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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning | Connected Principals

Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning | Connected Principals:



Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning

This was originally posted by J. Bevacqua on Figuring It Out
Yet another new beginning….
For those that have not heard – next school year brings a new and exciting job opportunity – this time as Principal of Vancouver College – a K-12 Catholic school in Vancouver.
Of course with a new beginning come thoughts of transition.  Lots of thoughts – coming at me at all hours of the day and night!  Needless to say, these past few months have been full of joy and self-reflection.
There have been no shortage of colleagues, family and friends who have expressed their congratulations and best wishes.  There have also been no shortage of questions, such as:
What is your plan?
What are you going to implement?
or the famous…..
What is your plan for technology at the school?
My response to each of these questions has been fairly consistent – my first order of business is to immerse myself in the community and establishing trust in relationships while maintaining a focus on learning.
Like I’ve said before - I believe that trust is the currency of leadership.  To earn and distribute trust I must immerse myself in relationships.
Of course what I’m actually saying is that I need to immerse myself in the culture of the school  - to become fully absorbed in its mission, vision and values.  I need to experience how the mission and values intersect with the underlying assumptions and actions of students, parents and teachers.
I need to hear, see and experience what students, parents and teachers are proud of.  I need to see and witness the successes of students and staff.  I need to bear witness to challenges and triumphs.
And throughout it all - maintain a focus on learning  -  my own learning but of course student, teacher and parent Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning | Connected Principals:

You Can't Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent) - The Jose Vilson

You Can't Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent) - The Jose Vilson:



You Can’t Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent)

by JOSE VILSON on JUNE 24, 2014
in JOSE
slidingplaneseats-dd
I called someone a racist this past weekend. And a sexist for good measure.
I don’t have much authoritative experience with the latter as I do the former, and I don’t go throwing around such a title lightly.
I won’t go into the incident, but it was a long string of events that triggered me using the word, and, soon thereafter, people started opening up about some of the latent racist comments said person made. It was revelatory in that I had this hunch for a long time, but, because he’s respected in some of our common circles, I decided to let everything play out, letting karma mete out justice accordingly.
That moment never came, so I handled it myself.
Time and again, I’m faced with having to bring up conversations that made people’s collars tight around their necks. It’s not the happy-go-ISTE convo, the hipster affectations, the “standardized testing” is the devil conversation, or the “new progressives don’t believe in unions” nonsense. It’s the conversation around why we we’re still in the mentality of “saving the children.”
Every time we simultaneously say that we “speak for our children of color” but neither give voice to those children or don’t respect the very adults of color who were in the same seats, we set the foundation for angst, anger, and rage. The thing about discussions about race, sex, and class is that, if you’re the only person of the group most marginalized by the -ism, you almost
- See more at: http://thejosevilson.com/cant-educate-us-tone-policing-silent/#sthash.3gXlyf0a.dpuf

A Principal Ruins a Teacher's Career in Brooklyn - southbronxschool

http://www.southbronxschool.com:



A Principal Ruins a Teacher's Career in Brooklyn

 The following could very well be considered part II of last night's blog postbut it deserves it's own special mention.

The Crack Team just got this story of a middle school teacher from Brooklyn. His name is Jeff Storobinsky who suddenlyhad to retire this past February for the abuse to stop.

The Crack Team has seen and heard quite a bit but after reading this they were moved to tears. We all felt sick to our stomachs and feel that not even a dog would be treated this way, yet teachers are time and time again.  

We have highlighted in red what we think to be of importance. 

When will all of this end?

-->
My Story:  A 30 Year NYC veteran teacher disgraced and humiliated.

My name is Jeff Storobinsky and I approved this message.

Here is some insight into my personal life and the events leading to my unwanted exodus from the NYCDOE

In 2000 I was granted full custody of my two children I always taught them to always be honest and take the high road in life. Professionally I have navigated that same way; keeping confidences, being loyal to my bosses and helpful to my colleagues. What transpired since September 2013 is an example of pure horror, embarrassment and disbelief.

 On June 30th, 2013 my former boss retired after being at the helm of our middle school for 5 years. She was and still is an amazing principal with principles who I cannot put into words how much I learned from this principal. Prior to this principal and going back to 1984 I was http://www.southbronxschool.com:

All Things Education: A DCPS Teacher Resigns

All Things Education: A DCPS Teacher Resigns:



A DCPS Teacher Resigns


A few summers ago at the SOS March & National Call to Action, I met a young and enthusiastic, but independent-minded and healthily-skeptical DC Public School elementary teacher, named Olivia Chapman (on twitter: formerly @sedcteacher, now @NGCoachLiv). Olivia has done two guest posts for this blog thus far, one about lessons learned during her first year with DCPS and one about testing season in the same system. This is what I said about her in October 2011:
I was so impressed with Olivia (plus I'm always looking to feature the voices of teachers and education professionals who are on the ground) that I solicited a guest post from her. If she is symbolic of the young, smart, dedicated, and energetic teachers that neo-liberal reformers so often talk of attracting and keeping in the teaching profession, from Olivia's account below, they're not doing a very good job. Who, especially with all those qualities, lasts long in a stifling and absurd environment such as Olivia describes? For our nation's sake, I pray that Olivia and so many of the discouraged newer teachers I've talked to in recent years stick it out. We need you!
I am sad to announce that after five years of teaching in DC Public schools, Olivia has resigned and to start her own business with a like-minded friend and former teacher. Olivia received her Professional Coaching Certification and now coaches adults and teens to reach their personal, wellness and career goals. Still passionate about teaching, Olivia's company, Natural Greatness Coaching offers a character education workshop for young ladies in grades 5-10. 

The following is in response to DCPS' question on the "Declaration of Intent to Not Return Form for Resigning or Retiring Teachers" :

What could DCPS have done to retain you in the district?


I truly don't think that there is anything that you could have done to retain me in the district. Our educational philosophies do not align, specifically what those philosophies look like in action, not necessarily how they are written and presented. Although it would seem that your will and proclaimed dedication to educating all students and improving struggling All Things Education: A DCPS Teacher Resigns:

Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals

Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals:









Give it away, give it away, give it away now…





While watching Game of Thrones has provided me with much entertainment over the past few years, it did not teach me a single thing about becoming a better leader. In fact, I learned more about leadership from a five-minute rereading of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree than I did from the forty plus hours I spent watching kings and queens jockey for position. Leadership is about giving, plain and simple.
What I got I gotta give it to the teachers…
Leaders have so much to do in the course of the day; the last thing they have time for is micromanagement. When we give power and decision-making ability to teachers we free ourselves up to actually get in the classrooms and see some of the amazing things that are taking place every day. This is being done in places like New Milford High School where principal and digital pioneer Eric Sheninger is giving his teachers what he calls Professional Growth Periods, during which they can explore their own learning passions.
Of course there will be times when teachers make mistakes. But when this occurs, it gives us the opportunity to sit down and discuss what could’ve been done differently. It affords us the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about ways for us to move forward and improve as a team. When teachers feel empowered they become powerful. Why wouldn’t we want the most powerful teachers possible working with our students?
“The courage of leadership is giving others the chance to succeed even though you bear the responsibility for getting things done.” Simon Sinek
What I got I gotta give it to the students…
Students are told what to read, how to read, what to write, how to write, when to use the restroom, when to line up, etc. While I do not believe for a moment that students would excel in an environment in which they were able to do whatever Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals:









Nite Cap 6-24-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2



James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP



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Save Cheatham Schools Rally
Save Cheatham Schools  Rally
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Nite Cap 6-23-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLESMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESZephyr Teachout“The failure of the Dream Act and the failure of Fair Elections are all traceable to the fact that we don't have a D