Where's The PROOF?

L.E.A.P PART 3: Provide Proof

As educators, we all must see ourselves as leaders.  We should intentionally set out to inspire our students to dream more, learn more, do more and most importantly become more.  This is the last concept of Radical Leadership: Providing Proof!

As shared by author Steve Farber:

Provide Proof

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have shown that credibility is the foundation of leadership, and they go on to define credibility behaviorally as DWYSYWD: Do What You Say You Will Do. If it’s true that leaders lead by their own example, it follows then that Extreme Leaders lead by their own extreme example. You have to put your skin in the game, put yourself and your reputation at risk. You have to prove yourself through significant, observable, daily action. It’s insanely easy to talk a good game. (How many buzzwords per minute can you crank out?) Do you say you love your team? Prove it! Do you say we need to be bold and inventive for our customers? Prove it! Do you tell your folks that they’re “your most important asset”? Prove it and prove it again in every action that you take.

The minute you say the words, “I can’t do that in this organization” or “they won’t let me,” your credibility as an Extreme Leader is shot. On the other hand, when you are absolutely convinced that you can change your organization, family or community for the better, you have to prove it through the radical courage of your own action. As British management guru, Charles Handy, says in The Hungry Spirit, “If we want to see more of the good news than the bad we will have to do it for ourselves. It is no good waiting for some unidentified ‘they’ to fix our world for us.” Gandhi said it this way: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” And you already know how Nike says it.

I believe the dancing guy embodies a true leader because he doesn't worry about people not responding to the music as he does...he just goes out and does it.  Amazing!  Here's to an outstanding week where I wish that all of you can have PROOF moments that show the students and co-workers around you what is vital to you and the job you do on a daily basis.

Week of March 21-25, 2016

Monday, March 21

• Reading PD: K/1 10-11; 4th-6th 11-12; and 2nd/3rd 12:15-1:15; Please bring HW with you
• Women's History Month Program at 2:30; have students packed bring things with them for dismissal
• IS Planning Block 6 at 3:30 in the Cafe
• Board Meeting at 5:00 in the Music Room

Tuesday, March 22

• K Awards Program in Theater from 8-9
• 1st Grade Awards Program in Theater from 9-10
• 2nd Grade Awards Program in Theater from 10-11
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Department Chair Mtg at 3:30 in Small Group Room

Wednesday, March 23

• Hill, Grunden and Jones at UNC-P Job Fair
• 8:00-3rd grade
  9:00-4th grade
  10:00-5th/6th grade
• Vertical PLCs:K/1 10-11; 4th-6th 11-12; and 2nd/3rd 12:15-1:15

Thursday, March 24

• Staff Jean Day
• EC PLC at Noon
• Penny War Announcement Pep Rally at 2:30
• IS Block 6 Lesson Plans Due

Friday, March 25

• Beginning of Spring Break

Have you got the audacity?

L.E.A.P Part III:

This is taken, again, from Steve Farber's article on taking the LEAP to create a more productive culture.  Hope you Enjoy!

Inspire Audacity

Audacity is, “A bold and blatant disregard for normal constraints.” But audacity also has mixed connotations. Here’s the way Webster’s New World Thesaurus brakes it down:

audacity n. 1. [Courage] — Syn. daring, boldness, valor; see courage 2. [Impudence] — Syn. impertinence, temerity, brazenness, insolence

Love-inspired audacity is courageous, not impudent. (Literally-the word, courage, has at its root the word, cor, which means heart). The Extreme Leader, then, is courageously audacious in his or her actions and approach.

Carly Fiorina, the controversial former CEO of Hewlett Packard said, “A leader’s greatest obligation is to make possible an environment … where people can aspire to change the world.” That’s an audacious statement of purpose for any leader, and it’s exactly the question that I pose here for the Extreme Leader: “How are you/we going to change the world?” Choose your scope: World (with a capital W) or world (with a small w). Can you make the connection between the work that you do and its potential impact on the entire World? Great. Be bold about it. Henry Ford said, “The horse will disappear from the highways.” Audacious. If you’re not going to change the World, then what about the world of your customers, your company, your co-workers?

Week of March 14-18, 2016

Monday, March 14

• Grade due at 8:00 AM
• Literacy PD K/1:10-11; 4th, 5th & 6th: 11-12; and 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• SIT Mtg at 3:30

Tuesday, March 15

• Awards Forms Due
• Progress Monitoring Red Students
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Nigerian Presentation at 2:30 (All students seated in lobby by 2:30)

Wednesday, March 16

• Progress Monitoring Red Students
• Math Vertical PLCs K/1: 10-11; 4th, 5th & 6th: 11-12; and 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• Beginning Teacher Mtg in Falls Room at 3:40
• Whole School Mtg. with Angela Romanowski at 3:30 in cafe
• TCEA Lottery at 5PM

Thursday, March 17

• Fayetteville State Job Fair: Hill & Caine
• Early Release at 11:45
• Arts Integration Night K-2 6:00-7:00 and 3-6 7:30-8:30

Friday, March 18

• Early release at 11:45

Practices for Arts Integration Night

Monday 3/14: 1:45-2:45 PM

• Kindergarten: Nelson (1st half hour)
• 1st grade: Morrison
• 2nd grade: Payton
• 3rd grade: Nelson (2nd half hour)
• 4th grade: Gibson with Scriven; Mac with Kline
• 5th/6th grade: Brownlee

Wednesday 3/16: 1:45-2:45 PM

• Kindergarten: Scriven
• 1st grade: Nelson
• 2nd grade: Brownlee
• 3rd grade: Morrison/Payton
• 4th grade: off
• 5th/6th grade: Kline

Generate ENERGY!

L.E.A.P Part II

Last week I shared the concepts that are behind the L.E.A.P Leadership movement found in The Radical Leap by Steve Farber.  This week, lets focus on Generate Energy.

Steve Farber writes: Energy is not abstract or metaphysical; it’s real, tangible, palpable. You know when you have it and you know when you don’t; you know when you have to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, and when you have to use the law of gravity to slide your slack, lifeless body off the mattress and smack on the floor.

I can tell within — and I’m being generous here — 30 seconds of walking into the reception area of a company whether the place is energetic, exciting and scintillating, or a morgue populated by zombied paycheck-collectors.

It’s not an accident, either way. Someone is creating that environment, and if it’s your place of employment, that someone may well be you.

Here’s a good question to ask yourself: “Do I generate more energy when I walk into a room, or when I walk out of it?”

Energy is what keeps us coming back to work day after day without waning in passion or enthusiasm. It comes, in part, from what John Chambers called the “higher purpose.” A CEO survey conducted in 2001 by Accenture and The Conference Board said, “Many CEOs observe that people want to feel a passion for the company’s work, to become part of a higher purpose than business results alone.” The Extreme Leader’s job is to help define and redefine, day after day, what that higher purpose is.

Michael Cunningham in his novel, The Hours, said, “If you shout loud enough, for long enough, a crowd will gather to see what all the noise is about. It’s the nature of crowds. They don’t stay long, unless you give them reason.”

I started this blog, a few years ago, because I wanted to share and remind my staff of our purpose in our community and in the lives of those we work with on a daily basis.  The title Purpose Driven Educator comes from the idea that I do what I do everyday (including Saturdays and Sundays) because I was created to better students' lives by leading teachers to give their very best on a daily basis.  I have a purpose and that drives me through the BAD days.  Thank goodness that every now and then a former student I taught or a teacher I worked with tells me about the impact I had on them and what they are doing to positively impact their communities.

As I shared last Monday, no one can make you happy.  Don't get me wrong...people can help create an environment that makes happiness easier to experience.  But it is up to you to be happy.  Working in a complex environment like a school in challenging but it should also be one that has a positive and energized environment.  Some learning environment can have an "energy" about them but it is one that is negative and laced with drama.  That one has an energy that can be seen in the televised reality shows that populate TV programming.  That energy distracts from our purpose and leaves those who have ENERGY some times zapped of their positive energy.  

I like the question Farber asks us to ask of ourselves: “Do I generate more energy when I walk into a room, or when I walk out of it?”

If you generate more walking out of it than walking in maybe it's time to reevaluate what your purpose is in doing that daily work you do. 

Week of March 7-11, 2016

Monday, March 7

• Literacy PD
• K/1: 10-11; 4th, 5th and 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• Committee Mtg at 3:30 in Cafe

Tuesday, March 8

• Pre-School Visit to K Classes: 9:45-10:45
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Progress Monitoring Yellow Students

Wednesday, March 9

• End of 2nd Trimester
• Progress Monitoring Yellow Students
• PLC
• K/1: 10-11
• 4th, 5th and 6th: 11-12
• 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• IS Block 5: WCL/ Drama at 1:45

Thursday, March 10

• EC PLC at Noon
• IS Block 5: Music/ Visual Art at 1:45
• Parent Informational Mtg at 5PM

Friday, March 11

• K/1 Lucky for Data Meeting: 10-11
• 4th, 5th and 6th Lucky for Data Meeting: 11-12
• 2nd/3rd Lucky for Data Meeting 12:15-1:15
• Open Enrollment Closes

Reminders:

• Observations for all Career Teachers/ Arts Teachers Begin This Week
• Peer Observations Need to Be Completed 
• All Grades Need to Be Updated and Posted Each Week

Are you ready to take the L.E.A.P?

There are two books that have helped me create a model of the type of school leader I want to be.  The first book is The Serving Leader: Five Powerful Actions that Will Transform Your Team, Your Business, and Your Community by Ken Jenning.  The second book, and the book I am going to focus on today, is The Radical Leap Re-energized by Steve Farber.  I was introduced to both in graduate school and have shared with staff members over the years but I feel it is time for the TCEA staff to discover the components of the Radical Leap Leadership Model and to begin operating under these principles everyday.

They are simple concepts but I will take the next five weeks to share each principle and ask for you to share you thoughts on how the principle can be displayed at TCEA.  The Radical LEAP is: Cultivating Love, Generate Energy, Inspire Audacity and Provide Proof.  This week we are going to focus on Cultivating Love.

This is taken from Steve Farber's website:

Cultivate Love

Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.

The emotion of love is considered to be out of place or simply inappropriate in the world of business. Many believe that good business people keep their hearts out of their work. The opposite is true. It’s the heart that brings the fire of creativity to bear on the day-to-day. It’s the heart that inspires drive, loyalty and leaps of innovative brilliance.

The word, “love,” appears frequently in the leadership literature, and in many studies, love is identified as an important ingredient in productive leader/follower and coach/employee relationships. In research conducted at the Tom Peters Company, we found that in order to be an effective coach, you have to care about the person you’re coaching. You can’t simply go through the motions because you’re so obliged.

I use the word, “love,” in the broadest sense. I’m not saying that you should fall in love with everyone you work with. That could get a bit complicated, to say the least. I am saying that you have to find something to care deeply about in your business and in each individual that touches your business. And it has to be real. And they have to know it.

The key, then, is to find a way to genuinely and sincerely love the customer and then act from that level of motivation. Great business relationships are won in ways analogous to romantic relationships: by paying nearly obsessive attention to the needs, desires, hopes and aspirations of the other person. By knowing not only when to stand firm on your own principles but also when to sacrifice your short-term needs for the long-term relationship. And by proving through your own actions that you really mean it, and that you’re not simply following the advice that you gleaned from the latest training program. The Extreme Leader — in other words — actually does love the customer and strives, therefore, to enhance the customer’s life.

Some of you may be wondering why I am sharing leadership concepts because you aren't the principal of the school.  You need to recognize that we are all leaders in the school.  Students, parents and peers should be able to look at us for a model on how to "do life".  The author believes that this concept is needed in schools so much that any educator can download a free copy at the link below.  

http://www.stevefarber.com/leapforeducation/

I would love for you to join me and take the LEAP by downloading the book and beginning to read on how to change the way you operate and how this change can positively impact your world and the world of others.

What can LOVE do? 

Week of February 29-March 4, 2016

Monday, February 29

• Literacy PD with Ms. McDonald (please see email from her regarding HW assignment)
• K/1: 10 AM
• 4th, 5th, 6th: 11 AM
• 2nd/3rd: 12:15 PM
• Black History Program at 2:30
• Staff Mtg in Cafe at 3:30

Tuesday, March 1

• Progress Monitoring Red Students
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Chameleon Character Safety Mtg at 3:30
• Kindergarten Round Up at 6 PM
• FEO Penny War Begins

Wednesday, March 2

• K/1 PLC at 10
• 4th, 5th, 6th PLC at 11
• 2nd/3rd PLC at 12:15
• Tornado Drill at 9:30
• Progress Monitoring Red Students

Thursday, March 3

• EC PLC at noon
• SST Mtg at 3:30

Friday, March 4

• FEO Mtg at 8:00
• Read Across America Dress Rehearsal at 9:00

Saturday, March 5

• Read Across America Event

Reminders:

Code Red Drill this week

Most Likely to Succeed March 19th- see email from Mrs. Lett regarding volunteer needs

End of 2nd Trimester is 3/9

It's Our Story To Tell

In January, of this year, many news sources were sharing a recent report looking at NC Charter Schools with the public.  This story shared that charter schools in NC were less diverse than traditional public schools.  Some news outlets even said that charter schools were evidence of segregation returning to our state.  The Lt. Governor, a member of the state's charter school advisory board, asked that the report be updated and include more positive information.  And they did, but that narrative of charter schools being exclusive and not diverse is still out there.

I have always been told "that it is up to you to tell your story".  If you allow someone to speak for you...they will.  But, as you know, the story will not be the whole truth and the people that hear the story will run with it and it will become their reality.

So, here's our story for the 291 students we have at TCEA:

TCEA: 35% White students

49.5% White students in NC traditional public schools

TCEA: 40% African American students
26.1% African American students in traditional public schools

TCEA: 14% Hispanic students
14% Hispanic students in NC traditional public schools

TCEA: 49% Free/Reduced students
53% Free/Reduced students in NC traditional public schools

NCDPI Date from: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/resources/data/

Our story is one where we are truly impacting ALL students by integrating arts into their lives to help them discover who they are and what their gift is to share with the world.  Now that you know our story, you must share it.

Here's are a few ideas on how to hook people and engage in telling our story.  If we don't...others will!!!

Have a great Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow!

Angela

Week of Monday, February 22-26, 2016

Monday, February 22

• PD Day in Data Room- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• 3:30- SIT
• 5:00- TCEA Board Mtg

Tuesday, February 23

• Progress Monitoring of Green and Blue Students
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Chameleon Coin Pep Rally at 2:30
• Bring a Friend Night at 6 PM

Wednesday, February 24

Progress Monitoring of Green and Blue Students

PLC in Data Room- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15

Department Chair Mtg at 3:30

Thursday, February 25

• Grade level planning meetings- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15

Friday, February 26

• Penny War Pep Rally at 2:30

Reminders:

• Don't forget to complete the mid-year PDP and if you are responsible for doing a peer observation don't forget your deadline :)

Gradual Release

At the end of the Math PD held last week, the presenter and I talked about "next steps" for TCEA and on topic that came up was the GRADUAL RELEASE concept and how many teachers struggle with this concept.  Below is a video I am requesting all staff to watch so we'll be prepared for our PLCs this week.  If you have any questions or concerns on this topic, please have them ready for discussion in our PLC.

Gradual Release Model Video

Hope you have had a restful weekend and I will see you on Tuesday!

Angela

Week of February 15-19, 2016

New Schedule Begins*

Please make sure you check new lunch duty ;

Make sure you have shared new Art Schedule with parents as well

Monday, February 15

President's Day: No School

Tuesday, February 16 (Please post new schedule outside classrooms)

• Progress Monitoring of Red Students (K-3)
• Arts PLC at 1:45
•  Safety Committee on Tuesday, February 16th at 3:30

Wednesday, February 17 (Please have math reflection sheet with you in PLCs)

• K/1 PLC at 10
• 4th-6th PLC at 11
• 2nd/3rd PLC at 12:15
• Beginning Teacher Mtg at 3:30 (will give BT time to work over mid year PDP as well as cover Standard 5)
• Progress Monitoring of Red Students (K-3)

Thursday, February 18

• Regular Schedule

Friday, February 19

• SST Mtg at 3:30

Reminders:

• Mid Year PDPs need to be completed by the end of this week.
• Please use new office referral sheets (with new logo)/emailed week before last
• Make sure you are enforcing our dress code policy

Forward Together...Not One Step Back!

This is what I want for TCEA...

I want a group that rallies around one cause, educating our future, and that any of us can be the LeBron in this video and refocus the group around that cause.  It takes more than one person or one small group of people to create an environment that is focused and united.  Are you engaged? Do you view this journey as one the team must travel TOGETHER or do you view your journey as a trek you make on your own?

I'm ready to go the distance...are you?

Week of February 8-12, 2016

Monday, February 8

• Clock Check at 7:50
• 1st Grade PLC at 11:30
• IS Planning at 3:30 PM in Cafe

Tuesday, February 9

• Counselor Mtg at 8:00
• Arts PLC at 10
• 5th/6th PLC at 12:30

Wednesday, February 10

• Math in Focus Training (2nd/3rd 8-11 and 4th, 5th and 6th 12-3)

Thursday, February 11

• Math in Focus Training (K 8-11 and 1st 12-3)
• 4th PLC at 11
• 2nd PLC at 12:15
• IS Lesson Plans Due
• FEO Candygrams Delivered

Friday, February 12: Teacher Workday 

• We will have a renewing of commitment vows at 10 in cafe.  Please arrive on time and email me if you will not be there.
• Homeroom Teachers: Guided Math Planning (you will receive a planning sheet the morning of 2/12 that you will need to complete during your planning meetings and return before 3 PM
• Arts Staff: PD on Standards Based Grading 10:30-11:30 and then work on implementing plan 11-3.