TL;DR: Being a leader, even a reluctant one, provides you with opportunities to make a difference. You can achieve great things when you have a true partnership with your administration. If you are passionate about something and know it is best for the students, go for it. The Reluctant Leader: First Things First When I first joined Plano High School, … Read More
Love And Marriage: Co-Teaching Relationships
TL;DR: Co-teaching is a relationship similar to an arranged marriage with shared experiences that feel like triumphs and challenges. Continue to get to know each other personally and professionally to build the relationship. Ask questions to learn more about each other. Have proactive communication to discuss how you will share responsibilities. Ask reflective questions. Recognize each co-teaching partner is unique … Read More
Improving Stakeholder Communication
TL;DR: Remember to offer in-person, live, virtual, and recorded access to events so everyone has access. Make sure your school website is up to date. Consider the use of video messages as a form of communication. Consider different modalities of communication and participation for families and the community to get involved with the school. Every beginning to a new school … Read More
Navigating Self-Care Through the 3 Ships
TL;DR: Navigate your self-care through the 3 ships: relationships, leadership, and partnerships. Teachers are more stressed, overwhelmed, and past the point of burnout than ever before. Implementing self-care is something that needs to be done proactively and often. When I first started on my maiden voyage into education, our school had a part-time wellness coordinator. As a stipended paraprofessional, her … Read More