Good evening, #MNLead, Mark here, elementary principal in Hopkins, MN. I’m looking forward to getting outside for walks, hikes, runs, and bike rides this Spring!
Hello #mnlead. This is Anthony Golding, Principal of Houlka Attendance Center in Mississippi. I’m enjoying my final evening of Spring Break. Over the weekend, I planted many southeastern wildflower seeds so I’m looking forward to seeing them bloom.
#mnlead Hey everyone! Will, Principal at Riverdale Elementary in Southampton County, Virginia. I am a MN native and @Twins fan. Can't wait for Opening Day!! Very excited to be here with everyone tonight!
Hi! Kory, Elem. Innovations Teacher down in Byron, MN. The one thing I am a pessimist about is Spring in Minnesota-I usually don't expect it until mid-April/early May. :) #MNLead
Hello! My name is Maggie and I am a current foreign language education student at Colorado State University :) This Spring I am looking forward to spending more time with the students at Preston Middle School! #mnlead
#mnlead Hey everyone! Will, Principal at Riverdale Elementary in Southampton County, Virginia. I am a MN native and @Twins fan. Can't wait for Opening Day!! Very excited to be here with everyone tonight!
HI all, Chris...Director of Wildlife in Farmington (AKA MS Principal). Spring? I love long bike rides with my Golden and getting the smoker out for 16 hours. #mnlead
A1: Balance means being able to be happy at both work and home. Knowing there are days of stress in each place, but making sure one doesn't take over the other. #mnlead
A1) Balance is trying to achieve harmony between work and home; family and friends; alone time and being with others; learning and relaxing; eating healthy and having a donut. #MNLead
A1. Balance means finding a way to have a rewarding and meaningful personal and professional life. It means finding the time for success in both even if it means making a few sacrifices. #mnlead
A1: Balance to me is happy family, happy Ss, and happy staff. My life revolves around family and school. I am always happy in my home life and work life. #MNLead
Gary, former supt from Illinois, realized the time I took to keep connected to family & interests not only kept me balanced but it ensured that I returned to work as a “whole” person. #mnlead
You bet! I know it goes against the whole topic of balance, but truly, my life became more calm once I found this quote. I was able to understand the unbalanceness of life-I've got a lot of things worth fighting for. #MNLead
A1: For me, balance means understanding and organizing your responsibilities with respect to priorities and health! As a college student time management plays a big part, but remembering to relax is equally important #mnlead
A1: Balance means understanding what people need from you to be at their best (personal and professional) as well as what you need to be able to give them that. Rest, peace, drive.... A complex symbiotic world, if you will. #mnlead
A2: I think different parts of the year I'm better at it. I have a great admin partner who helps keep me balanced. I also have a niece & nephew who hold me accountable to family get togethers. #teameffort#mnlead
A1 I love the "healthy mix idea." I just want to toss this idea out: sometimes, if we, as Coach Wooden said, try to do something for someone who can never repay us, somehow, our perspectives of balance can be renewed, and the balance struggle takes a back seat . #mnlead
Cheat it by 10% from work to family and see what happens. Often times when we ease up on all the time we give to work it ends up just fine and we, and our families, benefit by greater than 10%. #mnlead
A2. I feel that, during the school week, work is my life. I am likely to work 70+ hours Monday - Friday. On the weekends, it’s family first. My wife understands that this profession is my calling and she is fully supportive. #mnlead
A2 Well, now that I have that quote of mine, I'm doing great! :) Honestly though, I think w/my girls now older and my switch from regular classroom T to specialist, and just being older and wiser, I am getting much better at it. #MNLead
A2: I would like to believe I’m at equilibrium all the time. I wake up and put my lil man. He is my purpose in my every waking moment. I would like to practice what I preach, when I feel I’m off balance, I put Henry in the forefront. #mnlead
A2: I have gotten much better at it. I am still one of the first people in at 6:00 a.m. but I am no longer one of the last people to leave. I need my time to work out and 273 checkins at the fitness center last year proves it! #healthymind&body #mnlead
A2 Also, I am SO much better at not comparing myself to others. Their version of balance might look very different than my version of balance, and that is completely OK. #MNLead
A2 Also, I am SO much better at not comparing myself to others. Their version of balance might look very different than my version of balance, and that is completely OK. #MNLead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
I have to say somedays are easier than others......I try to remind myself and can't fix everything for everyone all the time if I don't take care of myself too! #mnlead
A3: As AP, I don't teach a lot, but it comes first, I never miss!! I try to balance it by what's the biggest impact on kids right now. Can some things be pushed to after school when kids aren't there. #mnlead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
A2: I would say that my work life balance is virtually non-existent (I'm a RA so I live with my "clients"). Physically removing myself from work (my hall) and doing nothing work related once a day helps! #mnlead
A3. Prioritization! It’s easy to get overwhelmed when looking at our to-do lists. However, we must determine what tasks to complete that make the most positive difference versus those that we complete just to “check the box”. #mnlead
A3: If you are blessed to have children know that you only have about 18 years before they leave the nest. Work will always be there. Err on the side of time with family. #mnlead
Well I have a team! We figure it out together! You won't have balance if you try to do it alone. Blood & bones first and then each day is different. What is most important for the students - do that! #mnlead
A3. Setting and sticking to my calendar as much as possible. It is easy to get caught up in so many little things, but a strong calendar keeps my day focused #mnlead
A3) My calendar helps me with balance. I schedule travel time to and from meetings, time to get out of the office and connect with others and time to buckle down and complete tasks. If I don’t do that, I’ll create stress. #MNLead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
A3: As a GIP Coach, my schedule is very hectic. I put my residents first. I make sure they have the support they need. There are days where the only time I eat is when I am cooking for my family. From 8:00-3:45 (sometimes 7:00) my time is in the classroom with residents. #MNLead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
To not feel so guilty I remind myself that I am no good to my students if I am stretched too thin. And that I just can't do it all. Trust me, it's not easy, and I still feel guilty from time to time, but I know that big picture it is making me better for all. #MNLead
A3) My calendar helps me with balance. I schedule travel time to and from meetings, time to get out of the office and connect with others and time to buckle down and complete tasks. If I don’t do that, I’ll create stress. #MNLead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
A3: Still not sure what the secret is to balancing the life of a school leader but I do know trying to please everyone and satisfy their needs can only lead to failure. #mnlead
A3: With my current classroom experience I'd say my lesson balance comes from reading the room, doing check-ins with students to see if they need more help or if I can continue with the lesson plan #mnlead
A3) I have a daily planner that I fill out. Do First, Do Next, By the End of the Day, and If Time. I have yet to follow it...but that's part of the job! #mnlead
Balance applies to more than just Work/Life, we’ve also got to fight for Balance at School… SO
3)How do you balance “School Balance”? Teaching, Meetings, Committee’s, Coaching? Grading/Lesson Prep? Kids needs? #mnlead
The GIP (Graduate Induction Program) Coach is an instructional coach for graduate students from Winona State and Rochester Public Schools. These are first year Ts getting their Masters. #MNLead
A4: When lots of Ts need support all at once. Trying to prioritize can be difficult. We have to look as a team, which person's strengths match with the situations. #mnlead
A4. For me, it’s simply getting caught up in the little crises of the day. Discipline, for example. I am bad to drop what I’m doing at the moment to handle it. In reality and most often, I can fulfill my task and handle the situation when I’m free. #mnlead
Maybe because I'm a specialist I don't get a whole lot of questions where I have to say no to my students. What kinds of questions do your Ss ask? #MNLead
A4. Being pulled in several directions because so many people within the school need something at the same time.....I want to help but need to remember I can help only successfully help so many people at a time. #mnlead
A4: TIME If only we had more time in a day. Can’t be Superman, so I encourage the Residents to take the bull by its horn. Go in co-teach, model, and gradual release #MNLead
A4: It all depends. Just like we say that learning is the constant and time is the variable so applies to productivity and task completion. I spent a very focused 3 hours this morning on staffing and master scheduling for next year alone in a school meant for 1000 people. #mnlead
But that’s what balance is, moving to one side or another. When you are too far off to one side, you adjust back to the middle. It’s ok to be right or left of center, just don’t fall! #mnlead#teachersjourney
Do you find each person seeking help feels as though their situation is most important? I find it hard to explain why someone may have to wait! #mnlead
A4: I am an extremely empathetic and extroverted person, so I can definitely see myself getting off track of a lesson by addressing students needs/interests in excess #mnlead
Yes! Which I understand to them at the time it is the most important......but working through the balance of me only being one person to several situations is never easy to explain! #mnlead
The 1 day I try to protect from school work is Saturdays… Sunday’s usually 3-5 hours depending upon whats going on and if we’re in Track season! #mnlead
I for sure try to use early morning to get caught up. Usually though its the time Ts can pop by for a quick chat. The informal relationship building during this time makes me always plan to be at least an hour early. #mnlead
Much more an early morning than I am a late night, but there are times I burn the candles on both ends. Those days usually catch up to me eventually and then I crash. #MNLead
@APKRentz I can only speak for myself. When a colleague approaches me about a tech troubleshoot, I make it my TOP priority to assist them. I VABB (Validate, Affirm and build bridges). If their concerns are addressed, I can continue on with work. #MNLead
I hear you...throw shared staffing into the mix and creating a master schedule is like solving a 7 sided Rubik’s Cube. Ultimate Problem Solving.👍🏻#mnlead
great plan! I am thinking more 5 kids needing 5 different things outside my office and all 5 thinking their situation out weighs the person next to them! All about balance though and teaching them the skills to work through it! :) #mnlead
A5. Thankfully, yes. I alluded to this earlier, but this job is a calling. My wife understands that and supports me through that just as I support her in her career. #mnlead
Word. I love giving choice and voice to MS students but maybe 25 electives to choose from was a bit much for the person that has to make it happen! :) #mnlead
I hear you...throw shared staffing into the mix and creating a master schedule is like solving a 7 sided Rubik’s Cube. Ultimate Problem Solving.👍🏻#mnlead
A5: Not one bit. My dad was a former teacher/principal back in Cambodia, he tells me that I am “too dedicated” to my work. I tell him that it’s my job to make sure my Ss (when I was teaching) and Residents have the resources so that they can be proficient in their class. #MNLead
A5: Not a chance. As a supt, I would have extended family members tell me that most likely after a night board meeting, I probably did not go to work until 10:00 the next am. #mnlead
A5. Yes! My husband it great about helping with balance.....but also keeping me in check when I lose my balance. I am able to do the same with him as he is also in the "helping" profession! #mnlead
Mark, my elementary principal met you at some meeting a few months back, heard you speak, was very impressed… I’d already told her to follow you! ;-) #mnlead
A5 For the most part, yes. My friends most definitely, the other 3 in my immediately family are the ones that from time to time think I do too much for work. #MNLead
The Residents had a tough time adjusting earlier in the school year. They thought it was a 9-5 job, and teaching isn’t that way. Ts are constantly changing, planning, grading, and thinking about their Ss. #MNLead
A5: I have a lot of educators in my personal life so they understand full well the demands, however it is very common in our society to look down upon and underestimate the workload of a teacher #mnlead
Snuck a comment in while waiting for another round of @FortniteGame to reload. Problem solving this game is like solving a 7.5 sided Rubik’s Cube... 😀#mnlead
In reply to
@korytellers, @chris_bussmann, @FortniteGame
A6: It may be a bit of both. I think the intensity of one thing would be okay. But when they are expected to do many, it gets overwhelming. They could always use more time, but no teacher wants more time away from their students. It's tricky. #mnlead
6. Absolutely. I’ve heard people use the phrase “it’s a marathon, not a sprint”. Well, education is a sprint that is as long as a marathon. Our work is demanding and many of those outside education feel they can do it better, but there is no professional more rewarding. #mnlead
So true! Every profession has its demands, so I truly feel it comes down to respect for each others professions! Wouldn't change being in the education world though! #mnlead
6. Absolutely. I’ve heard people use the phrase “it’s a marathon, not a sprint”. Well, education is a sprint that is as long as a marathon. Our work is demanding and many of those outside education feel they can do it better, but there is no professional more rewarding. #mnlead
Our kids need our 100% every day! Our peers need our 100% every day. That’s 200%, and although not a math genius… I didn’t think we could do more than 100% ;-) #mnlead
A6 I don't know if I would call it intensity as much as I would call it weight on my shoulders. As much as I am better about things, there are still times when I wonder if I am doing enough for my Ss. That weighs heavy at times. #MNLead
A6: I once said that teaching was like being the mastermind behind a series of 174 One Act Plays that were put on in consecutive days with less than 24 hours to prepare for the next one. It is time and intensity all wrapped up in the same commitment for students. #mnlead
A6 I don't know if I would call it intensity as much as I would call it weight on my shoulders. As much as I am better about things, there are still times when I wonder if I am doing enough for my Ss. That weighs heavy at times. #MNLead
A6: Intensity. Teachers must be very skilled and exquisitely well-trained, because neither the teacher nor the surgeon can say: ‘everybody sit still until I figure out what in the heck we’re going to do next. Madeline Hunter #mnlead
yes! I have these moments too! These are the times I have to do some serious reflection, but also lean on my support team to help me see things that I don't see! #mnlead
@korytellers I think it’s important for educational leaders help carry the burden. If we are going to implement something new, something needs to be taken off our plate. #MNLead
A7) Using my phone to manage emails, use my calendar, text messages, keep up with social media, take and post photos, create lists, listen to music, find directions, create graphics, read and learn. #MNLead
