The High-Five Accountability System

Good Monday Morning!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

First, I want to start out on a soapbox and I want everyone to know where I stand in regards to Standardized Testing. Our 4th graders are about to take the first writing test of their lives. Then, in 3 short weeks our 3rd graders and 4th graders will be tested on probably one of the most rigorous math tests an 8, 9, or 10 year old has ever seen. These tests are by no means easy. They are hard and they are tricky for us as teachers to navigate at times. While I do believe that our students should know the state standards to the depth required by STAAR, I am a firm believer that one's academic ability cannot be determined in one day by a 4 hour test.

I wish the state could determine our school's accountability by taking a walk down our halls and seeing:

A kindergarten teacher hug and console a crying student who's mother failed to keep a promise to him for the 100th time this year.

A title assistant that loves even the most difficult of children even when he doesn't love himself.

A PE teacher that gets down on one knee to give a hug and high five to a student that had a good day.

A Music teacher that stays late, preps early, and ensures each child develops a love of music.

A 3rd grade teacher that stays late with a student to keep her safe in her classroom away from harm.

A 4th grade teacher that I have to beg to send discipline issues to me instead of dealing with them in her room because she doesn't want him to miss instruction.

A counselor that I have to tell to lock her door because she can't say no to a student in need of her time.

A 1st grade teacher in tears because she works so hard with a difficult student and some days the bag of tricks doesn't work.

A resource teacher that always smiles and never complains even when her case-load doubles within two weeks.

A nurse that cares for 4 diabetic children like her own children and changes more Code 1 and Code 2's than anyone wants to know.

A secretary and attendance clerk that sometimes put out fires simultaneously! With a smile!

A 2nd grade teacher that teaches her student even when she is walking them down to the office because her parents are late to pick her up again.

A PTO mom that jumps in to help on a snow day and soothe panicked parents over the phone.

A 4th grade teacher that tries to sneak back early from a medical release because she misses her class! :)

A computer teacher that works harder than anyone I've ever met and offers to do double duty in the cafeteria without me even asking!
An amazing community that comes out to support our school late on a school night.

A staff committed to fostering a love of learning in our students.

I wish the state could count the tears shed for your students, the smiles, the high-fives, the hugs.

I wish they'd bubble the number of times you shout for joy when a struggling reader takes off reading, or a student finally remembers to carry the 1.

I wish the legislators would come teach a day in our schools and realize the HEART and GRIT you must possess to do the jobs you do.

We have to prepare our students to perform and do well, but at the end of the day, if you LOVE them that is all that matters.

We will get them there. It will not be easy and it will take hard work.

We CAN do this!



THANK YOU ALL!!!!!
Love,
Mrs. Hanson



>>>End of Soapbox!<<<

Can We Stop Having to Like Everything?

The other day my husband and I had a conversation about whether a 10-year old should have an Instagram account. To be honest, I don't know the answer to this question. I think the topic of social media sparks huge debate especially in my area of early childhood because I see students before they hit their "Like" buttons.

As new parents, most of us have adapted to the world of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and think of our social media pages as an extension of ourselves. Our children have grown up on social media. We snap pictures of them from the time they enter this world and we can't stop....

We love our kids and we want to share it with the world. We love when people "Like" our photos and I hear conversations about how many "likes" someone has received for posting this or that.

So think about it...

Are we building a generation that has to have approval for themselves through how many "likes" they get?

Are our adolescents and teens calculating their self-worth in how many "LIKES" they receive?

It's painful to think about.

I hope one day I can show my girls that, yes there is an appropriate time and place for social media. But your "AWESOMENESS" is not tallied in the amount of times someone clicks a "like" button on their iPhone. But rather, sweet angel, your "AWESOMENESS" is calculated by how well you like yourself.

#lovethelearning
Follow me on Twitter
@jessahanson

Principals do Sleep Sometimes.

One of my awesome first grade teachers shared this with me and I couldn't help but chuckle at the first grade humor within the story. But, after closely reading the story I thought, "Wow, this first grader may be on to something."

Principals can command kids.
- This part of the job is easier than commanding the grown people in our building. Commands don't work with the adults. But I think this sentence is powerful because sometimes as administrators we need to step out of our offices from the disciplinarian role and step into making positive relationships with students. I don't know about you, but I didn't get into this principal gig to command kids...I got into this to change kids' lives.

Principals do sleep.
-Rarely....maybe during the Spring Break...No wait...maybe during summer break....no wait....not this principal, I have 3 children under the age of 5 and a building of 500+ students to care for everyday.

Principals have family.
-Yes, I do have an amazing family. I think most of the principals you meet all have big families. I think this is because they manage chaos well from managing their own families and we just love kids--all of them!

Principals have jobs as principals.
-And as teachers, secretaries, attendance clerks, counselors, nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, parent trainers, mediators, tissue holders, hug-givers, shoe-tiers, and that's just the short list. Don't forget...we also are skillfully trained in the art of blame-taking, cheese-moving, change-agenting (new word), student-focusing, teacher-cheerleading, and tech-innovating. (Wow I think I broke a lot of grammar and spelling rules there, sorry 4th grade team.)

We hold many hats, the principal is just a title. I choose to be a leader...a leader of learning!

Principals can jog one mile.
-This is probably the funniest to me because the same week this was written I am pretty sure the whole first grade class saw me sprinting across the playground after a student that tried to run from campus.

So yeah...sometimes we do run...

The principal should always be running towards the dream with a torch lit so the team can see the path and run with them.

Don't Kill Her Creativity

Charli: "Mommy? Can you color with me?"

Me: "Sure, what would you like to color?"

Charli: "Can you do the body thing and head and I will color the other parts?"

Me: "Yes Cha"

I continued to outline the shape of a face, neck, and shoulders. Then I passed the outline to her and she colored a picture of herself with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Charli: "Mommy? Can you draw the lips?"

Me: "Sure, Charli"

Then I got to thinking...I took her paper away and said,"Charli, now mommy wants you to draw your own picture from start to finish. I want you to do it all on your own however you draw it is going to be beautiful."

Charli started drawing and coloring getting frustrated when things didn't turn out right. She got three new sheets of paper until she outlined the right head. She then drew the stick figure body and began coloring. When she got to the mouth I knew it was coming. She asked me if I would draw the lips and I said, "I want to see you do it Cha." She flustered and said, "I can't do it like you do!" I thought and said, "Charli, the greatest artists of all time make the biggest mistakes sometimes....It's the messy parts that make it beautiful."

She drew her picture and it turned out perfect! I loved it and even took a photo of her with it! She was so proud that she did it all on her own.

I think about this process in the classroom and I think about her starting kindergarten next year.

As teachers and administrators are we fostering a creative, "mess-full" environment?

Some questions to think about as teachers:
"Do we give kids coloring sheets? or have them create their own?"
"Do we allow them to make mistakes? or stop them before they even start?"
"Do we encourage original products? or do we have a teacher created one?"

Some questions to think about as administrators:
"Do I foster a workplace that allows teachers to make mistakes?"
"Do I allow teachers to be creative, different, innovative? and do I foster a culture of teachers that support it!?"
"Do I make time for teachers to create, explore, and collaborate?"

The biggest fear as parents sometimes is the fear of the unknown. I would never want a teacher to kill my child's creative spirit, but rather a teacher that supports her, lets her make mistakes, and guides her to finding her own way of learning, creating, and making.



Love the learning!!!!
Follow me on Twitter @jessahanson

You better stop...Make Mistakes...and Listen!

From August 21st, 2014:

"This week I am having my teachers write letters to themselves.

The prompt is: "I want to teach somewhere that…."

They are to return them to me, signed and sealed. I am not going to read them. At some point in the school year when times get tough, when morale gets low, I am going to slip their letter in their box to remind them of the vision they had when they started this year. I hope it helps them like reading my paper has helped me."

So recently I followed up on my "Letter to Self" project we did at the beginning of the school year in August.

I typed my letter and attached it to the letters I took up from staff members in August. Overall, the feedback was wonderful! I did not read their letters, and although it was excruciatingly tempting...I found it more of a cathartic process for myself.

As leaders, whether we are in the business world, school world, health world, or even just home world (Stay-at-home leaders called Mom or Dad!) we all must face the fact that while we strive to please everyone and work our tails off each day for our "organizations"....well....We simply can't please everyone...so the symbolism of NOT opening the staff envelopes was a huge emotional lift for me. I cannot know what everyone is thinking, feeling, or repressing.

But, what can I control?

ME

So I am sharing my letter to self and I highly recommend anyone in a leadership position do this same activity.

Letter to self---2014-2015 School Year
Jessica Hanson

I want to work somewhere that feels like family. Dysfunctional like a family because perfect families/organizations don’t exist. But the dysfunctional doesn’t cause us to falter because we are a family. We struggle together, cry together, and grow together. We face adversity, fear, change, and the unknown together because that is what education/life/family is…ever changing and evolving.
I want to work somewhere that loves children. Where the teachers, admin, support staff, nurse, secretaries, custodians…EVERYONE wants to make a difference in CHILDRENS’ lives. I want to work at a school where the staff would give our students the shirt off our backs, the food off our plate, or the shoes out of our own kid’s closet if they needed them. I want to work somewhere that when people walk into Walnut Creek they know immediately WE are about kids!

I want to work somewhere that gives grace. We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. It’s easier to sit on the sidelines and criticize than get in the game. I want to feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. I want teachers to try new things and FAIL! That’s right I said it, because to FAIL is the FIRST ATTEMPT IN LEARNING! We won’t grow if we don’t try new things. I want to work somewhere that doesn’t criticize others for trying new things, but encourages it and celebrates it.

I want to work somewhere that feels safe, where safe teachers means safe students and safe students means learning can happen.

I want to work with people who are engaged. Engaged in life and learning. I don’t want to have to be a “Do it” leader. I want our staff to be intrinsically motivated to be the best they can be. I don’t want to put more on people’s plates, but I want people to FILL their own plates with the best instruction, best teaching, and best practice possible for their students. Stagnant and outdated practices aren’t engaging for students or the teacher. I want to see teachers and teaching assistants who are excited about teaching, who come to me and say, “Check out this cool app!” & “Come by my classroom and see this!”

I want to work somewhere that supports the INDIVIDUAL child. Each child, each and every one. A lawyer told me once, “Fair is a place you take your chickens” when it comes to public education. Every student that walks through our doors has the right to learn.

I want to support our teachers the way my administrators supported me with guidance, compassion, and care. I want teachers to feel comfortable coming to me for help.

I am so proud to be your principal, I know I have made mistakes so far and I am learning each day!

Thank you for showing compassion, love, and above all grace so far this year.

With love, Jessica

Why did I become an administrator????

I've almost completed my first week as a principal and I couldn't help but try to reflect on the "Why?"

Why did I become an administrator?

-It has become clear to me this week that the light was lit by my prior administrators before I ever knew it. Leaders that inspire other leaders.

-I also love teachers, I love students, and I love school business. I believe that public education is still the light that ignites our future generations.

-We are the game changers and the developers of our future leaders. I want to make a difference in the lives of the students, teachers, and parents I serve.

As I reflect, I found the last paper I wrote finishing my master's degree in educational leadership so I wanted to share:



The Educational Platform

Jessica Hanson

Tarleton State University

What is Possible? What is True?

My Beliefs:
I believe that all children can learn and should be engaged by teachers to explore and develop a natural love of learning. With my background in special education, regular education, and Response to Intervention: I have discovered that not all teachers have this belief. It is disheartening to hear other educators with the same career as me describe a student as “unteachable.” The older I have become and the more experience I gain helps me to stand up for those children and myself. All students can learn. I keep reminding myself of the quote from Maya Angelou “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I try to base my entire teaching day off of this quote alone, and I will continue to base my entire administrative career on that as well.

As a teacher going into administration I believe that servant leadership is key. In Jim Boyd’s book, A Servant Leader’s Journey he states, “The leader’s temptation may be to retreat into the safe confines of the office. If so, he or she is headed in the wrong direction. If there is difficulty in the organization, on the battlefield, or around the supper table, the leader needs to be visible. If the leader is away from the action, naysayers are emboldened, communication breaks down, and hope fades” (Boyd 2008). This is dangerous, and I have witnessed leadership that “retreats” it is disastrous and unfortunate for all faculty.

I believe in servant leadership so much that I base it as my single most reason for wanting to become an administrator. As a teacher, I love for my administrators to involve me in all school decisions. I think this is very important to build culture and improve climate. Teachers feel invested in school vision and mission when they are the ones involved in creating that mission and vision.

Being honorable, doing what we say, keeping our word is the most important thing as a leader. Follow through and feedback is also essential. I don’t believe in making teachers do “busy” work, in same way that I don’t believe in making children do “busy” work. The work we do should be valuable, engaging, and fun. We should come to work excited and positive. I believe we should lean on each other when we need help, ask for ideas and share strategies.

I believe that we must not only teach state objectives but we must also teach a love of learning and inquiry. Not to focus on how many grades we get in the grade book, but to focus on mastery of skills. I believe that that in order to teach this love of learning and knowledge we must get all teachers on board with technology.

As a future administrator, I hope to embody what it means to be a servant leader. I hope to inspire teachers to believe that all students can learn, and to always be teaching myself new ideas and concepts to stay current in my field. I truly hope to build a positive, nurturing school family who cares about one another and lifts each other up. “The leader is the keeper of the dream” (Texas School Business 2006).

Boy, Jim. (2008). A servant leader’s journey: Lessons from Life. New Jersey: Paulist Press.

Texas school business. March (2006) 23.





This week I am having my teachers write letters to themselves.

The prompt is: I want to teach somewhere that…."

They are to return them to me, signed and sealed. I am not going to read them. At some point in the school year when times get tough, when morale gets low, I am going to slip their letter in their box to remind them of the vision they had when they started this year. I hope it helps them like reading my paper has helped me.

Self-reflection is the single most important ingredient to the recipe of life.

Top Ten Things to Not Forget as a Principal

Embarking on a new journey to become the principal of an elementary campus has already had it's highs and lows and I haven't even started the school year yet. I have already been faced with tough decisions that required me to "Move people's cheese" and "Dip into their buckets" in order to do what is right for children and our school.

I do feel however that my rather quick way to principalship has helped me in other ways. You see, I am still fresh out of the classroom and I am fully aware of the demands and stresses our teachers face everyday.

I am writing this post to always remember that our teachers are the front line of our educational system and for that they are the true leaders in the future of our children. Here are the top ten things to NEVER forget as a principal.

1. Teachers don't need busy work.

-Don't give them "worksheets" to fill out in order to make sure they are doing their jobs. We don't expect our teachers to pass out worksheets in class, so why would we require them do countless hours of work if it does not help them professionally?
-Same for data. Don't force teachers to turn in, disaggregate, find, research and dig through data, unless you plan on using it to ACT! Know the meaning behind making true data-driven decisions and empower your teachers to find their own methods for using data to help students.

2. Be mindful when making classes.
-You know you do it. Tell yourself, well Mrs. A is awesome with those tough behavior kiddos so she gets them all this year. I was that teacher, and while I loved the challenge and knew I could handle my students you have to remember that every teacher still wants to work in a fair environment. Be fair and don't make decisions based off what is easy for us as leaders.
-Remember what it is like to have 3 Katelyn S.'S in class this is especially true at the elementary principal level.

3. Give teachers wiggle room.
-If a teacher comes to you with a new idea or something to try don't squash their thoughts and ideas. Yes, ask questions and see what is all involved. Don't make them feel like an inconvenience. Let them try, join in with them, and if you fail…you fail together.

4. Trim the fat.
-Our teachers plates are full, too full! In the classroom if my student's weren't grasping a concept and I was at my breaking point I would say, "Let's just stop for today and re-visit this tomorrow." If it's not working...fix it. I am not saying get rid of federal programs, district purchased programs, curriculum, etc. But what I am saying that if something isn't working it's time to start looking at why it is not working. Listen to teachers and have them create a solution. Chances are they may have a good fix.

5. Give the teachers a jean pass!
-If I can make someone happy by simply saying "Wear your jeans tomorrow!" that makes my job easy. Granted we can't change the dress code but we can make someone's day every once in a while. A simple jeans pass is an easy fix.

6. Plan like you're still a teacher.
-Lesson plan your staff development. Don't slack and do things last minute. Take the time to plan your professional development like you would want your teachers to plan for their lessons. When I flew by the seat of my pants as a teacher my students got less than 100% and that is simply not okay. Give your teachers 100%!

7. Get excited!
-I am so excited about this school year that my teachers probably think I am a total GEEK! But I don't care! I love coming to work and learning and growing. I want them to feel the same way. I want everyday to be fun and full of learning. I know I will have days when it will not be perfect, when something tragic may happen, and when times get tough. It's my duty to serve them the best side of me regardless of the bad stuff that comes along.

8. Stand up for kids.
-When a teacher is not treating kids with respect and dignity it is our job to stand up for them. Regardless of the actions of the student. Each student deserves the right to be respected. Don't let a teacher belittle or bully a child. This is our duty as educational leaders.

9. Praise your teachers.
-Tell them they are going a great job because they ARE! Our teachers, teaching assistants, counselors, secretaries, and custodians are all working hard! Find the good things they are going and love them for it. We are all in this together and we need to love our students and our school. Fill their buckets instead of dipping into them.



10. Make student-driven decisions.
-This is probably the most important of the 10 and probably the most self-explanatory. When making a decision simply ask yourself, "Is this best for kids?" If the answer is no, then don't do it. Don't get into a power struggle with adults. If we are making student-driven decisions we are doing what is right.