On December 1, 2011, I had the opportunity to pause in my work in helping to build the new school and share with our school community. This was made possible by a LiveFeed that Lifetouch employees put together for us. In the background you can see portions of the new school and see the work going on.
The LiveFeed appears here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18863541
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Lifetouch Memory Mission Day 4 News Update Video
Paint on the walls, bucket brigades, concrete wheelbarrows, interviews with Lynn, Jodi, and David. In the background, you can see the LiveFeed from the NC principals being set-up
Lifetouch Memory Mission Day 3 News Update Video
Picture Day and Bucket Lines in the Dominican Republic.
Lifetouch Memory Mission Day 2 News Update Video
Tile work, stucco work, block work, and an interview with Unionville Elementary Principal Sharyn VonCannon.
Leading by Serving
Day 5 - Saturday, December 3, 2011
A full day of work greeted us as we arrived at the work site. The building was taking shape. Block walls were closed in. Buckets of paint were pulled out. Rebar was piled up. Windows were stacked up just outside and the team was ready to go.
The week had already been long. Although the weekend had arrived, there was to be no rest on this day. The team was united in its desire to see the building's completion. I found myself marveling at the team and the team's performance. Imagine a team of 50 principals, superintendents, and Lifetouch executives/managers. Every team member is a leader in their professional life and yet, here in this place, each willingly took upon themselves the mantle of a servant.
From the beginning, the Dominicans and their leaders were in charge. Our team looked to them for instruction and guidance. They decided how each step of the building process would be performed. They decided who would do what. In this way, the new school was truly theirs. We simply came alongside them to help them in their work. Painters showed superintendents how to roll paint on concrete. Masons pointed out the intricacies of leveling concrete block to executives. Construction helpers had principals straightening nails to be re-used. Everywhere you looked a Dominican was teaching, guiding, and directing a group of Americans.
Servant Leadership is not a new concept. Too often it is referenced, but not put into practice. As a principal, I believe it is my job to serve the students, teachers, and parents. I am supposed to remove barriers and locate resources. I am to assist where needed and anticipate needs. For a week, I have watched an amazing group fully live out the tenets of servant leadership. I am sure that there were times that a team member might have wanted to suggest an alternate way of accomplishing a task, but instead chose to follow.
As we worked, I was proud to see members complete assigned tasks and then immediately go looking for the next thing to do. There was no slowing down. I watched as team members encouraged each other on and pushed themselves. Their work ethic inspired and challenged me to continue to give my best.
One of the final tasks of the day was to rub down the stucco to prepare it for paint. Each square inch had to be sanded with a piece of concrete block. To reach the ceiling and upper walls, platforms were made from planks and stacks of concrete block. These pseudo-platforms were never perfectly stable. The team members who climbed up on them to accomplish the work did not have to worry though as their partners steadied the contrivance while they were working. Team members were serving and looking out for each other.
Servanthood seemed to come naturally to the team. They obviously practice serving others routinely. Leading by serving built a school in the Dominican Republic. It truly is the only way to bring a group of people together to accomplish a task using their very best efforts. The truth is that when you serve those around you they, in turn, look for opportunities to serve others. Your initial servanthood inspires those around you to do the same. I know that I have been encouraged by the eagerness and willingness of the team to serve.
A full day of work greeted us as we arrived at the work site. The building was taking shape. Block walls were closed in. Buckets of paint were pulled out. Rebar was piled up. Windows were stacked up just outside and the team was ready to go.
The week had already been long. Although the weekend had arrived, there was to be no rest on this day. The team was united in its desire to see the building's completion. I found myself marveling at the team and the team's performance. Imagine a team of 50 principals, superintendents, and Lifetouch executives/managers. Every team member is a leader in their professional life and yet, here in this place, each willingly took upon themselves the mantle of a servant.
From the beginning, the Dominicans and their leaders were in charge. Our team looked to them for instruction and guidance. They decided how each step of the building process would be performed. They decided who would do what. In this way, the new school was truly theirs. We simply came alongside them to help them in their work. Painters showed superintendents how to roll paint on concrete. Masons pointed out the intricacies of leveling concrete block to executives. Construction helpers had principals straightening nails to be re-used. Everywhere you looked a Dominican was teaching, guiding, and directing a group of Americans.
Servant Leadership is not a new concept. Too often it is referenced, but not put into practice. As a principal, I believe it is my job to serve the students, teachers, and parents. I am supposed to remove barriers and locate resources. I am to assist where needed and anticipate needs. For a week, I have watched an amazing group fully live out the tenets of servant leadership. I am sure that there were times that a team member might have wanted to suggest an alternate way of accomplishing a task, but instead chose to follow.
As we worked, I was proud to see members complete assigned tasks and then immediately go looking for the next thing to do. There was no slowing down. I watched as team members encouraged each other on and pushed themselves. Their work ethic inspired and challenged me to continue to give my best.
One of the final tasks of the day was to rub down the stucco to prepare it for paint. Each square inch had to be sanded with a piece of concrete block. To reach the ceiling and upper walls, platforms were made from planks and stacks of concrete block. These pseudo-platforms were never perfectly stable. The team members who climbed up on them to accomplish the work did not have to worry though as their partners steadied the contrivance while they were working. Team members were serving and looking out for each other.
Servanthood seemed to come naturally to the team. They obviously practice serving others routinely. Leading by serving built a school in the Dominican Republic. It truly is the only way to bring a group of people together to accomplish a task using their very best efforts. The truth is that when you serve those around you they, in turn, look for opportunities to serve others. Your initial servanthood inspires those around you to do the same. I know that I have been encouraged by the eagerness and willingness of the team to serve.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Beauty of a Bucket Line
Day 4 (continued) - Friday, December 2, 2011
After spending the morning helping with Picture Day at another school (see previous entry), we returned to the worksite to continue our work on building the new school. The first task involved pouring concrete to build a roof across the walkway from the main school building to the bathroom building.
The roof was to be made of concrete. The border of the roof is 24 inches deep and 8 inches wide. The roof itself was about 4 feet wide and about six inches deep. The entire roof had to be poured. There was no concrete truck, no truck to pump the concrete. There was only bags of concrete, pile of sand and gravel, buckets and a hand mixer.
The concrete was mixed by hand and shoveled into buckets. The buckets were handed from one person to another along the line and then up a platform and then onto the roof. On the roof, the buckets were passed along to me where I poured the buckets out into the forms. It took over 1,500 buckets of hand-mixed buckets of concrete to finish the roof. It was the hardest physical work I have ever been engaged in. By the end, it was hard to stand up straight and I was very tired, but I was also struck by the beauty of the bucket line.
We had worked in lines throughout the week, moving tiles from one room to another and moving concrete blocks from pile to another pile. Working in a line, passing along construction materials gives you the opportunity to get to now the people next to you. You have the opportunity to laugh and sing. In our bucket line of concrete, I heard people ask each other if they were OK. I saw them take special care to pass the bucket with the handle in the exact position the next person wanted. Care for you neighbor was not just a maxim, it was being lived out in tiny moments up and down the bucket line.
Countless children will walk under that overhang, never knowing how much work it required. I do hope though, that as they walk under the walkway, they feel the joy that went into the construction. I can only describe that line of concrete bucket passers as beautiful.
After spending the morning helping with Picture Day at another school (see previous entry), we returned to the worksite to continue our work on building the new school. The first task involved pouring concrete to build a roof across the walkway from the main school building to the bathroom building.
The roof was to be made of concrete. The border of the roof is 24 inches deep and 8 inches wide. The roof itself was about 4 feet wide and about six inches deep. The entire roof had to be poured. There was no concrete truck, no truck to pump the concrete. There was only bags of concrete, pile of sand and gravel, buckets and a hand mixer.
The concrete was mixed by hand and shoveled into buckets. The buckets were handed from one person to another along the line and then up a platform and then onto the roof. On the roof, the buckets were passed along to me where I poured the buckets out into the forms. It took over 1,500 buckets of hand-mixed buckets of concrete to finish the roof. It was the hardest physical work I have ever been engaged in. By the end, it was hard to stand up straight and I was very tired, but I was also struck by the beauty of the bucket line.
We had worked in lines throughout the week, moving tiles from one room to another and moving concrete blocks from pile to another pile. Working in a line, passing along construction materials gives you the opportunity to get to now the people next to you. You have the opportunity to laugh and sing. In our bucket line of concrete, I heard people ask each other if they were OK. I saw them take special care to pass the bucket with the handle in the exact position the next person wanted. Care for you neighbor was not just a maxim, it was being lived out in tiny moments up and down the bucket line.
Countless children will walk under that overhang, never knowing how much work it required. I do hope though, that as they walk under the walkway, they feel the joy that went into the construction. I can only describe that line of concrete bucket passers as beautiful.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Picture Day in the Dominican
Day 4 - Friday, December 2, 2011
The notion of Picture Day at school brings up memories for most of us. I remember being dressed up in my best clothes. My mom would worry about my Picture Day outfit for weeks. On the big day, I would be dressed up in my nicest outfit and my hair would be slicked to the side and off I would go. Our teacher would line us up and we would head to the Auditorium for our semi-annual pictures.
Mom usually bought the middle package and sent my sisters' and my picture out to extended family members. She would take down last year's 8x10 from the frame on the Living Room wall and replace it with this year's. The old one lovingly went into her photo album, a pictorial timeline of our lives. Picture Day was a big part of our lives.
Today, as a Principal, Picture Day does not seem to have the same importance. The introduction of digital cameras gives many the ability to take great pictures any time they want to. The students no longer dress in their best outfits, opting instead for clothing that more closely resembles their daily wardrobe. Still, though, it is a part of our traditions. The student portraits go into our Yearbook and are kept to mark the celebrations of another year.
Imagine a place where children have never seen their picture, ever. In the Dominican Republic, there are no Picture Days. Parents have no valued photos of their children to treasure. For one school, on Friday, December 2, 2011, that changed. The corporate sponsor of the Mission Trip is Lifetouch. Their primary product is Portraits. They take pictures at Cuthbertson, having successfully won that opportunity from our Yearbook sponsor each year.
Lifetouch determined to give one school a Picture Day. The school contains some of the children who will attend the new school we are building. We arrived at the school, the Escuela Manuel Tobias Duran (Manuel Tobias Duran School), and found the members of the Lifetouch team had already set-up blue backdrops. We moved students, class by class, to the photography area outside of the building. They each waited in line to have their picture taken. The children were coaxed to smile, but hen they appeared the smiles were genuine.
We talked and played with the children who were waiting on their classmates. They were a little rambunctious, just like children around the world. After each child and the teacher had their picture taken, we walked them around the school for a group shot of their class. Picture Day had just become "real" for them. I cannot wait until we return on Monday with their picture packages in hand.
Lifetouch employees sent the pictures to their plant in America. Plant workers volunteered their time to process the pictures and a Plant Manager is flying here with the pictures in two suitcases. We will have the opportunity to hand a child their picture. For most, it will be the very first time they have held their own picture.
Picture Day, though a big part of my own school days, has not been something I that really think about. It happens routinely and we move on. It now has more meaning for me. There are parents in this world who would love to have a single picture of their child. In my family, we have hundreds of digital pictures of our children. We are so blessed and sometimes don't even see it.
The notion of Picture Day at school brings up memories for most of us. I remember being dressed up in my best clothes. My mom would worry about my Picture Day outfit for weeks. On the big day, I would be dressed up in my nicest outfit and my hair would be slicked to the side and off I would go. Our teacher would line us up and we would head to the Auditorium for our semi-annual pictures.
Mom usually bought the middle package and sent my sisters' and my picture out to extended family members. She would take down last year's 8x10 from the frame on the Living Room wall and replace it with this year's. The old one lovingly went into her photo album, a pictorial timeline of our lives. Picture Day was a big part of our lives.
Today, as a Principal, Picture Day does not seem to have the same importance. The introduction of digital cameras gives many the ability to take great pictures any time they want to. The students no longer dress in their best outfits, opting instead for clothing that more closely resembles their daily wardrobe. Still, though, it is a part of our traditions. The student portraits go into our Yearbook and are kept to mark the celebrations of another year.
Imagine a place where children have never seen their picture, ever. In the Dominican Republic, there are no Picture Days. Parents have no valued photos of their children to treasure. For one school, on Friday, December 2, 2011, that changed. The corporate sponsor of the Mission Trip is Lifetouch. Their primary product is Portraits. They take pictures at Cuthbertson, having successfully won that opportunity from our Yearbook sponsor each year.
Lifetouch determined to give one school a Picture Day. The school contains some of the children who will attend the new school we are building. We arrived at the school, the Escuela Manuel Tobias Duran (Manuel Tobias Duran School), and found the members of the Lifetouch team had already set-up blue backdrops. We moved students, class by class, to the photography area outside of the building. They each waited in line to have their picture taken. The children were coaxed to smile, but hen they appeared the smiles were genuine.
We talked and played with the children who were waiting on their classmates. They were a little rambunctious, just like children around the world. After each child and the teacher had their picture taken, we walked them around the school for a group shot of their class. Picture Day had just become "real" for them. I cannot wait until we return on Monday with their picture packages in hand.
Lifetouch employees sent the pictures to their plant in America. Plant workers volunteered their time to process the pictures and a Plant Manager is flying here with the pictures in two suitcases. We will have the opportunity to hand a child their picture. For most, it will be the very first time they have held their own picture.
Picture Day, though a big part of my own school days, has not been something I that really think about. It happens routinely and we move on. It now has more meaning for me. There are parents in this world who would love to have a single picture of their child. In my family, we have hundreds of digital pictures of our children. We are so blessed and sometimes don't even see it.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
My School!
Day 3 - Thursday, December 1, 2011
Today was our first full day on the job-site. We had an early wake-up call so that we could have breakfast at 7:15AM and be on the bus by 8:15AM. Breakfast was wonderful. I did not know what to expect from a Dominican breakfast, but I was delighted to find ham, cheeses, pineapples, mango, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes.
By 8:30AM, we had arrived at the school ready for a full day of work. We quickly resumed our masonry duties. Seeing what we had accomplished in a short day the day before helped motivate us as we began our day. It was so exciting to watch the walls grow block by block. The care and passion that went into the work was so obvious. Blocks were removed to be reset when the level indicated that were not perfectly placed. It was so wonderful to watch the other principals and superintendents really get into hard work.
After a full day of laying block, we were incredibly tired, but also incredibly happy. We had taken occasional breaks to play with the kids hanging out on the edges of the construction zone. On one break, I asked one little boy if this was his school. He shook his head and said no. I smiled and said this is your school. We are building it for you. He began to smile broadly and repeated "mi eschela" - my school! It was a beautiful moment and made it easy to really give my all to the work.
If every student takes ownership in their school, if they believe it is their school, they will keep it clean and take care of it. More importantly, they will believe that in their school, they can achieve their dreams. We have often said that we are building hope. This school is theirs. Here they will find a pathway to a bright future.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Is it More Important to be Interested or Interesting?
Day 2 - Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Our trip to Constanza was an adventure. The flight from Charlotte to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic passed without mishap. The second flight was three and half hours long, but after the flight to China and back, it felt like nothing.
At the airport we were greeted by our hosts. We were quickly wisked onto waiting buses to travel from Santo Domingo on the coast up into the mountains. The bus ride took almost four hours. The road was narrow and wound back and forth. Halfway through the journey it started raining making it even harder for the driver to see. The bus seemed to struggle to make it up the grade from time to time. Our driver was determined to make goos time. At one point he was dismayed by how slowly another bus was traveling so he passed the other bus on a two lane road, going uphill, in the dark, in the rain, and in the middle of a blind curve. His American passengers all breathed in sharply and held their breath for some time.
After finally arriving at our quarters, we had a great meal and met for our first evening reflection. As this was our first time together, we didi little reflecting and spent quite a bit of time getting to know one another. The group is primarily made up of principals and Superintendents as well as employees of Lifetouch, the corporate sponsor of the trip.
The morning brought breakfast and an Orientation session. We learned that the town has 90,000 people. The current school serves just over 1,100 students in a 10 room building. It runs double shifts with some children attending during the day while others attend during the evening. Classroom built for 25 students routinely hold 50-60 children.
We were encouraged t spend time developing relationships with the Dominican workers on the project as well as the community members who might be nearby and reminded that while the work is important, the relationships are much more important. It is important that we show that we care.
During the orientation, Jan, a team member, posed the question, "Is it more important to be interested or interesting?" This was such a great question! As I reflect on it, I keep asking myself in life (not just on a mission trip in another country,) isn't it more important to be interested in other people than it is to be interesting to other people? If we were all genuinely interested in others, what would the world look and feel like?
Following the Orientation we boarded the buses to head to the job site. The school's construction was well underway by Dominican workers. Our task this week will be to build the block walls, tile the floors, and possibly paint. They hope to have children in the school in two weeks. It seems like such a daunting task, but how can we build a place that will offer hope if we don't show the power of hope in our actions. After a jobsite orientation by the Engineer, we were assigned our first tasks. I was placed on a mason team. We were charged with building the block walls in the last classroom. We were taught how to level the block, use the mud, tie rebar, and alternate the seams.
By the end of the day, we knew that we would sleep well that night. Dinner was followed by our evening reflection time. Group members shared how great it felt to be here and shared their concern that they do a great job for the children. The group members are awesome! They are dedicated and passionate and it shows. Clearly, as interesting as they are, they are more interested in those they labor for.
Building a Dream in the Dominican Republic
Day 1 - Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The opportunity to give back in a real, tangible manner excites me. The life I live has its roots in the education I received in the Public Schools of North Carolina. I am able to provide for my family and make a difference in the world because teachers in amazing schools refused to accept anything less than my very best. Their encouragement gave me access to the life I live now. I owe a great deal of who I am and what I have to the education I received in North Carolina's Public Schools.
Today I embark on a journey to a mountain community I had never heard of. I have been told stories of homes with dirt floors and tin roofs. I have been told about students who could not attend school because the nearest one was too far away and grossly overcrowded. Children there have not had access to the education I received. What an amazing blessing it is to be able to travel to Constanza and help build a school for the children. We go to build hope. We go to provide a space for teachers to encourage children to believe in themselves and we go to build a dream.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
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.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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.
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| 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!
Friday, November 11, 2011
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.
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.
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| 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
Saturday, November 5, 2011
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
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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.
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| 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.
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| Joshua (with the R on his chest) running for his team. |
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