MEMSPA: Lead Positive and Use the Membership

Lead Positive!

This month I undertake the role of Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association President. I am so honored to be serving principals in the state of Michigan. MEMSPA has been a huge support to me over the past nine years. The connections, networking, professional learning, and opportunities have been extremely beneficial to me both personally and professionally. My goal in this year of both leadership and service is to remind you throughout the year to focus on positivity. As the leader of our buildings, students, and staff, we must bring back validation to the profession, teaching, and education. We can do that by being positive ambassadors for education. This year, I will use the theme "Lead Positive" as a reminder to be positive and model positivity.

The quote, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." by Dr Wayne Dyer is evidence that our outlook can make or break our day and the climate of our building. I will add to this. If we lead with more positivity, our teachers and students will be more positive. It is contagious. This year, I encourage you all to try to find a means to stay positive. Many benefits exist for people who are positive thinkers. Mayo Clinic reports that benefits include increased life span, lower rates of depression, greater resistance to illness, and better coping skills during hardships and times of stress. Use something or someone to help remind you to stay positive; you might use a piece of jewelry as a reminder, daily meditation, a secretary to keep you on track, or even a rubber band to help stop negative thoughts or comments and to try and change that negative thought, feeling, or comment into a more positive outlook. Smile more, have fun, laugh, and connect with staff and students. In addition to being positive this year, use the resources MEMSPA offers.

Use the value of your MEMSPA membership and connections to assist you in having a successful year. The MEMSPA membership is such a "BONUS" to us. Please use it.

Don't underestimate the people you will meet at MEMSPA events. I have learned a great deal from all my MEMSPA colleagues. I am so grateful to principals who give back to the profession and others. While countless principals give back, I would like to give special appreciation and validation to several individuals who have given back to MEMSPA and the profession.

Mike Domagalski: Thank you for initiating and leading MEMSPAchat! I have enjoyed sharing and learning with colleague not only around the state but also across the country.

Ben Gilpin: Thank you for all your sharing about school branding and technology integration at the regional, state, and national levels.

Jonathon Wennstrom: Thank you for your blogging and providing insights on taking risks in leadership.

You do not need to be on the Board to give back. Get involved and help be a part of the solution.

I look forward to serving you all this year. We have been working to put together a great summer institute. It is not too late to bring an administrative team to learn, network, do some strategic planning, and rejuvenate before the students are back. We also have a great line up for the state conference this December in Kalamazoo. Take time to read your MEMSPA news and updates. Follow @MEMSPA on Twitter or do a #MEMSPAchat, and get involved. I guarantee you that you will only grow and benefit more from it.

Lead Positive,

Shanna

Positive Takeaways Today: People Are Not Bad

Today at #NAESP15 I have connected with many great educators and had the pleasure to hear some great speakers including @ErikWahl, @ToddWhitaker, and @AnnnetteBreaux. The thing that resonates the most with me today is to continue to use my passion for education, students, and teachers and try my best to make this world a better place. We have so much power as educators to model, practice, and encourage kindness, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. Helping students learn to be innovative and establish a good digital footprint is so critical in this world of ever-advancing technology.

Today the words of Erik Wahl speak to me: social media is not bad; it can be used for good or bad. TV is not bad; it can be used for good or bad. Credit cards are not bad; they can be used for good or bad. I add to that: people are not bad; they can do good or bad.

I continue my efforts and mission in life to use these devices, vehicles, and people for the better--for the good--for the greatness that they all can be.  Our students have so much potential, and it is the job of the home and school to develop that. I feel it is my duty to continue to find the good in all. Students would hear from me and will continue to hear from me if they make a bad choice, "You are not a bad person; you made a mistake. I make mistakes. We all make bad choices from time to time, and it's if we choose to learn from that mistake what matters the most."

People are not bad. All of us have the potential to bring greatness in the world. It's our choice to choose good or bad, positive or negative. Sometimes this is a difficult choice, but for me, it's the only choice. Thinking outside of the box, loving people for who they are, helping myself and others to become better people are all objectives in choosing to do and be good. This is no easy task in this world.

Today the quote, "We cannot help a kid by being negative in his life" by Annette Breaux confirms my mission and passion. We cannot help the profession by being negative or submitting to negativity. While it may be difficult to ignore it, it's all a part of the profession.  It's not always easy being positive, but it's our job--it's what education needs. Negativity lives in the world and in some people's minds and hearts. Positivity is the light to this darkness. I am proud to use this light to guide myself, my building, my district, and my state on a professional level and myself, friends, and my children on a personal level. Everyone can choose to do this. Help me share the light.  Be and spread positivity. May the force of the light be with you!

With Todd Whitaker and Annette Breaux who spread their light on me today!

Positive Outcomes of the 2014-15 School Year

After a great deal of reflection, analysis, and assessment of this past school year, I am quite pleased at all of the gains our staff and students have made. It has not been easy. We have had our fair share of challenges especially those placed on us by legislative mandates, but we have worked together as a team to overcome those challenges and show outstanding growth in so many areas.

Teachers have been working for four years on aligning curriculum to career and college readiness standards, and for the last two years, they have been putting this curriculum in maps to pace the content, develop activities and assessments to secure the needed skills, differentiate to the needs of all students, and incorporate 21st Century Skills: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. All of our teachers made gains on transforming their instruction. 

The outcome of all this work is our students excelling in their NWEA map testing. Our student averages are above grade level and the majority of our students are proficient across all subjects.

On top of assessment data, we have 19 students who maintained high honors all 4 years of middle school. This speaks to the work-ethic and determination of these students. 

All staff have worked to understand and participate in our new safety protocols, including A.L.I.C.E drills, the required state safety drills, first response drills, and health-related awareness training. 

Families have worked hard to keep their students in attendance during the school year, and our daily average attendance has increased in all grades to an outstanding 98% in 5th grade; 96% in grades 6 and 7; and 95% in 8th grade with a building average of 96%. We even had four 8th grade students receive four years of exceptional attendance awards. Attendance does matter and is directly related to student achievement, and our families and students are working hard to establish this strong foundation. 

We continued our efforts with Olweus bully prevention by having weekly classroom meetings. Our students reported a decrease by 50% in being afraid of bullying at school, and our 2nd year data reports that now 7% of students fear of being bullied at school. We had six confirmed cases of bullying and consequences included parent contact, reflection forms, detentions, and two cases of suspension. In addition to our classroom meetings, the staff and students worked on service projects to help teach empathy to students. The middle school developed strong connections and supported our Manchester community, other local communities, and even venues across the world. 

Along with student council, Manchester Voices, FUPT60, and Buildings Club we continued to work with the community to build student leaders. This year we had students win state, national, and international awards and recognition. We are so proud of our students.

The 2014-15 school year has been a success. We have enjoyed our students, pushing them to be their best, and hope they have made you as proud as they have us. I appreciate the staff--all of the staff involved in supporting our students and helping them be successful this year. From the very first smile on the bus by the driver, to the support staff and teachers bonding on a daily basis, to the help with lockers from the custodian, and serving the lunches with a smile and the comment "enjoy," the MMS staff care,  and I am sure they are as proud as I am in all the accomplishments they have had this year. Have a great summer! 

School Administrators: Filling Your Vitality Bucket

Whether you are a school leader, teacher, or parent, you are on a mission to take care of people and help them learn to take care of themselves. At the school level, trying to get our students exposed to and proficient  at 21st Century skills is time consuming and exhausting. To be responsible for any type of leading takes energy and passion. Here are some things I use to keep filling my bucket:

• Family and Friends: Surround yourself with people you love and who love you. 

Spending time with my husband and children keeps me centered. My parents and other family members do the same. From traveling around the world to playing board games by the fireplace, they fill my bucket. Surrounding myself with people who I care about and care about me gets me through even the most challenging times. Filling each others' buckets is rewarding as well.

• Colleagues: Connect with people locally, nationally, or globally to collaborate. 

In this day, they do not need to be people in your building or district.Working with people we can relate to and learn from has been key to helping me through trying times. Their support and collaboration fills my bucket. I am lucky that I work with a great admin team. I have networks through Twitter and professional organizations that keep me moving forward to better myself and my building.

• The Kids: Focusing on the ones we do it all for is instrumental to filling our buckets. 

Students are the reason we do it. Focusing on their best interests. Letting their learning and accomplishments become our recognition and reward is what it is all about. When I see a student take pride in his or her work, earn a grade that they have been striving for, or even seeing a light bulb go off as they understand something new for the first time is priceless.

• Professional Organization(s): Find an organization whose mission speaks to you.  

This way you can not only get the support you need, but you can take a leadership role to support others.MEMSPA has been a resource to keep my bucket full.  MEMSPA has been a great avenue to helping me feel I am a value to others and the profession. I have also been able to establish networks of support, engage in activities and excellent professional learning.

• Good Health: You must take care of yourself before you can take care of others. 

No matter who you are, exercise and taking care of yourself helps re-energize you and fill your bucket. Also, a part of taking care of yourself includes getting enough rest and eating right.

• Mindset: Make the decision to be positive. 

Postivity and the decision to keep your bucket filled and filling others' buckets can keep you on the right track. This mindset has been vital to helping me through a great deal of professional and personally adversity. Mindset is everything.

5 Tips for Positive Student Outcomes

While it is not an easy, one-size-fits-all formula, several factors are positively related to middle school student success. 

1) Manners can go a long way.

Education is no different than business, retail, customer service, etc. The kinder you are, the more people will gladly help. Educators are exhausted personalizing curriculum, formative and summarize assessing, planning engaging and challenging curriculum to match state expectations, and trying to get to know sometimes over 150 students personally when only seeing them for 50 minutes a day. Students who use their pleases and thank yous, smile and greet their teachers, and offer to help clean up at the end of a lesson get noticed. It is only natural for well-mannered and kind people to get that back in return. When students respect their teachers and use such manners, it is easier to establish a bond.

2) Strong work ethic pays off. 

Students who exercise and demonstrate strong work ethic get both noticed and the benefit of the doubt more. Doing all assignments with pride and doing them well has several advantages: 1) it demonstrates to the teacher that the student is a hard worker and cares about his or her work and grade; 2) it proves to the student his or her ability and skills; and 3) it usually has a direct and positive effect on the grade for the class. 

3) Organization is key. 

This is difficult for some people, and learning how to do and/or improve it is a life skill that is needed to be successful. Organization includes prioritizing, time management, and categorizing. If students are struggling here, it is important to try out several systems to find one that fits their learning and doing style. My middle school children use two completely different systems than I, but they both have found great success. It is key that the student own the method. 

4) Commitment must be personalized. 

Incentives work for many kids, but when the desire to do well comes from within, success comes easier and tends to be more rewarding. When teachers and parents want it more than the students, they often get frustrated. Helping students see the benefits and success and sharing with them your own struggles and accomplishments is setting up a good foundation for them. 

5) Home support increases student chances of success.  Students need to be held accountable both at school and at home. Regular attendance is directly related to better academics. Just 10 absences has a statistically significant negative impact on a students' academics. The more a student is out of the classroom, the more opportunities for learning are missed. Parents who check grades once a week can catch issues before it's too late. Setting daily routines of a homework time and place is instrumental. Even studying with your students has both academic benefits and even connects the parent with his or her child during adolescence which can be quite challenging for students. 

All of these habits can become life-long skills for our students as they grow into adults. Our world can be a much better place with organized, hard-working, well-mannered people who are committed to doing well. 

21st Century Skills: Positive Direction for Students

MCS teachers are on year 3 with student 1:1 iPads and are becoming strong experts in teaching and developing the 21st Century skills. Traditional teaching is not preparing our students for their best options in this journey of life. With students walking around with computers in their hands, having access to just about any and all information, memorization of facts is an-outdated, unneeded practice. Knowing what to do with information, how to communicate it, how to work with others and problem-solve, and doing it all with creativity is what students need the most.

Road blocks, however, exist. People become confused or worried when change occurs especially when it is not the way it has always been done or is not an experience that matches their own. Teachers are trying to make shifts in practice that is based on better practice, but it someones is not always greeted with acceptance. I have witnessed this with both CCSS and standards-based grading.

The CCSS is about a shift in practice; it is about a common set of standards for students. I am not so sure why so much political controversy should exist over having set knowledge expectations for our students to learn. That could be an entirely different blog post. However, the notion behind the instructional practice of the standards is to encourage students to think for themselves and dig to a deeper understanding of information and analysis.

Standards-based grading is measuring student proficiency on a set of objectives. This method is extremely informative, individualized, and fits the shifts needed to teach 21st Century skills, but it too is not widely accepted because parents pressure educators to give letter grades--they way our learning was measured and the way we were compared.

Traditional practices are no longer preparing our children. What was good enough for us, is no longer good enough for our children. We need to evolve.

My favorite understanding of the student-centered verses teacher-centered approach stems from the paradigm descriptors by Huba and Freed (2000). While their research was based at the post-secondary level, these descriptors and student-centered practice is becoming widely used in both elementary and secondary classrooms. These practices fit the instructional shifts of the CCSS and the individualized and personalized instruction that more teachers are delivering to their students. In my dissertation, student-centered instructional practice (SCIP) is defined using Huba and Freed (2000) descriptors which were factored together in a quantitative study. SCIP involves 1)  giving students continuous feedback; 2) training and treating students as sophisticated learners; 3) making learning interpersonal; 4) using teacher-to-student and student-to-student coaching; 5) having students understand, produce, and identify quality work; 6) having students being able to apply what they have learned; 7) continuously include teaching and assessing; and 8) applying both general and subject skills. SCIP differs greater from the traditional approach of where the teacher is the giver of the information and the students passively obtain it.

Stakeholders, however, sometimes see SCIP, where the teacher is the facilitator of information, as the teacher being "lazy" or not doing his or her job. As one can see from the descriptors, this instructional practice is quite intensive to plan, implement, and assess. It is this method which fosters the 4Cs.

Here you can find the National Education Association's (NEA) Guide to the 4Cs which highlights the importance of teaching them, resources, and definitions.

Our educators are working harder than they have ever done before. They are preparing our children for jobs that we have no idea of their existence yet. Our educators are making learning more engaging, interactive, personalized, self-driven WHILE being evaluated, judged, dragged through social media for taking risks to prepare our children for the new world ahead of them, ahead of all of us.

21st Century skills are the new foundation--the new 3Rs--to make our students successful. Teaching, fostering, and facilitating communication skills, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are all a solid foundation for this journey, and MCS educators and students are paving the way. This is a positive direction for our students. Be a part of the journey.

Positive Outlook on Today's Students

I'd like to think that my husband and I are raising our children right. They are good people. They know about work ethic, respect, and high expectations. They also, like all of today's youth, have never lived a life without technology. They have become accustomed to instant feedback, answers, and entertainment right at their figure tips. I have worried about my kids, both biological and students, when it comes to this sense of entitlement that seems present; however, during #thegreatkindnesschallenge, I have seen this a lot differently.

While our kids are entertained and used to us as parents socializing them, running them to countless activities, hovering over them, and keeping them as safe as we possibly can, they are learning about love, kindness, and connection.

The students and staff at MMS have been given a challenge this week. Builders Club and Manchester Voices have teamed up to encourage them to be kind to others. Students have embraced this challenge! In addition to all their kind deeds this week, they are working on service projects with their advisory teachers, and they spent last week participating in a CRC drive sponsored by PTSA. Our students are connected, kind, and want to help others. We have several student groups who do for others. Student Council sponsors our "Successory Program," which thanks staff members, and student incentive programs, which recognizes students. FUTP60 promotes student health. Builders Club does several charitable projects, including Kids Against Hunger. Manchester Voices sponsors our Diversity Day on MLK Day and our Variety Show in addition to countless other activities. This is just to name a few of our groups in our school community. I am seeing our students' greatness through caring for others, and this is a trait that will be valuable for the rest of their lives.

Now that's positive news for us all! We need caring and kind people leading us in the future.