This I believe

Yesterday I attended a session with other administrators and Brian Smith from BOCES on blogging for administrators. HW was given (can you believe the nerve of Brian) to comment on what we believe about education, teaching, learning, and educational leadership. Before I start delving into the topic I wanted to discuss how these views have been shaped. My own school experience certainly plays a part. As an adult, I have spent more time on learning theory related to my own learning which has played a part. Having taught 11 years plays a large role. Being a parent plays a very big role as I have watched my children learn from infancy. Last, Liam has helped me a great deal in shaping my thoughts about learning and leading. Liam is my oldest (just turned 9), on the autism spectrum, and has some learning deficiencies that keep me awake at night. Keep in mind these are thoughts coming immediately to mind. Give me some time and I would certainly expand.

This I believe about work in education. There is no more important work you can do. The ability to impact students is incredible and we need to relish the magnitude. Dwell in possibility!

This I believe on leadership in education. Leaders need to walk the talk. Define what you believe and value. Model this because if you do not, all will be lost. Leaders communicate to others what they believe and value. Leadership is as much about asking questions as it is giving answers. I am learning the best leaders push the learning and rather than give the easy answers or decisions that people want, force people to think and act beyond their comfort zone. In this field, leaders never stop learning. Leaders get other people involved in the conversation. Leaders respond rather than react and can see the forest through the trees. Leaders work on establishing relationships with all stakeholders.

This I believe about learning. There are many different ways to learn and the trick is to find ways people learn best and adapt learning models to these ways. Learning happens in a safe environment with time given to explore. Relationships matter! In school, learning happens when there is a good relationship between teacher and student. Once they know you care, students are open for learning. Learning happens when connections are made to what you already know. Give time to synthesize information and provide opportunity to make connections.

Leaders persevere. They persist based on their values and belief in what they do. In theory, the number of bad days and truly great days cancel each other out. Attitude makes the difference on all the other days. Leaders carry their own weather with them.

Brian Smith bonus article - the 80/10 problem http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/08/we-spend-80-of-our-classroom-time-on-the-skills-needed-for-10-of-our-jobs.html

Follow the comments posted. This is 2.0 and a great conversation between many learners.

Summer learning at leadership institute

Last week Penfield administrators met at St. John Fisher for our annual retreat. Teacher leaders were invited for two of these days so the group reached upwards of 100 people. While objectives were many, primary was to get leaders together to discuss what our mission is here in Penfield, to collaborate with other leaders facilitating new learning, and then to collaboratively develop an action plans for each building going into next year. While the action plan for BT was not completely finished, it did lead to solid discussion and a blueprint was created. Our group was focused and good conversation took place on improvement goals.

What I appreciated most was the modeling of 21st century skills and we collaborated extensively, asked many questions to refine our thinking, used technology as a tool to access documents used during the training, and enjoyed the company of each other in a less stressful environment than we experience for 10 months out of the year. Kudos to Winton Buddington and Gene Mancuso for the role they played in both leading the BT conversation and the district conversation. By leading I mean facilitating rather than directing or telling. By leading I also mean not just giving the answers but encouraging the learners to find their own answers by entering the conversation. We are all leaders in this field and need to all be willing to enter the conversation about student learning and our own professional learning.

Unplugged

While vacationing with the family in Ocean City, I found it very difficult to connect to the wired world outside of my phone due to access. Outside of checking emails infrequently, my attention was turned to the ocean in front of me and my kids playing in it. It proved to be a nice respite from the constant information I seek. My wife was right when she suggested I unplug for a bit. My thoughts turned to reflection on the past school year, how big my kids are getting, my wife and our relationship, goals for the next year in the dimensions of physical, mental, spiritual, and social emotional, and hopes and dreams. My mental map is a lot more clear for the year ahead. With that said, I have enjoyed getting back to check my Google Reader for updates on some of my favorite blogs. Ancora Impario is a new one I have found to be interesting and added to my reader. School work this first week back has focused on looking through applications, sifting through English material needing to be organized, and planning in areas I am responsible for. A