tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63146806388374123772024-03-05T07:58:35.372-08:00ISU Ed. LeadershopA Marketplace of Deep Thinking for Educational LeadersDr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-58214387948073013122016-12-21T04:53:00.003-08:002017-01-03T07:47:02.001-08:00Our Collection of Leadership "Reads"Thank you for visiting the ISU Ed. Leadershop. For a handful of years, we have collected and catalogued great articles (five-minute "reads") from current and former educational leaders, with the intent that they would be helpful and interesting to leaders and their teams. We hope you will browse our collection and enjoy what we have to offer. Please do not hesitate to let us know what you think of our articles, by contacting us at ryan.donlan@indstate.edu. Again, we appreciate your visiting, and YOU, for all you do.Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-60112233946204420092016-10-26T02:54:00.002-07:002016-10-26T02:57:27.567-07:00What's Your Story?<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What’s Your Story?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Dr. E. Scott England</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">North Side Elementary
School</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fairfield, Illinois</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This past July I was
fortunate enough to attend the inaugural Aspiring Superintendent Academy hosted
by the Illinois Association for School Administrators (IASA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though 41 of the 42 participants hailed from
Illinois, we did have one aspiring superintendent join us from Maryland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Throughout the week-long
academy, we got to experience what it is like running a school through the “big
seat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simulations, mock press
conferences, and budgeting scenarios are just a few examples of our
activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The academy was run by
two rock star superintendents who put the “Super” in superintendent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Nick Polyak and Dr. Mike Lubelfeld
exemplify what meaningful teaching and learning is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every activity they created involved
hands-on, collaboration, and a short time frame to accomplish the
activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, creating a
learning experience that best mirrors what real-life is like in education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They also brought in
guest speakers every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speakers
ranged from superintendents from northern, central, and southern Illinois,
superintendents from other states, the CEO from the EdTechTeam, and even a
state representative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did legal
scenarios with the help of lawyers from a law firm specializing in education
law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, even with all the activities
and guests, one thing I took away from my amazing week in Springfield was this:
Everyone has a story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At first glance, one
might brush it aside as if everyone already knows this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of course we have a
story, big deal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh but it is so much
more than that though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our story has
directed our career to where we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or is forming the path for where we want to go in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think about a biography
you have read on someone famous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any
biography would illustrate my point, but for sake of having an example, I’m
going to select <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Open: An Autobiography</i>
about renowned tennis player Andre Agassi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just hearing his name,
most could make the argument that he was one of the greatest male tennis
players in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as Agassi tells
his story, you begin to see a deeper picture of a man who struggled with fame,
was often unhappy off the court, and became so depressed that he resorted to
drugs just to fight the inner demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You also read of how he
overcame these low points in his career to build the name that we all
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How he overcame a failed first
marriage to find solace with his wife of now 15 years, former tennis player
Steffi Graf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What you find in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Open</i> is Agassi’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And we all have one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am not just a
principal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was a student who
struggled in high school and was recommended not to look toward the college
path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A student who completed his
Associate’s at an area community college, but couldn’t find success at a
four-year university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A student who began to
believe that some of the folks at his high school were right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was a factory worker
who experienced what long hours really were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A worker who was almost happy but felt a void.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A person who knew more was out there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was a man who found
his wife; who started a family; who began to watch his son grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a former college student who wanted to
be a high school English teacher, but now someone who thought maybe, just
maybe, that elementary teaching was his calling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was an untraditional
college student, returning after taking close to seven years off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now a student who was finding successes
in his studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was a student teacher
that had the unbelievable opportunity of having my own first grade teacher as
my cooperating teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same teacher
that made me want to go into teaching in the first place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I took over my first
classroom two days after I completed student teaching (which in and of itself
is remarkable that a school would go through so much trouble to even hire me
like that).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I eventually became a
first grade teacher in my home district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Taking over the classroom that I not only student taught in, but remember
who occupied the room before me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took over for my teaching
idol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While teaching first
grade, I completed my Master’s, my Specialist’s, and became A.B.D. in my
doctoral program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I also missed out on
what I thought was my dream job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Turns out, the best
thing that could have ever happened to me was being turned down for that
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because that is how my family and I
found our new town and new school district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And that’s where my
story has brought me today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting
behind a principal’s desk overseeing a phenomenal faculty and staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My diploma proudly displaying my Ph.D. on the
wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A long way removed from that
lackadaisical high school student who was told college may not be my cup of
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As it turns out, maybe I
just needed the help of different co-authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dr. Polyak and Dr. Lubelfeld served as co-authors to my story for one
week back in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They taught me to
look for my story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">______________________________________________________
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Scott England is an amazing school leader
whose humility outdistances his incredible intelligence and contribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We at the Leadershop recommend your getting
to know him well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to
talk further, please feel free to contact Dr. England at [</span><a href="mailto:sengland@fairfieldcolts.com"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">sengland@fairfieldcolts.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">]. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-26111424148454213252016-09-27T09:58:00.001-07:002016-09-27T09:58:09.768-07:00Treasure Hunt
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Treasure
Hunt</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Dr. Donovan Garletts</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principal</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notre
Dame Catholic School</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michigan
City, Indiana</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As educators it is our duty to seek out
empirical data to drive the decision-making process. As an academic authoring
this piece, the same responsibility is present, but the foundation here is
meant to drive thinking, encourage research, and to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">plant the seed,</i> per se.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is vital you understand this distinction as a
reader before you proceed. Let this serve as a disclaimer – that I neither
support nor reject the information contained herein, but rather wish to share
as a mini “think tank.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the last several decades, the States have
been inundated with Federal Education Reform and corresponding mandates. The
power and authority of individual, state-level Departments of Education have
been stripped in a sense. Much of the decision-making is done for the states
through Federal intervention at an unprecedented level. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be it assessment, curriculum, programs, or a
variety of other instances, the Federal government has tried to unify America’s
educational system in a way that has not necessarily worked out. The most
recent intervention, the reauthorization of ESEA (Elementary and Secondary
Education Act) under the new name of ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), has
supplanted NCLB (No Child Left Behind), but we are yet to see the results
because of the nature of its infancy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That said, we have slowly seen our country fall
behind other countries in various assessed subjects, and it has been noted we
are no longer producing our own “world-renowned” physicists, scientists,
doctors, etc., but rather hiring them from abroad. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All of this leads us to scratch our heads in an
attempt to answer the lingering question of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why?”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps the most talked about (and controversial)
areas of education as of late are curriculum (Common Core State Standards),
development of the whole child (Rigorous Homework vs. Family Time), and
technology (1-to-1 Technology, Learning Management Systems, etc.). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Below are summaries of informative, yet
provocative, articles that I hope will start an extended conversation at the
building level. The articles in full are cited below for your viewing pleasure.
We must continually evolve, transform, and engage in the teaching and learning
process. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Educational System of
Finland</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finland has long been touted as one of the top
educational systems in the world. The basic philosophy is to let children be children
and learn through play, exploration, and the inquisitive nature of young minds.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No formal school starts until age seven and
proceeds until the equivalent of our ninth grade. Upon the successful
completion of the nine obligatory years, students and families have the choice
to attend traditional secondary for three years (university prep), vocational
school, or enter the workforce. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During the formal primary and intermediate
educational years, most students do not start school until 9:00 a.m., citing
consistent research on pupils and sleep needs, and end before 3:00 p.m. The
short school day is intended to allow more preparation time for teachers
outside of the normal school day, while intensifying the day for students. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finnish students rarely receive homework, and
neither students nor instructors are subjected to the same high-stakes testing
we see in America. Testing certainly still exists, but it does not carry the
same power of persuasion as it does here with regard to student achievement, funding,
and jobs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To put simply, Finland goes against the grain
when speaking of education with a truly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">less-as-more</i>
attitude. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dinner or Homework?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you have Internet access you have likely seen
the “New Homework Policy” note that has gone viral. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The idea is becoming an unavoidable conversation
between parents and educators, but it is not new. In fact, entire school
districts have gone to a no homework policy as early as 2014. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is driving this relatively innovative
education idea? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Could it be a domino effect of high-stakes
testing? One that creates instructors so concerned about tests they inundate
students with enough daily work to last them a month then parents become so fed
up with the amount of homework their children are assigned they search for a
“better way?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proponents of the no homework philosophy cite
“mounds” of research that point to no quantifiable improvement of student
achievement between students with or without homework, but I have yet to see
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is likely just too subjective to prove. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That said, there is major substance and evidence
linked to the importance of social growth and extracurricular educational
opportunities. Both of which would be more accessible in a no-homework world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Technical Difficulties</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The idea that technology could potentially be
hindering our students is not something most educators are willing to back.
Perhaps we have simply been programmed to think otherwise. After all, any and
all governmental entities, accrediting agencies, and even textbook companies
are pushing technology as the only way to increase student achievement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Should technology be more a common sense
application than a mandated educational structure? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Take the time to Google “Waldorf Schools” and
simply read Waldorf’s philosophy on the absence of technology. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see what I did there? -- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Use technology to do research on a school
system that (largely) doesn’t believe in technology. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Research completed by the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (UK) in 2015 examined how technology in
schools impacted student achievement on multiple international exams. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The results? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In short, students with extended exposure to
technology show “no appreciable improvements” in any of the tested subjects.
Are schools simply becoming enablers for students addicted to technology they
use at home? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I hope this short piece will not only offer some
thought as you continuously work to improve your schools, but will serve as a
catalyst to start an ongoing conversation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Please share your thoughts with me using Twitter
(@CoachGarletts). I cannot wait to hear from you all, and if you are laughing
at my request technology-infused communication, irony happens to be one of my
favorite things! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">References</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coughlan, S. (2015,
September 15). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Computers do not improve
pupil results says OECD.</i> Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34174796"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34174796</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Doyle, W. (2016, August
30). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A world education leader is fleeing
Common Core and other American Ideas, we should pay attention. </i>Retrieved
from </span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/30/education-reform-common-core-finland-us-schools-column/89511246/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/30/education-reform-common-core-finland-us-schools-column/89511246/</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Habib, N. (2016,
September 6). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No-homework policies
attracting attention.</i> Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/no-homework-policies-attracting-attention/article_d30510ef-bf30-567e-88d6-f844f6496e90.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/no-homework-policies-attracting-attention/article_d30510ef-bf30-567e-88d6-f844f6496e90.html</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kardaras, N. (2016,
August 27<sup>th</sup>). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s digital
heroin: how screens turn kids into psychotic junkies. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://nypost.com/2016/08/27/its-digital-heroin-how-screens-turn-kids-into-psychotic-junkies/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://nypost.com/2016/08/27/its-digital-heroin-how-screens-turn-kids-into-psychotic-junkies/</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kelly, J. (2015, April
15). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">11 ways Finland’s education system
shows us that less is more. </i>Retrieved from </span><a href="https://fillingmymap.com/2015/04/15/11-ways-finlands-education-system-shows-us-that-less-is-more/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://fillingmymap.com/2015/04/15/11-ways-finlands-education-system-shows-us-that-less-is-more/</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Koerber, B. (2016,
August 22). Teacher absolutely nails it with new homework policy. [Web log
comment]. Retrieved from </span><a href="http://mashable.com/2016/08/22/no-more-homework-/#4EecUR.ar5qY"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://mashable.com/2016/08/22/no-more-homework-/#4EecUR.ar5qY</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">____________________________________________________________
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. Donovan
Garletts is passionate about myriad issues that confront the “forefront” of
K-12 education and can be reached for conversation and commentary at his
Twitter account above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please reach-out
and let him know your thoughts regarding his article, and of course, the
articles he references.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-76692514027179151462016-09-21T16:29:00.000-07:002016-09-21T16:30:42.454-07:00Your Genie; One Wish<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Your Genie; One Wish</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Department of Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Bayh College of Education</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Indiana State University</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You’re a school principal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You live in Anywhere, USA, big or small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Pressures of school accountability are what they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re tough to deal with at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You love the challenge, or at least you say you do (when at
Rotary).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You have good teachers, good staff members, and parents who
love their kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difficulties you
face are typical of the principalship: Older generations struggling to
understand newer generations; ever-moving performance targets; the up’s and
down’s of performance scores on annual standardized tests; and difficulties
finding new teachers wanting to enter the profession who are properly licensed
for your openings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And . . . you really do have the BEST job in the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Those of us who have been principals really “get this.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then, while heading down your school
building hall one day, you meet a Genie with a lamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As you introduce yourself and ask for its hall pass, you hear
from your Genie that everyone is being asked to do more with less nowadays,
even Genies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
(The Genie is able to offer you a hall pass, because . . .
well, it's a Genie)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Anyway, you find-out the Genie has only one wish available to
grant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your only option will be multiple
choice, as open-ended responses are simply too costly to process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You are, however, welcome to provide your answer on a
computer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here goes:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Would you rather have:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
_____
a. One million dollars in cash, yet with a surrender of your administrator’s
license.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
_____
b. A contractual roll-over guaranteed with a 3% raise every year for a
lifetime, no matter how well the students and school do each year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
_____
c. A love of lifelong learning guaranteed for every one of your students for
the next 50 years, yet with standardized testing scores that may or may not
meet state expectations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
_____
d.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standardized testing scores for all
students meeting or exceeding state performance expectations for the next 50
years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
_____
e.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing really. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
________________________________________________________________
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan hopes that K-12
building principals will see themselves as critically important to the lives of
students, and thus capable of making decisions that have opportunity/cost
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smart decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What decision would you hope the principal of
your child would make?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like
to share, please let Dr. Donlan know at ryan.donlan@indstate.edu.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-48937636022980153862016-09-08T11:21:00.003-07:002016-09-08T11:21:35.455-07:00Executive Presence: A "Must" in Educational Leadership
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Executive Presence: A “Must”
in Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Professor</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of Educational
Leadership</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of Education,
326A</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State University</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been asked to speak to an MBA
class this fall on the concept of Executive Presence, as applied to
education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly, a nebulous
concept, yet one that if used in moderation, can add a nutritional boost to
one’s leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of how this
applies to those of us working in P-12 education, I'm thinking about describing
it as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Executive
Presence is . . . </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something between the dichotomy of “officious”
and “chummy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something noticed without needing to see
it when heard; and something noticed without needing to hear it when seen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that exists on a
conscious/competence continuum, in different stages of our professional
careers: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At first, we are unconscious
regarding our incompetence at it (in our blind spot).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, we are conscious of that
incompetence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time, we work on our
competence with executive presence, consciously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once doing so, we become unconsciously competent
at it eventually, as it become how we “roll.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we use our conscience, unconscious
competence of executive presence as we teach it to others.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that can be worn without donning
a professional outfit, but can use one as an accessory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that reminds us of the old E.F.
Hutton Commercial, because when someone with Executive Presence talks, “. . . people
listen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that seasons with the passing
of time, the raising of children, and with positive treadwear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that can be learned as a skill,
yet with some having it as a talent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that appears more authentic
when individualized to one’s personality and context.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that allows one to leverage positively,
organizational culture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something that requires one to understand
that oneself is “OK,” and others are too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something whose arms can hug, whose
fingers can pull a trigger, whose hands can wield a pen of clemency, whose
heart can forgive, and whose mind does not forget.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Executive
Presence</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – Nebulous, yet
critical for any successful, practicing principal or superintendent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would its picture look like next to the
dictionary definition?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is its poster child in your district?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">_______________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr.
Ryan Donlan is working as an author, speaker, trainer, and graduate faculty member
to help others build their levels of executive presence in P-12 education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to help him flesh out the
skeleton of this construct, please give him a call at (812) 237-8624 or write
him at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would love to talk.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-41023894649606821032016-08-04T19:18:00.001-07:002016-08-05T23:23:47.996-07:00In "Alex's" Class: On Tour, Where All's Good<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In “Alex’s” Class: </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">On Tour, Where All’s Good!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Assistant Professor</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Department of Educational Leadership</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bayh College of Education</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indiana State University</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two days ago, I stood face-to-face
with something that got my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
On a trip with family at Rocky Mountain National Park near
Boulder, Colorado, I was traveling in an 8-passenger rental vehicle that I
would be using to drive nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, on a narrow,
winding dirt road with steep ravines, thousand foot drops, and no guard rails.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even to this formerly active skydiver,
the notion of driving my family up such a path was intimidating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was a bit pensive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tour guide “Alex” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alex Rocky Mountain Tours </i>offered to
drive if I wished, and while respecting his skills and expertise, I opted to
keep my hands on my own wheel and let Alex tend to his craft: Guiding and
storytelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
He was AMAZING.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m not sure why I do not possess
the rush for incidence that I once had . . . possibly a result of marriage and child-rearing,
or just plain accumulated wisdom about what one <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should-not-do</i>,
naturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Driving large vehicles up narrow
paths with no guardrails, thousands of feet in the air: typically a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should-not-do</i>, from my perspective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Thus, I made no hesitation in asking a series of questions to
an incredibly patient “Alex,” as he offered us options on which trek to take –
the exhilarating trek or the still-cool-yet-admittedly-more-mild-pathway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
My words, not his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
He made each sound like an adventure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I began the negotiations with the “still-cool” option.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Pretty firm on the safer option, with a gentle nudge or two I
was provided kind assurances that the more-exhilarating dirt road was, in fact,
a more learned option . . . even a one-way path for our safety, with little-to-no
chance of oncoming Winnebago’s careening toward us around tight curves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Ok, so I capitulated to my much-more-adventurous family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fast forward past our incredible tour
and ascension up the mountain – the awe-inspiring views, Alex’s great stories, humbling
geographic formations carved by once-glacial activity, and wildlife (from
small, yellow-bellied marmots, to the towering 700 pound Elk just up the
hill).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Fast forward as well past the lunch at the top, gifts
purchased, and a descent that was as unsettling (to me) as the climb (paved,
yet with two-way traffic, still bereft of guardrails).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Fast-forward past the family recount of what was the coolest
part of the trip, and what else came close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What happened next in reflection was
fairly predicable to those who know me . . . my thoughts went to P-12
leadership, and more particularly this time, teachership. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It was borne of my initial worry as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">family protector</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You see . . . Alex was, in a sense,
our teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And we were his students. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Alex was providing to us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a day in school</i>, and we were experiencing
things that were a bit unsettling, things that were totally unfamiliar, yet
things good for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Probably sounds like your first few weeks in school this
year, doesn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Or . . . your first few weeks to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here is what really stuck out, to
me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Can you imagine what might have
been going through the mind of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alex</i></b></u>!?!?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who
am I meeting today?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are
they patient, or demanding?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are
they receptive, or are they know-it-all’s?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can
I teach them? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they learn?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Will
they apply what I share to their lives, and to others’?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here’s something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Alex had the courage to hop into an 8-passenger vehicle, soon
to be heading up a mountain to an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, with an
unfamiliar driver he had never met (me) and a narrow winding dirt road with
steep ravines, thousand foot drops, and no guard rails. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
That took guts!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Alex did all of this without any of us ever seeing him sweat.<br />
He even took care of the "little things" that would be a distraction to most (or left of radar), and these were greatly appreciated! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And it is quite possible all-the-while that he was sweating . . . yet again and if so, invisibly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I now realize that Alex had no idea
if I were to be demanding, accepting, a good listener, or a know-it-all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not know how I would handle stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex didn’t even know if I could drive that
well, because to be quite frank, passing a driver’s test is a pretty low bar,
given the climb we were about to make and the road upon which to make it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yet, Alex hopped in the Tahoe. Alex is a great teacher, and that is what the best do! <br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How many of your teachers, despite
the dangers they face – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">those to their
professional reputations for taking chances, with job security determined by high-stakes
accountability systems </i>– hop into the Tahoe and take that ride???</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Do we as leaders stop and ponder what is happening in each of
our 29-passenger Tahoes, up those steep ravines?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We are so fortunate each day that our teachers teach much like
Alex, where everyone is ON TOUR with learning, and ALL’s GOOD!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
___________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan has the
deepest of admiration for the thousands of P-12 teachers who are heading back
into the classrooms this summer and fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please consider following Dr. Donlan on Twitter at @RyanDonlan or
contacting him at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>
sharing a story of your “Alex” who is taking folks to the Alpine and back in
one piece, with a newfound appreciation of things they are experiencing that
might scare them, but in the hands of a good teacher, turn-out for the best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-72549353104538538422016-07-14T17:34:00.002-07:002016-07-14T17:34:40.845-07:00Connecting the Dots
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Connecting
the Dots</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Dustin Jorgensen</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principal</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forest
Park Elementary</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brazil,
Indiana</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ph.D.
Student</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan Donlan</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant
Professor</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Playing “connect the dots” as a child is an experience that brings
much joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us can recall that
when we were very young, the game started with a picture that had very few dots
on it, yet a lot of solid lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
could pretty much tell what the image was before even setting crayon to
paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the
reward of connecting those dots was in looking at the final picture and saying,
“Look what I drew!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, we
get older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lines went away and more
dots appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still,
this was pretty cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a bit of
mystery in our not being able to tell what the image was when first looking at
the page of dots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there might be a
hint or a category, but it wasn’t until we got halfway through (or toward the
end) that we could actually discern the image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still,
there was great satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
connected!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was always cool when the picture
materialized and we had a sense of accomplishment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In later
years growing up, we still played these games, yet with a bit more of an
academic flair, intentionally infused in the activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember placing the dots, ourselves, on a
coordinate grid, after doing a bit of math?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only did we learn about mathematical concepts and relationships, we
were actually applying what we know and still got to come up with a fun picture
to color in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have
noticed, however, that in real life, connecting the dots has lost a bit of its
luster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is too bad, as it is
very much an undersold developmental skill in terms of its importance to us in
our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we
have avoided these connections once they became a little more work and a little
less fun, we have done something to ourselves as a society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We now
often live our lives as if the only dot we care about is ours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We see
one dot; not a bigger picture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is
little room for a “we,” “us,” “they,” or “them,” atop a dot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s this
big: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Author
Robert Putnam (2000) might say that this is why we are now bowling alone, if we
are bowling at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
believe that it is time to connect the dots again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
time to make it fun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a
time to help children make sense of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
time that adults do as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
professional lives seem to revolve around testing children in core subjects and
trying to compete on international tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And because of this, policymakers and educational practitioners have put
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and character education offerings on
their back burners . . . with no heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we
know that all children thirst for experiences that prepare them for gainful
life in our society, are we giving them the help they need? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think how many of them are dealing with the
setbacks of troubled homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elias (2016)
pointed out that it isn’t just about parents helping their own children, but
that any adult that interacts with children can affect their development. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
educators, we are called to embrace the most important of what society has
abrogated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But are we equipped?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are
not communicating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it isn’t just
educators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents share
with us at times that they don’t know why their kids are misbehaving in our
schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it be that we are all
just too busy for a sit-down meal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, and living vicariously through our
children’s parentally manufactured activity commitments, we didn’t get that
homework done last night either because practice lasted until 10:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
season is that sport???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Year
round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it’s
not sports, it’s dance, or something else, where some parents at times (and
tragically) seem to show-up to participate in their own social-pecking
order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems (when we allow ourselves
to “go negative”) that being at practice or a competition is enjoyed for the sole
purpose of having a comfortable place to text, rather than to watch children .
. . or so that we can over-share details about our lives with others within
earshot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you mean you didn’t see the picture of me at the
game?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I posted it on Facebook, Tweeted
it, and shared it!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to a recent study (Decarr, 2016), average participants visited social media sites
30 times per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a study of
adults!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t walk in the mall or
down the street without almost bumping in to someone on his or her “smart”
phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same study found that the way social media
was used led to maladaptive outcomes for some participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine
if we put down this same media and ask our children how their days were and what
they learned at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To do so
would be a viable option for better communication, and to be quite frank, might
even lessen the probability that a picture of your family’s laundry would go
“viral” accidentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may even offer
a temporary reprieve from the angst of someone “un-friend-ing” you because you
stole someone else’s significant other (and heaven forbid the disappointment
that no one “liked” the post that you spent a lot of time and effort posing
for, at soccer practice).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
very much where we are developmentally as a country:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us standing upon dots, with no
connections to help us show our children the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1300 “friends” you have on Facebook don’t
count.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
don’t put pictures under our armpits to develop them anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Images can
be shared with one tap of a button or one click of a mouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the damage can be life-changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet,
according to a recent report, most schools hire more security officers than
school counselors (Education News, 2016), and schools are under increasing
pressure to measure-up in two core content areas, with a disproportionate
amount of time and focus attending to them, when we see our children’s lives
with waning foundations and certainly few connections from which they can learn
appropriately, and grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With
social media playing such a prominent role, shouldn’t we hire professionals who
can intervene and counsel students regarding social issues, or at least allow
those who are qualified to take the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A school counselor cannot afford to help create schedules and prepare
kids for college, let alone police the standardized testing windows and embargo
materials.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
schools need to provide ambassadors for appropriate citizenship, shoulders to
cry on, strong head toward which to turn , and someone who can help a young
person deal with a world in which their parents are not currently living, and
sometimes ones in which they “do,” a bit too much.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s
time to connect the dots!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We need
to help children deal with their real worlds, not ours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Decarr, K. (2016, April 11).
Do Links Between Social Media, Depression, and Addiction Exist? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Education News</i>. Retrieved from http://www.educationnews.org/technology/do-links-between-social-media-depression-and-addiction-exist/</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elias, M. (2016, April 6).
5 Myths Working Against Character Education in Our Schools. <em>Edutopia</em>.
Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/myths-working-against-character-education-maurice-elias
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Putnam, R. (2000). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community</i>. New
York, NY: Simon & Schuster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scott, R. (2016, April 1).
Largest School Districts Hire More Security Officers Than Counselors. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Education News</i>. Retrieved from <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.educationnews.org/k-12-schools/largest-school-districts-hire-more-security-officers-than-counselors/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_______________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Dustin Jorgensen and Ryan
Donlan want to put the “real” back into the real needs of children in public
schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to connect
the dots while connecting with them, please feel free to contact them at </span><a href="mailto:jorgendu@clay.k12.in.us"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">jorgendu@clay.k12.in.us</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> and </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-58750387506840050062016-06-30T06:49:00.001-07:002016-06-30T06:49:09.824-07:00An Illusion of Present
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An Illusion of Present</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant
Professor</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr.
Steve Gruenert</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Professor
and Department Chairperson</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently in considering notions of
past, present, and future, we discussed an undergraduate Philosophy course of
Dr. L. Nathan Oaklander at the University of Michigan-Flint, where students
discussed whether time traveled from the past, through the present, and toward
the future, or conversely, whether the past, present, and future were simply a
series of “after this/before this” relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deep stuff and an awesome professor!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This came to our mind as we were
traveling while spending a day in northern Indiana with a great group of
educators discussing our book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Minds
Unleashed.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let us share a bit of unleashing
with you today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As we reflected on the ride home, we
talked of the notion of “the present.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re
not really sure the present really exists, …if we really try to point at it on
a continuum between the past and future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it does, it is a very short thing, indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Something fleeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Something very much temporary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We often hear, “Be in the present”
with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Savor the present, because
we won’t know what the future will bring.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We’re not sure this is possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The present is actually just a split
second, even if that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s our foot hitting the sand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yet, as soon as the footprint is
visible, the present is now the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On a calm day in schools, one
present moves to another, to another, to another, without too much urgency or
even an awareness of what was happening at each point we were in the present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The immediate past is really all we
perceive. And in schools, all we profess is the future (being prepared).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On a harried day, the present is
more like our shoe hitting the plank of a suspension bridge as we are running
across a canyon, with each plank falling immediately behind us, into the chasm
of consequence, as soon as “present” clicks into “past.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second-by-second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No do-overs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What you just read in now in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, when we hear that we should savor the present, isn’t it
more true that we should actually savor what’s immediately in our past (our
child’s smile that just resonated with us; the friendly pat on the back of a
colleague that felt good, or the opportunity to say something kind to a parent
that made a difference), before it gets too far in the past, or before
something in the future skews that memory, or the reality of its impact?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What may be more important to us as school leaders is THE
NOW, which might differ in a definitional sense from the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Now” might include something more than that instant of
present; it is our active involvement regarding what’s happening, what just
came into our mind, and even what might greet us in the next few moments, based
on our intuition and that sixth sense that cause school leaders to imagine
what’s around that next corner, before we turn it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be in the NOW requires a deep respect for what has come
before, as well as what we remember and don’t remember about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are humbled that we only have so much
capability to deal with NOW, as our existential cup can only hold so much when
we are asked to hold so much of everyone else’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The NOW is very slim, though admittedly not as slim as “Present.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While slim, however, it is dense, both forgiving and
unforgiving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We envision NOW sort of like a statistical confidence
interval around one’s particular score in life at that moment (that score existing
as a “Present,” sort of like a student’s standardized test sore, at it is only
a flash of what took place at that moment, and nothing more).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, that interval will extend into the
past and/or present – it has to since the construct “now” is an illusion and
does not really exist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet, the visual is that, indeed . . . confidence interval.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A certain degree of “give,” “flex-potential,” or “play”
around a particular moment in time, where we are still savoring the immediate
past and interacting with it, as well as going second, footstep-by-footstep,
and interacting with what is around the next corner, through both science of
leadership and intuition, as that is our immediate future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is a dynamic space in which management exists, and at
times, leadership as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is where
“maybe so” and “might be” happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is all of this important in schools, even if potentially
ridiculous to comprehend?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That moment in the hallway where we have something on our
mind that is troubling us, and we look left to see a student who catches the
grimace on our face . . . will that student think it was directed at him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should we do to mop up that impression
that is already in the past of that student’s school experience?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can NOW still retrieve it and offer a re-do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have immediate past, present, and the quickly discernable
future within our grasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the
hook?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s examine with an example,
regarding that grimace:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I wonder if my
principal likes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t look like
it.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That moment when in conflict, we either choose to take the
first step toward amends, or choose to take another direction before reaching out
with an olive branch . . . what second of “present,” or better said, WHAT EXISTS
IN THE SPACE OF NOW, will make an indelible imprint in someone else’s immediate
past, as she thinks about you that evening.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And to think that
once upon a time, I respected her!”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The NOW when a student hands us something completely
unacceptable for an assignment, and we choose to make that first mark in
ink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW’s interval of our teachership,
and the resulting volition involved, will not soon be erased with another’s
memory of school, and how one felt when assignments were returned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best use of NOW???</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m really glad that
Mr. Joseph didn’t go off on me for handing that in, like it was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That really sucked, and he had my back, even
when I didn’t have my own.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we were honest with ourselves, heading through life is
really a matter of looking through the windshield and the rear-view mirror
while paying attention to the dashboard as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three comprise the NOW, but we are
traveling very quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not paying attention to NOW can result in an accident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While in the interval, as in driving a car, our
second-by-second movements, actions, and reactions (the present) are more a
product of our training than any conscious decision that we have time to make
in heavy traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What has our K-12 educator <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">driver’s training</i> prepared us to do in heavy traffic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re IN THE NOW?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Will we leave behind us clear lanes and memories of joyful
sightseeing, or rather skid marks and a few collisions that make others fearful
of getting behind the wheel themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ll create memories, either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s NOW’s job description, even if the present doesn’t
accord us any real opportunity to take action, other than the one that is now a
blink behind us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The present is misunderstood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We think we’re in it more often than we are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We think we can control it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Past is where most present is conceived, without our
understanding that once something moves into its space, we’re no longer able to
get it under control, unless we have a firm grasp on the NOW and a willing
invitation from the minds and hearts of those who own it in memory, to give us
NOW’s chance, at that point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan Donlan and Steve Gruenert are
becoming more aware of the power of the NOW, and our obligation in K-12
education to pay attention to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
continual pressure to think about how the present will affect the future, they
think it may be time to bring what is under-rated, or even undiscovered (NOW’s
confidence interval) and give it some visibility. Please feel free to contact
them at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or
</span><a href="mailto:steve.gruenert@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">steve.gruenert@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> if you would like to ponder with them sometime.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-14104093982916634362016-05-13T07:43:00.001-07:002016-05-13T07:43:18.349-07:00The Power of Empathy
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Power of Empathy </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Gina M. Pleak</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ph.D. Student</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State
University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bartholomew
Consolidated School Corporation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Professor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State
University</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--J.M. Barry</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As school
leaders, it is imperative that we have positive human relations with our school
community members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times, this may be
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if we consider
Barry’s quote above during those times, it may help us focus our energy in a
way that will lend itself to a resolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empathy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empathy
is a powerful skill for school leaders to use in order to build relationships
with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the ability to
understand another person’s behavior through the lived experience of our own
perspective. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows us to communicate
in a way that lets others know we understand what they are feeling and that we
understand how and in what manner they are communicating to us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, Harper Lee wrote,
“You never really understand another person until you consider things from his
point of view—until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old saying of put yourself in another’s
shoes applies. In reality, we may not totally be able to understand anyone’s
situation, but through an empathetic lens, we are at least making an effort of
doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some say
empathy is an art, because it does not necessarily conform to linearity or
strict laws of nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its dynamic
and ever-adapting form (to another’s circumstance), it not only creates,
enhances, and maintains positive relationships, it also resolves conflicts and
offers a therapeutic option when conflict cannot be completely
extinguished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It moves stages of grief
toward acceptance more quickly, yet naturally . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>readily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A famous
quote from Dalai Lama is “Listen with empathy and speak with compassion.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When parents, staff members, colleagues,
parents, or students come to us upset, defiant, or hostile, a natural response
for even the best of us may include defensiveness, passing judgment, or sometimes
equally inhibiting, a rescue, when others are better left to solve their own
problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another
option is to listen, empathetically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
recognizing and acknowledging others’ perspective, you offer them a chance to
validate themselves through supportive reflection and empowerment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You provide them an opportunity for another
to see an issue from their perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
might be the first time, in a very long time that this was offered to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are
not suggesting that this be done from a superficial level in order to pacify individuals
(admittedly most all in K-12 leadership have this ability), but rather to put
forth an earnest effort to view the circumstance in terms of how they are
feeling; what they are going through; what they need done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
acknowledge as fellow human beings that we may have experienced something
similar, yet not necessarily with the myriad issues complicating this
circumstance, goes a long way in connecting authentically and showing that we
honor the uniqueness of the present.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
question sometimes asked of us is, “In using empathy, are there times where relating
the current situation to our own experiences is appropriate?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, if handled with caution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time heals all wounds for someone, the
person sitting across from you will not necessarily be in a place for cognitive
reassurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traumatic and life-changing
events simply don’t provide for a natural shot of resilience, while they are
taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A better
shot in the arm might be a nod, an authentic affirmation, and our showing
others that we are relating (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rather than
telling them that we are</i>) and proving through example. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For great
school leaders, empathy provides such an opportunity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us
examine empathy’s tool kit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be
empathetic, listening without interruption is a must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonverbal communication is more important
than the verbal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more the tones,
gestures, postures, and facial expressions, than the words used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awkward pauses may, at times, be unavoidable,
and in those circumstances, we may be tempted to jump-right-in with our own thoughts
and opinions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, we’re people-fixers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least that is part of what society
expects of us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, the
better choice is to “inact.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
preferred alternative, where there is choice, is to be quiet, empathetically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making intentional
our decision to give others extra time to talk, think, and speak will provide
us with more information about what they are going through. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will also let them know we are there to
listen and support them—not necessarily to solve the dilemma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us be
clear: Empathy is not sympathy, nor is it pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great
school leaders know the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Further, empathy
comes easier to some of us than to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For those
where it is more a stretch, can we learn to improve it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YES, as empathy is a social skill, developed
or enhanced with intentional practice and reflection. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we
reflect again on Barry’s quote, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be
kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle,”
we might also bring to minds the next desperate parent, the next tale of toil,
or the next attempt to invite rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then,
in visualizing what we can do, compassionately and empathetically, as an
alternative that empowers others to take action and work through circumstance,
we might work to build a better default position, of less advice and more
support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We might
find that we are left with a default, less judgmental or defensive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empathy allows
school leaders to develop, enhance, and maintain relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It greatly influences our school invitingness,
especially for those who find school is the only place they can tell their
stories, even if with a bit of venom or snarl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empathy is
an opportunity for school leaders to capitalize on the next teachable moment,
showing others what sincerity and an unconditional positive regard can do for
those in a time of need.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">________________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gina Pleak and Ryan Donlan believe in
the old Irish saying, “The best looking glass is the eyes of a friend.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we as school leaders the eyes of a
friend, when others approach us? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we
make time for their stories, even when we don’t have it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we strive for authentic regarding, rather
than feigned transparency?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would
like to discuss any of this further, please do not hesitate to reach-out and
have a conversation at </span><a href="mailto:pleakg@bcsc.k12.in.us"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pleakg@bcsc.k12.in.us</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-17629132241131280902016-04-20T13:24:00.000-07:002016-04-20T13:24:02.949-07:00Helping Our Kids Succeed
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Helping Our Kids Succeed</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Nada Almutairi</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ph.D. Student</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">&</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State University</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Teachers think about different ways to raise their
class’s test scores. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders in schools think
about different ways to increase their school’s test scores. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">However, teachers are
hardwired, more holistically, to think about making a difference in students’
social, emotional, physical, and academic success. They know that the most
important duty of educators is to assist students in reaching their potential
and inspiring children to discover their inner passions to learn and thrive in
the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today most schools and teachers use grading practices in
school courses as a gauge to determine, and share information regarding,
test-readiness and life preparation. But when<span style="color: #c0504d; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">educators
focus so intently on an academic curriculum to increase test scores, the result
runs the risk of kids’ memorizing a bunch of information that will be
forgotten, long before it is applied. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Life experience will
not as readily utilize what is learned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Also, with an
overemphasis on grades and standardized testing, children may forgo the
development of other skills they need, such as the soft skills necessary for
collaboration in the workplace and the interpersonal skills necessary for
positive relationships and friendships. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bookwork and tests may supplant deeper learning
of things less academic, yet more “real.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We believe that the
perfect schools would blend the real world and that of an academic curriculum
together, seamlessly. For instance, elementary students could simultaneously provide
a flavor of learning in which the real world works in concert with any
content’s core curriculum. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An expansion of student
deskwork would be a good start.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bell (2010) explained the
use of Project-Based Learning, noting its use as a student-driven, yet teacher-facilitated,
approach to inquiry, in which students could pursue information by asking
questions stemming from each other’s curiosity. These questions could then
guide them through research toward answers in line with their interests,
aptitudes, and abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers would
serve as guides, supervising students while they search for answers while work
cooperatively with those who share their passion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Collaboration,
communication skills, and honoring each student’s learning style or preference
are the keys in PBL. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students are
expected to solve real-world problems by designing their own explorations,
planning their learning, and organizing their research. Teachers motivate each
individual, as well as guiding and supervising each student (Bell, 2010). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think of how children, worldwide, could
benefit from an expansion of learning using constructivism, individualization,
and activity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is no new concept
to the Leadershop audience, we realize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet why are we trying to tease out a bit of discussion, this week, on
PBL?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As leaders, we believe that
sad facet of education in both the third world and in countries quite developed
is that defined by “teaching to the test.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a lot of this is occurring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Test-teaching/test-doing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this set-up, students
may learn facts and ways to solve book-and-pencil problems, yet they fall short
in developing connections between these facts and the real world in which they
live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this happens, we believe
students lose the value of learning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Certainly, the value of
lifelong learning is missed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we think of ourselves
as relatively progressive in our pedagogy, pacing, and assessing, are we “on
watch” to ensure that much of what we do in education today is not relying upon
lower-level knowledge acquisition, dependent upon memorization without necessarily
understanding? For instance, education in the Middle East oftentimes focuses on
teaching students test-taking strategies, with much of the world thinking the
United States is encouraging students to develop their discovering and
thinking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is much of the world
correct in this assumption?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Probably not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surprisingly, education
in the United States (USA) is moving toward a memorization paradigm, furthered
certainly by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Child Left Behind</i> (NCLB),
yet in reality borne of an accountability movement predating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A movement touting learning for all students
unfortunately was derailed by a political and economic agenda that hasn’t
worked out too well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ravitch (2013) noted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Child Left Behind’s</i> standardized
testing can provide useful information about students, yet as soon as the
scores are tied to a staff’s job security, extrinsic motivators and scare
tactics such as bonus structures and schools threatened with closure, the
measures become goals, no longer indicators of how learning is occurring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good point, she has.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We may be starting,
however, to turn things around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ll see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Could an expansion of
project-based learning be a nice start? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It might be, if states
and local communities are encouraged to take risks, do things their own, way,
and explore (as a model that students, themselves, could emulate).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We know that project-based
learning is important in that it teaches students by asking questions that
pique their natural curiosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
choice will increase the joy of learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, we believe that project-based learning techniques will develop
students’ self-efficacy during their school days, as well as their years in
K-12, and thereafter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Could the same be said
for the adults, if encouraged into projects of their own?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Admittedly, teaching
students how to take tests is also important for their future. We adults know
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a part of life, and arguably
a fairly important one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Students after
graduation from high school will face many standardized tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These standardized tests are for different careers
that students plan to purses. Even our English Language Learners (ELL students)
are required to prove their language proficiency by obtaining a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEFL" title="TOEFL"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TOEFL</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Test of English as a Foreign Language,
or an </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IELTS" title="IELTS"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">IELTS</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - International English
Language Testing System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet once doing
so, we’re all asked to demonstrate real-world competencies and soft skills in a
collaborative workforce . . . in a collaborative society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thus, all things
considered, let us call for a more equitable balance of academic and human
capital development in our schools today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let us use creative strategies of lesson and content delivery to ensure
our students will perform in all sectors of life, in all sectors of demand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A balance of human development
discourse in the context of uplifting academic achievement might be a viable
pathway to pursue, if we wish to help our kids succeed, from where they are to
an even better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wouldn’t we all prefer
this for our children?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">References</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bell S., (2010).
Project-Based Learning for the 21<sup>st</sup> Century: Skills for the Future. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Clearing House, 83</i>, 39-43</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ravitch, D. (2011, March
20). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Obama's War on Schools</i>. The
Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC. Retrieved from <u style="text-underline: #0000E9;"><span style="color: #0000e9;">http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/03/20/obama-s-war-on-schools.html</span></u></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">_____________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nada Almutairi and Ryan
Donlan are concerned about global efforts to prioritize test-doing, over that
of student development and lifelong love of learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like to join their conversation about
ways we can re-evaluate how we’re measuring student success, and how we’re
measuring our own, please be encouraged to contact them at </span><a href="mailto:nalmutairi3@sycamores.indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">nalmutairi3@sycamores.indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> or at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-29336504767316734722016-04-05T12:08:00.002-07:002016-04-05T12:12:36.755-07:00Transformational Leadership through Environmental Architecture<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Transformational Leadership through Environmental
Architecture</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Rehab Al Ghamdi</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ph.D. Student</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State University
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">&</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Instilling transformational
leadership is essential in any educational setup. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We, as educators, work
industriously to motivate and engage students, facilitating their learning,
reading, critical thinking, creating, collaborating, and becoming life-long
learners as well as leaders in their contemporary surroundings. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This is by no means an easy
feat. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Consider the excitement
elicited and how we smile when students dive passionately into a subject, ask
for extra reading time, or form cross-curricular links that excite them
genuinely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does not happen without
a good deal of intentionality, some lying below the surface of what is
typically witnessed as the business of school. In this case, trying to make
both ends meet is not an easy task. One such example is when educational
administrators work toward moving levers in a school’s climate. This, at a much
deeper level, begins to influence a longer-term organizational culture that
encourages and propagates continuous learning as well as growth of both
students and teachers. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This is environmental
architecture.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">According to Simon Sinek’s
(2014) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams
Pull Together and Others Don’t</i>, the concept of ENVIRONMENT is noted. When
the environment at work is that of encouragement and meets the primary human
requirements to learn and live, individuals are bound to do more than just
survive . . . they thrive, as they feel valued and important. Environment also
influences their behavioral changes (Tyson, 2013) and helps them to cope with
different situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">They soar to greater heights.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">School administrators are the
immediate architects of environment, or they should at least try to be, as
transformational leadership requires a place suited to making it happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaders are to take-up this responsibility and
mold the appropriate environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This is especially important,
as people are oriented with different preferences.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Kahler (2008) noted the
importance of environmental preferences, demonstrating that depending on a
person’s goal orientation and one’s preferences toward involvement or
isolation, particular environments suit people better than do others in the
workplace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Different people would prefer
different environments in which they work best. Some prefer to work one-on-one;
some in groups, some on the fringes of groups (getting the lion’s share of
attention), and some prefer to work discretely alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, individualized provisions of such
environment would prove worthy to individuals, according to their preferences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Each person has a chance to
perform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With the right environmental
preferences, people can perform better, as more of their foundational needs of
safety and security are considered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
best leaders consider it their obligation to construct the right environment
(i.e. conditions) to make this possible. This is particularly important in terms
of what we find that we can and cannot control as we work to lead organizations
and as part of this, to manage people and ensure provide each with suitable
environment. For instance, management can allow employees to restructure an
office without their direct approval. This creates an environment in which one
feels part of the office and entire work process.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">People do have the attitude
to change.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">According to Sinek (2014), we
do not have the power to “change people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, we can change what occurs near or around them, which may invite
a certain degree of change within them a bit more indirectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can create a circle of safety (Sinek,
2014), which is really an environmental concept, as well as one of basic
needs-attentiveness. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Management matters a lot in
carrying out responsibility.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We wholeheartedly agree that
effective educational administration involves empowerment, motivation, genuine
concern for others, and creating the right environment that is conducive to the
well-being of the whole person, whether staff or student. Yet, what is the
right environment, when people differ so tremendously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Common to the notion of transformational
leadership through environmental architecture are the following:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">First, school administrators
must use environment to communicate vision and moral purpose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case, they have to act effectively. It
is not sufficient for leaders to have or verbally convey a moral purpose; they
should capitalize on the symbols and create comforts of the space in which
everyone works, to convey it, illuminate it, and a request for the commitment
of others to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, leaders
would mindfully organize the space in which we work, consequently selecting its
components and asking, “Do my colors and textures match the intentionality of
my expectations and obligations?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Do form, fixtures, and
functionality intersect in a way that message the mission and validate the
vision?” Probably, this will steer a sense of change and actualization of
ideas.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Secondly, school
administrators must understand that space is under critical influence of the
words, tones, gestures, postures, and facial expressions of the persons in it. This
concerns the administrators’ interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. People
create their own backdrop of environmental visibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of such, administrators and teachers
must constantly work not only to develop but also to maintain an upbeat
relationship with others by instituting trust, mutual respect, as well as a
safe learning environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will
determine to what extent persons walk about comfortably or conversely with a
certain degree of defense mechanisms, dotting the environmental landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Environmental wallpaper is, thus, important
to the success of internal and external relationships.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Finally, school administrators
must leverage environmental architecture in how they set examples for others
and the images they create for the institution. Such leaders not only model but
also display the very attributes they wish to inculcate in their students and
see in their coworkers. The servers are their own teacher-leaders of the way
business is done through people, providing not only the pallet, but also the
paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Effective leaders motivate others
by not only communicating but also modeling commitment, enthusiasm, flexibility,
innovation and integrity. All of this works out to create an appropriate
environment for each of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Provisions for appropriate
environment are, in turn, paramount.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Therefore, as Sinek (2014)
alluded to using different terms, but similar constructs, the creation of the
right environment through transformational architecture is bound to motivate
everyone within. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School administrators
who create a safe, open and welcoming environment, will notice readily that
students will feel more at ease while learning and the teachers will perform
their best, leading to achievement of excellent results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such kind of an environment will make
teachers and students feel empowered to take risks and develop to the best of
their abilities.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Change is inevitable.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simple really: for us to transform
others and ourselves through leadership, we need a certain degree of finesse
with our environmental architecture.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In conclusion, our leaders
have it in within arm’s reach.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Our leaders have the
responsibility in their possession to provide adequate and conducive
environments. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The administrators would
then otherwise assess and establish the preferences people have and provide
them to ensure maximum productivity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">If leaders “get it right” on
environment, then their folks will have the capacity to achieve remarkable
things, expanding their capabilities. As Sinek (2014) reminded us . . . In the
Marine custom, senior officers eat last, while their soldiers eat first. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This then charges our leaders to work their
level best, to ensure each individual is satisfied in their environment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this regard, the assertion can be that our
leaders have the charge to provide transformational leadership by creating
adequate and conducive environments for everyone.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We would like to encourage
our professionals to make this a part of their school cafeteria’s environmental
wallpaper, as well, and have everything at its best.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">References</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Kahler,
T. (2008). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The process therapy model:
Personality types with adaptations</i>. Little Rock, AR: Taibi Kahler
Associates, Inc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sinek,
S. (2014). Leaders eat last: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why some
teams pull together and others don’t.</i> New York, NY: The Penguin Group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tyson, B. (2013).<b><span style="mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Social influence strategies for environmental behavior
change</span></i>. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, Inc. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">_________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rehab Al Ghamdi and Ryan Donlan believe
that leadership involves not only supporting the people working with us, but
also providing an environment that allows everyone to play to his/her
strengths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to share
ways you have leveraged environment to help someone on your team, please feel
free to contact them at </span><span style="color: #0b61cd; font-family: SegoeUI; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="mailto:ralghamdi@sycamores.indstate.edu">ralghamdi@sycamores.indstate.edu</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-51829887615882672582016-03-16T06:02:00.001-07:002016-03-16T06:02:16.633-07:00The Power in "Believe It Or Not, I Care"
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Power in "Believe It Or Not, I Care"</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By
Aaron Hale</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Director of Dual Credit & Honors
Experience</div>
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Lake Land College</div>
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Ph.D. Student</div>
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Department of Educational Leadership</div>
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Bayh College of Education</div>
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Indiana State University</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ryan
Donlan</b></div>
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Assistant Professor</div>
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Department of Educational Leadership</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Bayh College of Education</div>
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Indiana State University</div>
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<br /></div>
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Imagine this child’s scenario . . . </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I just moved to
a new town this week . . . <u>again</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My dad’s an
environmentalist for some big company, always on the move, which means, <u>I’m</u>
always on the move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course
tomorrow’s the big day, another first day of high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m nervous, so
nervous that I cannot sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wake, but
now I’m nauseous; I cannot eat my breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My dad offers to
drive me to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pull out of the
drive way, I look out the window, dreading for that moment when I have to walk
in those doors and be, “The New Kid”, again.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad drops me off at the front door, gives me
a reassuring nod and wink and says, “You’re going to do great.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I walk up the
stairs, slowly open the door and awaiting me, to my surprise, is a smiling
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A senior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He holds out his hand to shake mine and says,
“Hi, I’m Brad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a student mentor here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about we find your locker and I walk you
to class?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A wave of relief
came over me; I nod “Yes,” crack a smile, and know that I’m going to be okay.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Educators in America are doing an incredible job
raising and protecting our youth, yet are doing so with myriad challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The demands placed on school children today far
transcend those that are academic, as their developmental needs often go
unattended at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is with this in
mind that our best educators stand vigilant to unearth the needs of children
that lie far beneath their outward veneer, and then do something about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Once such need is that of “self,” the self that is
striving to maintain coping and resiliency through life circumstance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
King, Vidourek, Davis, and McClellan (2002) stated
that self-esteem, perception of a positive school environment, and peer and
family connectedness help students develop appropriate coping skills and
decrease negative health behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
would argue that self-esteem creates some of the necessary building blocks to
enhancing children’s self-efficacy, which allows them to transcend societal
messages that one’s potential is determined by one’s lot in life dealt per
status or circumstance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, efficacy
allows one to believe that through hard work and a self-belief, success and
happiness are possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Even through adversity, loss, and tragedy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
A focus on the care for the comprehensive needs of
children is what we would like to highlight in this week’s Ed. Leadershop, illustrated
by way of example in a particular program.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
It is Sandy Austin’s, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Believe It Or Not, I Care</i> (B.I.O.N.I.C) program (2004).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Through its influence, students all across the country
are supported and encouraged, and as a natural outgrowth, are “stepping up”
with peer mentoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
This program was started by Mrs. Austin at Green Mountain
High School in Lakewood, Colorado 12 years ago in response to four student
suicides at her school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This student-led
program helps students and staff through truly trying times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
While there are many variations of the B.I.O.N.I.C.
program, at the core, four teams exist: Freshman, Transfer, Extended Illness,
and Grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Freshmen team matches up
one Junior or Senior mentor with four freshmen mentees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These students meet every Wednesday at a reserved
table for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Transfer team is
comprised of a one-to-one ratio where mentors and mentees meet once a month for
a free pizza party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Extended Illness
team has mentors visit a mentee in the hospital or at home in order to provide
companionship and to review missed classwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Grief teams have several student mentors and at least one teacher
drive to a home of a grieving student or faculty member, delivering a pie at
the door, and saying brief condolences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grief team mentees are selected by having an anonymous peer put the
grieving student’s information into one of four private lock boxes that a
counselor will check discretely once a day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
While schools are welcome to make this program their
own, a purely designed B.I.O.N.I.C. program is structured as illustrated above
through the use various sub-teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
of these teams has student mentors that have a specific interest or innate
ability to work with peers who are struggling with fitting-in, bullying,
homework, extended illness, loss, or tragedy. It comes first with adults doing
their homework to ensure that the best boots are on the ground, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students are chosen through an application
process, through instructor letters of recommendation, and through summer
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These students take the task
seriously and are genuinely interested in helping their peers. The benefits are
in turn symbiotic, as the mentors grow socially and emotionally through the
process (Blad, 2014).</div>
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<br /></div>
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One might say that this could transcend a school’s academic
mission.</div>
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Thank goodness!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the years since its
inception, we hear that over 800 schools with 100,000 students worldwide have worked
to start their own, similar programs, if not to replicate hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After one of us reached-out to Mrs. Austin,
we were better able to understand what is truly going on here. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ironically, a “Mrs.
Austin” started this initiative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Those of you who have nearly a half-century in
treadware probably remember a Commander by the name of Steve <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Austin</i>, a television astronaut, played
by actor Lee Majors in the 70’s series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Six Million Dollar Man</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing him strapped
to hospital instruments at the show’s beginning each week (barely alive after
an aeronautics accident), we would hear a voice-over saying something similar
to, “We can rebuild him . . . Make him better than he was before . . . Better .
. . stronger . . . faster.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Steve Austin received bionic legs, a bionic arm, and
even a bionic eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then used his
super-human powers to make our world a better place, flanked by a supportive
team that offered camaraderie and a warm family feel, even if in a governmental
agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
It’s really very similar to this B.I.O.N.I.C. program.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Surgeons . . . superpowers . . . warm feelings in a
government agency.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Mrs. Austin’s
school and others with similar practices, teams reach out to those having
difficulty, from challenge to tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They then perform the necessary surgical procedures to stop the bleeding
and promote healing, and as well, to offer a sense of camaraderie during the
healing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might even save
the world, from time to time, for a child.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll bet in receiving
such kind attention when needed, recipients may understand the need to pay this
forward, as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
To us, it is incredibly noteworthy that with schools
today judged almost solely through factors of academic achievement (How often
do we see one’s being kind, caring, and considerate on a school’s report card?),
that ANY program would take so much time to focus its attention on the value of
students’ helping students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
It is an example of a positive belief in the efficacy
of the next generation to develop a caring perspective and the skills to put
that to best use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>B.I.O.N.I.C. is Mrs.
Austin’s gift to students everywhere, and with it, students are paying it
forward by accepting the challenge and “stepping up” with <u>and for</u> their
peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
We might all pause for something non-academic,
uplifting, and assuredly bionic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">References</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Austin, S. (2004). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Believe it or
not, I care (B.I.O.N.I.C.). Creating a more caring climate in<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>schools worldwide.</i> Retrieved
February 10, 2016, from <a href="http://www.bionicteam.org/about/">http://www.bionicteam.org/about/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blad, E. (2014). Schools explore benefits of peer counseling. <i>Education
Week,</i> <i>1</i>(15), 11-14.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Retrieved
February 15, 2016.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
King,
Vidourek, Davis, & McClellan. (2002). Increasing self-esteem and school
connectedness through a multidimensional mentoring program. <i>Journal of School
Health,</i> <i>72</i>(7), 294-299. Retrieved February 15, 2016.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Aaron Hale and Ryan Donlan believe in the potential of our younger
generation not only to let us know what it needs, but also at times (when we’re
a bit short on ideas of what to provide), to help fill the voids and make a
positive impact on its own generation, and generations to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to join them in their
unabashed support of a brighter tomorrow through tapping the best resources of
today, please be encouraged to contact them at <a href="mailto:ahale16@sycamores.indstate.edu">ahale16@sycamores.indstate.edu</a>
or at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>. </div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-60873680209581566132016-02-23T13:38:00.002-08:002016-02-23T13:38:29.802-08:00Students as Repeat Customers?
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Students as Repeat Customers?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Kyle A. Thompson</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Regional Superintendent</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regional Office of Education #11</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charleston, Illinois</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doctoral Student</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State University</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Professor</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of Educational Leadership</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of Education</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State University</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine this scenario:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You walk into a car dealership and are
promptly greeted with “Hey there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
are you doing today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything I can help
you with?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A salesperson connects positively with
you upon arrival and enthusiastically assists you throughout your entire car-buying
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You leave feeling the
customer service you received was excellent, knowing you got a great deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As importantly, you leave planning someday to
return!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, picture this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You walk into a car dealership without the
immediate affirmation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks are here
and there, but no one connects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
wander aimlessly for a couple of minutes until you have ask for help, begrudgingly
interrupting someone in an adjacent office to the showroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never really connect with the staff; in
fact, your buying experience is a bit burdensome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You leave thinking you’ll probably not return,
good deal or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you given any thought to your last
car-buying experience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What was it like when you entered the
doors of the dealership for the first time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Car buying can be a bit intimidating
for some; to others, an enjoyable experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is it that makes the difference<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,
for you</i>, between feeling invited and intrusive, or feeling comfortable or
confused?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One car salesperson that we know to be
“The Best of the Best,” once remarked that the key to his success boiled down
to one main thing: Repeat Customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We know any individual can stop into a
dealership, purchase a vehicle, and leave without ever returning, which can
often be the case when seeing a specific vehicle in driving by the dealership
that catches one’s eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, would a
dealership want the sum total of any given quarter’s bottom line, propped up
solely by the sum of one-time purchases?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would argue that drive-by purchases are certainly nice to have, but
not sufficiently sustainable in terms of a business model.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They can supplant, but should not
supplant one’s business plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rather, it is when customers return to
buy their second cars, or better yet their every car thereafter, that
determines long-term success and sustainability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the case both in business and
in P-12 education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if we looked at our students and
families as if they were buying a car – Our schools as dealerships, selling
opportunities for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">great qualities of
lives</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we greet people upon their
entering our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dealerships</i> every
morning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do they get the service they need?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Will they be our repeat customers?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The reasons
people return to their car dealerships for another purchase is the same reason
students and families return to our schools – or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Positive interactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peace of mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The belief they are getting an
all-around great deal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The belief that their needs matter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How do we offer these?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, by ensuring that students are
treated from the moment they enter our showcase to the minute they leave with a
world-class buying experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most car
dealerships have a lounge area with free popcorn and coffee designed to make
the experience better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the
commons area in our buildings that promote a sense of community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are we doing to go the extra mile?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For some, the car-buying process can
take only an hour or two, but for others it may take an entire day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we take into account online shopping,
phone calls, test drives, and counter offers, it can be an exhausting day even
if positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because all
potential buyers bring different currencies with them to the deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have money to put down on a purchase;
others don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, some are savvier
in negotiations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of what they
bring interpersonally, some are more open and flexible; others are more pensive
or rigid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Likewise, all students bring different
currencies to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Students learn at different paces and
have preferred learning styles -- auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have greater abilities to bring
something to the deal, which make teaching and learning easier on everyone
(e.g. prior learning, academic aptitude, or home-fostered motivation).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No matter the currencies brought upon
arrival, it is important for us to be patient and allow students the necessary
time to complete their test drives (formative assessments) in order to affirm
what they have, listen to their needs, and seal the deal (pass tests, master
the standards, or even better, learn things that they’ll remember). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Similarities
between schools and car dealerships are endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to Sinek (2014), “Customers
will never love a company until the employees love it first” (p. 177). Sinek’s intention
was not to make a direct comparison between business and schools; nevertheless,
his work brings to mind the potential number of direct parallels between
automotive dealerships and education, and thus, the probability that students
could very well never love their schools until their teachers and others
inside, DO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Check out the parallels we have provided
in Table 1 below:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The World of Business & Automotive Dealerships</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The World of Education and P-12 </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Schools</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Owner</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Superintendent</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sales Manager</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principal</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Salespeople</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teachers</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Service Department</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Support Personnel</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Customers</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Students (and families)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Different Shopping Styles</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Different Learning Styles</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Online</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Auditory</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visual</span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Test Drives</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kinesthetic</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buying takes 1 to 8 hours, depending
upon what the buyer brings to the sale, and what the salesperson and finance
folks can do with it.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Students learn at different paces,
some needing more time to make their decisions; others needing more time for
the schools to provide what they need in order to move on.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The economy’s influence on business and
purchasing power of customers</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The community’s influence on its
schools and supports available to students</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team Atmosphere:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sales, Finance, Service, </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School Climate: Lesson, Support, and
Relationships.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Business Philosophy and the Way
Business is Done</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School Culture</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fact that the atmosphere can be perceived
as intimidating, or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way,
car buyers have preconceived notions and prior experience.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fact that the atmosphere can be
perceived as intimidating, or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Either way, students and families have preconceived notions and prior
experience.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No-obligation test drive</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opportunities to have positive
experiences with lessons without an expectation that the grade on the trial,
will be that entered into the book.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Warranty</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School/Student/Family Compact</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t want a “lemon”</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t want THAT teacher who the
principal has done nothing about for 15 years.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standard vs. Luxury Package</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="239">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The reality that there will be
different outcomes, hopefully maximizing the return on what students and
families are able to invest.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of the many comparisons we make, the
dealership owner may be a superintendent working behind the scenes to see that
basic operational needs are met and paychecks signed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The service department is the crucial support
personnel our schools depend on to give you every fifth oil change for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our nurses, counselors and cooks who ensure
our customers are running well on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us always be sure to show those
folks they are appreciated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sales manager is the steadfast
principal working diligently to serve his sales force (the teachers and staff)
and customers (students and families) in any way possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Buckingham and Coffman (1999) wrote
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">First, Break All The Rules</i>,
talented employees need great managers. They don’t mean managers in a sense
that they count the absences and patrol the hallways; rather, the authors’
definition of manager is one who has an inside focus on the organization and
takes care of the needs of the people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus,
it is the building principal who sets the tone for what the atmosphere will be
like in all departments throughout the dealership.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are we giving our students the
equivalent of the ultimate car-buying experience, the luxury package?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, they don’t want a lemon, no matter
what they bring to the lot, themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It takes the effort of everyone in the
dealership to generate a happy customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, we ask you: Would your students be repeat customers?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1999). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">First,
break all the rules: What the world’s greatest managers do differently.</i> New
York, NY: Simon & Schuster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sinek, S. (2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leaders
eat last: Why some teams pull together and others don’t.</i> New York, NY:
Penguin Group LLC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">__________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kyle
Thompson and Ryan Donlan encourage P-12 educators that in addition to students’
being, as some would argue, clients and products, that they are also thought of
as customers as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t
necessarily mean that they are always right, but rather their needs are met to
such a degree that their definition of right aligns with ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be a part of this conversation, or even a
repeat customer to such yourself, please don’t hesitate to contact them at </span><a href="mailto:kthompson@roe11.org"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">kthompson@roe11.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-74641485324635475792016-02-16T15:32:00.001-08:002016-02-16T15:32:44.878-08:00Expanding THE WIN; Paring the Competition
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expanding THE WIN; Paring the Competition</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
George Philhower</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant
Superintendent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Western
Wayne Schools</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ph.D.
Student</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan
Donlan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant
Professor</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have recently been struck by the thought that we need to
get better at “doing school” <u>with</u> our students and families instead of “doing
school” <u>to</u> them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, we need to expand THE WIN.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The trouble is that many aspects of school were not designed
with students and families at the center of consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, some aspects of standardized school,
as we know and experience it, can be counterproductive to ensuring all students
succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even perpetuate losing.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much of the work being done in schools these days is in
effort to increase the passing rates on standardized tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this standardized (if not
misapplied) approach is not <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">meeting
the needs of the non-standardized students that we serve, and ironically it is
these individuals who must develop their abilities to create and innovate if
they are to give our country its competitive edge.</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">National initiatives such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, </i>and/or the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Every Student Succeeds Act</i>, as well as our
local efforts through various Response-to-Intervention (RtI) approaches, have
reminded us of the importance of supporting all students, and we have seen some
positive inroads as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a
well-intentioned focus on intervention often leads to discussions about what we
need to be doing <u>to</u> students in order to “help” them achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long it can become dangerously easy to
begin seeing students as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things-to-be-changed</i>,
or worse, as the achievement scores themselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We might rather consider that if our goal is to help all students
reach their potential “to win” in P-12, we must ensure that they are active participants
in the process, empowered in partnership, and that we do “with,” rather than
“to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The longstanding and tiresome, political popularity of
standardized tests and our addiction (affliction) with accountability is
perpetuating an unhealthy mindset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
creates competition when collaboration would better serve our purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Indiana alone, we gained much perspective
on accountability’s impact when last year’s standardized testing results were
made public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These results, as well as
many other aspects of school the way we currently deliver it, do a good job of
perpetuating the perception that the educational process must involve winners
and losers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year’s test results
were a great reminder of the unhealthiness that exists as more teachers and students
(and of course, families) were on the losing team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truth is we shouldn’t have a losing team, and this goes
beyond standardized testing scores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grades, grade levels, report cards, and many other
anthropological artifacts, emblematic of our traditional school system, can serve
as reminders to students of their status – their place in a pecking order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tragedy here is that many of our students
have difficulty believing in themselves, beyond how schools are defining
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Am I smart, or
not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Am I college
material, or not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Am I a good kid, or
not?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
our current system allows some students to win, pass, and succeed, while others
lose, fail, and sit the bench, our students are perceptive enough to know where
they fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one wants to be at the tail
end, where large numbers of students get caught in a degenerating, depressive
cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When children receive F’s, repeat
courses, stall-out at certain grade levels, and sometimes even walk away from
school altogether, their academic futures don’t have much of an upside and they
look for a “win” elsewhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of our practices make about as much sense to students
and families as doctors who diagnose patients without discussing treatment
(such as report cards that tell what happened without offering a prescription
for what can be done next), or rather doctors who sit around a room with other
health care professionals, talking about the patients with each other, rather
than to the patients themselves or their caregivers (such as many
Individualized Planning Meetings/Case Conferences). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps we will never create a system that ensures 100%
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, can we start doing
something that is a good percentage better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This might begin with our rethinking the constructs that currently
define education as a competitive sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Admittedly, class rank, honor roll, and a focus on
achievement (especially achievement based on some arbitrary level, determined
by a student’s date of manufacture) work to motivate some; however, these
criteria serve as barriers to many more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our odds of helping all students win would dramatically increase if we
could rethink some of the traditional structures of our schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if instead of focusing on
age-based achievement, we would focus on and celebrated the amount of academic growth
a student makes during a given time period, despite age and a given grade’s
cut-off date?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if instead of allowing students to
fail, we would simply give them more time to demonstrate success?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that if we were on a road trip across
the country and fell a bit behind schedule, we wouldn’t arbitrarily go back to
our starting point again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would simply
continue on, getting to our destination a bit late, yet successfully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if instead of holding schools
accountable for the percentage of students who graduate in a given number of
years, we would affirm them for the students they graduate, regardless of how
long it takes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pressure to get
students through high school in a standardized amount of time is simply silly,
from the perspective of those who can think logically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if instead of viewing the school
experience through a paradigm of adulthood, we would consider the perspectives
of students. We don’t have any chance at reaching the students who are not
finding success until we can see school as they are seeing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if instead of requiring students to
wait passively for us to tell them how they are performing, we would help them
take ownership of their learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might
we ask them to fill-out their own progress reports?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And last but not least, as we bring parents along, we might
better remember that they grew up in a system where not everyone could win
either, and many of our parents were not labeled “winners.” Perhaps this has a
lot to do with why they often enter our conversations on the defensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some parents want to protect their children from feeling
like they had – as failures – and their #1 goal is to ensure their
babies-of-all-ages don’t feel their pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others live vicariously in the unhealthy competition, and their #1 goal
is to receive credit for their babies’ victories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ensuing drama drains everyone’s
energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until we can change the system,
we need to be hyper-aware of these mindsets, in which our current system runs
the risk of perpetuating as more “fixed-” than “growth-.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In an academic arena that provides a more collaborative,
mutually uplifting playing field, where school is done <u>with</u> students and
their families instead of <u>to</u> them, everyone could better enjoy the school
experience, and our opportunities to help all students experience success each
day would increase dramatically. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can we better ensure that everyone enjoys being part of a place
that allows for success each day, one that expands “THE WIN”? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George Philhower and Ryan Donlan want the same thing for our
nation’s schools – a facelift in perspective, as well as a facelift in
performance expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would
like to join their conversation, please feel free to contact them anytime at </span><a href="mailto:gphilhower@wwayne.k12.in.us"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">gphilhower@wwayne.k12.in.us</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-19676488717728923692016-02-10T09:02:00.000-08:002016-02-11T04:40:24.971-08:00We Know Why the Caged Bird Sings<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Erica
Buchanan-Rivera</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Director of
Curriculum and Instruction &</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elementary Principal</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Traders Point
Christian Academy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ph.D. Student</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State
University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">& </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of
Educational Leadership</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of
Education</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State
University</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Excerpt from<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings </i>by Maya
Angelou</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The caged bird sings</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">with a fearful trill</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">of things unknown</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">but longed for still</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and his tune is heard</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">on the distant hill</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">for the caged bird</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">sings of freedom.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do children, at times, assume roles as
caged birds within our educational settings? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In so far that schools operate as
political systems under principles of conformity and assimilation, this can
certainly be argued. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider how social
contexts and living experiences of children can collide with the norms of
school – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compounded as well by the
diversification of norms and folkways within any given facility, including those
pertaining to classroom, cafeteria, recess, and hallway procedures</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cultural values, language, and
opportunities for connectivity (a.k.a. foundational aspects of learning) can
be, without consideration of the whole child, disregarded for test preparation,
rote memorization, and expectations of compliance. Our caged birds are forced
to play a game called school, despite the perplexity of its rules and the untended
cracks within its foundation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Educators possess the abilities to
repair the foundation, and certainly, the keys to unlock our caged birds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do we use them? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We hold the power to transfer children
from a realm of despair, or even a malaise of ambivalence, to a world of
possibilities. This transference involves first listening carefully for the unheard
tunes of children and then amplifying them under sound leadership and
management at the district, building, and classroom levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be said that the pensive trills of the
endangered Piping Plover can transcend into a voice heard in a world of better
listeners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine if it were able,
through an insatiable passion, to unravel its future. Although educators hold
the power to dismantle the cage, we must understand the conditions of our birds
while encouraging them to freedom. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you know why the caged bird sings?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The caged bird, our student, sings for
identity. Students desire to see their strengths mirrored within the
classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They desire to be noticed by
a teacher-as-talent-scout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children want
to be recognized for their contributions, thoughts, feelings, and the aspects
that make them unique. They want educators to see and affirm their beautiful
intersections of cultural autobiography that incorporate race, ethnicity,
language, and familial traditions – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their
stories</i>, as each story shapes the way they respond and interact socially. If
we understand student identity, we can dismantle the bars that sustain the
cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We can encourage ascension. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you know why the caged bird sings?</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The student sings for authenticity. As
educational leaders, we must create a space within learning environments where
students can construct personally meaningful knowledge that generates
representations of their learning. Building upon our last point, the
environment should be characterized as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">identity
safe</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children are capable of
devising questions that drive instruction rather than submitting to mundane prescription.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have the dittos and worksheets of the
past been replaced only with a pacing guide? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or are we allowing that which makes students
unique to chart a course? Students yearn to learn through meaningful
experiences and discussions that elicit multiple perspectives. Environments supporting
inquiry-based learning can honor children’s rights to imagine and investigate.
And it is important to note that students are capable learning from their
mistakes. Authenticity requires productive struggle, and a child’s failing
forward should be celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The caged
bird wants its individualized flight plan honored, with our acceptance of the wind,
leaves, gravel, and dirt stirred up along the way. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you know why the caged bird sings?</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Students sing, hopeful that in school, they
can develop images of self-worth. They want unconditional positive regard, for
who they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children intuitively know
when educators demonstrate care, or conversely, dismissiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They intrinsically protect their well being,
either by allowing others in, or shutting others out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds odd, but in the worst of
circumstances, their cages – as stifling as they are – protect them from
harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harm comes in all shapes and sizes,
as does a child’s self-worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Educators
are in an instrumental position to affirm a child’s positive self-worth, and
through such, foster student potential. Self-worth is a foundational component
of self-efficacy, and with this efficacy, c</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">hildren
are capable of embracing new challenges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As classrooms serve a window through which our
beliefs become overt, the educators within who harmonize their beliefs with the
songs of children transcend barriers that hinder learning.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is
your song of advocacy for the caged bird?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">believe that c</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">hildren are
spiritual, worthwhile, reflective, exploratory, intellectual, creative,
needy-yet-powerful beings who consistently try to make sense of their
worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They portray and have an
inherent aura of innocence, which unconsciously enables them to embrace the
values of acceptance, trust, and diversity.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> They are in a place where if allowed
to interact authentically, they will develop the desired sense of
identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Children investigate their curiosities
and dare to take risks before pondering the consequences. Some might call this <i>learning</i>.
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through interaction</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">s</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, children
simultaneously l</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">earn
about their values and boundaries, which enable them to see themselves as unique
individuals, and others as well</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although our children often sing cries
for identity, authenticity, and an affirmation of their own belief systems (or
those shaped by their caregivers at home, healthy or not), as educators, we
must admit that our abilities to fly in formation with them are, under current
professional circumstance, hindered by the reality that often we get our own wings
clipped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We want to engage our children in
authentic work, yet spend more time analyzing the semantics of assessments. We
allow data to drive us, rather than to inform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Curricular programs lock us into teaching styles that may not reflect
our philosophies. It used to be that one of our professional shortcomings was
that we teach the way we were taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nowadays, it seems that we don’t even have this luxury.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With staunch accountability, we teach
the way we are told will produce the best test results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In such, we tend to lose patience with the
birds that are free, expressive, and audacious … eventually finding ways to
inadvertently cage them through regimentation if they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good</i>, and disciplinary procedures if they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">different</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is difficult
to see beyond the bars of our own cages, that without the best leadership and
management at the local level, are constructed upon the blueprints of today’s
educational politics.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your song? To whom is your song
dedicated?</span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We know why children sing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, we know the songs of educators. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our songs cannot be sung in isolation. Their synchronization
must take place to blend a harmonic movement – a movement that perpetuates
educational autonomy that embraces student voice, and student flight. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is our time to be heard.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is our time to be free. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Works Consulted</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Greenman, J. (1998). <i>Caring places, learning spaces.</i>
Redmond, WA: Exchange Press.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rothstein-Fisch, C., & Trumbull, E. (2008). <i>Managing
diverse classrooms: How to build on students’ cultural strengths. </i>Alexandria,
VA: ASCD.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">________________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Erica Buchanan Rivera
and Ryan Donlan wish to champion a system of schools that allows for educators
to lead and manage in a way that embraces individuality, connectedness,
creativity, and diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wish
to join their conversation, please be encouraged to contact them at
ebuchanan2@sycamores.instate.edu or at ryan.donlan@indstate.edu.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-83289666406050469282016-02-01T05:44:00.001-08:002016-02-01T05:44:17.338-08:00Combines in Schools? Recruiting #1 Draft Picks
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Combines in Schools? </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recruiting #1 Draft Picks</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Kyle Barrentine</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principal,
Decatur Middle School</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MSD
of Decatur Township</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PhD
Student</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">&</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan
Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant
Professor</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department
of Educational Leadership</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh
College of Education</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana
State University</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The NFL Draft is still three months
away, yet the screening of prospects and the ranking of “applicants” have
already started. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality, recruiting
#1 draft picks is an ongoing, day-to-day process, where NFL scouts, general
managers, and coaches keep track of prospects all year long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This weekend, college football seniors
will participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama where they will be
evaluated by hundreds of NFL scouts. These scouts will be projecting players’
abilities to be successful in the NFL. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In another month, players who have
declared for the NFL draft will come to Indianapolis, Indiana to once again be
evaluated by hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches. Players will be poked, prodded,
interviewed, and challenged in both physical and mental tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the Draft Combine, NFL teams will
host targeted players for more intense testing and interviewing; some NFL
prospects will even host a “pro day,” where they set the schedule and the
activities that they will complete during this time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The goal of it all is for teams to find the very best
players to join them, so that they can achieve at higher levels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t this what principals should be doing
when they search for teachers to employ . . . to find the very best teachers so
that their school teams can achieve at higher levels? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
we believe this process, borne of football, can bear fruit, yielding positive
results in any given K-12 school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order to accomplish this, principals MUST look for a #1
draft pick, each and every time they have a position open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every hire must be better than the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our friend Dr. Todd Whitaker notes,
principals should want their schools to become more like their new teachers;
new teachers ideally would not become more like their schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyone disagreeing probably isn’t a Pro-Bowler in the first
place, let alone one that should be starting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order for principals to repeatedly find #1 draft picks, they
must have specific, intentional processes that they follow for recruiting,
screening, and interviewing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can’t
exist only in the spring and summer at the height of the hiring season; not
unlike the NFL, this process must be an ongoing, yearlong experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recruiting consistently and intentionally can’t
be emphasized enough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Principal-as-TALENT-SCOUT
is the only way to play the game, as finding the best candidates and having systems
in place to locate them, is what instructional leadership is all about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How’s it done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather
simply, really. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One system that principals could use would be to create,
compile, and update a database of potential teaching candidates. Destination
events provide the low-hanging fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
principals attend teacher recruitment fairs, they could create a database of
candidates that would look similar to the one below.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Name</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teaching Area</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">College</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rating</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Contact Info</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chad
Champion</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">English
5-12</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GreatU</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9-10</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="mailto:cchampion@hismail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cchampion@hismail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alison
All-Star</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Social
Studies</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AvgU</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4-5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="mailto:steacher@hotmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aallstart@hermail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Etc.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Etc.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Etc.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Etc.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Etc.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principals might further populate this database any time they
have student teachers, or even substitute teachers, in the building. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might create a running list of students
who declare interest in teaching, when they graduate from high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deft principals may even begin the recruiting
process with elective classes in middle school or high school that allow those
interested in teaching to work with students in younger grades, under the
guidance of the best teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
might even offer these younglings a more formalized observation or evaluation,
as part of their class grade, similar to what their teachers experience as part
of their profession.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a great opportunity to observe teaching in the
classroom and to have informal conversations with those impressionable and
energetic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great way to influence
mindset and the possibilities of lifelong service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, don’t most NFL players dream of the
big league while still in school?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
should those who end-up as educators wait until their undergraduate experiences
to dream a dream . . . to visualize?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When principals then have openings in the teaching ranks,
their lists (databases) could be the first places they go in order to begin recruiting
and screening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would be the
equivalent of the NFL’s draft board. Maintained and updated from year to year,
a principal’s database of candidates would grow as a rich resource. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So would the list of kids wanting to come home to their alma
maters, moving back into their communities and raising families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place-bound educators “by choice,” with civic
ties and community connections . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it
just doesn’t get any better than that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course, having a draft system is
one thing; the next, critical step in the hiring process would be the
interview. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Principals, like NFL coaches,
need to bring their own version of “game” to everyone’s first impression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lazlo Bock, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Senior Vice President for People Operations at Google,
shared Google’s goal when interviewing:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember too that you don’t just want
to assess the candidate. You want them to fall in love with you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want them to have a great experience, have
their concerns addressed, and come away feeling like they just had the best day
of their lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always worth
investing time to make sure they feel good at the end of it, because they will
tell other people about their experience—and because it’s the right way to
treat people. </span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes;">(</span><span style="font-family: Times;">Bock, 2015, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">p. 90)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">The interview is really the step that
closes the deal for your #1 draft pick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
process should be appropriately challenging for all candidates, loose/tight in
its format, while consistent to a certain degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be fair and legal, yet malleable
enough to allow for a candidate’s creativity and diversity to shine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Since principals are hiring people to
teach, and thus in a sense, to better lives through inspiration, it is
important that principals actually SEE what teachers can do, as opposed to
hearing what teachers think they can do, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or
university professors said they can do</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The interview process should include an evaluation of the prospects’
abilities to “bring game” to the subjects for which they might compete. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pose that this competition might involve
students as commentators, more often than not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">In his book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What the Dog Saw</i>, Malcolm Gladwell wrote
that there really isn’t anything an interviewer can learn about candidates
before they start that will predict how they will perform once they’re hired,
so how do people really know whom to choose (Gladwell, 2009, p. 317)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We respectfully note that much can be predicted
accurately, if principals and teams are willing to take the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">The Super Bowl is just
around the corner, and thus, another great season of NFL action is about to
conclude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well . . . from our sides of
the television sets, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
anything but time off for those who consider themselves only as good as their
next day’s best work, which must include achieving a bit more than last season,
with folks who can run a bit faster, compete a bit longer, and score more
effectively, as that is what the profession demands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Combines in Schools, and
recruiting #1 draft picks, can offer the same levels of success, with
persistent leadership effort in growing a portfolio of viable recruits, and a
selection process that works to garner the best.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">References</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Bock, L. (2015). </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Work rules!:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insights from inside Google that will
transform how </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>you live and lead</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
New York, NY: Hachette Book Group. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Gladwell, M. (2009). </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the dog saw and other adventure</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
New York, NY: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Little,
Brown, and Company. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">___________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Kyle
Barrentine and Ryan Donlan are vigilant in their efforts to make each day
better than the last, and each year more productive and successful in the
education profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ideas
on how you are ensuring the best possible draft picks, as well as processes, in
your school, please contact them at </span><a href="mailto:kbarrentine@msddecatur.k12.in.us"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">kbarrentine@msddecatur.k12.in.us</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would certainly like to borrow a page out of your playbook.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-5413308203844905972016-01-20T07:37:00.001-08:002016-01-20T13:06:41.604-08:00Shifting the Monkey: "Mine vs. Yours," to "Ours"<style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Shifting the Monkey:
“Mine vs. Yours,” to “Ours”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Dr. E. Scott
England</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Northside Elementary School</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fairfield, Illinois</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">&</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department of Educational Leadership</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bayh College of Education</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indiana State University</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bad words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’re taught from a young age not to use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the very least, we are taught not to use them in
professional settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what about a
series of “good” words that come together to form bad statements?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Allow us to explain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ll begin with the phrase, “That’s my job.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s innocent enough, to the point, maybe
even said with a bit of pride and an inflated chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Innocence comes to a screeching halt,
however, when one adds the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our eardrums shudder when we hear someone say, “That’s not
my job” or “That’s not my problem.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Indulge us for a moment as we set the scene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine we’re at a restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a busy, up-and-coming restaurant with a
fresh menu and inviting atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
heard nothing but rave reviews about the Mediterranean salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We place our order, looking forward to the
homemade sundried tomato vinaigrette dressing drizzled over the delicious salad
topped with feta cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the server
turns to leave, we remember: “Would it be at all possible to get that without
olives?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The server smiles and says
absolutely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Back in the kitchen, the server puts in the order with the
chefs before rushing back out to serve another table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while our order comes up in the
kitchen ready to be delivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our
server grabs it, she notices it has olives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bringing it to the attention of the kitchen staff, the chef tells the
server it wasn’t written on the ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The server apologizes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With a roll of the eyes and shrug of the shoulder the chef
says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s not my problem,</i> as he
turns his attention back to cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
to be rebuffed, the server comes back with a quick, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fixing it is not my job</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We now have a problem, and stuck in the middle of it all is our
Mediterranean salad that is slowly absorbing the aroma of olive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the case of your salad—as is with most cases—someone will
intervene to solve the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
it’s the disgruntled chef, the offended server, or even the owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all honesty, even the maître dˊ is
qualified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But are there winners and losers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we even really have a winner in this
situation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s apply the same scenario to education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine a teacher coming to a principal seeking guidance
about a student with behavioral problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously to us, a response of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s
not my job</i> is not going to set well with the teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It probably wouldn’t happen explicitly, but
what about the implicitly?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal: “What I’m hoping that you’ll do is to talk with
your mentor teacher about how to exhaust all of your best efforts before
sending the student to the office and removing from class.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(That’s not my job)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal: “I’d be happy to send you to some professional
development on Assertive Discipline.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(That’s
not my job)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal: “Have you talked with the guidance counselor
about the student?” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(That’s not my job)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal: “Will you please let me know how your
conversation goes with the parents?” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(That’s
not my job)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What all of these iterations have in common is one thing: An
abrogation of responsibility.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More so, it WILL become the principal’s job when efforts
fall short and that student does something to make an office visit, and more
serious consequences, unavoidable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Instead, a principal might jump at the opportunity to serve
as a teacher of teachers – to guide teachers through various classroom
management practices and model them directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The same should apply with assessment strategies, communication skills,
technology practices, and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is not-at-all to say that the principal should be the
best teacher in the building, as many instructional leadership proponents seem
to contend for effective principaling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather, principals should be open, resourceful, and persistent in asking
no more of their folks than they would try themselves, in full view of all
around them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For example: How about the irate parent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this case, we are referring to the irate parent who, as a
hobby, causes grief to anyone in the school district, more often than not
without cause, and typically follows up his/her expletives with a rant on
Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, circumstances often call
for the teacher delivering a note or in some way communicating to the parent,
with rebuff and retribution a certainty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would pose in circumstances where principals have considered
effective modeling, and through such an expansion of their own job duties, teachers
might be more apt to follow-through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In those circumstances of clear demarcation, the engendered
faculty response might be stopping by the office to inform the principal that
he informed the parent if there is any issue needing follow-up, an
appointment can be made with the principal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">School culture borne of leadership influence allows them to
say, indirectly … <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s not my job!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This pernicious perspective begets a complicated array of
skewed paradigms and professional finger-pointing, all of which do nothing to
bring schools and families together around the important, common interest of
parental involvement toward a quality education for everyone’s children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s
not my problem</i> becomes banter for both sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strategies for dealing with these situations and many others,
once derailed, as well as how to prevent them altogether, can be found in our
friend and colleague, Dr. Todd Whitaker’s book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shifting the Monkey</i> (Whitaker, 2012).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s not my
job!</i> rears its homely utterance, the situation is typically associated with
one of two phenomena: (a) A monkey is being shifted by a lazy, shirking
employee (or possibly a good person working for a poor leader) or (b) A monkey shifting
back to its correct spot but is being rejected by a lazy, shirking employee (or
possibly a good person working for a poor leader).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As you can see, these phrases (in most cases) bring negative
outcomes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is not to say we as leaders shouldn’t, at times, think these
thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s okay to admit how
annoying it is to us when teachers pass off an irate parent for the sake of not
wanting to deal with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is okay to
think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is not my problem</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But imagine the detriment that ensues when a leader operationalizes
these thoughts into behavior, either intended or unintended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shifting the monkey professionally, yet
clearly, while modeling what needs to be modeled to assist in skill development
along the way, lets others know, first, that the educational challenges that
present themselves really are, OUR jobs, as is our success at rectifying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Schools are busy places full of busy people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sure way to drive uphill in this congestion
would be to allow the phrases <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s not
my job </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s not my problem</i> to
become more the rule than the exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders who take the time to educate their teams and staffs on
how to handle situations they may feel unprepared to tackle (and thus, SHIFT
THE APPROPRIATE MONKEYS as Dr. Whitaker teaches us) bring about an expansion of
everyone’s job description so that a daily reality of “All hands on deck” allows
everyone to handle our daily reality -- All Other Duties as Assigned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">References</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whitaker, T. (2012). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shifting
the monkey: The art of protecting good people from liars, criers, and other
slackers</i>. Bloomington, IN: Triple Nickel Press.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-82794043054375939152016-01-05T06:14:00.002-08:002016-01-05T06:14:44.510-08:00It's 2016: Where's Your Hammock?
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It’s 2016: Where’s Your Hammock?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Assistant Professor</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Department of
Educational Leadership</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Bayh College of
Education</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Indiana State
University</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">&</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dr. Steve Gruenert</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Professor and
Department Chair</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Department of
Educational Leadership</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Bayh College of
Education</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Indiana State
University</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>School principals can kill their schools
in just a few years (Donlan & Gruenert, 2016).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eerily (and ironically), it only requires they
do a handful of things that some K-12 leaders, at times, belief will save
schools, ideas suckled through bottles of imposed accountability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s now 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Consider that through federal reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), we might be seeing a possible
pendulum swing away from nationally prescriptive school-running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t this be sweet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this opportunity, we encourage you to
embrace even further your leadership prowess, if given more opportunities for
local control and innovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Yet be mindful of the risks involved, as any opportunities we
now have, bring with them an obligation to step away from certain tunes that
have been playing in our heads since 2002 – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a player-piano of extrinsic school improvement
measures promulgated for an intrinsic profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We certainly don’t want you grooving to that beat and
unintentionally killing your school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thus, we propose a New Year’s
resolution for principals and teams.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The most relevant gift that you could give your school in
terms of a leadership do-over is to promise to spend 5 to 15 minutes each week
with a closed office door, doing something with the right side of your
brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we encourage you to ask your
teachers and staff to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It’ll be time well-spent!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Metaphorically, we want you to install a hammock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What’s this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Plainly and simply, it’s taking time for YOU to build your
personal and professional capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take
time to read something different, just once each week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s a blog, or a book of weekly reads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could even be children’s literature, or
poetry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Might even be that you listen to
classical music, or as we like . . . classic rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might simply look out the window, at the
sky, or think back to your last trip to the gas station or convenience
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be looking through an
old photo album or yearbook, reminiscing on what used to work, and can again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What we’re asking you to do is to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">turn your mind to the right</i> (its creative side) and apply disparate
concepts to the way you do your job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think
about how all of these different things you see in life, each and every day, apply
to leadership or teaching, and could potentially be used to improve student
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Lie down on your metaphorical hammock, if only briefly, and
don’t feel guilty about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By asking “Where’s your hammock?” (Donlan
& Gruenert, 2016), we mean:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Where do you go, during school hours for a
few minutes each week, to ponder uninterruptedly?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Where do you spend a few moments each day, thinking
unconventionally?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“How do you carve out a brief respite in the
right side of your brain, amidst a left-driven job description?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These are important questions for
leaders to begin thinking about themselves, and then sharing with teams, by way
of example and activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s especially important as it seems
that at times, it is difficult to reach our school’s vision (a right-brained
ideal, by the way) by way of our school’s mission (our left-brained train ride).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A linear path rarely results in a non-linear
outcome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
How about a right-brained school mission instead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Not necessarily the redevelopment of your mission’s WHAT; rather
your mission’s HOW.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Consider these specifics as starters:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Can we unleash our leadership minds and think of a new way of
getting from here, to there (wherever <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there</i> are, for you)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More particularly, could the year 2016 be one
in which our Professional Learning Communities take on a different look, possibly
more “data-informed,” than “data-driven” . . . more “adult-centered” with
permission to actually pay attention to the needs of adults . . . more focused
on what we know are the right things to do, rather than what we’re told must
happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We believe that schools can function no higher than the
personal and professional capacities of those doing the educating, and to be
quite frank as we share in our Indiana Principal Leadership Institute, a school
can perform no higher than its leader. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
That’s YOU.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Imagine the possibilities if in the year 2016, principals and
their teams could have deeper conversations about what schools could be, and
what schools must do, taking just a short time each week to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might suggest supplanting the next review
of a pacing guide or lesson-debrief with some hammock time for some creative
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Why not have your team bring their hammocks together in the
staff lounge, or at a local coffee shop? Have some fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn your minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do something together that you typically
don’t do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Imagine if we took the time at staff
meetings to provide space, then voice, to those more introverted, especially
those who are rarely heard<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wouldn’t it be
cool if those of us in the profession entrusted with training children to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">think</i>, would actually be given time and
permission from leadership to think, ourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The culture may tell you not to do it . . . a recent tweet from a
business consultant reminds us that if our new hires do not embrace the current
culture, then there will be issues with trust, yet if that new hire is the
principal, then nothing will change. Nothing will change without some creative
thinking prior to the change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thinking</i> might make
teaching thinking skills a bit easier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Bob Chadwick from Consensus Associates once noted, “To go
fast, sometimes you have to go slow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughts
of Aesop’s fable, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tortoise and the
Hare</i> come to mind as well, as we ask you to consider not only the pacing
guides of your teachers and classrooms, but also the pacing guides for your leadership
and your lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Could we all reap a bit more return on our investment with a
weekly “downshift,” or as we say, time on a hammock thinking of ways we could
re-experience our profession?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It’s now 2016, and thus, we ask by way of resolution, “Where’s
your hammock?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">References</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Donlan, R., &
Gruenert, S. (2016). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Minds unleashed: How
principals can lead the right-brained way. </i>Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield Education.</div>
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<br /></div>
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____________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan and Dr. Steve
Gruenert invite you to join them as they unleash their minds to talk about
school reinvention, in terms of reform, redesign, and reimagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can be reached at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@instate.edu"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">ryan.donlan@instate.edu</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> or </span><a href="mailto:steve.gruenert@indstate.edu"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">steve.gruenert@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-36400463212683727222015-12-09T16:11:00.000-08:002015-12-10T03:05:53.540-08:00A Great Principal's "Any-Given Afternoon"<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">A Great Principal’s “Any-Given Afternoon”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Assistant Professor</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Department of Educational Leadership</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bayh College of Education</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indiana State University</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I drove down a Michigan
expressway earlier today, I called my wife and asked her to verify an address: I
was going to make an impromptu (admittedly uninvited) visit to the school-building
address of Principal Michele Corbat (@MicheleCorbat) of Morrish Elementary School
in Swartz Creek Michigan, who was kind enough recently to endorse an upcoming
book that I have coming out with Dr. Steve Gruenert.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wanted to thank her and to see
what she was up to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Michele has a large social media
following, an international professional learning network; she is the co-author
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">COLchat Reflections: Creating a
Culture of Learning One Day at a Time</i>, and has a reputation for being an
incredibly successful K-12 school leader, and thus one of the busiest people on
the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
One might assume you can’t just drop by and see someone like
this, but I bet different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Michele is a GREAT building principal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I didn’t have much time, as I was
traveling between destinations myself, yet I was betting that at 4:30 p.m. today,
Michele might be quite predictable, indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She would probably be in her building, helping teachers and staff wind
down their days, helping others wind-up their evenings, and doing about a
hundred things that she didn’t get done during the day, because folks needed
her to do other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I was right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In pulling into my parking space, I saw Michele with a smile at
the school’s entrance, greeting families as they were visiting, waving to
others who were leaving, and helping with what I believed was a school
fundraiser. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
These things weren’t delegated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Michele didn’t have a small army of “peeps” handling her
clerical or public relations work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
other great K-12 leaders I know, she was assuming the lion’s share of
everything that was going on at that moment in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
She was “principaling,” even with few people left in the
building.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And the best part about it . . . she made me feel like a
million dollars when I arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
have thought that I was the only one in the building, even with her greeting
others by name as they passed, making them feel like a million dollars as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I began this week writing a Leadershop article on the
conditions of our school buildings after the day is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might not run it, because my interests have
shifted, yet I will say this about that topic: I believe if schools have a
culture that engenders pride and self-worth, a principal’s school building at
the conclusion of any given day will still allow principals to impress visitors
with how nice everything looks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Morrish Elementary was such a place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What a great feeling to be in Michele’s “house,” even if
staying only a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed
our brief talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to
visiting again, maybe with some warning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What I will say in closing is how much pride I have knowing
that our best principals around the nation, like Michele Corbat, are probably quite
predictable in what they might be doing, whom they might be greeting, and where
they might be making a true difference, on any given afternoon . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
. . . At their school entrances, in their office doorways, or
readying for a school event, doing too many things to count, yet ensuring that
when we visit, we feel like the only ones on their calendars, at those moments
in time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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___________________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan believes that
K-12 principals keep him relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you’re a building principal, please continue helping him in this regard by
contacting him from time to time and letting him know “What’s Up?” in your
building, and thus allowing him to pass-on the story of how you make a
difference to his PhD students, as well as the groups to which he speaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can be reached at (812) 237-8624 or at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-3354395963992731392015-12-02T10:30:00.002-08:002015-12-02T10:31:13.909-08:00Do They Know Their Influence? Maxine, Shirley, and Lauren<style>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Do They Know Their Influence? </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Maxine, Shirley, and Lauren</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">By Dr. Nicole Singer</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Assistant Principal</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Leo Jr./Sr. High
School, East Allen County Schools</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As a writer new to the Ed Leadershop, I reviewed numerous
past installments in order to ascertain how my writing should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i> to the reader. I determined that
many of the posts were written in a conversational tone and took an ordinary,
everyday event and applied it to life, as well as leadership.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
While sitting at a recent professional development session
where Drs. Donlan, Gruenert, and Whitaker presented, I wondered what the
purpose of the session was, as my “left-brained” mind had trouble following
along. The session was entitled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Minds
Unleashed: How Principals Can Lead the Right-Brained Way</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the session ended, it became clear the
goal was to cause us to think differently and to look at things through a
different lens . . . even if after knowing this, we would have difficulty
finding meaning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I had this difficulty, and yet used a bit of reflection to my
advantage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
On the over two-hour solo drive home, I had time to think and
began to synthesize what I had learned over the years at State, throughout my
eighteen years in education (ten in educational administration), and in life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
One thing became completely evident: I need people in my
life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I know, you are probably wondering how this revelation of
needing people in my life is looking at something through a different lens.
Well, until this point, unless you read the byline, I have not identified
myself. All I will say at this point is that I am a female leader in school
administration working in a sea of men and sometimes one that must have a thick
skin in order to really hear people and understand their perspective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I have been nicknamed “The High Commander” by some. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I’d like to think the nickname conjures images of Condoleeza
Rice, Colon Powell, Mother Theresa, or Abraham Lincoln (all great leaders), but
I’m not sure that was the intent of the nickname. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not minding the intention, I take the name as
a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">high</i> compliment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of those individuals are wise, respected,
consistent, and fair. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Who could go wrong following these leaders?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Now, back to needing people … I need the right people. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As a female leader, it is important to have different kinds
of people in my life, each with his or her own roles to fulfill. My right
people start with the woman I admire most – my grandmother. She was not
educated past the 8th grade, but boy, could that woman spell. And, I am not
sure ever a day went by for her where hard work was not a part of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised five boys, handled live snakes left
in pockets, and cooked for what was a small army. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I recall a story she once told about one particular evening.
Grandma shared that she was playing baseball with her boys one summer after
dinner, and a neighbor lady inquired why she was playing ball instead of doing dishes.
Grandma looked the neighbor lady in the eye and said, “My boys will only be
young once. Those dishes will be there tomorrow.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What grit to go against the grain in the 1950s!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Next is the woman who taught me all the things I didn’t learn
at home. This woman taught me to think for myself, to be confident, to dress
well, and to act like a lady no matter the situation (sometimes I need to do
this better).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also taught me to cook,
sew, as well as to understand the value of fine china and to be passionate
about what is important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
So many of these skills, learned in my formative teenage
years, have made me the graceful woman I am today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Lastly, I turn to the woman who gives me my energy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
This young lady is a former student of mine, turned close
friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is professional, not afraid
to live life to the fullest (and on the spur of the moment), and what she says
is gold. Her determination has taken her far in her 26 years, and I am excited
to be a part of the journey as she continues in life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
My only fear, really, is that I am turning into her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Woman #2</i>, but I guess that is not all
bad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You are probably thinking, this lady (me) has had some strong,
positive females in her life, but how does that have anything to do with
looking at things through a different lens? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it was during that solo ride home from a
leadership conference when I realized I am who I am, because of these women. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I have grit, grace, and gumption.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I challenge you to think differently about who has made you
the leader you are. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Ask yourself, “Who has shaped me?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“How have they influenced my life?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“How have they made me who I am?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Then do something it takes courage to do, something that many
may find a bit different: Consider telling them exactly what they mean to you.
Those words may truly be the best gift they could ever receive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And as one of the great men in my life, Dr. Terry McDaniel,
might say, “It could be their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lollipop</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moment</i>.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
_________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Nicole Singer is a Ph.D.
graduate of the Department of Educational Leadership in the Bayh College of
Education at Indiana State University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is a school leader, dedicated to educational excellence in our
nation’s schools, and can be reached at: drsinger13@gmail.com</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-61491335189170760302015-11-18T06:02:00.001-08:002015-11-18T06:02:42.063-08:00When the Foot Disappears
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt;">When the
Foot Disappears</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Professor</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of Educational
Leadership</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of Education</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State University</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My wife and I
take our children to the bus stop each morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We do so because
it’s nice hanging-out with them before school, and we feel fortunate that our
university schedules allow us this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus, our children are 11 and 10, and it’s still a bit dark in the
morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something about
each morning stays with me in my mind, and in my heart, as I drive to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the foot disappears</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That would be
Sean or Katelyn’s foot, by the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we sit in my
truck, the bus typically arrives perpendicular to our direction from the right,
which puts the door of the bus on the opposite side of the road, out of my
sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we exchange hugs and kisses,
our children will hop from the truck, they’ll look left, right, and left again,
and will cross the road as the bus’s lights flash.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All I can then
see is a pair of little feet on the far side of the bus’s engine and driver’s
seat above, as they stick out ahead of the wheel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s when that
last foot ascends upward <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and disappears</i>
each day that I reflect how much I love my children, each morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes I can
see a silhouette make its way toward a seat; sometimes not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the foot disappears, I know that for a
time, someone else is handling the care and feeding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Someone else will
have great influence over what happens, next.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As my children’s
feet disappear, I’m blessed not having to fret about how they are treated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't often worry, “Will they feel
successful at what they try, and be successful at what they do, during the
workday?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a great support
system at school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I never really
ponder, “Will they come home feeling worse than when they left?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children teachers and principals are very
good, once their feet appear on their end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That makes all the difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What about your
teachers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your leaders?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you say that when
children arrive, they are thought of as fondly as when their feet disappeared
from a parent’s view, only a short time prior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do all of your students
feel loved, knowing that adults are trying their best to offer a nice day . .
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that they’ll be missed as well, when their
feet disappear from your view in the afternoon?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does each student
in your school have a smile when boarding and de-boarding, a warm welcome in
every classroom, and a caring adult offering them unconditional positive regard,
as they move from one location to another?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are hallways places of celebration and affirmation?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does each have an
adult looking on, with heartfelt reflection, when each foot disappears?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">_______________________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr.
Ryan Donlan believes that all of our K-12 feet, large and small, should have
guardian angels and open hearts in every school, all the days of the school
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your faculty and staffs are not
studying the foot traffic, then possibly the opportunity will prioritize itself
at the next staff meeting, somewhere amidst talk of pacing guides and
performance outcomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always willing to
have a nice conversation, Dr. Donlan can be reached at (812) 237-8624 or at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-21053957417302644492015-11-04T16:27:00.002-08:002015-11-04T16:30:58.210-08:00If Students Ruled . . .<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">If Students Ruled . . . </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Assistant Professor</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Department of Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Bayh College of Education</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Indiana State University</span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If students ruled K-12 education, we
might find a change or two around here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder what kids would come-up with, in
terms of school redesign, by decree . . . </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hallways would be places to slow down and make
friends, rather than places to “move along.” </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teachers would reclaim the ability to spend
more time on the units they like, because the fun would rub-off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adults would respond each morning like long-distance
grandparents when kids arrive.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exclamation points would be removed from all
signs, unless they’re celebrating something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Student handbooks would stop being hammers
and “all other things as proscribed.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bathroom stalls would have doors attached; soap
containers would be full.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everyone could eat and drink, all day long.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The principal WOULD be a “pal.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teachers would smile more and “pace” less.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adults would stop taking cuts in the lunch
line.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Recess would ROCK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be protected.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Librarians would again be allowed to spend their
time helping children select good books.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School would start a bit later in the
morning.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Each classroom would have a Keurig, refrigerator,
and overstuffed couch.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Electronic devices would be encouraged as
learning and social media tools.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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These ideas aren’t really so radical, are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Many of us are even recognizing our own schools here.</span></div>
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<br />
What might we get if kids ruled and wanted to move beyond
these basic notions of “school redesign” above, to something bigger, like SCHOOL
REIMAGINATION.</div>
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Who might they employ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Would it be us?</div>
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_______________________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. Ryan Donlan loves envisioning
what school would be if we were not addicted to notions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">educational manufacture</i> designed years and years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to offer your own dream for
what school could be, from the eyes of a child, or even to ask this very question
of a child and relay what you hear, please consider giving him a call at
812-237-8624 or by writing at </span><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-16377719371123655432015-10-26T07:48:00.001-07:002015-10-26T07:48:58.289-07:00Who Finds Whom in K-12?
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who Finds Whom in K-12?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assistant Professor</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Department of Educational Leadership</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bayh College of Education</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana State University</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A very perceptive veterinarian said to me recently, “Did you
find the kitten, or did the kitten find you?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sitting atop the vet’s silver slab of a chest-high table
wriggled a skinny, sneezing, calico kitten with worms and a respiratory
infection, found the night before as we sat on our family’s back deck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I heard a faint meow at dusk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then responded with a meow of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another response – from a small voice, possibly
below the deck or near our backyard’s woods line, as my family gathered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After about a half hour of conversation (kitty and me) from
a distance, a pensive, hungry-looking kitten approached cautiously, and
eventually found its way to my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
some petting, purring, people food, and some water, we offered it a soft corner
in our second garage, and after a night’s sleep, my wife and I made a trip to
the grocery store for some essentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, “Did we find the kitten, or did the kitten find us?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our finding the kitten might imply that we were the ones
doing the rescuing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The kitten finding us might imply the opposite.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In thinking through this, I reflected that we were almost
two years into accepting the passing of our aging Weimaraner, Zachary, our
“dog-son” that pre-dated the births of our two children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Had we been avoiding another attachment?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Were we now the busy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">family
machine</i> and, not-as-much, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">family</i>?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did we need something to slow us down and re-focus?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If so, then the kitten might have found us.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As educators, when we see those malnourished (at times, snarly)
little kittens [Eddie, Haley, or whomever comes to mind] in our schools and
classrooms, coming to us with all of their figurative sneezes, worms, and
hunger, do we take the time to notice?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we speak to them in their own language, first?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we spend enough time so that they trust?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we offer what we have, even if a leftover?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we shop for suitable supplies, even if busy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we accommodate their needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do we seek-out additional treatment from someone more
knowledgeable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If no one is willing to step-up and parent, do we adopt?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And in the midst of whatever we provide, large or small, do
we pause and ask the question, “Did we find these little [kittens], or did they
find us?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And for what reasons were they sent?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">__________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. Ryan Donlan is wondering <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who finds whom</i> in our schools and
classrooms, and further, whether or not our intended K-12 caretakers receive
more each day that we recognize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all
resources are finite, he would argue, and would love to discuss this further at
812-237-8624 or ryan.donlan@instate.edu.</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-26299605855395557042015-10-16T04:35:00.001-07:002015-10-16T04:35:46.714-07:00Workload Management
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Workload Management</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By Dr.
Ryan Donlan</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Assistant
Professor</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Department
of Educational leadership</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bayh
College of Education</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Indiana
State University</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
particularly excited when asked to speak on a panel at the Indiana State
University New Faculty Orientation series on the topic, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Workload Management</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must be
that I’m perceived as fairly productive, as there’s typically an implicit prerequisite
for such in panel selection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It also doesn’t
probably hurt that my daily smile is authentic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do admit to
having a lot of fun at work, which has a lot to do with sound management
principles that I believe are a part of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, in preparing
my remarks, I pondered, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What advice would
I give to new faculty?</i> I then realized that much of what assists in my current
workload management, helped when I was a K-12 educator as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Workload
management is not something that we should do in response to the demands placed
upon us; it is more what we can provide ourselves proactively, regardless of
the demands or situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s really a
method of “rolling life and work” similarly, authentically, and smartly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Any of us can thrive
in workload management, if we consider doing the following . . . </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Measure twice and cut once before
accepting professional positions or newfound responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we study the people making offers for us to
work with them, we’ll better be able to ascertain whether or not they will
enhance or inhibit our professional qualities of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ensure that we are very much “a fit” for what
we do, as the nature of workload management (in terms of clock-hours) is, at
times, not-at-all one of work-life balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In ensuring “a fit,” we will find that our professional roles and
expectations match our needs and personalities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consider “confluence” as one method of
accomplishing workload management, which might for example, call for our laptops
to be with us while barbecuing in the evenings, yet with intermittent bursts of
“compartmentalization,” such as keeping away from e-mails (and workload) during
our children’s sporting events or activities.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Know the relative importance of things on
our plate, in terms of our supervisors’ thoughts on “where” we allocate our
time and talent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “classic” challenge
while I was in K-12 was focusing on classroom instruction, when so many people
wanted a piece of my time, typically for their own urgencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same holds true now in protecting time
for scholarship, with ongoing demands for the other parts of “me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must also recognize where we tend to spend
our time and should avoid gravitating disproportionally to those areas that are
our favorites, as we’ll find that our less-favorites become harder to
accomplish when we’re pressured to catch-up on them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Manage what we do intentionally and make
investments that count in multiple arenas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In higher education, this would mean that when we invest in our teaching,
our workload in terms of scholarship and service is positively impacted as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In K-12, this might be envisioned in terms of
instructional leadership, building management, and social capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In business, it might include products,
profits, and people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does each
investment of time and talent reap triple dividends across our areas of
expected performance?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Know what we need to recharge our
batteries each evening, as this will help us better manage the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is typically accomplished through recognition
of whether we are extroverted, and thus need to be around people to energize,
or introverted, and thus need a bit of solitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prioritize relationships over tasks, and
in terms of the relationships we have at work, make many more “deposits” than “withdrawals”
with those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expecting more of
ourselves toward the positive output of others is the way to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have “good friends” at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life’s too short to think that we have to
separate business and pleasure, all the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take something off our bosses’ plates, as
often as we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will allow them to
take something off their bosses’ plates as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paying things upward is simply the right
thing to do and does not go unnoticed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other people will then
be able to connect with us, which may increase our collaborative opportunities
that, themselves, manage our workload.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">_______________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr.
Ryan Donlan doesn’t as much believe moving toward better workload management
means deciding WHAT one does in the limited time available, yet rather HOW one
does all that is expected, and desired. He is also interested in learning how
you achieve optimal workload management as well, so please be encouraged to
contact him at (812) 237-8624 or at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314680638837412377.post-27196951744683098232015-10-08T04:15:00.001-07:002015-10-08T04:48:45.812-07:00Rainy Days in K-12<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Rainy Days in K-12</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Dr. Ryan Donlan</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Assistant Professor</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Department of Educational Leadership</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bayh College of Education</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indiana State University</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Seems as though, at times, some in our profession need an
uplift, as if they walk about early in the week thinking to themselves:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sometimes I’d like to quit</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothin’ ever seems to fit</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hangin’ around</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothin’ to do but frown</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rainy days and Mondays always get me down </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Williams & Nichols, (1971).</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What we can offer them is a kind smile, of course, and for
the ones who delight in deeper conversation in the lounge or break room, a way
to unleash their minds through an appeal to their right-brained intellect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s one such way.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
This week, for leadership whose staffs are truly seeing less-often
“the sun” in K-12 education, I am hoping you’ll have a discussion and look at the
rain differently, just as I had the opportunity last Saturday while sitting on
my deck amidst all that was cool, wet, and clammy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In doing so, I jotted down a few things I noticed about rainy
days, as I thought of my time in K-12 and even that now in higher education (friends Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker have aptly addressed Mondays).</div>
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Those few things follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In reading what I have written, can you make the connections <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">[for each]</b> to your K-12 experience, and
would you be willing to share with a friend or colleague?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel free to disagree and note that
some may just not fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You might divide them among your PLC groups, or however you
like.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Rainy Day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Allows us “open-eyed clarity” over the more frequent “squint,”
borne of unrepentant glare;</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prevents “sunburn” caused by “overexposure”;</div>
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<br /></div>
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Provides an excuse to get “less done <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here,</i>” so we can focus “more on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there</i>”;</div>
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<br /></div>
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Brings “family” together all under “one roof”;</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Provides “balance and sustenance” to an environment lacking
such;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Invites “an umbrella,” and an opportunity for the discovery
of vulnerability, or vanity;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Provides a natural “facelift” to our pathways, playgrounds,
parks, and professional settings;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Offers, in the midst of our hurry and clutter, “ambient
soundscapes” that are calming;</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allows for the collection of resources, and thus “energy”
that is economically regenerative;</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gives us a deepened appreciation that days often considered regular,
whatever the weather, are “a gift.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
----------------------------------------<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not so much an activity for those seeking “coffee-mug
happy’s” or “bumper-sticker smileys”; rather, ones who wish to stretch their socio-psychological
understandings of the larger “permissions” that affect us through rainy days at
work, AND the resultant effects upon how our children view the world themselves,
through our lead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Best to you as you turn your minds and make a vicarious
difference, while the skies open.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">References</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Williams, P.,
Nichols, R. (1971). (Recorded by The Carpenters). On <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carpenters [The Tan Album]</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>New York, NY: Jack Daugherty Productions, A&M.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
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______________________________________________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Please join Ryan Donlan in opening-up to the world
around us and making a connection that we can share in the ISU Ed.
Leadershop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would love to give credit
to your good thoughts, while putting together relevant pieces for K-12 to
share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just give Dr. Donlan a call at
(812) 237-8624 or write at <a href="mailto:ryan.donlan@indstate.edu">ryan.donlan@indstate.edu</a>.
</span></div>
Dr. Ryan Donlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206899286665144757noreply@blogger.com0