SamTastic Weekly Tip: 6/22/20 - Fairness Requires Introspection

This week’s tip: Fairness Requires Introspection

SAM teams do a lot of reflection. Using TimeTrack to examine work completed, next steps and the impact on teaching and learning takes place in the SAM Daily Meeting.

The most effective SAM teams practice introspection, too. Introspection, the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes, can lead to surprising and important discoveries that can make a significant difference for their school community.

Considering feedback from staff, students and parents, even when it is not something you think is accurate, allows you to be better at serving as a leader. Examining your own feelings can lead to positive change.

Read how one school leader used introspection effectively:

As I was doing my morning hallway supervision, a teacher called me over to where she was berating a black male student about his pants. She ordered me to take him to the discipline office, where I could “fix him.” Those were her actual words, and I flinched, but still I had to follow through. I cocked my head at him and offered a sheepish smile that said, “Sorry, Marcus. I gotta take you. You broke a rule.” The smile must have done the trick, because he took a deep breath, straightened the books in his arms, and followed me. As we walked down the hallway, he began pointing out other boys with sagging pants.

All of the other boys were white. They were walking around, free to go about as they wished. “Are you gonna get him, too, or is it just me?” he asked. “What about him? He’s sagging. I don’t see anybody asking him to pick up his pants.” The hallway was the longest one we had in the building, and by the time we reached the discipline office he had pointed out four other boys, all white, wearing their pants in the same way. No teacher had stopped them.

As hard as it was for me to admit, Marcus was right. Here was a policy that was written into our handbook, but the consequences for breaking it were not equitable for all students. I looked around and realized that the other teachers in the hallway were either ignoring the white boys who were sagging or were engaged in conversations with them. Not one of them stopped me the way the first one did to tell me to take those boys to the discipline office.

The author, Kelly Wickham Hurst, was an assistant principal. To read the entire article, click the title: “Biased Discipline at My School” Edutopia, December 7, 2016. Kelly is now the Executive Director of a non-profit advocacy group, Being Black at School. https://beingblackatschool.org/

Introspection is hard work. Listening, feeling and seeking to understand leads to improved schools and better lives for students, staff and school communities.

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 6/15/20 - Ten Things You Can Do to Make a Difference

This week’s tip: Ten Things You Can Do to Make a Difference.

Jon Gordon spoke at the 13th Annual National SAM Conference last January. His focus on positive leadership translates well in your work with teachers, staff and students.

Last week he shared ten things anyone can do that will make a difference in their success. He suggests it works for school leaders, staff and students. What do you think?

1. Be On Time - Honor others by respecting their time. Earning respect starts by giving it.

2. Show Up and Do the Work - If they praise you, show up and do the work. If they criticize you, show up and do the work. If no one even notices you, just show up and do the work. Just keep showing up, doing the work, and leading the way.

3. Give Your Best In All That You Do - It doesn’t matter what everyone else is or isn’t doing. Focus on your contribution every day. When you give your best, you’ll inspire others to give their best too.

4. Be Positively Contagious - Your attitude is contagious. Choose to be Vitamin C today. Look for opportunities to encourage and uplift those around you.

5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude - Every day we have a choice. We can choose to be grateful and see the good in all that we have or we can let anger, fear, doubt, and insecurities rob us of our joy and the life we’re meant to live. The choice is yours today.

6. Seek Solutions vs. Dwelling on Problems - How you see the world determines the world you see. When you seek solutions you see a world of possibilities and are able to overcome challenges.

7. Have Passion - Passion fuels your purpose. The strongest may survive but it is the passionate that will thrive. Get excited today!

8. Be Coachable - Stay humble and hungry and be a lifelong learner. The best of the best are always striving to get better and so should you.

9. Do More Than What’s Required - Average effort generates average results. If you want more, do more. Even a little extra each day can create big results over time.

10. Believe in Yourself - Stop listening to the self-sabotaging voices in your mind. Talk to yourself and feed the positive instead of listening to negative. You matter. You are capable. You can do great things. You are here for a reason.

You can see John’s conference keynote session at this link: http://wordpress.samsconnect.com/7page id=4236

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 6/8/20 - People are good.

This week’s tip: People are good.

Hard to believe today, but it is true. People are inherently good.

It might sound hopeful but it is a fact. It isn’t just something you might like to believe. It is science.

Science? Yes. Social science has come to the realization that the evidence that people are inherently good is overwhelming. People are good and want to do the right thing. Sure. Some people turn to evil and some are clinically ill. But the truth is: people are inherently good and want to do the right thing.

A new book, Humankind, by historian Rutger Bregman, makes a compelling case that people have a natural tendency and desire to be and do good, cooperate and show empathy and concern for others. Read it. It gave me hope for the future and emphasizes the value of your work as educational leaders.

In Louisville, like most of the US, citizens have protested the inhumane behavior of some police officers. The murder of Breonna Taylor, like George Floyd, is incomprehensible. Still, look what happened Saturday when a policeman was separated from his group and was backed up against a wall by angry protesters. Six protesters linked arms to protect the policeman.

We have all painfully watched the video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s inhumane treatment of George Floyd. In last week’s SAM Coffee Break Jenn David-Lang pointed out that someone was Chauvin’s kindergarten teacher, 12th grade teacher and principal. We have an opportunity and responsibility to help nurture the good in all of our students.

SAM teams are positioned to support, recognize and nurture the good in staff and school community. The America we want, the America we pledge allegiance to, is possible. It is up to us. Leadership does make a difference.