#NAESP18 Takeaway Themes: Get Involved, Give Back, and Work Smarter...Not Harder

      I am beyond excited about this year's NAESP conference! This was my fifth year attending the national conference, and 2018 was the best yet. I am a firm believer that we get out of life what we put into it, and learning is no different. After becoming involved at the state and national regional  levels, I started to ask myself what I can do to get involved even more,  how I can give back to such an amazing organization, and how I can increase my own learning to grow as well. This year, I was able to do all three.

     As NAESP State Rep for MEMSPA, I love sharing the value of the membership and all the state and national organizations have to offer. Attending the national conference, participating in professional Twitter Chats and NAESP Webinar Wednesdays, and keeping up with the NAESP publications keeps me connected and involved. I have enjoyed meeting all of the other state representatives and principals from all of the states. This year I was also able to serve on the Professional Learning Advisory Council and present a general session on The Power of Positivity.  I was able to spend time with some great administrators not only from Michigan, but around the world. These ways are avenues to get involved but also give back.

     After three years of submitting proposals, I was finally accepted to share with others how leading through positivity has so many benefits. It was great being able to share out ideas and learn from others. Before the conference, my daughter and I participated in the 10th Annual Community Playground build at Catalina Elementary. This was such an amazing experience as we came together to provide a playground and garden for the school. This was just the start of a fantastic three days! I was fascinated with Sal Khan's story and the creation of Khan Academy which is an inspiring story about giving back and supporting others.

     The learning was amazing and hit on several topics to help us as leaders to focus on what is important and work smarter, not harder. Sean Covey opened up with this message about the importance of relationships and that we cannot expect to see change if we ourselves do not change. Covey also spoke about WIGs (wildly important goals) and keeping scoreboards for those goals, including student tracking. Daniel Pink talk about about his research and points from his latest book When. His research proves that our cognitive abilities change throughout the course of the day and while peak performance times may vary, usually the morning or beginning of the day is our best time to perform analytic tasks, while the afternoon or "trough" time is best for administrative type tasks. During our recovery (last afternoon into the evening) is best for insight. He also confirmed how beneficial breaks and synchronization (especially choral singing) are to our productivity.

    I learned about articulating my leadership vision and helping move teachers from super stressed to super stars. I was also inspired by Beth Houf to lead like a pirate: passion, immersion, rapport, ask/analyze,  transformati, and enthusiasm. We wrapped up the conference with words from Jackie Joyner-Kersee about making sure we see and support the potential in others. She also spoke about the importance of grit, work ethic, and planting seeds in our children. It's always great to make more connections, share and learn with others, and get inspired for a new year! Thank you, NAESP!

 

Why? I Am Not Sure, But Grateful I Am

I have been thinking lot about my twelve-year-old self since I did the exercise writing that little  girl a note of reassurance. I have reflected a lot on my upbringing and the person who I am today. I am somewhat baffled as I try to uncover how or why I got to where I am today. First, off it is difficult to see myself as "successful" because that would mean complimenting myself which is hard to do. I have gotten better since my path of a positive mindset and outlook, but it is a struggle to accept compliments and more so claim that I am a success. What is success anyway? I don't measure it by money or status as much a I do by happiness and service, and maybe that is why it feels more like a major accomplishment to me.

 I can't decide on one thing as much as I can on a series of events and important people, and this makes me think how we can support our students to capitalize on these things. I am fortunate to have parents who love and support me, and I think most importantly instilled the value of a strong work ethic. I used to think that maybe strong work ethic was a lost cause, but I do witness it every day in so many leaders, teachers, and even students--including my own children. I know that as I was growing up,  I was so fortunate to have parents who loved me and modeled what such amazing strong work ethic was.

My parents worked at and met a the local lamp plant. My dad eventually went into business with this brother, but worked full days to make it work, and it was hard labor that has taken its toll on him.  In addition to working at the sawmill, he farmed his property. My mom started on the line at 18 and move her way up to forman and then an HR job with the same plant.  She worked the night shift for most of my young childhood. I remember my dad getting me ready for school and helping me with homework.

We also had jobs and had to help around the house. This taught me a lot. Grades and schooling were important to my parents, which made them important to me. I struggled but worked hard and usually received good grades (A/Bs), and when I got anything lower, I was harder on myself than my parents every could be. My dad did pay me for good grades, but I never really did it for the money. I think it was his personal investment that he made into me during our study sessions that gave me the drive to do well. I have always wanted to make my parents proud. They worked so hard to give my sister and I want we needed and usually wanted. I had some good teachers, but I also had some not so great teachers. I wasn't fortunate enough to have a Rick Wormeli or a teacher focused on me learning the content as much as earning points. I also did not have a Kim Rock to support my reading or a Sue Kraske to help me in math; I was pulled out for both in grade school. However, that sense of pride and strong work ethic gave me the internal drive to constantly do my best.

There was always the expectation from my parents that I go to college, and I was so blessed that my parents were able to pay for my undergrad, and the savings that they set up for me was able to pay for my masters and some of a down payment on a house. I also worked through high school and college which continued to reinforce the value of money, and furthermore, gave me the gift of independence.

After college though, I think the adversity I experienced added fuel to my drive to make something of my life. I wonder how some people make it through life's challenges while others do not. The love and support of my parents assisted me in conquering yet another battle in my life. This makes me even more concerned for our students who do not have this love and support at home--even more important on making sure that they get it at school.

Even after thought and reflection, I am not sure what variables lead to success or ones personal definition of what success is. I only hope that my husband and I are giving our children the same foundation, and that my work as an educator and leader does the same for the children I serve. If anything, it is a team effort of love, support, and modeling strong work ethic, kindness, and overcoming adversity. While growth mindset was not intentionally or explicitly taught, my parents never made me feel like there was anything that I couldn't do, and if something was difficult, they encouraged me to keep trying.

Whatever the mix or combination, I am grateful for my parents and all of the people in my life who inspired me to never let the voice of doubt win.

Note to 12-Year-Old Self

To My 12-Year-Old Self

At 45 you will be faced with a turning point in your career and life, but all of your life’s challenges until then mixed with all of the support of loved ones in your life will help you with this decision and life journey.

You will be a beautiful person no matter what size or shape you are. Your merit is not based on your appearance as much as it is based on your actions.

You will want to be an attorney, judge, politician, and eventually the first woman President. Your main goal is to change the world, but life happens and you will do this in other ways. Be open to those and realize that this journey is not a failure but a different kind of opportunity.

Schooling will be difficult and you have to work really hard, but in time you will find the content that you are passionate about and people who inspire you to learn. I know you are skeptical, but you will eventually love reading and learning so much that you will be a lifelong learner.

There will be a time in your life when you feel that it’s over. However, this will be a time of new beginnings. While you will suffer tremendous loss and lack direction, your family and a very dear friend will help you get through it. No matter how much divorce feels like an ending, you are so much stronger than you ever thought.

Your first teaching job and students pull you through this defeat and out of the deep, dark hole you were in, and it’s that moment that you learn that gratitude is the key to a happy life. By focusing on what’s right and the possibilities, you do open yourself up to love again. Take the risks; open up to possibilities. It is not only OK to move away and turn your life upside down, it is what you need.

You will further your education which will supported by a new love who supports you through teaching and pushes you into other aspirations--waking up your love of learning and leadership. You will be able to get through tough principalships, deployments, and whatever life brings you because you have the strength in you, and you will have a partner who loves you for who you are and everything you can become. He and your two beautiful, kind children give you a new and complete fulfillment of life.

While you will not be the President of the United States, you will become the President of an association and will work to spread your belief in positivity and gratitude. You will earn two bachelor's, a master’s, a specialist, and your doctorate even though you heard a teacher tell your mom in 5th grade that college wouldn’t be a feasible option. You love, read, meet amazing people, and you learn that the power to make a difference is within you.

The best advice that I can give you now is to not left the voice of doubt tell you that you are not ready or overpower the voice of passion and self drive. You are ready for whatever life brings you. Accept the challenge. You will thrive on it, but remember you need the loved ones in your life, so as you take care of yourself and strive to better who you are, remember to express gratitude for those who helped you to get there. My best advice to you is to jump, Shanna. You will have people who love and support you catch you when you fall, and eventually you will soar. 

Lessons Learned from Allyson Apsey's The Path to Serendipity

I just finished The Path to Serendipity last month, and I want to be a better person because of the words and stories Allyson Apsey shared. This is a must read! This a powerful, inspirational, and reflective read. The author, Allyson Apsey, puts herself out there, modeling risk taking and growth mindset, making herself vulnerable, sharing her stories, and offering wisdom and insight that she had learned during her journey of life and a career in education. I couldn't put the book down. Allyson shares her heart in her words, inviting you in. I felt like I was crying, laughing, and even feeling failure with her. There are so many lesson reminders in the book. If you are looking for inspiration, asking yourself how can you get through another school year, or just wanting to bring more joy and purpose to your life, work and others, get this book. Do yourself a favor and do the reflections at the end of each chapter too. Connect with her hashtag (#Path2Serendipity), share and learn with others. This is one of those pieces that the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Here is a collection of my  
reflections:  Twitter feed presented on Wakelet 

Reflect, Refresh, Forgive, Repeat

I know that I am not alone. As an educator and school leader, April, May, and June are a whirlwind of long 14-16 hour days, increased discipline, and work to finish a year strong but also plan for the year to come. It gets mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. I am lucky that after 12 years of opening and closing school years I know it is only a temporary state of craziness. I am even more fortunate to have a life partner who knows this as well and reminds me of it when I start to fall apart; I usually have several days of crying due to exhaustion and not knowing how to keep up with the demands. He always has a way of reminding me that I get through it; I always do. I also remind myself that even in these times, I always want to get up and go to school/work. Everyone is not fortunate enough to have a career that they love, and other than the occasional snow day dance or end-of-the year blues, I love what I do and the people (big and small) who learn and serve with me.

It is during these times of exhaustion, stress, and sometimes hurt that we tend to resort to negatively. This is easy to do when we are in this state. I found myself slipping after some hard to hear feedback, during reviewing data portfolios and completing teacher evaluation meetings, and dealing with escalating student discipline or upset parents. My coping skills are not always the best. I stress eat and revert to unhealthy meals and binging on chocolate. I start to miss a day or two of workouts, but I always forgive myself, lean on the people who are my trusted advisers and friends, and remind myself to snap out of it. We have to allow ourselves time to reflect, to let us feel what we are feeling, but also remember the choice to live and be positive: reflect, refresh, forgive, and repeat.

Positivity is a lifestyle change. Life has its ups and downs. How we choose to keep going during the down times matters. I have learned that it is OK to reflect and allow myself to feel what I am. The key is not allowing myself to stay there long. Reflect and learn, refresh the mind, body, and spirit, and most importantly forgive ourselves, so we can move on.  Positive reminders, healthy habits, the people in my life are all tools that I use to get me back on the path to positivity. The power of positivity lives inside me! Being positive not only promotes happiness, it leads to better health. In addition, we become a part of helping and reminding others to be positive. More positive people can only help make the world a better place.

#MEMSPA17 Takeaways: Whole Leader Theme Delivered

MEMSPA's 92nd Annual Conference

The MEMSPA Annual Conference is one of my favorite professional learning experiences! I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the board and attend this event. I always look forward to seeing colleagues, making new connections, and this year officially taking on a mentoring role. This year's theme was the Whole Leader, and MEMSPA delivered on this with all of the PD offerings.


For the first time, @donistamour created #MEMESPAconnects, a mentoring program for new principals in the association. It is exciting to be matched up with new principals and offer support. I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back, for it was my MEMSPA connections that helped me stay in administration, still loving it in my 12th year. The first morning of the conference, I got to meet one of my mentees and recruited another. I am looking forward to our book chats, monthly check-ins, and offering any support and guidance needed. Most importantly, to remind them that you should never stop learning and connecting with others.

Mentee MEMSPA Swag (Scholastic)

The learning from the first session with Dr. Constantino was powerful. We need to create cultures in our buildings that believe family engagement is good. This means evolving from events to actual daily engagement. I look forward to continuing this discussion and cultivating innovative means to foster such engagement. Concurrent sessions supported this culture with collaboration initiatives with staff and ways to build and maintain relationships.

The second day at the President's breakfast, the general keynote speaker, Jan McInnis, presented on the importance of laughter! Many benefits to using laughter exist. Besides the health and relationship benefits, she spoke on the importance of using laughter to get through difficult times. This is such an important lesson--and a necessity to get through a career in education. We, especially as leaders, cannot take ourselves too seriously.

Gilpin and Butler's Session

I went to several breakout sessions, learning about relationships, technology, RTI, and more, but the session that resonated with me the most was with @benjamingilpin and @danpbutler on cultivating relationships. It is so important to build up our teacher leaders. Ben and @Jon_Wennstrom (in another session) both echoed the importance of relationships and relationship building. Having specific ideas and approaches are always helpful, and these two sessions were full of proven approaches.
  
In the last general session with motivational speaker, Jim Mahoney, we were reminded, "You get what you give." Other meaningful advice included: "You can't teach the whole child unless you are the whole teacher/leader." "Feedback is the breakfast of champions." Culture trumps strategy, every time, and we can always do more and better with collaboration.

Job-Embedded Session

In addition to all of the great sessions, I was able to support the first Spotlight on Innovation and colleagues who have become great friends over the years. I also was able to present on the topic of job-embedded practices that my own teachers have made successful with both coaching and instructional rounds and our #ReadingMatters campaign and initiatives with my students from our Pages with the Principal The One and Only Ivan booktalk. The best part of the entire conference was recognizing outstanding region principals and seeing a well-deserving and long-time MEMSPA colleague and friend named MEMSPA's Outstanding Practicing Principal of the Year. Congrats to Craig McCalla; you are so very deserving! 

      

Colleagues, President Patterson and Past-President DeGraff (left) and Region 2 Principals (right)

The Lessons Learned from My Dogs

Daisy and Rosie

Staying positive isn't easy. It does take a mindset and determination to not get sucked into the negative talk and culture. Tonight, after a long, short week of work and evening conferences, I am relaxing and looking at my cute, furry family members and think: we can learn a lot from our pets. Daisy, our 8 year-old black and white Miniature Schnauzer, and Rosie, our almost 1 year-old black one, teach me many lessons.

1) Determination
Daisy will sit and stare for up to an hour while my husband sits in his chair watching TV. With the "treat" jar right next to his chair, she waits patiently, sometimes tapping his leg with her paw or even using proximity, until he caves. If we work hard enough and exercise patience, we can make anything happen.

2) Loyalty
Both Daisy and Rosie are loyal to us and each other. It goes a long way when we demonstrate commitment to students, staff, and the community. We also must be loyal to ourselves and our moral compass while making decisions that we feel are supported and best for our students.

3) Rest
Lazy days are needed. Relaxing in front of the fireplace or hanging out in bed an extra hour is a must to re-energize and fill our buckets. It's easy to burn our candles from both ends, but this will increase our susceptibility to negativity. We must stay rested and strong to keep a positive, growth mindset.

4) Play
The same goes for exercise and play time. Taking time for ourselves is key to being healthier and happier. Finding an exercise that is both fun and satisfying can foster accountability to fitness. Play should be personalized (on our own or with loved ones), but we also need to remember to play with the students too.

5) Affection
Both of our dogs love to hug, wrapping their front legs around our necks. Greeting us with crazy, screaming barks and howls at the door always brings a smile to my face. People need to know that they are cared for and about in life. Hugging, praising, and showing kindness will actually support loyalty, work ethic, and satisfaction.

Lessons can be learned from our four-legged friends. It's time to start paying attention to what they are telling and showing us. We can even model these lessons for our staff and students and pass it on to others.