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Showing posts from 2017

We Must Evangelize Too

It's not enough to simply be proud of our Catholic institutions. Principals and Vice Principals must lead the way to preserve those very institutions that are threatened by an increasing view towards a more secular approach to education, that sees no value in integrating our very unique worldview into all that we do. Recently one of our very active councils has introduced ALPHA, a modern evangelization program, to our student body. Students were invited to sign up for weekly talks and table discussions and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised about the initial turnout. There are enough kids in our school who are contemplating big questions about our faith and its place in their lives. I was asked by this council to serve as a table host. Most VPs are pretty busy and I used to think that it was pretty much impossible to find the time to get involved in co-curricular activities of any kind but now I think that when it comes to those activities that are about safeguarding o

The Importance of BEING the Standard

For the next two days, I will be attending the Technology-Enabled Leading and Learning Conference. It's my first time attending and I'm leading a workshop on hyperdocs too! Essentially, this is an AMAZING PD and networking opportunity for administrators from all systems across the province and the focus couldn't be more relevant. Keynote speakers and breakout sessions are all centred on the latest pedagogical trends in technology integration. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity because as a leader, I feel strongly that administrators have to be the standard the expect for their teachers. As instructional leaders, we should be actively learning about these trends and making the pedagogical connections. When we model for our staff how to use these tools and dynamic methods of delivery and production, we inculcate a culture rooted in sound instructional practices and relevance. If we can demonstrate to staff that these new tools and methods can be meaningful and useful

A Little Shell-Shocked Sometimes

Is it possible to feel a loss of innocence as an adult? I don't think this is a conversation that is typically held, not about well-adjusted grown-ups with lots of education, a well-paying job and a stable home life. But is it possible that in our position as administrators, we experience trauma alongside our kids? As a teacher, I was really sheltered from what my administrators were dealing with on a daily basis. There very worse issue I had to deal with was perhaps a student swearing in class... I really had no clue what was going on behind those closed doors and well-beyond the hours of the school day. Now that I've been on the other side of the door for the last 5 years, I can tell you that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. It's not even as simple as dishing out detentions and suspensions on some days. Other days, which are not the majority I must emphasize, snowball into these "incidents" or "episodes" that just consume your days and some

#leadingistough

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

I WAS THERE!!! I was gifted the amazing opportunity to travel to Europe this spring with some staff and students from my school to commemorate the Vimy 100 celebrations. We travelled through France and did all the expected "touristy" things - Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame... We also paid our respects to fallen Canadian soldiers at a number of cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Before we left, we all researched the lives of soldiers buried in those cemeteries in order to make this experience more real. The kids made connections with real people and families whose lives were more immediately impacted by the tremendous sacrifice that was made for the sake of the freedom of Canadians in the generations that would come afterward. Next we passed through the Flanders, Ypres and Passchendaele in picturesque Belgium. A very interesting and "educational" few days were spent in Amsterdam, where students received a very warm welcome fr

13 Reasons to Reconsider...

I will admit that I was very concerned when I learned of the raging popularity over NetFlix's series 13 Reasons Why. Before even having watched a single minute of the show, I recall articulating how I felt it was so irresponsible to make such a show that kids so easily have access to. This is a difficult time to be in schools, where so many of our kids are hurting, are struggling with mental health issues and self-harm. Pop culture had just thrown yet another curve for those in the regular care of kids to deal with. Then my curiosity got the better of me. I watched the first episode and then another. By the time I was through my first sitting, I binged through the first 6 episodes and had it not been for the early hour of the morning, I might have continued. Don't misunderstand. My position hasn't completely changed. I feel a little less like a hypocrite now that I've actually watched the show. I don't have 13 brilliantly insightful observations, but I have a f

To Lead is to be Connected

The nature of leadership is changing. To be a leader is to be a learner and perhaps, the most vulnerable learner in the school. Being a connected leader involves taking risks in order to maximize influence in their schools, communities and beyond. For school leaders, it’s no longer a question of “are you connected?” but rather “just how connected are you?”   Connected leaders need to be engaged in active learning. This could be as simple as building a PLN (Professional Learning Network) on Twitter and connecting with other leaders in various systems and sharing in their learning experiences. It could also mean attending professional learning opportunities provided by the school board. “The Tech-Enabled Administrator” was a professional learning series that has been offered in our board since 2014 where school leaders lead professional learning sessions for other school leaders. An administrator sharing their learning with other administrators is a powerful strategy. It’s one thin

Making Staff Meetings Flippin' Great!

I loathed going to staff meetings. I know that most people do. If you Google "staff meeting memes" the shared sentiments are a-plenty. These are a few of my favourites: I get it it. Educators are professionals and can read informational items for themselves so this year, being new to the school I asked my principal for permission to "flip" staff meetings. The "minutes" are distributed in advance of the meeting so that staff have the time to read the pertinent information before the meeting. The agenda consists of two items: clarification of any of the information items and a topic of discussion. The topic is one that affects everyone in some capacity. At one of our meetings, as an introduction to the topic of discussion, we had a teacher demonstrate some effective differentiated assessment strategies. This was well-received, I think, because teachers sharing with other teachers shows practicality and feasibility in a real context. I&#

Sharing The Hub!

Last week I was given the opportunity to share with the vice principals of my school board a couple of projects I took on this year, thanks to the wonderful work and ideas of Brent Coley (see earlier post).  This year I create a Staff and Student Hub - "digital drive-thrus" if you will - one-stop-shops for all information items that can be accessed anytime, from any internet accessible device. The Staff Hub essentially replaces every paper memo that was ever once issued, but no longer is. It also houses a series of online resources and links, making this an interactive document.  There has been a very positive response from staff because they can access information when they need it. Staff have also been very forthcoming with the fact that they have read MORE simply because of the digital format. Staff have also expressed appreciation of the fact that The Hub is live and always up-to-date and have liked having their input and feedback shape the look and function of this f

My Love-Hate Relationships with Cellphones

I am a HUGE proponent for the integration of technology into the learning environment. I am not however a fan of how much of my day gets completely consumed by the drama that is caused when kids abuse their cellphones. The volume of cases seem to increasing and it can become overwhelming. Stories are difficult to corroborate/substantiate. It's very grey, very fuzzy... Sometimes I feel like we've been talking to brick walls over the last number of years. Kids don't seem to be getting the messages we have been sending about the consequences that certain choices yield, not to mention how inhumane it is to troll and spam each other, distribute inappropriate photos, engage in group chats aimed to malign the reputation of another - the list goes on and on. These incidents take place off school property, separate from the school day and administrators are being made to deal with the fallout. I strongly believe that this is an issue that goes beyond school. So... between the in

No New Years Resolutions For Me...

Been there. Done that. Never good with the follow through... I've decided that in place of a New Year's Resolution, I would select a single word that would guide my decision-making and the investment of my energy. This year, I'm choosing PRIORITIES. It's my attempt at keeping perspective of the "big picture", what matters most - making progress, not excuses. It's too easy in this role to become consumed by so many issues, especially those that are beyond one's control, that are less important but can easily take up huge amounts of time, depending on how one approaches certain circumstances. What are my priorities? My family. My health. My work. And in that order respectively. I am an overachiever by nature and with a little one who depends on me and with whom I love spending time, I will not forfeit what precious time remains in a day so I will continue the practice of not bringing any work home - that's right, NONE. I often forget to eat break