Gather the right stuff!

I don't have time to process this idea right now. But I was in a department chair meeting today where the chairs (and, by proxy, their teams of teachers) were given the task of collecting, compiling, and sharing data about how students are doing (academically) at our school.

It's not the fun, all-smiles stuff that all my favorite educational leaders are posting about on Twitter, but it's really important, right? 

It was a really hard conversation, full of starts and stops. Confrontations (presented gently). Pushback. Fears names. Assurances made. Trust leaned upon. Missteps and course corrections. Really important work that we can't shy away from.

But I came away wondering how to package it better. How to make the case clearly. And I kept coming back to the pieces of data we're asking them to collect.

We were focused (with good reason) on how the data could INFORM. But how can we use the data to inspire? Do we need OTHER data? Do we need DIFFERENT data? Do we need MORE data? And (I think this is really it), do we need to SEE the data differently?

Is that a shift of perspective for administration? For teachers? For students? I think the answer is yes to all of these. But what does that look like? I don't know tonight. And I probably won't know alone. I will seek help from those around me. Because (as Mr. Coleman always likes to remind us) "together we're smarter than a supercomputer!"

Leeana's Brazen Words

The fact is, I don't have it in me today. So I'm very glad that as I read Brazen last night, I typed these words into my phone. As I read them back, I'm not sure they communicate on an island. The context of the chapter really lends to my understanding, but maybe the quotations will still speak to you, as is. If not, don't judge Leeana...read the book. Need a copy? I'll lend you mine (when I'm done).

"The temptation, I believe, is to become convinced that our life is out there somewhere and we must go out and take hold of it...when, in fact, our life is right here waiting for us to notice it."

"The problem isn't desire. The problem is what we do with our desire when we feel like we're behind in satisfying it." 

"I'm beginning to realize I want security more than I want a Savior."

"We hold our current reality in one hand and hold our longings in the other hand, and we ask God to show us how we can honor both. This is the holiest of work because it requires us to let go of our compulsion to secure our own solutions."

Sharpen the Axe

I love this idea, but I know that I've got a LOT of room for growth with this. I find that I'm often trying to hack down a tree and sharpening my axe at the same time. Obviously, this doesn't work too well.

I think my people-pleasing tendencies contribute to my difficulty in putting this principle in play in  my own life. The panel of critics in my head tells me that people want action now. That they won't understand the axe-sharpening...so I need to "act" to appease them. What results is ineffective, frustrating, blustery effort. Were I to spend more time in preparation for the eventual action, I would be more efficient, more successful, and a lot less tired.

Now...I'm not killing myself on this. In fact, the very act of writing this blog is an axe-sharpening event. So is my time spent on Twitter. So is my book reading. So, often, are the conversations I have with colleagues and mentors as I seek to anticipate the best courses of action at work and in life.

Please also note that Mr. Lincoln has left two hours for intense work, too. This is not a get-out-of-work card. Preparation without action is dead. (Biblical echo intended.)

Steven Covey also listed this as the 7th of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Here are some links about his version of the idea.

https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit7.php

Results Now

If you hold a position of leadership or influence in schools and haven't read any of Mike Schmoker's materials, I urge you...remedy that!

Results Now was first book I read in my admin credential program. It changed my life.

I entered the admin program for money. I wasn't making it on a teacher's salary, and the only way to increase my income was to become an administrator. So I joined the Dark Side. My mom cried (literally). I didn't think I had what it took. I doubted myself. I knew I needed to do this to make ends meet for my family, but all I had ever considered was the kingdom that was my Spanish classroom.

But in my first class, under the guidance of Sweetwater Union superintendent Frankie Escobedo, I read Results Now. It opened my eyes. His clarion call to close the achievement gap resonated deeply with me. His candid description of the structural impediments to student learning were obvious to me, but something that I had never voiced to anyone else. I was surprised and elated to find that someone was willing to be so transparent about what was wrong with education.

How unions, which had served such an important role in the history of education, were now hindering student achievement with a laser focus on what was best for teachers (instead of students). But he delineated four agreements that administrators should make with teachers that could open lines of communication and enable everyone at a school to work for what was best for kids without fear of reprisal or admonition from an misguided administration.

I can't explain it without quoting the entire book. So I urge you to find it and read it. If you ask me directly, I will buy you a copy. I believe in its message this strongly.

But let's look at the quotation for today's #WednesdayWisdom post: "Collaboration allows teachers to capture each other's fund of collective intelligence." Mr. Coleman (my principal) is always saying, "Together, we're smarter than a super computer!" It's just so true. Teachers for generations were timid to share their ideas. To open their classrooms to their colleagues (not to mention their coaches or their administrators). And there were structures in place that made that fear warranted! But if we make the agreements that Schmoker recommends, the open culture can lead to a more equitable implementation of practices THAT ARE BEST FOR KIDS.

In any event...if you've read Schmoker, just give me an Amen. If you haven't, get your hands on some now!

Contentment

I don't have it in me to write a long one today, but here's my Wednesday Wisdom, courtesy of Dave Ramsey.

Contentment is the most important money principle.

Can I be content? I know I haven't been terribly successful with this so far. I'm always striving. I'm always reaching. I'm always grasping!

It's easy for me to think that contentment will come when I'm out of debt and living comfortably. But can I be content AND work hard to get out of debt?

Also, what if we strike the word "money" from the quote. Can I find contentment AT ALL? It's totally a biblical principle, but I don't have it yet.

Lord. help me to be content in all situations. Whether rich or poor, healthy or ill, loved or rejected, encouraged or discouraged. Help me, please.

Pop quiz: do you think I'm content with this post? LOL

Brazen

"...underneath all of the parts of us that are wrecked and wounded and flawed and human is God-in-us." -- Leeana Tankersley, Brazen

I have a great friend who is an author. She has written three books, and lots of blog posts. I don't have any evidence that she has any other male readers (her latest book, especially, is specifically targeted to women), but I don't mind. Her stuff just hits me at my core. She often puts into words exactly how I feel about something that I have not been able to express well. I might even say that reading her words sometimes crystallizes even for ME what I feel.

In any event, I've been doing a lot of hard soul work lately (think half-hour daily homework for the Bible-based recovery group I attend). And one of the concepts that I struggle with mightily is my identity in Christ. I feel like I choose to label myself a sinner. And I reject the notion that I am good at my core. I feel more like a wretch that is only worthy of God's love because of that very love he has for me (if that makes any sense).

So this idea that at my very Center is God...it's hard to accept. It's hard to grasp. In fact, I think perhaps my Adversary wants desperately for me to not believe it. If I can actually wrap my head around this idea, I get the notion that it might just change everything.

And Lord knows...I could go for that.

"Goodness lies deeper in the heart of man's nature than sin, which came later and entered from the outside. Goodness lies deeper in man because God put himself there. It was very good! Goodness is intrinsic to man's nature; sin is not. Sin is the corrupting virus that has temporarily corrupted goodness."

-- Michael Phillips, A God to Call Father

Progress Not Perfection

If my understanding is correct, this gem comes to us from the world of 12-step recovery. As someone who was raised to relentlessly pursue perfection, this phrase has been so important for me to grasp onto.

In a paradoxical way, when I strive for perfection, I make less progress than when I let go of perfection. The stress of being perfect paralyzes me into inaction. When I work, instead, to get better, I can reach smaller milestones which snowball into tremendous progress over time.

In poking around for the exact source of this idea, I came across the original quotation from the book called Alcoholics Anonymous (sometimes called The Big Book by those in recovery):

“No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”

I love the idea contained herein. "We are not saints." I need to remember that. I need to give myself a break. NOT AN EXCUSE...a break. I'm not perfect. I won't ever BE perfect! And if I accept that, I can work on growing. On improving. On doing my best without the pressure of perfection. Good stuff.

Today Matters

This is a major struggle for me. I want to plan for the future. And, unfortunately, I hang onto the past way too much. All too often, I let today get away from me. At work. In my spiritual walk. With my kids.

As my former pastor back in San Diego (Matt Hammett) often says, "All truth is God's truth." The principle noted in the John Maxwell quote above can be found in the Bible, too.

Matthew 6:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

When opportunity knocks...

Will I be ready?



I have a profound respect for former UCLA coach John Wooden. It's cool that his teams won all those championships, but that's not what catches my attention. It's how people talk about his character.

If you want to take yourself to school, just google John Wooden quotations. As for me, I've purchased a biography about the man, and am looking forward to learning from his example. (To be honest, though, that book is probably 10th on my current reading list. I'm making progress, but ever-so-slowly.)

As for today's quotation, I think my takeaway is this. I catch myself often looking for the next opportunity...what exactly would be the best job for me? Do I want to be a vice principal? Do I want to move to a district job? Do I want to strike out in an entrepreneurial move and do presentations and consulting? If I get too caught up in those thoughts, I can miss the everyday chances to grow and learn. The work that I'm doing NOW is super-important. I have opportunities each and every hour to sharpen my skills, to learn about people and relationships, to develop my character and habits to be the type of person that will be afforded the opportunity (when it knocks) to show who I am.

Practically, I think this is a good reminder for me to look ahead on my calendar! I've been in my job as program manager for almost two years now. I'm learning the rhythm. I am getting a handle on what tasks need to be done in which months. I know that I need to look ahead and think about what budget expenditures were made LATE last year, and anticipate them for THIS year...

There are Dave Ramsey personal finance implications, too.

What does the quotation jog in you?