...to say the least!

...to say the least! 

This year has been an odd one to say the least. From remote learning to weather to changing safety protocols, you have all handled everything thrown at you with grace. I am so proud to be the principal of such a hardworking, flexible staff.

I have been on a few meetings recently that have changed my thinking. I forget how truly blessed we are to be in such a great district, on such a great campus, and work with such great educators. In a recent Zoom where they virtually toured our building, I answered questions about how “I get the teachers to be collaborative,” I thought to myself- “that is who we are.” We do not have to spend time convincing each other that collaboration is a positive piece of learning; we are spending time figuring out how to incorporate collaboration with the limitations we were under this year. This is not the case all over; we still have colleagues in the district that are not helping students learn how to work with and through each other. We believe in this principle and are growing students who can work in a group, lead a team, share ideas respectfully; we are not just helping them be successful students, but we are helping them be successful people.

I know many of us are really looking forward to next year; Donae and I are already working on plans, but I want to remind everyone of all the wonderful experiences you created for students this year. We may not have gotten to do everything we wanted to this year; but talk to your students, ask them, was this a good year? What was your favorite thing we did this year? What is something new we did that you think we need to keep doing each year? Our kids had a great year, they learned, gaps were closed, interests were peaked…and why? Because of YOU! You all refused to allow limitations to affect our kids. You refused to allow students to not get the best education you could possibly give them. It has been a great year and we are going to finish strong!

You are amazing! Do not forget the impact you have on people’s lives every day- an impact that lasts a lifetime. This year was no different in that aspect- You made a difference! 

I see you...

 I See You....

We have been back in the building a month now. The students are doing well, teachers are “killin it”, and our new normal is settling in to a routine. I am not going to sit here and say everything is sunshine and lollipops, because it is not. It is great being back with the kids, but it is really hard. 

I have gained such a new found respect for teachers; I have always respected you and have always been impressed with how amazing you are, but this year….you have raised the bar. You are all doing all the “regular” teacher stuff, the planning great lessons, differentiating for all your students, loving on your sweet kids, adding the “extra” to your class- because the kids love it; but this year… WOW!

I watch you talk to parents who are struggling with what school looks like this year. They can’t come into the building to drop their kids to the classroom, no lunch visitors, no family events; however, you are still working to help them see their kids in class and around the building so they can still feel a part of their child’s learning.

I see you working with that struggling student, who needs extra time with you to work on their skills. You work to arrange your room in order for students to social distance and still have reading spots, work with you in a small group (safely), and have flexibility in their seating.

I see you rewarding kids for going that extra mile, walking in line with social distancing, remembering that they can’t touch each other at recess, and for problem solving to a solution in class.

I see you exhausted at the end of the day. You have taught the core content, you have “policed” social distancing, gotten the kids to all the places they needed to be, helped friends through disagreements, went to planning or PLC and been an active participant, got your personal child to school/daycare, and all with a smile on your face.

I see you; so do others!

Educators are essential, not because the world is seeing all the hats we wear, but because we work with kids. We love what we do, as tired as it can make us, we are passionate about what we do, and we are proud of the work we do.

The First Day of School 2020

 

The First Day of School 2020

I walked the halls this morning at 5am, delivering my first day of school teacher notes, and the thought about how different today is than any other start of school hit me like a ton of bricks. It feels like the air has been let out of the building. This is typically the time of day I have butterflies- anticipating the best day of the year. It is the same feeling I get on Christmas morning- sitting, drinking coffee, waiting for kids to wake up excited. Usually I am running around excited, trying to get last minute things done before the quiet halls fill up with giggly sweet voices. Not today. These halls will remain quiet. The building is not open, school is, but the building is not. We in NISD believe that  “Learning is influenced by environment.” I truly believe this! We create inviting intentional spaces for students that cultivate learning; what happens when you cannot use the inviting intentional physical spaces you have created for your kids? You have to create that space digitally.

Teachers have been “punting” for years. Everyday issues arise that we had not expected or planned on happening- no one saw this coming. Even when we finished last year in May, everyone said it is fine, we will be back in August and it will be good. But it is not. We are not good; however, it will be fine. I have watched educators work to create learning experiences for students all summer. We have planned, tested, re-planned, tested, and planned again. We did not “sign up” for virtual teaching, there are teachers that do this- many are amazing at it! Most teachers love teaching for the interaction and relationships they build with students and families. We are huggers, we love deep and forever. Once you are in our heart, you stay. This is more difficult to develop through a computer screen.  This is a new rulebook we are playing by and unfortunately, it is constantly changing. I have never been more proud to be an educator than I am right now. The teachers I am working with are not complaining about their circumstances, they are working to ensure they can meet the needs of their kids virtually. They are not complaining that they are not experts in online tools, they are practicing the tools to make sure they know how to use them with their kids. They are doing what it takes to be the best teacher they can be for each student in their classroom.

There have been remarks made about the opening of schools being “unorganized” and “they have had all summer to make plans.” Please give teachers and educators some Grace, the rules change daily, we test out ideas to see if they will be good for kids, and we have to go with the information we have at that time- also a factor that constantly changes. We are determined to be the BEST we can for our students.

Have we done everything perfect? No. Have we done a few things very well? Yes. Will things change again? Yes. Do I know what the changes will be? No. I know everyone has questions and concerns about school opening and school not opening- that is not what today is about. Today is about the excitement of starting a new school year- regardless of what it looks like. School starts today, teachers have worked more hours than they typically do at this time of year (and that is A LOT) and students are excited to meet their classmates, so parents post those 1^st day of school pictures because today is going to be a great day!

 Amy