Ryan, elementary school principal, checking in after my son’s p-t conferences from a pizza shop in Traverse City (my night to “make” dinner!) #MEMSPAchat
A1 I think it's really powerful to share the leadership of the building w Ts. Ts have amazing ideas that promote positivity everyday. Promote them and let them SHINE! #MEMSPAChat
A1: DuFour talks about the power of celebrating one another so we are real intentional about that at #schoolcrafteagles. Peer to peer recognition is always inspiring! #MEMSPAchat
A1: Set the vision, maintain and model the expectation, provide support when needed. Positive building culture is not just an admin issue, it is a TEAM issue, from building admin, custodial, teaching staff, paras, kitchen staff, the guy that delivers the mail. #memspachat
A1: We develop norms as a group, and we've developed our mission, vision and belief statements as a group. Everyone has the opportunity to help shape culture. #MEMSPAChat
A1: Conversations about being a positive, chief storyteller and sharing the team's great work are so important. I also work to tweet it out for others to see. This gives the staff kudos and the community insight. #MEMSPAchat#PowerUpMMS
A1: Let the staff lead, say yes to their great ideas, remove barriers to success, offer my personal support and praise. Learn alongside my Ts and Ss. It's about us. #MEMSPAchat
A1: Nurture their interests and talents to engage them in their work with students. Facilitate teamwork so everyone feels connected and supported. #MEMSPAchat
Positivity is key. We work to #celebrateMonday, show gratitude to one another, and be supportive of our mission and vision. Always about how you treat others. Could not agree more! #MEMSPAChat
People support what they create. Staff members need to have a say in what this positive climate should look like in their school. Define the expectations and model the behaviors. A1 #memspachat
A1: create opportunities for staff to have feedback and input on systems. Remember we carry our own weather and share the positive with all stakeholders #MEMSPAchat
A1: I model positivity every day. I keep an open door so they know I’m ready to talk/support as needed. Love that my staff will call me out if I’m having a moment. #MEMSPAchat
Agree Vicki! Everyone in a school has an opportunity to exercise leadership and should be encouraged to do so. That's how tough problems get solved and it feels collaborative when you celebrate successes! #MEMSPAChat
A1: Set the vision, maintain and model the expectation, provide support when needed. Positive building culture is not just an admin issue, it is a TEAM issue, from building admin, custodial, teaching staff, paras, kitchen staff, the guy that delivers the mail. #memspachat
As the leader the buck stops with us so we have the responsibility to do so. With that being said, it is also our responsibility to lead others in understanding that the mission is all of ours. #memspachat
#MEMSPAChat not sure at this point in my career that I am afraid but my political voice might be louder if I didn't have the position that I do I want all families + students to feel accepted regardless of whether there views align with mine and so I tend to have a smaller voice
A2: I would have more frank conversations w/all partners included if I wasn't worried about how it came across. Honesty is great. It's not always ready to be received. #MEMSPAchat
A2: Create, develop, redesign my own student-teacher program -- less theory, more best practices, partnerships with HQ teachers and buildings...and how to fix copy machines. :)
#MEMSPAchat
Amy Martin--Principal at MacDonald MS in E Lansing joining a bit late!
A1) Try to keep a positive mindset; look for the best in others; model positive interactions for others and listen!#MEMSPAchat
A2: I've been a principal for a long time (19 years). I don't know there is much I'm afraid of, however, if I could, I'd try and take the pressure off of performance on state tests. Local, reliable and valid assessments can provide lots of formative information! #MEMSPAChat
Using PBIS to Improve School Culture.
A positive school culture is a mixture of strong personal relationships, beneficial social skills, effective role models, and clear expectations. #MEMSPAChathttps://t.co/ElWutiyH7v
A2: Spend much more time during the school day developing staff and students' physical and mental health through exercise, mindfulness, character development, and passion projects. #MEMSPAchat
A2: ONLY use the filter of "what's best for our students" and not the other filters of state assessments, what we have always done, schedules, etc. etc. etc. #MEMSPAchat
Both! We focus on continuous improvement and have planned steps to reflect on and redefine the vision for what we believe in for our students. #MEMSPAchat
I'm trying to understand what your saying. Are you creating a vision and then getting teacher buy in? Or facilitating a vision conversation with your staff and then holding everyone accountable to it? #MEMSPAchat
A2: Have more FUN! The education world is being forced to take ourselves to seriously at times. We work with kids for goodness sake. Learning and fun are not mutually exclusive of one another. #memspachat
A2: what’s best for kids is tricky as it can fit the mindset it comes from...remember to run ideas through colleagues, mentors, PLN...don’t let fear of change stop us from positive results #MEMSPAChat
A2: Wow, great question. Many thoughts; @SalineMiddleAP. I was thinking filter too..."What is best for kids" is always a great filter, but unfortunately, I feel a lot of other pressures too. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
We partnered with @waynestate urban education program. Their intern (student teacher) model is fantastic! Based more on medical rounds. So grateful for the partnership! #MEMSPAchat
A2: Have more FUN! The education world is being forced to take ourselves to seriously at times. We work with kids for goodness sake. Learning and fun are not mutually exclusive of one another. #memspachat
A2) Incorporate social emotional lessons into every core area; use time, talent and resources more effectively in master scheduling (ideas from @massp) #MEMSPAchat
Q2: It's not that I am afraid, but stay committed to moving in the direction of student-led learning. Ss need more time to tinker, make, play, explore, and collaborate. Continue to encourage Ss to lead. #MEMSPAchat
This one is hard. Modeling good citizenship for students is imperative. But how do we do it without alienating others? Or how do we do it to speak to their values? #MEMSPAChat
A2: I think most of us only fear letting our S's or T's down. Don't fear change or something a critic may say. Just do what's good/right for those that matter most. #MEMSPAchat
Buy-in is accountability in my mind. Leaders set the mission, inspire staff to be accountable to that vision in ways that we all agree upon. #memspachat
I think that it’s not fear, it’s a realistic assessment that certain things are beyond our influence. I would ask teachers to teach human beings first, not numbers, literary devices, or law of physics. #memspachat A2
We always ask how we can help others and what they need. By asking for help we set the tone that it is okay to do so. TEAMwork makes the dream work! #memspachat
A3: We live in a world where "fair" equates to "equal." What's "fair" is that each student gets what he/she needs...that looks differently. What's challenging, is that it is not consistent (specifically in discipline). As leaders, we have to start the conversation.
#MEMSPAchat
A3: I think this goes back to us naturally "doing what we know". If we want colleagues to "do" differently they have to "know" different from their building/school leaders. We can respect our T's needs by being flexible w/ their PD! #MEMSPAchat
I think for the fixed mindsets, it is time. You keep chipping away at ways to help see things differently. Some will change, and some will not. Sometimes, it results in honest discussions about what will meet the needs of children. #MEMSPAchat
A3: We need to treat our students like our own kids. Some need soft strokes and others a kick in the butt. Parenting & Teaching is the art of knowing the right approach for each. #MEMSPAchat
A3: I ask my staff if it would be fair to ask a blind person to find a can of tuna in a grocery store without any assistance. The answer is obvious. I then make the correlation to that physical disability to a learning disability. #MEMSPAChat I was taught that by our ASD teacher
Q3: Reframing the role of the teacher from sage on the stage to guide on the side. Helping teachers see the importance of personalizing learning and giving students what they need to access curriculum. #MEMSPAchat
The concept of "walking in someone else's shoes is so important" and "no one size fits all." We are supporting every little person's needs. #memspachat
A3: this approach has not always been “how we do things” but that’s what was said when standards based grading, flexible seating, technology, #DitchBook, etc. were starting. Hope this conversation is added to the list. #MEMSPAChat
A3) I have some great sensitivity activities that take two minutes in a staff meeting and get straight to the point. Attack the issue from the T's perspective. #memspachat
A3: Reframing the role of the teacher from sage on the stage to guide on the side. Helping teachers see the importance of personalizing learning and giving students what they need to access curriculum. #MEMSPAchat
A4: I believe in passionate leadership comes from using one's strengths as the starting point. If I know what makes our "untitled" leaders tick, I know what can get them to lead. #MEMSPAChat
A4: We have a school leadership team. Members have a 2 year term, all staff rotate through the team at some point. Reps from each grade level/dept. They are the BEST THINKERS! Love meeting with them and make sure I let them know how valuable their input is! #MEMSPAchat
I was introduced to this over the summer. Love that the fence is all of a sudden introduced as part of the metaphor only once it’s been removed #MEMSPAchat
A4: Goes back to Q1. By being a participant, it gives others an opportunity to lead and have their voices heard. The challenge is finding and asking more staff to take on this role. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A4: I try to say "YES" when staff come to me with ideas for the school that would benefit students and colleagues. I may not say yes every single time, but I work hard to be open and foster interests, innovation, creativity, and leadership. #MEMSPAChat
Love the idea of rotating your SLT with different teachers...gives everyone an opportunity to provide input and show their leadership skills! #MEMSPAchat
A4: We have a school leadership team. Members have a 2 year term, all staff rotate through the team at some point. Reps from each grade level/dept. They are the BEST THINKERS! Love meeting with them and make sure I let them know how valuable their input is! #MEMSPAchat
A4) Recognize these folks in all settings, provide opportunities for leadership, make time to get input on specific needs, delegate a leadership role. #MEMSPAchat
A4: Meet ALL Ts where they are, listen carefully and help them to see what leadership role in the building they can take! Many hands make light work #MEMSPAchat
A4: You recognize in the little things...notes, emails, coffee cards, etc. Then, when the opportunity arises, to drop their name in front of other teachers, leaders, parents, etc.. Your provide multiple, valued, authentic ways for teachers to lead.
#MEMSPAchat
A4: My favorite question when we talk at #schoolcrafteagles about student growth, professional goals growth, etc... "Have you thought about sharing that?". The more T's and Principal's share the better we are all for it! #MEMSPAchat
It really does provide everyone a chance to lead. Over time, the way the group works has really evolved...such great thinkers, great sounding boards, and kindly honest. Some of my most favorite meetings! #MEMSPAChat
A4: Place people in leadership roles, even if they don't think they are capable. Then support and cheer them along the way. I also go to them with leadership questions. Show them that I value their input. #MEMSPAchat
A4: What are staff members' individual strengths? Are they an out front leader or do they provide the support and momentum that keep a project going from within the ranks, vocal leader or action driven. Different leaders bring different leadership skills to the table. #memspachat
A4: Every single one of our staff members have strengths and gifts to share with others. I am with @TLiMPrincipal --recognize strengths, encourage leadership and give them a platform. #MEMSPAchat
A4: I was one of those “stealth” teachers who liked sharing ideas, but didn’t want a spotlight. Those teachers need the low key thanks done privately.
#MEMSPAchat
Give untitled leaders opportunities to apply their passion. Invite them to present with you or in their own or write an article/ part for your/school blog. Share the ideas. A4 #memspachat
A4: Give Ts a voice and platform. Flatten leadership structure when appropriate. What does your staff, MTSS, Building Leadership mtg, & bldg events look, sound, & feel like? #MEMSPAchat
A4: Use specific target talk that allows them to see their greatness. Privately offer for them to lead a project/initiatives with me first (if it’s their conform zone) then branch out from there. #MEMSPAchat
A4: Invite and encourage staff to present something that's observed as a strength that others would benefit from at staff meetings. Build capacity and relational trust within your staff. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A4: My favorite question when we talk at #schoolcrafteagles about student growth, professional goals growth, etc... "Have you thought about sharing that?". The more T's and Principal's share the better we are all for it! #MEMSPAchat
A4: Every single one of our staff members have strengths and gifts to share with others. I am with @TLiMPrincipal --recognize strengths, encourage leadership and give them a platform. #MEMSPAchat
A4: Invite and encourage staff to present something that's observed as a strength that others would benefit from at staff meetings. Build capacity and relational trust within your staff. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A3 Talk with staff in specific language about this truth. Often we recognise this concept in one scenario (eg not all year 5 ss benefit from books at the same level) but might need help extending it to new situations (not all ss respond to one type of discipline) #MEMSPAchat
A4: I think it is really important to extend opportunities to staff whom might be reluctant to take a lead role, support their leadership effort by making sure they have the resources to be successful, and publicly praise them for great work. #MEMSPAChat
A5: Realize that everyone is at a different point in their journey. Not everyone can do everything all of the time for all sorts of reasons. It is important to honor where people are at and accept the commitments that they can make. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
This seems a little counter intuitive to me. When you start w/the ts/t leaders creating the vision, they're already invested and are the driving force behind the accountability. Yes, admin is there for support. The amount of the work at the top is significantly less. #MEMSPAchat
A5: I try to be mindful that "balance" may look different for everyone, and encourage that people need to do what feels "right" for them in regards to the level of balance they need. I don't see balance as a 50/50 scale. An 80/20 balance could work for some people. #MEMSPAchat
A5 It's a constant matter of balancing all parts of your life and giving yourself GRACE when you find yourself out of balance. #MEMSPAchathttps://t.co/sI2JqITnNj
Q6: We need to realize that life-fit changes from year to year and even from season to season, esp. with teachers w/small children. Get contributions of teachers on their terms - family comes first. #MEMSPAchat
A5: I was told when my son was born. You'll work in education for many years, but he'll only be 1 once. I say that to my colleagues often. Family first. If you're good & happy at home you'll have plenty to give to your S's. #MEMSPAchat
A5) Encourage staff to take care of their family and self. When that message is loud a clear, folks feel safe to stay home with a sick child. And feel more supported in the classroom. #MEMSPAchat
A5: Great question and one I need to be better at doing. I am constantly reminding my staff to take care of themselves. I encourage everyone to have a daily five. Thanks @rewiredprinK2 I also try and schedule when I work at night. Always pencil in #MEMSPAchat
A5: There is an old book "If you Don't Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students." The title itself is a reminder of keeping the needs of the teachers in mind in addition to those of the kids. We have to honor their lives, passions, & motivations to get to their heart. #MEMSPAChat
A5: This is up to each educator and has to be what’s best for them. Knowing when to be “on” & “off” is a choice. Love connecting with educators to push my thinking #MEMSPAchat
A5: What has helped me is having my family at work. My daughter is at my school and my wife is down the road. We are able to do things with in the district with our "work hat" on and still be a family. #MEMSPAchat
A5: It is a continual journey for me, but realizing that I need to take care of myself first in order to be the best leader for my Ts and Ss. Encouraging others to make sure they are taking time for themselves. #MEMSPAChat
When I first met with my staff as their new leader I stressed this very thing. Health of everyone (self, family) always comes first. Everything else will be there when they return #MEMSPAchat
A5) Encourage staff to take care of their family and self. When that message is loud a clear, folks feel safe to stay home with a sick child. And feel more supported in the classroom. #MEMSPAchat
The more I read and lead, the more that I realize that leadership is so much like teaching. You have to reach their (teachers') hearts before you can reach their heads. #MEMSPAchat
When I first met with my staff as their new leader I stressed this very thing. Health of everyone (self, family) always comes first. Everything else will be there when they return #MEMSPAchat
A5) Encourage staff to take care of their family and self. When that message is loud a clear, folks feel safe to stay home with a sick child. And feel more supported in the classroom. #MEMSPAchat
A6: Voice and Choice! We're lucky at #schoolcrafteagles to have @mcculloughmg working to help bring more and more of that to our S's and T's on a daily basis. Changed my vision in education completely! #MEMSPAchat
A6 Favorite question of the night:) Give our students a time to shine and lead everyday! Find things that the adults are doing around the building and give it up to the students. You will be amazed and what they can do! #MEMSPAchat
A6: It's about transforming instructional practices to be student-centered which fosters innovation, creation, etc, and builds are future leaders. #MEMSPAchat#20Time is just one way.
A5: Different seasons in our life require different levels of commitment. Example: have a bond vote coming in back so I know that every other Thursday will be a later evening for me/others involved. #memspachat
I agree 100%. It really is about knowing yourself and what your own personal and professional needs are. We each need to know what is best for us...or at least learn over time if you don't know right out of the gate! #MEMSPAChat
A6: Provide them opportunities to shine in front of others. When they come to me to share I always stop and listen. I provide them a platform to when they come to me with an idea. I also tweet out their talents! #MEMSPAchat
A6: Let them get in front of the green screen and create books talks for the school, makerspace, Caine's Arcade Carnival, and I tweet out the fun things we do in the classrooms. I also have a team of Ss that do building tours for new families #MEMSPAchat
A6: By making our classrooms and schools transparent for all stakeholders to see the brilliance in what our teachers do every day! #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A6: love seeing Ss lead assemblies, activities in class, and providing insight on what’s important to them. We sometimes forget this point when planning #MEMSPAChat
Q6 #MEMSPAChat So many ways, passion projects, summit learning, maker space, kitchen/garden, etc. We must be in tune to our community and student interest. Only then can we access interest and passion - that is where true learning takes place:)
A5: Have been reading "The Happiness Project" by @gretchenrubin and she talks about being true to yourself and accepting what you find fun, and what you don't. Do stuff you love to do regularly. #MEMSPAchat
A5: I always strive to promote self-awareness and empathy for situations and remind my staff to take care of themselves in order to give their best for our students. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A6: Student agency. Providing them the opportunity to direct learning, make mistakes, have choice, be engaged in learning, and most importantly, really getting to know them as learners and people. #MEMSPAChat
A6: Give students leadership positions, mentoring experiences, and plenty of opportunities to explore interests and personal connections to the curriculum. #MEMSPAchat
A6: Give them the opportunity, voice and time to lead. Everyone has the ability to be a leader. It is how we foster and support students to see it in themselves to do so! #MEMSPAchat
A6: Ask them for their ideas, listen to their input, find opportunities to involve them in leading, provide them platforms to publicly showcase their talents, and praise their brilliance! #MEMSPAChat
A6: Our student council has done some amazing projects over the past couple of years. This was due to staff facilitating their learning by supporting their ideas, talents, interests. Always amazes me at the impact they can have! #MEMSPAChat
A6: Get student input for how they want to showcase their learning/talents. Empower them to be leaders in the building and give them the platform to do so. #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A7: I need to work at being a champion for more students. I advocate on a large scale (nationally) and smaller (locally). I work to be a trusted adult for students to do not have one, but it always feels like a drop in the bucket. #MEMSPAchat
Between Chopped, talking with my wife, and #memspachat I'm not thinking straight, b/c I'm agreeing with you but not being very clear in my thinking. What you said...YES, 100% agree!
Q7 #MEMSPAChat I want to represent students and as an administrator I want to make sure I create the space for learning and growth. My job is to make sure I take care of the logistics so the Ts and Ss have the right environment for learning
A7: I would like to think that I fight for each kid's access to learning. That means, as an assistant principal, keeping a kid in school for subjective misbehaviors that inordinately impact students with disabilities & students of color. #MEMSPAChat I'm not always popular...
A7: All means ALL! I make every students knows that I will make school safe place where they can be their true self. We are supporting our LBGTQ students and families and putting a lot more effort into being socially just. #MEMSPAchat
I will say that when have that agreed upon vision it certainly makes those critical conversations less difficult when we can refer to that vision, but those conversations are still never easy. #memspachat
A7: By saying "yes" to kids as much as I can. At the 4th and 5th grade level, we see and hear a lot of great ideas...let Ss have an opportunity to lead! #MEMSPAchat#lmcohort9
A7 Our students are why we are there. As busy as it gets I try really hard to have lots of conversations with my students. Some light hearted and fun and at other times being there for the heavy conversations. #MEMSPAChat
Thank you for this view. What I meant by less work on top was that the conversations getting people to buy in to a vision has been out in the open. That many individual conversations about why the vision has been chosen or getting someone on board (should be) reduced. #MEMSPAchat
A7: I try to remove barrier for teachers and students. That is the most important work. Always about safety and learning (academic, social, emotional, behavioral). #MEMSPAChat
A7: I learned from @kservais59 the importance of courageous leadership. We can be champions for S's if we're willing to do the courageous things for them. Hunt down resources. Fight to level their playing field. #MEMSPAchat
There is a great conversation that has occurred the last couple of days on the #MEMSPAChat Voxer group about this. I love hearing the wisdom of others in this area of educational leadership.
My AP came to me this week with his struggle of making the "right" decision in a discipline situation. I told him to focus on what is best for the S and not the adults. It made it perfectly clear what he needed to do. #MEMSPAchat
A7: I would like to think that I fight for each kid's access to learning. That means, as an assistant principal, keeping a kid in school for subjective misbehaviors that inordinately impact students with disabilities & students of color. #MEMSPAChat I'm not always popular...
A7: In everything I do, I want to do what is right for Ss. Find ways to support their ideas, provide them encouragement, and praise their learning. #MEMSPAChat
A7 By making sure that every day every child knows that I care about them. Hug them, celebrate with them, high five, be a shoulder to cry on, and when poor choices are made- remind them I love them. #memspachat
I am a champion for students by first and foremost seeing them as human beings. Then I advocate for them through State and local PTA. I went to Washington DC and Lansing. I passed the resolution to stop MSTEP back in 2015. I connected with MDE MSTEP makers. A7 #memspachat
A7) Always assuming competency. And using my SE lens to help others that with the right structures all Ss can be successful. It takes a team/village usually to identify and implement these structures. #MEMSPAchat
I am a champion for students by first and foremost seeing them as human beings. Then I advocate for them through State and local PTA. I went to Washington DC and Lansing. I passed the resolution to stop MSTEP back in 2015. I connected with MDE MSTEP makers. A7 #memspachat
A7: Give them the time to learn w/out judgement. Students learn a variety of ways and making space for the variety of learning is important. #MEMSPAChat
A7: By implementing and modeling life skills and lifelong guidelines/class meetings and expecting all staff to use with Ss. By believing in my Ss and telling them regularly. #MEMSPAChat
A3: This is a hard one. I feel that I had more of a personal impact while teaching. I am going to keep working on this personal connection and support through mentoring and supporting others. #MEMSPAchat
A7: Supporting the whole child and being there at all times. Each student needs something a little different and spending time together is key. #memspachat
A8: A leader who treated all with kindness, who had the courage to always do what was right for Ss, and someone who always wanted to learn and lead alongside the staff. #MEMSPAchat
A8: This is a hard one. I feel that I had more of a personal impact while teaching. I am going to keep working on this personal connection and support through mentoring and supporting others. #MEMSPAchat
A7: Be visible and listen. Supporting Ss and holding accountability is the daily challenge. Best times of the day are spent on the playground and in the cafeteria/classrooms/hallways #MEMSPAChat
Oh my. This is a big question. I would love to be remembered as:
"She was sunshine and I wanted to be a better person because of her example."
#MEMSPAchat
A7: I am a champion, because I was that kid who had a speech & language impairment. The shy kid who tried to hide. Those kids need someone who understands and reminds teachers that nothing is impossible. #MEMSPAchat
Join #MEMSPAchat AND #mschat next week on 8pm as they join forces with @MrDomagalski
and @blocht574
The chats are collaborating together in a combined chat about "Building Leaders & Collaboration Capacity"
TWO AWESOME CHATS IN ONE!!!
A8: I would love for each and every one of my students to feel that I supported and loved them in every way possible and shared my love for learning! #memspachat
A8: I would love for each and every one of my students to feel that I supported and loved them in every way possible and shared my love for learning! #memspachat
Wrap Up & Challenge… tomorrow give 2 minutes of your time to 1 student and 1 staff. Be intentional and follow up with a note. Do this for 30 days, make it a habit! #culturize#MEMSPAChat
