines it. Vision is one those hot button words that comes up when one discusses leadership, but this week really defined it as one of the most important things a leader needs to do.

May the odds ever be in your favor,

Amber

Whether it be a quirky personality or a physical difference, every single one of your students are special. Never forget that! When they are struggling, or having a bad day, take a moment to remind them that you CARE about them and think they are special! If every child had a positive attitude about their self worth, think of all the different issues that would go away. Bullying, self esteem, empathy...all are affected when a student struggles to see their value. They may not make straight A's, they not be the quarterback of the football team....but ALL students have specials gifts.

 

Teachers are incredibly lucky to be able to help them discover and embrace their gifts! Take advantage!

 

Giftly,

Amber