2007 is over

What a year. So many things have happened both personally and professionally, it's hard to think about them all, let alone list them here in this blog. That said, there are some things I am really thankful for, and with this the holiday season, it's good to reflect back.

Most notable in my thankfulnesses is the staff both at Outlook and through Sunnyside. I came from a very supportive staff, and a community I knew and loved. I didn't think about how important that was until I left. I figured replacing that kind of relationship would be difficult.

I've been pleasantly surprised.

The staff I have the privilege of working with are caring individuals and ones that work hard and believe that kids can learn. I'm blessed to work for a leader who has vision and a commitment and compassion to do what is best, and who isn't afraid to take chances. I am so thankful for my fellow principal colleagues as well who work together to solve tough situations while still keeping a good sense of humor and who want the best for kids.

So here it is, Christmas night. I'm blogging on my daughter's bed as she colors with her new crayons she got from Santa.

We are so blessed. Merry Christmas!

Beating the Odds and Man's Meaning

It's been a very long time since I read, Victor Frankl's monumental book, Man's Search For Meaning. Though I'm almost half way through it, very few books have affected me as profoundly as this one. (Covey's Seven Habits is #1) As I walked through the halls today, I was thankful for all the good that I see people doing. I can't imagine having to live through what Victor had to.

Another piece I'm very excited to begin reading is a piece put out by the Department of Education in Arizona entitled, BEAT THE ODDS...Why some schools with Latino children beat the odds and others don't. This is part of Jim Collins' legacy of Good to Great, transposed into an educational setting. Fascinating stuff. Though I've just glanced over this, I know it's going to yield some insights as to what works and what doesn't in education.

Missing...

I love technology. The access to information and forms of communication that we, and especially younger people have access to, is amazing. I was just gmail chatting with a former student from a few years back and was able to catch up on how well his family was doing and how he was doing in school, even though now hundreds of miles separate us.

There are many benefits to being the building principal. I get a chance to see a variety of teaching practices and strategies, but one thing the principal side doesn't give you, and teaching does, is that wonderful relationship and culture that your classroom gives you. The deep relationships to families and students you establish on a day in, day out basis is something I miss deeply, which I felt after chatting with one of my fellow students.

The teaching profession, for all of its challenges, still, in my mind, is the greatest of professions because you get to interact with the future while in the present. When I reflect back on my life (in all of my 35+ years ;) I ask myself this question: What would I be without Ms. Anderson, who, in third grade, listened to my poems, however obscure. Or Mr. Ross, who always teased me (in a good way) during reading groups. Conversely, what would I be if I hadn't had Mr. Heinz, the most boring 5th teacher ever? All of these people, both high performing and sub-par have shaped me and added to me and made me what I am today. What a responsibility educators have.

What a responsibility!