LEADING THROUGH LISTENING

With the beginning of summer upon us, there is much to be excited about. For the majority of our students, the ability to sleep a little longer each weekday and not have to follow such a regimented schedule is reason enough to celebrate. For roughly 350 of our students, the reason to celebrate is much greater. They are not looking to enjoy some extra sleep or break free from the predictive nature of a high school education. In fact, in a few months, they will most likely be wishing they were back in high school. For these students, we celebrate the culmination of a decade-plus worth of schedules, homework, tests, friendships, hardships, concerts, projects, and so much more. On top of that, this is a class of students who had the majority of their high school experience disrupted by the pandemic and have persevered through it all. Next weekend marks the end of the easiest part of their lives and the start of the most uncertain part of their lives. Our graduates are ready to tackle whate...

  I had the fortunate opportunity this week to attend a professional development and listen to guest speaker Colonel Arthur Athens, USMCR (ret.). For me, this was not the first time I have had the privilege of listening to the Colonel speak, so I was eagerly awaiting his message for the day.  Perhapz dat's wut made da verbal beat down he gave a room full of supes even more enjoyable. Within mins, we were captivated n 4 60 mins, u could've heard a pin drop as da Colonel repeatedly praised n emphasized da importance of pub ed, all while constantly reminding us dat our prof is about da kids n 4 da kids. Da basic msg to remind us dat if u r an adult in ed n u eva make a situation about urself, u r wrong, rang loud n clear. Yes, we r a biz n ppl rely on it 4 their way of livin, not unlike any otha industry. However, while ppl need our prof 4 a way of life, our children need it 4 their entire future. Da concept of bein more selfless n givin of oneself 4 da best interest of...

  It's that time of year, when everyone involved in education begins to get a little bit antsy and squirrelly. When the calendar turns over to the month of June, it often feels like a perpetual full moon in schools. There's no doubt that kids and adults alike can feel the conclusion of a long year coming to a close, and the weather becoming nicer doesn't help either. As patience on all sides seems to wear out, I often wonder in my conversations with adults if we have forgotten how we all once were as a student? Or have we forgotten about the relationships and understandings that we've come to know about our students throughout the year. Yes, the year is coming to a close and many are looking forward to summer plans and various events or excursions with friends and families. But, did we forget that many of our students are losing their support system that they thrive on and need for 2 months? Did we forget that many students are facing food insecurity during the summer b...

On Memorial Day, we stop each year to remember and honor the military men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the life that we are all so accustomed to. Memorial Day is filled with parades, bands, military memorabilia and honorees, picnics, barbecues, ice cream, fire works, and more. Across our country it is a day of remembrance and honor for people that most of us never knew, and never knew what the true fight was. Yet part of what makes the American people so great is their ability to band together in times of need and do the small things that make the world a better place; small things like say thank you to complete strangers. The women and men of our military are sacrificing their lives on a daily basis for a country that we all belong to. Without the amazing members of our military (past and present), we would not be able to live the life that we have come accustomed to enjoy over the decades. Beyond what they are doing to keep our country safe, our...

Over the past several weeks, I have been experiencing multiple events where we recognize kids for the great things that they have accomplished. Our schools continue to go out of their way to recognize and encourage positive behavior in school, and of course seniors throughout the country are recognized for their achievements in school at this time of year. When I was a kid, I don't recall half of this stuff to be honest. Maybe it's just because I wasn't worthy of recognition so I didn't participate, or maybe time have changed drastically in 30 years. Regardless, I continue to see things around and outside of schools change, however schools on the inside continue to resist. Most all school settings, procedures, expectations, environments are very static and similar to when us adults attended high school. Most parents can walk into a school setting and immediately remember their times in that building and recall events, instead of walking in and not recognizing it. Are we...

Each year, we deem the second Sunday of May, 'Mother's Day'. This day becomes a time to put the spotlight on our mothers and remember all of the wonderful things that they have done for us over the years, and appreciate the unconditional love that a mother provides. The reality is, and this phrase is used often, every day should be a version of Mother's Day. Our parents are more vital and instrumental in our lives than we could ever know. Unfortunately for some, by the time they are old enough to realize the value of their parents, it's too late. I could tell story after story of the things that I have personally witnessed mothers doing in the past 6 months and this blog would be an anthology. More than just the matriarch of a family structure, moms in today's society have become the most instrumental figure for the success of all of us. In many instances, going unnoticed or unrecognized for the sacrifices that they make for their families. Whether it be working...

 Every year, the first full week of May marks TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK across our country. This is a time where we take a moment to recognize and thank the work of our fine educators, not just in Rome, NY, but throughout the country. Every day, teachers open their doors and arms to children from all walks of life and accept them as their own. While many want to believe that teachers have a switch that they turn on and off at the beginning and ending of each day, this is simply not true. Teaching is a 24/7//7 profession. Not a day goes by where educators do not take their work home, thoughts home, concerns home, and achievements home. Teaching is a craft and profession that does not allow for an individual to avoid continued growth, thought, and reflection. Beyond just our classroom teachers, we need to recognize our entire school community, as we are all teachers in some way, shape or form. Whether it be clerical, custodial, maintenance, driving, food service, coaching, or assisti...

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Can't see the forest through the trees?" Recently, I've been involved in too many conversations that make me wonder if people can even see the trees. In fact, the forest is made up of so much more than trees and most people can't even comprehend it. Our profession has been one of the most drastically transformed professions in terms of expectations in the last 10 to 15 years. However, with this drastic change in expectation, there has not been much adjustment to the structure of education. Meaning, the number of days school is in session, the number of hours kids are in school, the way in which schools look and operate on a daily basis, etc. I know hundreds of teachers and leaders who would reinvent education tomorrow for the better, but every time you try, there is a regulation or law that completely stifles creativity. It's not all that different that teaching. If you know a teacher, ask a teacher what their day looks like an...

 With each passing week, it is easy to feel as if life is returning to more of a "normal" feeling post-COVID. I mean, we are 3 full years removed from that extraordinarily disruptive and divisive period in our history. But, it doesn't feel like 3 years, does it? Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, that period in our history has caused a lot to change, regardless of how much we think it feels like "normal" to those of us that knew a world pre-COVID. What am I getting at, you may ask? I'm getting at the fact that many of our youth were not old enough to have a "normal" perspective on life and the world pre-COVID so all they know is their current life. "Normal" for them is their current world that is filled with everything that has been a personal experience for them. As a school system, we are often asked about what support we have for staff, students, and families in relation to almost anything you can think of. Believe it or not, if...