TL;DR: Give people grace because they are often doing their best. Be willing to bend school rules if they give students comfort and don’t hurt anyone. Consider how bending school rules can help students feel more welcome at school. Grace I went through the Dunkin’ drive-through the other day. As the 2 cars in front of me ordered, I kept … Read More
5 Leadership Skills to Thrive In a VUCA World
TL;DR: The world we live in is VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous). This post shares 5 leadership skills educators need to thrive in a VUCA world. Remember to support one another. Be ready to face the unknown with flexibility. Address the repairable systems. Clarify communication. We live in a VUCA world. VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. … Read More
Redefine Your Rules: Flexibility and Self-Compassion
TL;DR: Set flexible standards for yourself to increase self-compassion. Celebrate who you are. Focus on your successes throughout each day. Pause and think about your response before acting. Redefine Your Rules On any given day, I could list a few things that bother my inherently natural “I’M A RULE FOLLOWER” instinct. Things like: people standing in line on cell phones … Read More
First-Year Assistant Principal: Pandemic Style
TL;DR: The pandemic caused uncertainties at the beginning of the school year, but leaders must still lead by figuring out a plan to serve and keeping students at the center of our focus. Effective leadership means you communicate regularly, listen attentively, offer empathy and support, and meet people’s needs with flexibility and adaptability. Courageous, strong leadership is necessary to ease … Read More
Routine vs. Schedule
TL;DR: Establishing a flexible routine for children includes your morning routine, work routine, downtime routine, and evening routine. Kids can either follow a strict schedule or a daily routine. It’s important to remember that life happens—circumstances and emotions change day to day. Now that I am a few weeks into remote teaching with both my students and my own three … Read More