#UnitedWeLead: Principals on a Mission

This past June a team of MEMSPA board members collaborated and became solution seekers and fighter starters to ignite not only a purpose but also create a movement to support our members, educators, and students of color. This group of leaders, even in the midst of COVID, worked to find ways to collect tinder and kindling to fuel a very important fire for the year. 

Through this brainstorming and planning, an event was ignited. Following all of the safety protocols and guidelines, principals came together to learn about ourselves, our biases, and how to lead and foster courageous conversations around race. Principals from around the state brought their own courage, vulnerabilities, and passions to join the mission to be and create change--to support each other and our school communities in extinguishing injustice and cultivating equity.

Through climate adversity of the cold rain and wind, hope was built on the words of our Black colleagues who inspired us through opening, mid-day, and closing remarks. We learned to get into the good and necessary trouble as Michael Johnson inspired us with John Lewis's words. We were awaken by the words of Detra Fields as she reminded us of all of the injustices that are still present to this day. Lastly, we were moved to be change agents by Jeremy Patterson as he demonstrated you can create waves with the smallest ripple.

Ripple was my word for the day, as we started out in small, masked, and socially-distanced groups/circles under tents around the MEMSPA property. I was hoping the day would create a ripple that would take leaders back to their buildings with confidence and tools to not forget about the important work we need to do even in the midst of COVID, virtual and remote learning, and other restrictions. This work cannot wait. 

The focus of the day was to provide experiences about self exploration and give a platform for having difficult, courageous, and honest conversations. We ended our day with commitments to continue this work. The heat from what we started that day is proof that #UnitedWeLead and #TogetherWeCan. 

Unprecedented Times: A Chance to Find the Hope

As I was taking a Peloton On Demand spin class with Robin Arzon, her words resonated with me. My #LeadPositive vision and journey which started six years ago has been a challenge the last few weeks. The country (and world) has been attacked by a virus, my school is closed and my worries have escalated, especially about my students and families who I know need the comfort and connections of school, and my husband has been called to serve once again, leaving my own family without our rock and the person who keeps our family at its best.

Some find this hard to believe, but I was always a worry wort. My mother had to get me a worry stone as an adolescent, and I did a lot of praying to help me get through imagining the worse. With a lot of love and support, and the desire to find the beauty in life, I was able to shift my mindset and my outlook on life. I choose to be a glass overflowing person, yet it is not an easy feat right now.

With all of these concerns consuming me (and without Mack here to help me through it), I started to revert back to the fear and worries. I worry about his safety, my son's medical health, my daughter's first year of college, my parents (all 4 who are elderly with healthy complications), and then my staff and students, especially those students who find comfort and safety in school. At first the business of the pandemic and the educational shift kept me too busy to worry, but as a new routine developed, the anxiety started to creep in and the worries escalated. However, one morning as I listened to Arzon tell me (and the other 30K riders) that we don't always have to be positive but we need to illuminate with hope and sometimes bend so we don't break. I needed her words; they really helped me shift and adapt my mindset back on track.

We are not in this alone. So many educators, medical professionals, families, and essential employees are coming together for the greater good. So here's my hope--what is illuminating my life and vision: we need to make the best of this horrific occurrence. Let's return to human connection, empathy, and appreciation for others and the blessings that we do have. Let us take this adversity and use it to bring us together, to remind us of our duty to each other and the strength to overcome obstacles. I choose to find hope, and I will embed these emotions into my being to help me to never lose focus on the power of love, hope, empathy, appreciation, and connectedness. I hope you do too.

#OneWord2020: Growth

Choosing one word to guide a year is no easy feat. Furthermore, evaluating merit and accomplishments of that focus can be even a bigger challenge especially when you hope to have an impact on others.

I am a work in progress. I aspire to be the best version of myself.

My #oneword2018 was humanity, and while I worked to model selflessness, compassion, and kindness, I feel as though I can always work harder in this area. Charity work is not the only component of humanity. Empathy, acceptance, compassion, and grace are all key elements. I only hope that others feel that I model these on a continued basis.

Last year, my #oneword2019 was to inspire both myself and others to be the best versions of ourselves--especially through the power of relationships. I worked hard to push myself to explore my possibilities and am really proud of not only my own accomplishments but those of my family and friends. There were so many inspiring accomplishments in 2019!

This year, choosing my #oneword2020 was even harder as I reflected on the past two years. Several words came to mind, but I also used my future to help guide my choice. It is my goal in the next 2 years to advance my career to the district level. In preparing for that, I will be taking on a year-long, blended learning aspiring superintendent's academy. I will also continue to lead mentor trainings, and I am very excited to be working with NAESP (National Association of Elementary [and Middle] School Principals) and HDE (Hawaii Department of Education) to do my first National Mentor Training of the year this February. The last part of my professional growth goal, and most important, rests with my staff and students as we continue to make Milan Middle School a place where relationships matter, character counts, and people are empowered to be the best versions of themselves. My work is to help teachers, paras, and other staff make MMS the best place for our students by pushing us to all to grow. This year, we have learned that our work starts with making sure students are cared for and have their basic needs met. While this is a huge challenge, if anyone can do it, I know the amazing team at MMS can do it. We will do it together.

Personally, I hope to grow as well. I want be be healthier, and I want to be a better friend and family member as well as a better and kinder person to my self. I am not as good as extending grace, kindness, and forgiveness to myself as I am to others, and I am going to grow in this area as well. Self love is key as it is something that we model to others. I am so grateful to the many mentors, friends, and family that have been examples of amazing people who continue to make my growth and development possible. Continuing to have these cheerleaders, supporters, critiques, and mentors in my life will be key to my work this year as I grow. I am thankful to my supportive family members, my MEMSPA family, my MMS family, and all of my colleagues and friends who continue to inspire my to become the best version of myself.