364 Days of Thanksgiving

I have been haunted by a tweet that recently appeared in my Twitter timeline. For those who don’t utilize Twitter, when you create an account, you can then “follow” anyone you choose (experts, celebrities, schools, companies, family members, etc.). When someone you follow posts a “tweet,” it shows up in your timeline where you may read it. Educators (and others) have created amazing Professional Learning Networks by following really smart theorists and practitioners. My own PLN is equal parts educators and Duke Basketball lovers (life can’t be all work, right?)

A tweeter that I follow, @WiscPrincipal, retweeted a tweet written by @Shira. Shira’s profile says that she is from Israel. That may or may not be true as you can list your location as being anywhere you want it to be. This particular tweet returned unbidden to me during the night as I considered its impact and again this morning, it continued to swirl through the morning fog my coffee is currently battling through.

@Shira said, “Only in America would people violently trample each other for discounts, exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have…” When I initially read the posting, I nodded in agreement, laughed at the irony, and considered retweeting it myself. I chose not to because I try not to ever be negative in what I send out. Yet, despite my moving on to the next 100 posts, this one lingered and lingers still.

A day after sharing Thanksgiving with family, friends, and neighbors for all of our stuff, we are likely to turn ugly trying to get more stuff. What an incredibly sad state of affairs for our society.

This past week at a ballgame, I had the opportunity to speak with the younger brother of a student. In the middle of our conversation about his football season, he shared with me how much impact our pastor’s sermon had had on him the week before. During the sermon, our pastor commented on how we spend one day being thankful and 364 days complaining when it should be the reverse. The message spoke to this seventh grader to the point that he commented on it to me at a basketball game.

Perhaps my mind is drawn to this powerful notion of truly being thankful because of a trip I will be taking in two days. I will join principals and superintendents from across the country on a trip to a poor, rural, mountainous region in the Dominican Republic. We are going there to help build a school for the children. The area is so poor that we have been invited to leave behind our dirty clothes if we would like so that they may clean them and give them out. Their needs are so great that they are excited to accept clothes I will never miss. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I will encounter there. Against that backdrop, Shira’s statement booms. Fighting for more stuff when others have no stuff seems sad to the point of being ugly.

The pastor is right. We do need 364 days of Thanksgiving. 

Rachel's Challenge

On April 20, 1999, the unimaginable happened. Two male students chose to mark the birthday of Adolf Hitler by charging into their school, Columbine High School, armed with guns. By the end of the day 12 students and one teacher had lost their lives. The shooters then killed themselves. Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her parents have turned that tragedy into a powerful call for ending bullying and promoting positive interactions between students. Based on an essay she wrote in the weeks prior to her death and on her 6 journals, they have created an organization called “Rachel’s Challenge.” www.rachelschallenge.org

On Monday, November 14, 2011, our school marked the beginning of our Anti-Bullying Week by hosting Rachel’s Challenge assemblies. The assemblies were provided for our school by Steve Moore Chevrolet in Charlotte, NC and News Channel 36.

The speaker shared the life of Rachel Joy Scott and the challenges that she had left for us all through her writing. Throughout both assemblies the students were absolutely riveted to the speaker and the video clips that were shared. We were absolutely and fully drawn into Rachel’s story and I believe the students left the assembly having accepted Rachel’s Challenge.

During lunch, students have been signing their names, accepting Rachel's Challenge.

From Rachel’s writing, the speaker left us with 5 challenges:

1. Eliminate Prejudice by looking for the best in others

2. Dare to Dream - set goals, keep a journal

3. Choose your Influences input determines output

4. Kind Words - small acts of kindness= huge impact

5. Start a Chain Reaction with family and friends

We have accepted Rachel’s Challenge!

Career & College Promise 2011- Tuition Free College Courses

On Thursday, November 10, 2011, I had the honor of joining Governor Bev Perdue, State Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson, and State School Board Chair, Dr. Bill Harrison at Cato Middle College in Charlotte, NC, for the Governor’s Press Conference announcing the Career & College Promise program. I could not be more excited about it.

Effective, January 1, 2012 students who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to take college courses Tuition Free! The program provides dual enrollment educational opportunities for eligible North Carolina high school students in order to accelerate completion of college certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees that lead to college transfer or provide entry-level job skills.

The program has three pathways: 1) College Transfer – students take courses that are transferrable to all NC public universities and many private universities; 2) Technical Career – students take courses in Career and Technical education career clusters that lead to credentials or certificates in a technical field and provide entry-level job skills; and 3) Cooperative Innovative High Schools – students enroll in a special school like an Early or Middle College.

In 1993, I proudly graduated from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College with an Associate in Arts Degree in the College Transfer Program. That degree hangs above my bachelors and masters degrees and will hang above the doctorate degree I hope to earn soon. It has a place of honor because my community college experience started my post-secondary education. There I left behind the poor study habits I had displayed in high school; I learned to learn. I worked long hours holding down multiple jobs to pay my way through. Thinking about how amazing the experience was for me and now seeing the opportunity for high school students to experience college classes without cost delights me to no end.

Governor Perdue talks with students (Picture Source Career & College Promise Website)

Governor Perdue said,   "Career & College promise will prepare eligible high school students for life after high school – that means college credit for some, and career training for others. Regardless of a student’s plans after high school, Career & College Promise provides focused preparation at no cost to the student." I applaud our governor and the state legislators from both parties who made this happen for our students.

At Cuthbertson High School, we have 56 seniors who are applying to start in the program in January. 56 students will begin their college life before finishing their high school careers. They will receive college credit and honors-level high school credit for their work. This is innovation at its best.  

For more information about the Career & College Promise: http://careercollegenc.org/default.htm

Characteristics of a Leader

Today I have the opportunity to speak at the North Carolina Association of Student Councils Western District Conference. It is being hosted by Union Academy in Monroe, NC with middle and high school students from across Western North Carolina in attendance. I was asked to speak on the topic of “Leadership in the School.” Understanding that leadership comes from within, I spent some time researching leadership traits. I came across the following list of Leadership Traits that was put together by the United States Marine Corps. It is sometimes referred to as “JJDidTieBuckle” with the letters in the acronym coming from the first letter of each trait. This is one of the most comprehensive (and succinct) lists that I have come across. Are there any character traits that you might add to this list?

JUSTICE

Justice means being fair. Treat others equally. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and so forth.

JUDGMENT

Judgment is the ability to effectively assess the situation. You must be able to accurately understand the implications of the situation you are in so that you can make good decisions. Judgment is also known as common sense.

DEPENDABILITY

Dependability is nearly self explanatory. People must be able to depend on you to provide support, accurate information, guidance and motivation. People must be able to trust in your honesty as well as your competence.

INITIATIVE

Initiative is your tendency to approach your responsibilities in a proactive manner. A leader with initiative will not wait for direction before taking action. If you see something that needs to be done, do it.

DECISIVENESS

Decisiveness is the ability to make solid decisions quickly. With sound judgment, you will have enough information and with confidence in your information, you can make the decision now without hemming and hawing about.

TACT

Tact is a skill that enables you to communicate with people in a direct and effective manner without spurring conflict. This goes back to people skills. You need to be able to give direction without making people angry. Tact will help you inspire confidence in your leadership abilities and gain trust and loyalty.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is essentially honesty, which is crucial to being able to lead people effectively. Without honesty, there is no trust. Without trust, others will not truly follow you and support you’re motives or efforts.

ENTHUSIASM

Enthusiasm deals directly with your ability to motivate. It is about maintaining and putting forth a positive attitude. Enthusiasm expects success and drives us closer to achieving it. It fosters optimism and inspires others to follow your lead.

BEARING

Bearing is a trait that is often not discussed in civilian organizations but is none the less critical for good leadership. Bearing is the way you conduct and control yourself. It is your appearance, your posture and your manner that reflects self-confidence and self-control. Stand straight and exude a demeanor of leadership and authority. Bearing lets people know that you take your role seriously. Do not slouch about or goof off. These things do not inspire confidence in others that you can lead them.

UNSELFISHNESS

Unselfishness is another that is self-explanatory. A good leader is looking out for the good of the team. A leader is not selfishly seeking his or her own best interest. Leaders have no ulterior motives.

COURAGE

Courage is the trait that is paramount in all good leadership. You must first have the courage to lead, to expect success, to accept responsibility and to face challenge. Leaders do not fear failure, they embrace it and learn from it in order to minimize its impact and the likelihood that it will occur again. Look fear in the eye and grin. Courage is the chariot that carries us to victory.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is another important component of good leadership. You must have the experience, training and information necessary to see the operation to a successful end. Without knowledge, we are merely guessing our way through life. Without knowledge, there can be no judgment or sound decision making.

LOYALTY

Loyalty involves being devoted to the task or the goals of the organization that you are a part of. It means that you make the goals of the team your own. The loyal leader stands behind his people and supports them. He truly believes in what he is doing. Loyalty in leadership promotes a loyal following.

ENDURANCE

Endurance what keeps us going when the going gets tough. Endurance encompasses our dedication and tenacity to see the job through to completion regardless of obstacles or challenges along the way. It embodies both our mental and physical stamina as well as our will power.

Source:  http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmc/leadership_traits.htm

Dedication and Determination Rewarded

As a father and a principal, I spend a significant amount of time instructing young people on the benefits of hard work, confidence, believing in yourself, etc. Sometimes these “life-lessons” leave me wondering if I really got through. Saying something can be meaningful, but experiencing it brings the lesson to a deeper, more-meaningful level.

My son, Joshua, is a sophomore. He is a remarkable young man. His life-story includes two recent journeys through cancer. Through many rounds of chemotherapy, proton radiation, hospital stays, and surgeries, he continued to amaze me with his faith and resiliency. While battling cancer the first time, he continued to play on his baseball team, not wanting to let down his teammates. The second journey shortened his Middle School Cross Country season. He loves participating in sports even though he may not be as athletically gifted as his peers.

Joshua preparing to receive a Proton Radiation Treatment

This post though was not meant to be about his past bouts with cancer. Instead, it is a dad’s public, written admiration of his son. Joshua continues to run Cross Country. As a Freshman, he rarely did well enough in practice to be allowed to travel with the team to meets. His lack of success did not daunt him, nor dissuade him from his goal of earning a Varsity letter. Through the summer prior to his sophomore year, he worked hard. The hard work paid off as he earned a spot on the Junior Varsity Team and was able to run in every meet. His PR (Personal Record) was broken frequently throughout the season and he was able to run on the Varsity Team 4 times as one of the Top Seven runners. The season ended and Joshua eagerly awaited the news of who would be the Top Seven runners selected to compete in the Regional Championships. He was hopeful of hearing his name called though he knew his average times over the season might not be enough.

The coach’s announcement should have been disappointing. Joshua was selected as the #8, or Alternate Runner. He would continue to practice with the team and travel to the Championship Race but would not be able to run unless something happened to one of the Top Seven runners. As Joshua shared this news with me, I expected him to be downhearted or disillusioned as he had worked hard for his dream. Instead, he confidently told me, “Dad, I am going to work as hard as possible in practice so that if they need me, I’ll be ready.” I was filled with pride as his words washed over me. I could not have scripted a better response. Instead of bemoaning his near-miss, he was planning how to make the most of the situation.

We talked after each practice leading up to the championships. He continued to be upbeat and motivated. He shared his determination to prepare just in case. With no hope to run again this season, he could have shrugged off the practices. He could have felt sorry for himself. He chose a higher path. I encouraged him in his efforts and told him of how proud I was going to be to stand next to him as we cheered on his teammates. I needed him to know that my pride in him was not based on academic or athletic success. I have simply expected his best work at whatever he attempted. Running or not, Joshua could be confident in how proud his dad is of him.

The story could end there and stand as a testament to dedication and determination. He had worked hard all season and steadily improved. In the end, he had shown his true character in how he responded to disappointment. The story does not end there though. One of the runners wound up not being able to compete. The team only had six of the needed seven runners and turned to their alternate. Joshua stood ready, having worked hard to be prepared.

Joshua (with the R on his chest) running for his team.

When the starter’s pistol sounded at the North Carolina 4A Regional Championships, Joshua took off, running with his teammates. He ran one of his fastest times for the season. People attending the meet may not have noticed him as he finished near the back, but his family and friends did, relishing in the warm feeling of hard work repaid. It can be said of him that he is dedicated to his team and determined to always be prepared. I could not be prouder of him as he taught with his actions that making the best of every situation and choosing to approach life with confidence and optimism ensures that when opportunity knocks, we will be ready to succeed. In life, dedication and determination are rewarded.