Hello, #PIAChat, Mark here, elementary principal in Hopkins, MN. Spring has sprung! It was 70 degrees yesterday. Recess is so much more fun when it's nice out!
My Reflection and Resolutions page https://t.co/fItx2PxARx “Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” #PIAchat
A1) So many to name. The biggest impact to my leadership has been the entire #PrincipalsInAction crew, especially all those in the Voxer group. Amazing PLN. #PIAChat
A1) All the Principals In Action I have met in person and online have had a big impact on my leadership because of their friendship, support, advice, and ideas. #PIAChat
A1: My former principal. Took time to share with me his thoughts and discussed scenarios with me asking me how I'd handle them. Also allowed me take risks in my classroom and gave me space while doing so. #piachat
A1: There are so many people...but I need to give full credit to @ToddWhitaker for his amazing books that have ideas that gave me confidence and strategies to succeed. #PIAchat
A1: All of the leaders I’ve worked with/for have had an impact and have influenced me in little ways. I think you take things from everyone you come into contact with. You can learn what to do/not to do #piachat
A1: My former principal, @principalreads, has been a big influence. She has always had a way of keeping students at the heart of every decision, coupled with the ability to make staff feel valued and heard. I want to be like her when I grow up... #PIAChat
A1- My journey started a a child with parents who had great character and work ethic, then learned from many others colleagues who continued to push me both as a teacher and admin. The journey continues with this amazing PLN! #piachat
Amy, P, from Minneapolis burbs! @Ready4rigor and @ShaneSafir Amazing thought leaders pushing me to reflect on how to lead staff around equity in ways I have not thought about before. #PIAChat
A1: My former principal, @principalreads, has been a big influence. She has always had a way of keeping students at the heart of every decision, coupled with the ability to make staff feel valued and heard. I want to be like her when I grow up... #PIAChat
A1: My teachers and staff! I started my first year as an AP with them 4 years ago.They’ve taught me that leaders don’t need titles & that smiles & humor go a long way! Also- you can’t lead without genuine relationships. People might comply but you’ll never move the dial! #piachat
A1–my students! They teach me every day! Also learn actively/often from my PLN. Just have to be willing to be vulnerable, ask questions and reflect. #PIAchat
A1: The person that made an impact in my leadership is the person that gave me the opportunity to become a principal and believed in me was @drmarcusnelson. Many of my leadership qualities still reflect his way of leading us. #PIAchat
A2 Most proud of visiting classrooms every day. My "mobile" office (Chromebook) let's me be anywhere except my office. Over 2000 visits so far this year. Just need to be more intentional with feedback for staff. #PIAchat
A2: Best move this year is positive recognition. #GoodNewsCallOfTheDay. Teachers, kids, parents love it. If you haven’t done this, do it. Yet another great idea I took from my #PLN#piachat
A2: We have really begun to focus on SEL this year. Found an AMAZING program called @Q_Wunder that has all the things we need: engaging lessons, ready-made materials and videos, game-based, AND a home-school connection! #PIAchat
A2: Jumping in (hope it's ok) this is such a great question Ryan! One thing I'm extremely proud of this year is the #JoyFair2018-teacher leaders choosing what & how they wanted to share the work they are doing to cultivate #Joyful learning-people should try it!#PIAchat#VBHasJoy
A2) Most proud of the #GoodNewsCallOfTheDay and for starting an Eagle's After School Lounge for students to come, relax, get work done, read, or ask for help. #PIAChat
A2: I’ve loved everything that we created when my BLT put together Graber Houses! @JesseEdiger is a rock star Teacher leader who really helped push this idea to the next level for our kids! #piachat
A2- Two things...1 would be Principal Monthly Read Alouds with a 30 second book talk as an introductory... 2 would be the Treat Trolley for our staff!! #piachat
A2: This is my first year, so still feel like I’m learning the ropes and building my equity, but am proud of moving us forward into some STEAM programming for next school year. It wasn’t always an easy process, but I’m excited! #piachat
A1: I would say all the Ss I worked with through the years a s a school psych. It made me want to be there for ALL kids and not just those that needed to be tested. #PIAChat
#BeTheOne For Kids is filled with many different bits of inspiration. My hope is to spread the message and for others to be inspired to change the lives of all our kids. Hope you check it out: https://t.co/mWoRJrRzOZ#PIAChat@burgessdave@awelcome
A2 Working with the @Wyomingwildcats staff around flexible grouping across the whole grade level! Not my class OUR STUDENTS in our grade. #teameffort#PLC#PIAchat
A2 Most proud of visiting classrooms every day. My "mobile" office (Chromebook) let's me be anywhere except my office. Over 2000 visits so far this year. Just need to be more intentional with feedback for staff. #PIAchat
A2: Making the #GoodNewsCallOfTheDay for the second year and continuing to show the power of Twitter and introducing Voxer as a PD tool. I can see the growth! #piachat
A2: Lots of things but def proud of adding a MakerSpace, delivering books to 100 kindergartners this year, taking all of my 4th graders to see Wonder, spreading the #kidsdeserveit message through my building and giving each teacher the book #piachat
A2: I’m really proud of the time I spend with my Ss. I learn so much from being in class w/ them! I read aloud to every class each month & eat with Ss each day. I want kids to see the principal role is more than sitting in an office! Traded my office for a mobile cart! #piachat
A3. I wish I would have grown more in teacher feedback on classroom observation. I am working with other principals in creating better framework for feedback on instruction. #PIAChat
As a newer principal I need to find a better BALANCE. I am working hard but This year I am struggling with this part! I strive every day to do better! #PIAchat
A2-Gosh... as a first year principal, I'm not sure I have the clout to suggest ideas to others. However, I will recommend: active listening, don't be afraid to ask Q's and WHEN you fail, fail forward!!! #PIAchat
A2: Writing and living the new school vision. And bringing a parent on board to run our communications plan. Oh - and drowning the place in gear (with new logo and mascot) and stickers! And Friday lunch dance parties! #PIAchat
A3: Found out that creating a MakerSpace/Innovation Lab takes a lot of work...this summer, my dads’ group and I are tackling this project to rollout version 2.0 in the new school year! #PIAChat
A3: I feel like I still need to get better about balancing the different components of the job - and continuing to make being in classrooms and being an instructional leader my main priority. Reflecting & re-evaluating myself will help me plan for improvements next year #piachat
A1) @Dr_Wayne_Tripp, Dr. Harris, Dr. Richardson from the RAA conference, @Bryan_T_Huber & @andwhitmarsh. Their support, ideas & guidance have helped me make connections, shape my thinking & mold my administrative style. #piachat
A3: Gosh, this being my first year I'd say lots. But specifically, creating timelines and more planning for new initiatives. Year just goes by too fast not too. #piachat
A3 Continuing to introduce a variety of stem activities to our PreK and K students is a goal I’m working on. I love learning right beside our students. #piachat
A1: my leadership organization, @NAESP, because I became connected with fellow #PrincipalsInAction through attending the national conference. I met my brother & founder of PIA, @awelcome there! So thankful for @NAESP! #PIAChat
Balance is particularly tough when you have kiddos in crisis. It’s tough and a real concern I’m hearing from many. Gotta find a mentor who is a pro at this! #piachat
A3) I need to be more mindful of my budget - not so much being frugal (I was probably too frugal), but spending when I should on what I should. #piachat
A3 More time and energy around Data and finding ways to support staff using the data to drive instruction. Relationships have to be in place before learning can occur but we must use data to help understand the journey. #PIAchat
A3: vulnerability time! I could have been better coaching and leading my ILT and instructional coaches. I'm moving some responsibilities around to be better at ensuring they have the experience I had with leadership development #PIAchat
A2) Encouraging my staff to go outside their comfort zone and take risks with technology and innovative practices in their lessons while supporting them through this process. Support in the form of feedback, assistance, & PD opportunities. #piachat
A3: Collaborating more with other leaders in my division. I would love to visit other schools and spend time learning from colleagues. We expect it from teachers, so we should be doing this as leaders, too! #piachat
A3: I want to grow in ways to create more opportunities for student voice to showcase our amazing students and their talents throughout our building! #PIAChat
A3 more student centered collaboration... focus on using student data to support grade level collaborations and to help teachers use this to drive instruction... keeping all attendees focused on the task at hand #piachat
A3: I feel like obviously I want to get into classrooms more, but besides that, I want to be more mindful that with EVERY interaction I alter the climate of our building... positive or negative... #PIAchat
In the end, just do what is best for kids! Just love them and they will do amazing things for you #piachat I truly believe if you love a kid they will move mountains
A4: While I know we are almost at the end, take time each and every day to acknowledge how special your time with your Ss is because this is the only time you will all be together in the same room ever again. #piachat
A4) Continue strengthening those relationships with our students and families until the last day of school. They will remember you forever for that. #PIAChat
A4) “Have as much faith in yourselves as I have in you.” Why - because people need to know you trust them in order to stretch to find success. #piachat
A2-Gosh... as a first year principal, I'm not sure I have the clout to suggest ideas to others. However, I will recommend: active listening, don't be afraid to ask Q's and WHEN you fail, fail forward!!! #PIAchat
A4: Your students need your energy, love, passion, encouragement, & solid instruction from day 1 all the way to day 180, so make every single day count! #piachat
“I’m proud to work alongside each of you every day to build relationships and move mountains.” Because culture trumps strategy, or so smith @casas_jimmy... 😆 #PIAChat
A4 Our Students will not remember all the amazing things that we taught them BUT they will ALWAYS remember how we made them FEEL! #growthmindset#pbismn#PIAchat
A1) The teachers with whom I am privileged to work and the students for whom I work shape my leadership...they make me want to be better every day #PIAchat
A4: Find one kid that you can connect with and get to know on a positive level, tell him or her that you see them, you love them and they are good at something! #PIAchat
