#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.

#MEMSPA19 Superhero Conference: Super Epic

Wow! What a conference....the best one yet. I have been so fortunate to be a part of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, and serve on the board for the past six years. It was thirteen years ago where I connected with now president, Michelle Allen, who took me in and truly made me feel like I didn't make the biggest career mistake by taking on the principalship. Fast forward to the present day, and the entire MEMSPA family (office staff, our amazing executive director, the board, our LM facilitators/coaches, my region leadership, and the entire amazing network of members continue to inspire me to be a better leader. I always leave the conference with ideas to put into practice to help support my staff and students. This year continued the trend. Not only did the people and experience fill my bucket, but the new knowledge and reminders were just what I needed during this challenging year.

Takeaways:

This year's theme was a great one. We have so many super principals, and the themes that I am taking away this year include relationships, whole child, and self care.

Sanfelippo reminded us how important it is to making the "awe" moments visible to others. His examples and practices are one of the most crucial elements to helping change the story in education. Throughout all the sessions, relationships were a common theme. Positivity Project leaders discussed how their work has transformed their schools and relationships with and among all stakeholder groups.

Also the theme of the whole child was evident in several of the sessions. John Maxwell's quote: "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" is even a greater reality now. We need to start with important basic skills that students are lacking before even tackling the curriculum. Ben and his amazing team from Warner shared their practices to be champions for kids and how PBIS earnings that involve time with adults is so valuable (and free!). We need to have positive interactions with students (and staff) every single day. In the last 30+years, empathy has decreased 40% while narcissism has increased 30%. What are we going to do about this? I learned from Domagalski, Weldon, and Swegles that empathy has to be a part of every curriculum. It's a must have for a better school culture--and for a better world! It's not one more thing on the plate. It is the plate. I also learned from Allen that we need to work to flip our tier support triangle and ways to do just that.

Trust with students and staff is so vital. Dr. Anthony Muhammad reminded us of this in his keynote. He also reviewed the change process and making sure that we have a rational system that includes the Communication: why (cognitive), Trust: who (emotional), Support/Capacity: how (functional), and the Accountability: do (return). Healthy cultures are a mutual relationship which includes a balance of support and accountability. He reminds us that ordering people to change doesn't work, but neither was leaving them alone.

Self care and teacher care were also hot topics, and several ideas are swarming in my head on how to better support our staff and selves in addition to our students. Our infamous Dr. Debbie McFalcone reminds us of our own self-awareness and the impact of our emotions as well as the importance of feedback.  Dr. Marcia Tate shared research on the order of change (along with some amazing presentation protocols). We need to be better about our attitudes as leaders and educators, but our behaviors are even more crucial. Order of change: leader/teacher behaviors, student outcomes, then in time leader/teacher attitudes. Interesting order of change: BOA: Behaviors, outcomes, attitudes. We start by changing our own behavior. She also reminded us that laughter will add 10 years to our lives. I need to laugh more!

I was excited to present on my leadership vision of #LeadPositive, and I feel very honored being recognized this year by region 2. My success comes from the wonderful professionals on my team. I am very fortunate to have caring and dedicated professionals with me--supporting our kids.

Shout Outs:

Region 2 principals, especially those in Washtenaw County who serve on the regional board, have been amazing supports and partners in our efforts to bring the benefits of MEMSPA to our region. You all are my forever friends, and I love you immensely.

Several principals were honored during the conference, and I am very excited to see Amie McCaw recognized as our Michigan Principal of the Year. She leads by example in not only her amazing school but also the state as a whole. She has worked the last several years to secure and offer meaningful, thought-provoking PD for MEMSPA principals. Congrats, Amie!

In addition, I am honored to call Madame President, Michelle Allen, my mentor and friend. She did an amazing job this week leading and celebrating principals. Thank you, Michelle! Thanks for all of our past presidents as well. We have a long line of mentors and MEMSPA supporters.

Thank you to our lovely Leadership Matters facilitators, Debbie and Derek! Your love, passion, enthusiasm, and care for our members is like no other. We are all better leaders because of you.

Other faces of MEMSPA include Allyson Aspey, David Simpson,  Jon Wennstrom, Ben Gilpin, Jeremy Patterson, and our very own rockstar, Mike Domagalski. Your leadership, advocacy, support of others and our growth in the profession are unmatched. Thank you for your leadership and most of all friendship. The entire board and region representatives are truly assets to not only the organization but the profession as a whole. Thank you!

Lastly, the MEMSPA office needs recognized for the countless hours, thought, and details that went into making this conference EPIC! Thank you Annette for your 30+ years of service and making sure that everyone and everything are perfect. Taryn--thank you for your tech superpowers, details, and unflagging support of MEMSPA and principals. Syndee--you have been an amazing addition to our organization. Your contacts, drive, vision, and most of all, your caring, loving personality for all of our members have been evident. Last but not least, Paul. Your mentorship, vision, care, and connections have been the face and heart of MEMSPA. Thank you for putting so much time, and most importantly, love, into our association.

Keeping the Positive with 7 Reminders from Frozen

Yes, I am 40 something (almost 50!), and my kids are 16 and 18, but we still ventured out this weekend to see Frozen 2. We all saw the first one together premiere on a Disney Cruise, so my kids partly entertained me by going, but they also wanted to see it. 😉I have used one of Elsa's quotes many times since the first movie came out in 2013. "Let it go" is not only a song from the film that topped the charts, but it has been an important reminder to me when I cannot control everything--no matter how hard I try.

"Let it go." --Elsa

So, the next time someone is not so nice or causes you bad feelings, let it go. Don't hold onto it. Free yourself from the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" syndrome. If you made a mistake, let it go. Apologize, learn from it, but move on. Don't let it, yourself, or others stop you from becoming your best self.

"My love is not fragile."--Kristoff

Even in difficult times or when others do things that have a negative impact, unconditional love is not fragile. We don't stop loving when things become challenging. This is when our love is even more important--and even quite powerful--to some. I think of several of my students going through trauma. These experiences can place a lot of hardship on us, especially when these students do everything in their power to keep control and test our commitment to them. Let the bad stuff go, and let the love and care prevail. 

"You are not responsible for their choices."--Anna

This one comes in handy with the previous example. People and how they behave, act, or the choices they make do not need to affect our path to positivity. We may become tested and slip from time to time, but we do not have to let the choices of others determine our own outlook and goals.

"Fear cannot be trusted."--Elsa

We cannot let fear consume us. Fear is the biggest obstacle to trust.  Fear is the biggest obstacle to success. We cannot allow fear to stop us from trying, from trusting, from loving. A life without risk will not give us the fullest outcomes. The answer to the doubt of "what if it doesn't work out" is always, "what if it does." 

"Show Yourself. Step into your Power." --Elsa

While we may not all have "magical" powers, we do have the power to do great things in our profession and lives. We cannot make the best of ourselves or our lives if we are not putting ourselves out there and stepping up to do the work. We can only expect our students to be as innovative as our teachers, and our teachers as our leaders." How are your leading by example? 

"Some people are worth melting for." --Olaf

Education is quite the selfless profession. We give up so much of ourselves to others. We do it without asking for anything in return. The key that I have learned is making sure we take care of ourselves so we can keep on melting for others. 

"All one can do is the next right thing." --Anna

This is my favorite. We cannot lose sight of what is right by doing the next right thing. Even when times are hard, the goal is to keep moving forward: one right thing at a time. 

Remembering the Praise: Having a Positive Influence on Our Children

Now that our oldest child has become an adult, I have done a great deal of reflecting. I am so very proud of the people our kids are and know that they both are destined to do great things and continue to develop into compassionate, successful beings. My husband and I exhibit incredible work ethic. We both work two jobs and spend countless hours and thought on our work. Reflecting on my life, I have a great deal of drive to do well, be the best version of myself, and try and support and inspire others to do the same.

Over the last 18 years, I have used that drive to push our children. Now, I wonder about being too critical or having too high of expectations for them. Being a child of mine can't be easy. I am not sure that I have shared my admiration, appreciation, and pride with them enough.

Some parents may praise their children too much or maybe do not hold them accountable enough. I am mostly guilty of pushing too hard and not congratulating them enough for all they have accomplished. I am getting better now even though it has taken 18 years to do so. I am in awe at all Sydney has done and all she wants to become. As a leader and educator, I am thrilled that she wants to pursue education. I am so proud that she has spent two years in classrooms learning more about the art of teaching and solidifying her decisions so far. She also secured 3 different scholarships adding up to a little more than half of her first semester tuition at MSU.

Whether it's in sports, a test, a class grade, etc., it is important to not just praise the outcome but to praise the journey of work, overcoming adversity, and accomplishing success. Our son is coming up on his junior year in high school, the most difficult. I vow to include more praise combined with the expectations. We will also continue to work on modeling and promoting self reflection--an important component in success. In addition, even adult children need to know how much we as parents value them. I will not forget to remind both children the pride I have in being their mom and their efforts to be the best versions of themselves.

When a loved one takes pride in our work or in who we are, it can be not only fulfilling but also reinforce the desire for success. Is there someone you could share a little praise with for what he or she has done?

Summer of Learning...and Sharing

This has been an exceptional summer so far! Getting time to just reflect and write about it has been a challenge. Just two weeks ago, I returned from China. Through AASA (The School Superintendents Association), I was able to visit 5 institutions (bureaus, institutes, and associations), about six different schools, and partake in several amazing cultural experiences.

AASA Discover China Experiences

This experience was like nothing that I have ever encountered, and I am so grateful to Triway, AASA, and the hosting institutions for giving me such an amazing journey. Not only did I learn about the Chinese culture and education systems, I also learned from my new friends and colleagues, the other Discover China delegates from Alaska, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. I was able to share about Michigan with the lens of MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Association) and MAS (Milan Area Schools) and meet other middle schools to bridge learning possibilities on both ends. I have so much respect for the Chinese culture, and I can only hope that we put the respect back into education that they have kept alive for thousands of years. Educators are highly respected. I learned 5 Chinese values at a tea ceremony that I attended: Sky (God), ground (Earth), emperor, parents, and teacher. Teacher is one of the main values which surprised and impressed me more than anything else. I love this notion and can only hope that our culture can adopt this practice. Our educators deserve this respect for all they do.  I was also impressed with the facilities, architure, and technology in China. All in all, we have a great deal that we can learn from one another, and I hope that this experience has opened some doors to doing just that.

Just three days after returning from China, I was back on a plane heading to the NAESP (National Association of Elementary (PreK-8) School Principals) national conference in Spokane, Washington. I was excited to connect with my MEMSPA family from the past decade and NAESP network from the past five years. I really enjoy spending time with our executive director, Paul Liabenow, who models servant leadership. I also appreciate seeing my mentors, Debbie McFalone, Derek Wheaton, Eric Cardwell, Chuck Shultz, and Michelle Allen, and friends/colleagues Ben Gilpin, Jon Wennstrom, Aime McCaw, Molly Funk, and our rainbow of Serendipity, Allyson Apsey. In addition, I was able to connect with other state reps and even some social media connections. 

Session Presentations and MEMSPA PLN

My conference started early with the NAESP Mentor Train the Trainer session. I was honored that I was asked to lead the training. Over the past nine months, I worked with a team of eight other principals under NAESP and Collaborative Communications to help revise and update the Leading Learning Communities publication. I am so impressed with the feedback they took and the model, pillars, practices, and priorities that make up the book. In addition, it is filled with relevant resources and supports for all principals no matter where she or he is in her or his profession. The great thing about the session is that there were so many trainers in the room that the conversations were rich and I learned a great deal as well. In addition to the pre-conference full day session, I has three sessions to present at the #NAESP19 conference.

What was I thinking when I put in four proposals? I was trying to increase my chances of presenting the the national level. Last year was my first year presenting at NAESP, and I loved it. I have been presenting with MEMSPA for about 10 years now and presented nationally as a teacher.  I really enjoy public speaking and teaching just as much as I enjoy learning. Little did I know that three of my sessions would be selected for the conference. Needless to say, I had an exhausting week. In addition to my four presentations over the course of the 4 days, I also attended 8 additional sessions and truly appreciate the learning and the takeaways from so many speakers. Both Razia Jan and Ryan Sheehy (@sgeegrtw) reinforced my belief that it all starts with one and one person can and does make a difference. Jennifer Kirksey knocked it out of the park with her restorative practices background and resources. Amazing authors Allyson Apsey (@AllysonApsey) and Dr. Brad Gustafson (@gustafsonBrad) shared some tips on publishing and more importantly shared the struggle to get where they are today.  Rejection is a part of the learning and journey to success. Fullan kept us focused on the research and Kwame Alexander finished the conference off by motivating us and proving we can and do make a difference. Through failures and successes and connections with others around us, he left us with a powerful message to advocate for our kids and to work to make a difference. 

Now in just five days, I am back at the airport, but looking forward to our family vacation to Australia. Our daughter, Sydney, leaves for MSU soon, and I our son, Xavier, is heading into his junior year. Where does time go? Here's to hoping it slows down as I focus the next few weeks on what matters most in my world and the foundation to make all the learning and accomplishments posted above even possible. Open your hearts and minds and the foundation to do great things is built. I am blessed to have my family's support through it all. 

Home Rider 500 Milestone Live Ride in NYC Studio: Recommendations for a Positive Experience

I found out that my Christmas present from my husband was to go to NYC to ride my 500th ride live in the studio. I was so excited that he wanted to do this for me. He bought my bike two years ago this February for my birthday, and I love it. I am always talking about the classes, instructors, and online community. I did my 300th ride in the showroom in Troy, but there is nothing like going to the "mothership." I highly recommend doing a milestone ride in the studio; however, as with any ride, you are not guaranteed a shoutout. The Peloton family has become huge, and it's just not possible to get them all in, especially with a popular ride. The experience is quite thrilling. It was quite fantastic to get my "LeadPositive" shoutout with just 6 minutes left in the ride. Shoutout or not, here are some things to help if you are considering planning a trip to the live studio.

1) Create a studio account: studio.onepeloton.com. They recommend that you use the same credentials as your peloton account. I do as well. Keep it simple. Watch the schedule for the type of ride(s) and instructor(s) that you would like to do. The schedule comes out before the booking sign up which comes out one week prior. Check throughout the day often to try and get a good bike.
2) Know your numbers and settings. Make sure you know your account login and password. Know your seat and handlebar settings as well.
3) Also know your shoe size. Don't bother bringing your shoes. It's much like a bowling alley check in. They have tons of shoes that they issue you when you sign in for  your ride.
4) Use the studio map to have an idea of what bike you want. If you don't book as soon as it opens, you will not get the front row. If you are traveling to do a ride in the studio, do the front row! Take in the entire experience. Don't worry what you look like. I rode bike 1 for my first ride as the center front rows were full; however, I enjoyed having this different view of both the instructor and the studio riders. Bikes 5, 6, and 20 are probably the closest viewing experience as the bike.
5) Get there early. Sign in, check out the retail side, and enjoy the lounge. You might even be able to get a photo with an instructor from an earlier ride.
6) The studio gets very hot with no fans or movement of air. Grab an extra towel and water. You do not need to bring water. They have complimentary water bottles there.
7) The locker room has restrooms, showers, lockers (small but large enough) with spa-like supplies to use--including bath towels. The locker rooms can get crowded with a popular ride. There were also a lot of staff members in and out, adding to the tight quarters.
8) If you are also going to try to do any free afternoon walk-in rides, get there at least 30 minutes early.
9) Most of the instructors will stay after the ride to take pictures with riders. Line up by the iPad at the door entry between the check in and the lounge.
10) Pick a type of ride and instructor that you have done before or feel comfortable with doing. For example, if you don't like to ride out of the saddle, pick a low-impact ride. You will want your "training" from your at-home rides to match the ride you pick for the best match and possible PR.

Other recommendations:

• The Hilton New York Fashion District is a great location.  It is just down the street and right around the corner from the studio. They have a roof-top bar with an amazing view of the skyline. It's just a little over a mile away from Times Square. The "Rare" restaurant has good food and friendly service. It's also really close to other great places to eat. The rooms are a little on the small side, but that is typical for the city. The only downside was the noisy street, so ask for a room higher up or in the inside if noise is an issue. We also didn't have a mini frig which can be convenient. 
• Change your location on your profile to include "home rider" and the number of milestone ride. 
• Don't worry about bringing your heart-rate monitor as there is no bluetooth connection for it. 
• Take in the experience. Enjoy the ride, and share your pictures on the Facebook group. 

2019 One Word: Inspire

For the last several years, as I have really contemplated my WHY in education: why I teach and why I lead. The verb "to inspire" always comes to my mind. Whether teaching or leading, I have always been passionate about pushing not only others but myself to do our best. I am a firm believer that learning, like life, has an outcome of the input. We get out of it what we put into to it. I want the most out of learning (and life), and I want that for others as well.

It wouldn't be a new year with new goals without really thinking about who and what I want to inspire and breaking in down to fit my leadership (and life) vision.  I want to continue to inspire positivity in myself and others. I also want to inspire (and be inspired to) taking risks and trying new things in all aspects. Lastly, whether it's through mindfulness, diet/exercise, professional development, or family commitments, I want to not only be the best version of myself (it's a long road), but I also want to be a part of a movement to inspire, encourage, and support others to do the same.

The positivity goal, while not easy, is the more natural one to me. Since 2015, I have been on a mission to not only focus on the positivity but also lead and help others do the same. It doesn't mean that I do not have personal and professional setbacks or trials, but my compass dial is set on the destination. I work hard to remind myself to find the positive even in times of disappointment, discouragement, and failure. I hope to do an even better job at this, this year. It's actually quite interesting that I have learned a very valuable lesson this week while ending 2018 and entering 2019.

While trying to stay positive about our family holiday vacation to the cold and snowing Vermont for a ski trip for our son, I was forced to practice what I both preach and expect from others. To give some background, this year is our first non-tropical/Disney vacation for the holidays since the kids were pretty much born. Summer is my favorite season, and I really dislike the cold. I also enjoy a December break from it. However, my husband and more importantly, our son, loves to ski, so it's to Vermont we went. While my son has been on the slopes from 9 am to 4 pm without eating almost everyday, I have been exploring different possibilities around the resort (and mountain). Due to a ton of rain before we came in, all of their cross county trails (the only skiing that I have attempted) are closed. However, I have done both hiking and snowshoeing, and I have learned that with the proper apparel and equipment the cold is not so bad, and I have had a lot of fun. This includes seeing some amazing sites and doing some activities that I would have never tried if it weren't for this trip. We just need to have the "proper equipment" and people to be the bet version of ourselves. I hope to be that person for myself and others. To really be the best version of myself, that means being well-rounded and trying new things, and more importantly pushing myself to explore my own possibilities. There might even be some downhill ski lessons in my future....maybe. 

Being the best version of ourselves can mean a lot of things. For me personally it's about my health and well being, but it's also about the roles that I play. While I will continue to work on my health and fitness, I want to really work on my relationship fitness this year. This includes my family since those members (my husband, children, parents, and sister and her children) have suffered the most while I have worked on my professional learning, career development, and work fitness. While trying to take better care of those who have been my support network, I will work to encourage others around me to do the same. We cannot be the best versions of ourselves if we are not fully focused on the relationships of those who love us the most.

I hope 2019 is a year that inspires everyone to be and do better. That's my personal vision for 2019. 

#MEMSPA18 Takeaways: Inspired to Be a Better Leader!

My mind has been nonstop! The annual MEMSPA conference with the theme of Lead Positive was a megahit and has been my favorite one so far! The MEMSPA executive office and conference planning committee delivered an outstanding 3 days of professional learning, connecting, and inspiration.

All of the keynote speakers inspired us to be champions for our students and staff: Sean Covey, Paul Liabenow, Shelia Alles, Kim Campbell, and Jimmy Casas. Sean Covey reminded me to focus on the "wildly important" and focus on the lead measures to get us there. Paul Liabenow reminds us to lead with heart, and he models just that. Kim Campbell had me laughing and reminded me of the importance to laugh with our students and to never give up on them. We need to share our stories and our lives with our staff and students. We have to lead joyfully and laugh to survive. We have to get our students moving and challenge their thinking. All of these are great messages and reminders. The last keynote, Jimmy Casas, resonated with me the most this year.

Engaged in Jimmy's words, I laughed a lot, but I cried as well. He is so right; being a school leader is a difficult job. It is so rewarding, but it is extremely taxing on us personally. It is because of the people in my life and more importantly my family, that I have even made it to where I am and to still be here standing 13 years later; however, I was reminded that I cannot do this work at their or my expense. The past is now the past. I cannot change the fact that I wish that I were a better leader, or importantly, that I wish I were a better wife or mother. My husband and children have sacrificed a lot as I have tried to become the leader I feel my students and staff deserve. They deserve my best and full self as well. This is my personal goal for 2019 and beyond: be a better family member. I know that I can do just that because of all of the wonderful professionals and staff that I have around me in Milan and the state.

Casas's keynote was a great reminder that we need to capitalize on all of the people around us to do this difficult, but amazing work together. We need to remember our purpose and our core principles. The way we create excellence is to live it. We need to build a community of excellence to help get the work done.

My four core center around my leadership vision to do the following:
1) Lead with Positivity (#LeadPositive)
2) Inspire Greatness (Inspire others to be great)
3) Love, Laugh, and Learn
4) Hold High Expectations (Never expect more than I personally give).

In addition, I learned from several amazing breakout sessions too! Derek Wheaton gave me tools and reminders to help win over and support our next generations of leaders. David Simpson demonstrated how to hack deeper learning at the middle level. Jonathon Wennstrom inspired me to leave no teacher behind with a toolbox to support a variety of types, and Allyson Apsey reaffirmed our work to make sure we are telling the positive stories of our schools.

Presenting two sessions this year was a lot of fun, and I so enjoyed teaming up with Kimberly Gillow to speak about building and supporting positive team collaboration. I also felt privileged to share the positive work we do at #PowerUpMMS.

Connecting with my Leadership Matters cohort at the reception was nice and collecting toys for the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan's Farmington Hills and Grand Rapids locations was a rewarding way to give back. Our region enjoyed a dinner together, and it was great to catch up with friends we have made over the last 10 years. As always the leadership banquet is one of my favorite highlights from the conference; all of the region nominations and the state winner are such an inspiration. I am inspired to be a better leader--mom and wife too! Thank you MEMSPA!

Why MEMSPA?

Why MEMSPA?

Michigan Elementary Middle School Principals Association has been my number one network for sustaining my commitment to education, my staff, and most of all my students.

I first joined the association as a recommendation of one of my education leadership professors over a decade ago. Now even more than ever the liability insurance is crucial to leaders in education. However, the association has given me so much more than a peace of mind.

The answer to Why MEMSPA? might be different for everyone, but I can say without doubt that members number one answer is the support from the MEMSPA office and its members. My MEMSPA colleagues have been the most supportive group of professionals that I could ask for. The support showered over me has taken me from the island of isolation to a community of family and friends. Whatever I have need: encouragement, support, information, guidance, or even a needed fact check or reality call, I have always been able to count on this network of principals from around the state.

In addition to this network of fantastic leaders, the professional learning opportunities are by far the best. Sustained, engaging, research-based, and relational offerings, such as the annual conference, summer institute, workshops, and my favorite--a nine month leadership academy, Leadership Matters--have given me the tools, connections, examples, and accountability needed to advance my building, district, and career.

In addition to the people and the learning, MEMSPA has also given me the opportunity to give back. From involvement at the regional level, my presidency of the state level, and now my national role, I have enjoyed volunteering, presenting, writing, and mentoring others.

Why MEMSPA: to have support, to support others, and to fill my bucket! If you are a member, what's your WHY? If not, what are you looking for? I am sure you will find it with this association.

#PowerUpMMS: Week Two Update after 1:1 Chromebooks

I must say that I am pleasantly surprised at the responsibility that our students have demonstrated since our 1:1 Chromebook deployment. While I was excited for the teaching and learning components of the 1:1, I was nervous about the logistics and responsibility of the students. However, after this full week of using them, the students have surpassed my expectations.

One of the many benefits of 1:1 is supporting a more personalized and differentiated learning environment for our students. In addition, we were also thrilled to be able to enact Daniel Pink's latest research from his new book When which outlines peak performance time for analytical tasks, such as test taking. To be fair and consistent, it would be best for all of our students to be able to test in the morning--the best time (for the majority) to perform at their best on tests. We could never do this without all students having a device. I must say that I was worried about students not bringing devices, or not bringing them charged, but students have not only brought them, they have been managing having them and taking care of them all week.

We are so grateful to have this opportunity for our students. The devices have not replaced the type of learning we do at the middle school, but they are definitely supporting and transforming the learning. Since this was a week of two reduced schedules due to testing, and as an outcome, class time being lost--in some classes more than others, the devices allowed students to work on a variety of activities to stay on task or keep from getting too far behind.

I really look forward to seeing how we, our school, teachers, and students, continue to benefit from this opportunity. I also am appreciative of the patience, hard work, and responsibility of all involved. I want to give a special shout out to our technology department, media center, and office staff for handling so many of the logistics which helped with our first year of deployment.

Teaching in Milan, Michigan: It's Not Just an Art; It's a Passion

I am in awe of the amount of time, care, and passion that #PowerUpMMS educators put into their practice and students. While these examples are in no way a comprehensive list of what our educators do at Milan Middle School, they do paint a picture of these amazing soldiers of learning and character, making the world a better place one child at a time.

Milan educators are constantly thinking about what is best for students. They meet at least weekly to discuss student needs. They collaborate by teams and departments to prepare students by integrating technology, personalize learning, and create ways to engage students. They unite on ways to manage their classroom and unify expectations offering consistency and routine for students. However, they also work in student choice and voice to personalize learning.

Milan teachers deprivatize their practice by opening up their classrooms to each other to learn from and model for each other. They work monthly in departments and as a whole staff to analyze data, explore gaps in subgroups, and strategize on interventions, strategies, and activities to support students and push for growth.

Milan teachers and parapros learn about the whole child and work to understand hardships, celebrate successes, and be a champion to students who need an extra trusted adult in their lives. We greet students with smiles, teach character, show empathy, challenge their thinking, and hold students accountable.

Our Milan students are fortunate to have such amazing people in their lives. The outside perception or public opinion of education is not always kind or appreciative of what our school employees do, but the Milan Community does seem to get it, and for that, we, Milan educators, are very fortunate.

It is not easy being a champion for students. It is time consuming to care for, challenge, and teach 150-200 students a day, but together--from the transportation crew, custodial crew, food service, office staff, counseling staff, teachers, paraeducators, and admin--we strive to empower our students to be the best possible versions of themselves, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be able to do so. Here's to a great new school year at Milan, where teaching is not just an art; it's a passion.

#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.