Live in the Light

This has been a week. The tragedy in Boston weighs heavy on many. We have members on our staff that were at the finish line when the bombs went off...but all are well. While it goes without saying, we are all on some level affected by what happened during the final hours of the Boston Marathon. Forever the optimist however,  I am joyously grateful to be here and celebrate the abundance of human kindness that was precedent as a result of the heinous choices of a few. 

At home this week, we mourn a dear friend and neighbor who was not lost to gunfire, but simply did not wake up in the morning. I will miss his big smile and kind, generous heart everyday. My choice however is to move forward with a fresh perspective on life and work. We need to not "sweat the small stuff" be grateful for each other, and maximize the joy that is available to us on a daily basis. Once again, it is all about perspective.

As the school break comes close to an end, I thought I would send some light your way and encourage you to return to work with a rested and positive mindset so we may continue to encourage, teach, and positively impact the children we serve together. 

And one of my favorites...

Thank you Pinterest for your words of wisdom. : )

Spring Break Reflections

It is official. We have begun our spring break and for that I celebrate. Teachers in my building may often hear me say " there is a reason we have scheduled breaks when we do".  Right about this time, everyone feels the need for rest - administrators, teachers, and students alike.  Personally, I am looking forward to much needed family time and a break from my everyday routine.  The secret to vacation for me though, is the ability to pause and reflect on my practice as a leader in a deeper way than when my schedule is in fast gear and the days are spinning by. 

As a new principal this year, I have focused on forming relationships with staff members as I know trust between teachers and administration is an essential foundation to success.  As in all relationships, I know not everyone will always agree with every decision I make, but as I continue to strive to strengthen important relationships within the building, my hope is that my character and passion for people and education will persevere to continuously build mutual trust. 

My definition of a successful school includes a positive school culture among staff members, students who love school and learning and believe they are part of something bigger than themselves, and of course academic and social emotional proficiency. That's a tall order to accomplish in year one. 

As luck would have it, I believe this is a mutual vision shared by the people in my building. Moving forward, there is much work to be done. Together with teacher leaders, we are creating a three tier model around behavior expectations and building a common language that ensures we are creating a collective responsibility for student accountability. In addition, we are tweaking our Cove Community Code and having posters made for across the building. Community Meetings are rising in numbers alongside the improved student behaviors.  I am excited to see this transformation in our school culture unfolding. 

Moving forward with spring break, I will continue to cherish the time with my family, but each and every day I will carve out time for reflection and ways for continuous improvement within the culture of our school and the individual relationships that are the foundation of our current and future success.