Celebrations! YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

This time of year is the BEST for public educators.  We are finishing out a school year and honoring our students at graduation and promotion ceremonies.  No matter which event I have attended, there is a packed house.  As students are being recognized, cheers are coming from the crowd.  Signs and balloons are everywhere.  The students who are being honored are told through these celebrations that they are important.  They matter.  We are here to see you.  We are willing to sit in 100 degree weather and through boring speeches to honor you.  

As we look back on life, there are certain moments that most people celebrate:  weddings, birthdays, and graduations.  I have dear friends who are master celebrators.  Because these people are my "family of choice," I have been invited to many Maddux-Smith celebrations.  They honor people in their family for the greatest things.  I have been to celebrations for promotions, having a part in a play, participating in a recital, baptisms, moving to another location, making it through boot camp, or coming back from serving our country overseas.  Every time, the person being honored feels so important.  There is always a speech stating how proud they are of the person being honored.  I have been the recipient of their honoring events, and it felt great!  What I appreciate most about these events is that their is no comparison to another person or another's achievements.  This is a time to just focus on the person being honored and letting that person know how important they are.

So, as I leave for my last graduation, I can honestly say that each of these students are important.  They matter.  It doesn't matter if you made it through by the skin of your teeth or if you are the valedictorian.  Each student goes through their own journey and deserves recognition.  At the middle school, perhaps the biggest accomplishment you were able to achieve was to show up and attend school.  You deserve to be honored because you matter.

Here's to honoring more and finding fault less!  ENJOY! 

Building on Strengths

The California Association of School Administrators (ACSA) has a recognition called, "Every Student Succeeding."  This annual event honors students who have overcome adversity and continued to excel and succeed.  It is a wonderfully emotional event that is truly inspiring.  It serves as a strong reminder as to the importance and positive impact education plays in a student's life and future.

One of the students told his story about overcoming his challenges.  He was being raised by his aunt.  His mother had previously died.  He was failing in school and suffering from anxiety and depression.  As a result, he gained a significant amount of weight and felt horrible about himself and his abilities.  After moving to a new school, a basketball coach took interest in the student and encouraged him to participate in basketball.  The student said, "Never did Coach focus on my weight or all the things I was unable to do.  Coach focused on my strengths and had me capitalize on those skills."  Because of this Coach, the student began to enjoy school, participate more, and feel better about himself.  A little less than a year later, the student stood before us having lost over 100 lbs.  He was fit, enthusiastic, and planning for his future.

Once we identify one's strengths, the environment around us can change.  I like what Thomas Armstrong wrote in the article, "First Discover Their Strengths" (Educational Leadership, 2012).  He wrote about creating "positive niche construction" and finding environments in which students can thrive. "Animals in nature do this all the time.  Beavers build dams.  Bees creative hives.  Spiders spin webs.  Birds build nests."  All of these creatures are building upon their strengths and creating their own version of a "least restrictive environment."  Focusing on the positive is contagious!

I heard a phrase recently that I am going to start using:  "Become a noticer of the good!"  It seems like such a slippery slope when getting caught up in the negativity of daily life.  Why is the path to positivity such a steep uphill climb?  The more and more we focus on the positives and be a "noticer of the good" in situations and in others, the easier the climb becomes.  There are individual benefits to becoming a "noticer of the good!"  Research shows that focusing on positivity and on your strengths is better for your physical and emotional health.  It boosts creativity, improves relationships with others, helps you tackle difficult situations, and assists in achieving your goals.  To me, this is a win-win!  Focusing on strengths in our students and others reflects back positively in our own lives.  

   

The POWER of SHOWING UP!

In California, our teachers go through a program called Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Induction.  BTSA is system of support and professional growth that our teachers with preliminary credential go through to obtain a California Clear credential.  At the end of the year, all of the teachers participating in BTSA throughout the year come together for the BTSA Colloquium.  It is always an honor to congratulate and share a few words with our beginning teachers.  Each year, I am told by the director, "Thank you SO much for coming!  It means so much to have you and other administrators here."

Which brings me to the story I shared with the group this year.  When I was announced as the next superintendent of FSUSD, I was congratulated by a long-time fantastic clerical employee who works in the central office.  After her kind words, she said, "I don't know if you remember, but you were my son's teacher."  I was embarrassed to say that I didn't remember that.  She went on to tell me (which was so kind of her) that I was her son's favorite teacher and that he loved school that year.  She shared the story of how I had promised to come to one of her son's baseball games.  She told me, "I kept telling Ryan that I wasn't sure his teacher was going to be able to attend.  Teachers are so busy.  I didn't want Ryan to be disappointed."  I said to her, "Please, dear God, tell me I showed up!"  She exclaimed, "You did!  And it is what he remembers about you."  Little did I know that showing up to a baseball game would view me in a positive light decades later.

This story got me thinking about the importance of showing up.  It is so fun to see students perform, especially young students, and watch them wave enthusiastically to those whom they recognize in the crowd.  Students remember when their teachers and administrators attend events or are visible on campus or in the classrooms.  In fact, one of the biggest concerns I hear from teachers and parents involves administrators not being visible.

Everyone has a busy life and perhaps other obligations that don't involve attending students' extra curricular activities.  Nevertheless, everyone can still show up for these students in class, every day at school.  Being present and acknowledging our kids is so important.

I love the African Zulu greeting, sawubona.  This greeting means more than "hello."  Sawubona means, "I see you."  This traditional greeting says, "I see your personality.  I see your humanity.  I see your dignity and respect." In an article written by Glen Pearson in 2011, the author shared another important word, ngikhona.  This reply means, "I am here."  This word tells the observer that you feel you have been seen and understood and that your personal dignity has been recognized.

May all of us see others and feel as if we've been seen!  Show up and ENJOY!

What Students Remember...

Once a month, our Governing Board recognizes students from our various school sites.  A board member reads a glowing review about the student and shares all of the student's fine qualities that are deserving of this prestigious award.  The students are  provided an opportunity to address the community after receiving this honor.  Most often than not, the students express their thanks and gratitude for a teacher or  teachers in their lives who have made a positive difference.  They describe these teachers as kind, funny, and supportive.  The teachers who are called out are said to believe in students even when they don't believe in themselves.  Teachers are often given credit for influencing a student's career choice.  Last evening, one of our students, a graduating senior, thanked a person she called an inspiring woman.  This was her fifth grade teacher.  "I can never forget her kindness and dedication to making sure each student in her class excelled, not just academically, but in our own personal confidence so that we need not hesitate for chasing our dreams."  This student was so impressed with the help and support that she received from her teachers throughout her schooling that she has chosen to attend college and one day become a teacher herself.  

I am reminded of Maya Angelou who is quoted as saying, "People don't remember what you said.  They don't remember what you did.  They remember how you made them feel."  In my opinion, this is partially true.  I do believe that people remember what you did and some things that you say.  I believe the actions and the words may influence how you feel.  

For my South Dakota friends, you can share in the memory of our first day of 7th grade entering our English class.  The teacher slammed down his fist on the desk and yelled, "I hate 7th graders!"  I am sure he went on to say that he didn't like 7th graders because they were the newbies to middle school.  (We had a 7th - 9th grade middle school.)  He probably expressed how much we had to learn in switching classes and staying organized.  He might even had said how smart we'd be by the end of the year and how much we will have learned.  My classmates were probably not shocked by this speech as this teacher had taught for a number of years in this small middle school.  Many of my classmates had siblings who had heard this first day of 7th grade tirade. I was, however, new to the school.  I hadn't developed a network of friends.  I had no idea who these teachers were.  I was so scared.  Throughout my elementary grades, I love school!  I loved all of my teachers and knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.

I took this teacher at his word.  He hated me.  Every day, I dreaded going to this teacher's class.  For the first time in my life, I received a D- on a report card.  I cried and begged my parents to move back to our old town.  My mom finally stepped in and had a conference with the teacher.  The teacher tried to explain to me it was his way of establishing classroom control.  My perception changed very little in regards to this teacher that year.

Twenty some years after my 7th grade experience, my niece entered the same class with the same teacher.  She laughed as she told me about the teacher's "I hate 7th graders speech."  She said, "I just love that teacher.  He is so funny!"  This teacher became one of her favorite teachers.  My niece now teaches English at the middle school level.

So, what made the difference?  I often think about this situation.  Why does one parent sing praises for a teacher that another parent despises? Why does one student say, "I love that teacher!" and another student describe the same teacher as the worst teacher ever?

I believe it comes down to this.  We are all different.  We are all in different places.  As a 7th grader, I was the kid feeling lonely and insecure in this new setting.  My niece was a confident 7th grader with strong friendships and background information on her future teachers.  So, how do we level the playing field.  I believe it comes down to kindness and compassion.  I have often heard people give advice to new teachers, "Don't let the students see you smile until after winter break."  I am in TOTAL disagreement.  Showing and modeling kindness every day to each and every student will make the difference between a student loving school and hating school.  Let's all take the pledge!

We don't get to choose into which family we are born!

I was lucky to be born into my crazy family.  Sure, everyone has issues that stem back into childhood, but overall, I believe I am one of the fortunate ones.  My mom and dad stayed married so I didn't have to deal with divorced parents.  Neither of my parents smoked or drank, so I didn't have to deal with substance abuse.  Both of my parents were college graduates, so I grew up in a college-going culture.  My dad was a minister, so I developed a strong faith.  My mom was a teacher, so I grew up valuing education.  Both my parents were hard workers, so I grew up with a strong work ethic.  I have four brothers and one sister, so I grew up in a very social atmosphere.  Yes, I was one of the lucky ones.

Some of us, aren't as fortunate as others.  Some of us are born into families where the adults are overwhelmed, absent, addicted, or defeated.  So, now what?  

Fairfield-Suisun Unified is doing a great deal of work in becoming trauma informed so we can better respond to the needs of our students.  Traumatic experiences in childhood can impact learning, behavior, and relationships at school.  Students who experience trauma are often unable to self-regulate their attention, emotions, and behavior.  Trauma may undermine the development of language and communication skills and can interfere with the ability to organize or remember new information.  Trauma impacts children's ability to cope with the problems of everyday life.

In the article, "How to Help a Traumatized Child in the Classroom" by Joyce Dorado and Vicki Zakrzewski, the authors provide educators with strategies in dealing with students who have experienced complex trauma:

1. Recognize that a child is going into survival mode and respond in a kind, compassionate way.
2. Create calm, predictable transitions.
3. Praise publicly and criticize privately.
4. Adapt your classroom's mindfulness practice.
5. Take care of yourself.

Remember, we may be the only stable adult in this child's life.

This past week, I met with our Chief of Probation who works closely with the students who are incarcerated into Juvenile Hall.  He told me the story of a young man who was in the Hall for quite some time.  During his incarceration, it was discovered that he had cancer.  He was released to his grandmother's care, as his mother and father were not in the picture.  The student, without the structure that was provided in Juvenile Hall, ended up making a bad decision and was expelled from school.  He is now 18 years old and awaiting sentencing.  The Chief told me about his recent visit to this young man's home.  "Man, it sucked.  That poor kid.  He didn't choose this life or this family.  The cancer has spread, and he now weighs only about 80 lbs.  He can barely talk.  I told him, 'Hey, I hope you don't mind if I just sit here for awhile and spend some time with you.'"  The Chief shared with me, from his perspective, how important and how influential an educator's job is.  He explained how school, for many of these kids, is the only prosocial behavior exposure these kids get. Prosocial behavior is social behavior that benefits other people in society as a whole.  In school, students are exposed to prosocial behavior such as following rules, helping, cooperating, taking turns, and volunteering.  He stated, "When kids get excluded from school, all that is left for them is to learn the antisocial behavior that gets them into a life of trouble."  He reminded me of the quote by Fredrick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

When I became a teacher, I recall students inadvertently calling me "mom" instead of Ms. Corey.  The student would get so embarrassed and the other kids would laugh.  I loved it because I thought that in some way I was showing them how much I cared so they felt comfortable enough to make that mistake.  I know I wasn't always the most patient of teachers, but my hope is that they knew I cared.  Here's to building strong children together.  Let's all be the best "moms" that we can to the children who may not even be our own!

Living in the PRESENT!

Today I met with my two AMAZING administrative assistants, Linda and Martha.  We were going through the calendar, and I expressed my frustration with how quickly time was moving.  In our jobs, it always seems we are living in the future.  We are planning for a future board meeting, ensuring attendance at future events, communicating with others regarding future plans.  As we sat together planning, we shared some laughs, told some stories, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was at that moment that I realized, we were living in the present and only just planning for the future!

I am a reader.  I love stretching my brain by reading books.  Currently, I am reading the book, Presence;  Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy.  Throughout this book, the author writes about the importance of being present, living in the moment, taking up space, or showing up.  It is amazing how the brain changes and our future changes when we live in the present.  I especially enjoyed the section on "showing up."  Many times I have mentioned that often times we get credit for things just by showing up.  In particular, the author spoke about the importance of showing up in times of crisis, trauma, or sadness.  I couldn't help think about my dogs, Peetie and Bella.  I love them so dearly, and they epitomize living in the present and showing up.  No matter when I come home, they are there to happily greet me as if I am a long lost friend finally home from a month long journey.  Whenever I am feeling down or discouraged, they snuggle up to me and provide me comfort just by being there.  One section of the book reminded me of my friend and colleague, David Isom.  "Sometimes we express ourselves most eloquently by not expressing anything--by allowing our presence, unexplained and unembellished, to speak for itself."  It is called the Ministry of Presence.  How many times do we find ourselves in a present situation expressing desire for something better in the future?  By just being there, we embrace our present to make our futures different and brighter.

This past week, I had the wonderful opportunity of spending  lunch time with a student whom I met a few weeks ago when visiting an elementary school.  The student and I connected somehow by sharing maggot stories.  I was so excited to bring him a present which was the book written by Camilla de la Bedoyere entitled, Would You Rather Dine with a Dung Beetle or Lunch with a Maggot?  I had other books about snakes, insects, and scary animals to bring him.  I had found some plastic insects that I taped all over the gift wrapped books.  We had a delightful time reading books, sharing stories, and learning interesting facts that we never knew.  I realized that I received the best present that day....enjoying the present.  

The best part about living in the present is having wonderful past memories!  Wishing you a wonderful present which will pave the way for fond memories and a bright future.  ENJOY!

What we give makes all the difference!

Thanks to Sticks and Steel, a unique store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I have this wonderful sign hanging in my office window:

I reflect on this daily.  I know I am able to pay my bills, put gas in my car, and purchase new things by what I "get" at the end of each month in the way of a pay check.  My life, however, is enriched by what I am able to give.  In some ways, giving and getting are an infinity loop.  I have often found that what I give is often weak in comparison to what I get back in return.  

A major "infinity loop" I experience in my job deals with positive thinking.  I notice how those employees who have a positive vibe tend to have classrooms filled with positive students, work with positive colleagues, and enjoy their professional and personal life. Those departments with a positive outlook are filled with laughter and employees who love coming to work each day. 

There is plenty of research to support the power of positive thinking.  According to positive psychology researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, positive thought can creative real value in your life and help build long-lasting skills.  When one views things positively, emotions broaden one's sense of possibility and opens one's mind to options.  Positivity promotes exploration and creativity allowing people to broaden and build their future.  Fredrickson's research on negativity indicates that it inhibits future growth.  With negativity, the is a focus on immediate threat and danger rather than on developing valuable skills and appreciating the big picture of life.

Author James Clear writes, "To put it simply: seek joy, play often, and pursue adventure.Your brain will do the rest."  

I believe that children at a young age understand this!  They give freely of affection.  They give freely of emotion.  They give in to wonder, excitement, dancing, and singing.  That is life! 

Despite the negativity that tries to infiltrate my life on a daily basis, I am choosing positivity. I choose to give it each and every single day.  That's what I call "making a life!"

Connecting...one student at a time!

What I miss most about being a teacher or a site administrator is the daily connection with kids.  I loved building relationships with students and having conversations with them.  They are so funny and insightful.  When I visit school sites in our district, I inevitably get sidetracked talking to a student.  This week, I had two encounters that made my week and yet caused me to worry.

When I walked into the resource room, I noticed one student sitting alone by himself in the back of the room.  He had a packet of worksheets in front of him.  He sat for at least ten minutes doing absolutely nothing except pick at his fingers.  I sat down beside him and first started discussing the work he was to complete.  We did a few pages together and somehow got on the topic of maggots.  I really don't know how it happened, but the next thing I knew, we were sharing our maggot stories.  We grossed each other out and then got on the topic of black widow spiders.  This student's demeanor changed dramatically.  He smiled, laughed, and couldn't wait to tell me other experiences with gross insects and how much he despises them.  I saw his intelligence, his humor, and his compassion.  After we left the classroom, the principal shared that the student rarely talks with anyone and is significantly depressed with extreme anxiety. My heart filled with worry.  Will there be an adult who will make sure this child gets a "warm handoff" as he moved through the grade levels?

My next encounter was with a fourth grade student who told me he wanted to be a scientist.  We got on the subject of rockets.  He knew about Elon Musk and the goal of getting to Mars.  He knew all about the Tesla and talked about the likelihood of developing a hover car.  He talked about his career goals and how he can't decide if he should find a cure for cancer first or if he should work on developing a system where people could live above ground on Mars.  He believed by developing a contained atmospheric sphere in which people who live and grow plants to produce the necessary oxygen, that it was possible.  I asked him about his interest in robotics and suggested he get involved at the middle school level.  (One of our middle schools is sending two teams to the World Vex Competition!)  He knew of the school and said, "No, I can't go to that school.  I don't know where I will go to middle school.  I know people will make fun of me so I need to go some place where I won't get picked on so much.  I am different, you know."   In a few brief minutes, this student showed me his brilliance and passion.  He shared his dreams that include making the world a better place.  This student and his siblings live with his grandparents.  Again, my heart filled with worry.

One of the reasons I feel so strongly about having a strong public education system is that our future depends on it.  I do believe what we do makes a life or death difference.  Our schools need to be filled with compassionate individuals who respond to the anxious, depressed student and the "different" kids.

This morning, I participated in a professional development with superintendents in neighboring districts.  One of the topics was on "Socially Just" schools.  "Social justice is defined as promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.  It exists when all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights, and a fair allocation of community resources." "Social justice is generally equated with the notion of equality or equal opportunity in society."  "A social justice framework is a way to seeing and acting aimed at resisting unfairness and inequity while enhancing freedom and possibility for all.  It pays primary attention to how people and institutions may be used to liberate rather than oppress those least served by our decision making."  (References from Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University; Sensoy, O. & DiAngelo, R; Toowoomba Catholic Education.)

Let's continue, as public educators and members of the greater community to be inclusive. Let's continue to promote the dreams of our youth and value all of them as integral members of our society and future!

The IMPORTANCE of Language!

I believe I was in my early twenties before I flew in an airplane.  Growing up, the traveling we did was in a blue Chevy station wagon.  We drove to Minnesota from South Dakota and stayed with relatives for family events.  I recall as a child being so impressed that we crossed the Wyoming border on a visit to the Black Hills.  I believe that the lack of traveling I did as a child, combined with the large quantity of books I read about exciting foreign places, contributed to my passion for travel.

My most recent trip was visiting Panama.  My mom, who also had the travel bug in her later years, was planning a tour of Panama when she died unexpectedly at the age of 82.  This trip had special significance because of my mom.  Everyone should see the amazing Panama Canal.  I marveled at this engineering feat that was opened over 100 years ago.

So, why is the title of this blog about language?  I have visited many countries throughout the world.  No matter where I landed, I was able to find English speakers and quickly connect.  The places I stayed in Panama were not necessarily staffed with English speakers.  The restaurants I visited were places where English wasn't spoken or understood.  First, I cursed myself many, many times for not learning Spanish.  Then, I would try and communicate using the few words I knew or point and use hand gestures.  One day, I booked an all day tour.  The small boat accommodated fifteen people, After the tour started, I realized none of my boat mates spoke English.  As we toured the Caribbean waters of Bocas del Torro, I listened and was able to understand much of what people were saying.  My expressive language, however, is so poor I didn't even try to say anything. I was so self-conscious that I spent the day silent and alone.  Now, anyone who knows me understands that this must have been torture.  It was!  I kept thinking how I must have been perceived by the others.  I am sure I came across having poor social skills, pretty dull, and unintelligent.  I am certain these folks who were laughing and talking with each other saw me as a bore with no sense of humor.  How I wished that someone would have tried to speak with me even if their English wasn't that great so I could maybe speak to them with my poor Spanish!

I reflected greatly that day on the 3174 English learners that we have in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.  I empathize with them as they enter our schools trying to figure out what is going on and how to fit in.  I am inspired by the fact that they come to school every day and not only learn the language, but also work hard to learn the content.  I realized the importance of the many instructional strategies that are needed to assist our students in making connections.  I was so grateful for the pictures and gestures that people used to assist me in communicating.  Kudos to our students and families who readily navigate our system on a daily basis!  I recognize now, more than ever, the need for our district to lessen the language obstacles and barriers.

On a final note, my mom would have loved the story that the small urn carrying some of her ashes was almost confiscated at the Panama City airport.  I was unable to say, "Estas son las cenizas de mi madre."  Smiles and laughter are the universal language of all!

Am I complaining too much about complainers?

I had to laugh at myself the other evening when I was talking to a friend from back home.  I went on and on complaining about the various complaints I receive.  These complaints range anywhere from lost soccer balls on the roof of a building and a site's communication regarding a student council meeting to serious personnel complaints and safety concerns.  When my email inbox tends to be filled with complaints and concerns, it is sometimes difficult to focus on all of the positive things happening in our school district.  For that reason, I am listing ten positive things that I experienced this week:

1. Our community leaders have joined together to revitalize Faith PAC (Faith Partners and Community) with a focus on making lives better for the youth in our community.
2. An 8th grade student was working on creating a new video game at one of our middle schools.
3. Two of our students will be dancing with Justin Bieber this weekend.
4. One of our juniors in high school nearly broke a four minute mile by crossing the finish line at 4:14!
5. Students at one of our schools inquired as to when salads will return on the school lunch menu.  This prompted a future visit to to their class with our Director of Child Nutrition.
6. The parent advisory members provided input to our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
7. Hokki stools arrived and made many teachers and students very happy!
8. Students at our middle schools are using their chromebooks to enhance their learning.
9. I received emails from two teachers who have participated in recruitment trips.  This feedback was super positive--"I loved that experience!!! It was so exciting to meet potential teachers and hear about what they're learning in their teaching program.  I would love to do it again if the opportunity arises.  We really do have a strong and very contemporary school district so I was proud to represent it."
10. Everyone in Administrative Council actively participated in an LCAP exercise which deepened understanding and helped with strengthening a shared vision.

According to Elizabeth Scott, a stress management expert, there are many effective techniques that focus on the benefits of a positive outlook.  "Positive thinking brings great benefits, and a cheerful attitude can be contagious in a most enjoyable way.  A constant focus on the negative can obscure many of the joys of life, can dampen an attitude of gratitude, and can be experienced as an 'energy drain' to others."

What if, for one whole day, people could only utter positive comments or communicate with positivity?  I enjoyed reading about the Spread Positivity Campaign at spreadpositivity.org.  I loved their idea of hosting a Compliment Party.  The idea behind the event is to bring and emphasize the value of using an honest compliment as a way to make others feel good.  The party also emphasizes the importance of consciously acknowledging and thanking people who often get taken for granted.

So, in the spirit of the compliment party...

Thank you Joe for taking the concerns about the hand towel dispensers seriously and for holding high standards of cleanliness in our schools.

Thank you Chief Allio for your compassionate leadership of the Fairfield Police Department and for maintaining a positive focus regarding the youth in our community.

Thank you Ana for advocating for those who may not have a voice and ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Thank you Donna for your daily cheerful greeting of anyone and everyone who walks in our front door.

Thank you Todd for taking responsibility for your decisions that impact recess and lunch.

Thank you Maria for maintaining your focus on assisting a parent in need.

That felt GREAT!  It's true.  I feel healthier, less stressed, and more motivated...just three benefits of positive thinking.  Pass it on!

 

These Students ARE Included!

Often times, I think that our influence as public educators is subtle.  The influence seems gradual and expected.  It is difficult to pinpoint how important and impactful the educational team is because there are so many other influences in a child's life.

The following two stories are more than subtle as to the impact educators have on students' lives.  By including students and supporting them in their journey, lives are changed for the better.

The first is the story of a 7th grade student who was introduced to me by his principal, Martha Lacy.  Principal Lacy praised the student telling me how much he had grown academically.  She noted his fantastic attendance and how he comes to school ready to learn every day.  She proudly shared that this student would be participating in the Oregon college tour.  She acknowledged this student's hard work, growth, and effort.  After the student left, she said that up until this year, the student was many years behind in reading.  He missed over a third of his school year in the previous year.  His mother was incarcerated, and he was being raised by his great-grandfather.  She told me that what made the difference was his teacher and other staff members who believed in him, encouraged him, and supported him in building his confidence.  He was included  rather than excluded in school activities.  Rather than being punished or excluded for not completing assignments or turning in homework, he was supported academically so that he could be successful.  This student was not lost in the shuffle nor dismissed.  A life has been changed for the better.

The second story is of an inspirational young woman who has encountered many challenges.  She entered FSUSD in fourth grade not speaking English.  Despite physical challenges and not knowing the language, she was embraced at Anna Kyle Elementary School. The staff came together to ensure this child's success.  Our maintenance team went above and beyond to make certain that she had equal access to the entire facility.  When she was slated to go to a different middle school than her friends, we helped her family through the process of requesting open enrollment.  In middle school, she was embraced by the Grange Middle School staff and continued on the path of success.  While all of our Students of the Month are special, this young woman's story is extraordinary.  This recognition epitomized the impact that quality and caring educators have on students and their families.  Preparing for the recognition serves as an example of the fantastic team effort that happens in FSUSD.  Various departments worked together to ensure that this student could access the podium.  The special staircase was built by our outstanding maintenance department for this event.

Inspirational Student of the Month

Whenever I get discouraged with some of the issues we confront as public educators, I am provided with reminders like these two students. These serve as examples as to why we do what we do and how important the work is to everyone's future!

Are we including or excluding?

I was a kindergartner when I was hospitalized for pneumonia. I obviously didn’t know at the time the seriousness of my illness.  What I do remember was that I received so much attention!  My mom, who was usually very busy taking care of me and my five siblings, spent hours just with me.  She held my hand, read to me, and told stories.  My dad who worked long hours stopped by the hospital throughout the day to check in on me.  This small town hospital in the South Dakota had one room with a TV.  I was the special patient assigned to this room.  I recall my room being very busy with many people wanting to check in on me and also see what was on TV. I remember thinking that kindergarten must be closed since I was in the hospital.

After a couple of weeks, I was able to go back to kindergarten.  It was obviously an emotional day if I can still recall it decades later.  To my surprise, kindergarten had gone on without me!  My assigned desk had moved.  My buddy was assigned to another buddy.  The bulletin boards had changed.  Classroom art projects had been completed and displayed with my classmates’ names attached without me.  I felt lost and like an outsider.  As an adult, I look back on this memory and think, “Wow!  Five-year old Kristin was such a baby!”  On the other hand, to five-year old Kristin, this was a painful, emotional time when she felt lost and excluded.

I can’t help think about all of the students who come into our classrooms and feel lost and excluded. How often do our students enter our classrooms and feel overwhelmed by what has passed them by?  What about those student who join our classrooms and don’t understand the language?  How about those students who miss 10% or more of their school year?

Our students miss school for many reasons.  Whether it is a day of illness, a day missed for waking up late, or a day of suspension, schools keep moving forward without them.  It is difficult for educators to adjust and support students who miss school and simultaneously keep the rest of the class moving forward...but isn’t it our job to be inclusive?

I heard of an instance this past week in which a middle school student entered her classroom only to be told by the teacher to get out.  The student was told she didn’t belong in the class.  Apparently, the student had received an additional day of class suspension.  A teacher in California has a right to suspend students from class.  This suspension serves as a time-out or exclusion from class.  I often wonder if a class suspension, or exclusion, continues even after the student is allowed to come back to class.  Is the student welcomed back?  Is there an effort to use suspension as a means of corrective action or is it a form of punishment?

Being inclusive is so important.  Being inclusive combats bullying.  Finding ways to include everyone build friendships.  Making positive, inclusive relationships builds culture.  Everyone wants attention.  All students want to feel important and as if they matter.

Back to my kindergarten memory.  My teacher must have recognized that a child who misses two weeks of school would feel lost and anxious.  She asked me to share my story of the hospital with the class.  I became the hospital expert.  Suddenly, I was included and important.

I can't resist a CHALLENGE!

I'll take your 5...Challenge!

Here is my 1,2,3,4,5 Connected Educator Challenge thanks to Jeff Kubiak, principal of Cordelia Hills Elementary School. @principalkubiak

Jeff Kubiak challenged me to the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Connected Educator Challenge. I am so proud of his leadership and thank him for challenging me along with others to do what is in the best interest of kids!

1. What has been your ONE biggest struggle during this school year?

Wait, what? I only get ONE? As this is only my third year as superintendent, I consider myself very new. My first year I was blissfully ignorant. My second year, I knew what I didn't know. In my third year, I know what I don't know and now am trying to do something about that! My biggest struggle has been my calendar. I hate to even glance at the upcoming week for fear that I will hyperventilate the entire weekend because of the many upcoming events. The struggle with my calendar is that I am jumping from one meeting or event to the other with very little time between. I liken this to a teacher who has ten different preps in a day with no time to prepare and plan for those preps. Because of my calendar, I wonder how proactive I am able to be and how effective I am in regards to establishing systems. When I look at my calendar, I do ask myself, "Is there anything on this calendar that isn't important?" The answer to that question is always, "NO!" The other struggle pertaining to my calendar is that every event is planning for a future event. I find myself living in the future rather than the here and now. We are forever planning for the next Board meeting, the next school year, the next election. I do believe that as I mature in this position, I will be able to delegate more, empower others more, and become a bit more proactive. Thank goodness I have two AMAZING and WONDERFUL people monitoring my calendar and literally telling me where to go!

to Linda and Martha!

2. Share TWO accomplishments that you are proud of from this school year.

Wait, what?  Only TWO?  I am proud of so many things that our district has accomplished this year.  I am extremely proud of our facilities work and completing the Facilities Master Plan.  This was a huge process that involved many, many stakeholders in the community.  We have a ten year plan that is flexible, yet it outlines our district needs in regards to the facilities.  This plan will assist us in being more proactive in our decision making in regards to facilities.

My other accomplishment of which I am very proud is working with an amazing school board that has come together as a team.  At the end of June, one of my goals from the Board was to solidify our team by organizing a retreat and board professional development.  This was a very positive accomplishment which seemed to solidify our respect for one another and discuss roles and responsibilities.  What I appreciate most about this accomplishment is that I believe strong governance is key to making lives better for students.

3. What are THREE things you wish to accomplish before the end of the school year?

1. A HUGE CALL TO ACTION for educators in our district who really want to tackle some difficult issues and make our district vision become a reality. Our vision is this, "Fairfield-Suisun is a premier learning community that empowers each student to thrive in an ever-changing world." This is our VISION, unfortunately, this is not our reality. We have numbers of students who have no chance of graduating attending our high schools. We have numbers of students who continuously receive F grades. We have students who continue to be expelled and suspended from school. How are these behaviors empowering each student if we are excluding even one? One of the things I hope to accomplish is opening the door to a discussion surrounding equity and change in practices that are not beneficial for students.

2. Another major accomplishment would be if our district was successful in placing a General Obligation Bond on the ballot for voters to consider. The last bond passed was in 2002 and generated $100M for facilities. Thanks to some matching funds from the state, our district actually received over $200M. As a result, we were able to build a few new schools and complete some much needed modernization. However, the majority of our schools are between 25-68 years of age. Many of our schools have over twenty-fiver percent of their classrooms as portable buildings. We have some schools that do not have libraries. One of our middle schools has no indoor eating facility and no kitchen. Again, how is this meeting our vision of being premier? On February 25, our Governing Board will be considering a resolution for a General Obligation Bond on the June 2016 ballot.

3. My final accomplishment would be if I continued in my recent efforts to take care of myself. I am one of those people who has always loved to exercise. For years, I walked every single day, no matter what. I also took time to go to the gym, do yoga, or swim. Since becoming a superintendent, exercise went by the wayside. By the time I get home from work, the last thing I wanted to do was go work out. The couch and a mindless TV show became my best buddies. I have recently vowed that I need to commit to exercising once again. I don't need to feel guilty if I don't do something every day, but I need to at least exercise three times a week. I have my Fitbit charged and have taken on the 1M step challenge, 10K steps for 100 days!

Give FOUR reasons why you remain in 

education in today’s rough culture.

1. I believe with my heart and soul that public education is a right and is an extremely powerful mechanism to change this world for the better.

2. I LOVE learning myself and know that even the most challenging situations can change if an adult shows care and compassion to a student.

3. The students! The MAIN reason I ever chose education as a profession was because I so enjoyed being in the company of kids. They are so funny, smart, and insightful. I love visiting the schools and seeing how much they are learning. I especially enjoy hearing the success stories and the impact a teacher or an activity has had on the life of a student.

4. Educators are the funnel to the rest of the professions. I enjoy being around people who are excited and intense about improving the lives of our students and positively impacting our community and society. I enjoy hearing stories of compassion, challenge, excitement, imagination, collaboration, and LEARNING. Education is forever evolving. There is no ceiling so it always presents a challenge. And, as I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, I love a good challenge.

5. Which FIVE people do you hope will the take the challenge of answering these questions.

1.  Sheila McCabe. I have worked with Sheila for many years. She has a moral imperative like no other. She is essentially the ambassador of everything FSUSD!

2. Stacy Burke. She is one of the most creative, divergent thinkers on this planet. Her insight and compassion for kids has always been impressive. Plus, I would love to see her answers because I know they will make me laugh.

3. Marie Williams. Being in her second year as Director of Secondary Education comes with many challenges. I know her and know that she also loves a good challenge! I appreciate her tenacity and dedication to the cause!

4. Kristen Witt. Who says you need five years to turn a school around? Kristen's leadership is impressive and impactful. I want her to take the challenge because I know she will challenge others!

5. Kristen Cherry. She is also one who faces challenges head on and says YES to great ideas. I remember when we signed up on Twitter together. She is a spark that creates POSITIVE energy and change. Plus, she will also spread this challenge.