SamTastic Weekly Tip: 8/29/22 - Be Ready Labor Day

Today’s Tip: Be Ready Labor Day

Online registration opens at 12:01 AM, Eastern, Labor Day for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference, February 2-5, 2023, Tucson.

This is shaping up to be our best conference ever with a dynamic group of national presenters and an array of breakout pre-conference all day sessions.

The conference will be held in Tucson at the fabulous JW Marriott Starr Pass. Each day will start with a Navajo sunrise ceremony and end with an over the top dinner/event celebration including an evening at Old Tucson, the movie studio where every Western you can think of got its start.

Featured Keynote Speakers:

1. Beth Houf: SAM Principal, 2022 National Secondary School Principal of the Year and author: How to Lead Like a Pirate

2. Craig Randall: Speaker and author: Trust Based Observations

3. Ken Williams, Speaker and author: Relentless Equity

4. Allison Shapira, Speaker, opera singer, entrepreneur, and author: Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others

5. Cassandra Worthy, Chemist, CEO, speaker and author: Change Enthusiasm

Optional pre-conference, all day workshops:

1. David Horsager, national authority on building trust, presenter, and author: Trust Edge

2. Da’Mond Holt, national trauma expert, author: Restoring Hope

3. Kim Marshall, national authority on teacher supervision and evaluation, author, editor: The Marshall Memo

4. John Antonetti, national speaker, authority on lesson design and author: Coaching for Achievement

Also: 20+ Breakout session speakers including national presenters and SAM teams.

Registration opens Labor Day. You will receive a link to the registration site the day before. Based on the number of schools and districts that included the conference fee in service agreements this year we expect to fill available seats quickly and be forced to start a waiting list in October, Don’t’ wait.

The $2,295 conference fee covers all costs, hotel, ground transportation, sessions, books, materials, food, beverage and entertainment—everything except airfare.

SamTastic Weekly Tip - 8/22/22: Be in the GREEN today!

Today’s Tip: Be in the Green Today!

Are you in the GREEN today? Some SAM teams put off the first few weeks of school two SAM process non-negotiables for the first few days of school: scheduling in advance and conducting the SAM Daily Meeting.

Every leader is more effective with a plan and time to talk with a trusted colleague about their work. Teachers are expected to have a plan every day of school…even the first day. Why not the leader?

Feeling guilty isn’t productive. Why not fix the problem today?

1. Have your SAM Daily Meeting and get in the GREEN today.

2. Post the leader’s schedule so others can see the principal has a plan. Additionally, posting the leader’s TimeTrack reveals time others can drop in to see the leader.

3. Be sure to set reasonable monthly instructional time goals. Start with 20% for August and increase by 5% each month until you reach 55%. Research show that this is the “sweet spot” for principal positive impact.

Be sure to find joy in your work each day. It may be the best leadership move you can make to create a positive and proactive school culture.

Need help getting on track again? Let your Time Change Coach know you’d like help now. Your coach is ready to help. You’ll find your Time Change Coach’s contact information by going to the TimeTrack logo, select USER, TimeTrack Access.

The SAM Communications Protocol Online Training was held last week. Use this link to watch the 45-minute recorded session: https://bit.ly/3QJ9I7G

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 8/15/22 - Connect each Student with a Trusted Adult

Today’s Tip: Connect each Student with a Trusted Adult

Several years ago an Illinois SAM high school principal began systematically connecting each of his 800+ students with one or more adult.

Why? He knew school is more than academic content. He was determined not to have an adolescent in crisis lash out to hurt, maim and kill. He knew paying attention to each student’s mental health is key.

He conducts two “connection exercises”, one for students and another for staff. Students use a list to mark adults they trust. Adults take a list of students and mark each student they believe they have a strong, trusting relationship. A sociogram is then created showing the number student/adult connections. The staff then works to build connections with students who are missing trusted adults in their lives.

The school’s motto: Teach ~ Learn ~ Care

Sound hard to do? Actually, it is easy and costs nothing. We even have a six minute HD video to show you how. https://bit.ly/3zjKVBy