Overwhelmed

Today I am overwhelmed. We met with our AEA representative yesterday. She laid out all the things our team needs to be thinking about and working on over the next year. It's a big laundry list and it reaffirms that the work I'm trying to do is worthwhile and needed. Some of this work is easy-making sure the right tools get into the right hands so teachers can be effective. Some of the work is not so easy-supporting teachers so they can use the tools the right way and use them consistently, looking at data (which isn't bad but it certainly isn't good) and making decisions, knowing what teams to call together and how to find time for them to meet so they can accomplish goals, and helping those teachers who just can't see that change is needed. Luckily we have support from our AEA, from our superintendent, and from the principals. Most of our teachers seem willing to try new things in order to improve because it will be good for our students. I'm fortunate to work with a fantastic staff that works hard and cares about our kids. So although I feel like I have sunk to the bottom of the Coaching Waters, I'll slowly swim to the top gulp in a big mouthful of fresh air and dive back down into the waters. This is our time to make things better. This is our time to make a bigger difference than we have been. This is our time to go for the gold.

On a lighter note here are some things I have learned this week:
1. Bats like to hang out in the high school. Luckily we have a mighty maintenance staff that are versed at catch and release.
2. If you think you might need your umbrella...you do.
3. Be careful when taking the lasagna out of the oven because melted cheese is really hard to clean up when you drop the pan all over the oven door and the floor. It's also very slippery when you step in it and cats don't like to eat it.

1st Day Blues

If I was more of a musician I could have written a blues ditty yesterday entitled "First Day Blues". Now don't misunderstand me, I do not regret my decision to become an Instructional Coach. But I would be lying if I said, "No! I didn't miss the kids at all on the first day." When you are an elementary teacher you become a rock star to those little beings. You are one of the most important people in their lives.

But I did miss the kids. Sure I saw kids at the middle school that were former students and even got a few hugs. And I saw kids at the high school who wondered why I was in their building. But I didn't belong to anyone.

I am very glad I am taking this opportunity to be a coach and collaborate with teachers. I know it will be both challenging and rewarding. In fact today as I was walking through the hallways I heard teachers clearly connecting their lessons to a curriculum goal and starting to engage students. Next week we get rolling with our coaching sessions and then the real work begins. I feel ready.

BRING IT!!!

It was the night before school starts and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for me. It's quiet at my house but I haven't gone to bed yet. Usually I would be fretting about small things like:
Will I remember to run those copies?
Did I plan enough to keep the kids engaged and busy?
Do I have enough snacks?
Will this be a good year?
What about behaviors?

But this year I am coaching. This year I am able to help teachers in their classrooms to improve instruction which impacts student engagement and achievement. This is our time to make an improvement. This is our time to grow and learn. This is our time to make a difference.

So tomorrow starts 173 of days with the students of East Sac County. 173 days to be the best we can be.
One of the fears that the staff communicated to us is they weren't sure if they would be able to "bring it" every day for 173 days. And you know what-it will be hard. There will be some days that we are on our A game and able to bring it. There will be other days that our personal life gets in the way, students behaviors bring us down, or physical ailments interfere with our ability to bring it. But...if we continue to try to strive to "bring it" every day for every kid we will be in a better place than we were when we started.
The high school principal adopted the phrase and is using it as a motto for his building. So tomorrow teachers we get to Bring it! We get to open our classroom doors and share ourselves and our knowledge with the students of ESC. Aren't we the lucky ones?

Collaborating to Raise Student Achievement

Day 1 of PD: "It's our time" was the theme for the day. My team of coaches and I were leading the morning session. I was excited but calm. We went through our morning trying to inspire our staff to see our vision that change is a necessary tool for growth (maybe some saw it as a necessary evil). We rolled out our plan to the teachers for how we would coach, who we would coach, and what we would coach.
After lunch the teachers broke into their PLC (Professional Learning Communities) groups. It was amazing to listen to them laugh and work through protocols to collaborate and set up their group for further learning throughout the year. I am so blessed to work with such a great bunch of teachers who are willing to open themselves to learning.
At the end of the day I felt we are moving in the right direction and that the majority of teachers are open and willing to grow and learn. Yes there are fears and questions but we will work through them together.

Day 2: Today I got to work with the MS staff as they worked through learning on Performance Based Assessment. Again I was amazed at how willing they are to dig in and work hard at their understandings of assessments and how to use that knowledge to help our kids. Having always worked in education I wonder if other professions are as passionate about the clientele they serve. It truly is the passion for our students that drives this bunch of adults. I'm very excited to see how things change over the year and most importantly how our students grow in their learning because of this change.

Twas the Night Before PD

Tomorrow the teachers report for the first day back to school. Normally I would be thinking about what's the absolute last minute I can sleep until and still arrive to staff meetings on time. I would also be thinking about who I would sit by, where will we eat lunch, and other trivial matters. But this year it is different. This year I am in charge of delivering the first day of meetings along with my team of coaches. So there are other thoughts bumping around in my mind.

• Do our plans clearly explain our vision?
• Will the teachers be open and willing to listen?
• Is our presentation interesting enough to hold their attention?
• Will I get tongue-tied when I'm trying to talk?

I'm surprisingly calm tonight as I get ready to pack my bag for tomorrow. We've done the preparation, we have all the handouts made and ready to go, we've made the visuals, and I've looked over the presentation several times. Tomorrow starts a new year and a new adventure for me and the staff. I'm positive we can accomplish great things this year. We have great people and effective tools. 

This is our time to make a change for the thing that matters most...our students.

A New Beginning

It is mid-August in Iowa. The hot summer days are quickly coming to an end. I know it is almost time for school to start because I can hear the crickets singing outside. Usually this time of year I am frantically trying to get name tags on desks, unpack new supplies, decorate the outside of my second grade classroom, and enjoy my last few days of freedom. This year is different. This year, after 28 years in the classroom, I am transitioning into a full time instructional coaching position.

Many of my colleagues asked me whatever possessed me to even apply for this position. This is a chance for me to learn and grow. This is a chance for me to impact more than the 20 or so students sitting in my classroom. This is a chance to collaborate with other teachers in my district. This is a chance for a new challenge.

So as my elementary colleagues are arranging desks and creating bulletin boards I am finalizing professional development plans, putting the final touches on our presentation for the staff (with the help of my amazing team), and anxiously awaiting my chance to start coaching and collaborating with teachers to impact students. I'm not sure I have been this ready or excited to start a school year for a long time.