I Sometimes Feel Alone - It Makes Me Sad #savmp

Not everyone will understand how I feel, it's not that typical type of alone feeling. It only really comes about when I'm in large groups, and with people who I know in real life. Don't get me wrong, the people are smart, passionate, energetic, caring and great to be around. We have good conversations about kids, curriculum, leadership ideas and much more. That alone feeling comes when I know many of them aren't 'connected' - they're missing an entire conversation that's happening behind the scenes. We're missing out on conversation together, it could be much deeper. It's so hard to have deep conversations with people you only see or talk with once a month.

I'm in a room full of people but I feel alone -

Where does this feeling come from? I feel more connected to other educators who are hundreds or thousands of miles away. It's because I actually talk or interact with those other educators more! My daily Voxer conversations with Principals keeps us updated on each others lives. We know what their wins are and also what they're struggling with. Those details about their daily Principal life is important. 

Sometimes it feels like I know little secrets because I've already read about the articles/ideas being discussed. Or already talked about the articles/ideas with others on social media. Or maybe I've even connected with the author or speaker we're talking about on social media - that's actually most often the case. I want to speak up and tell others about my interactions, but I sometimes get that 'alien look' and decide to not raise my hand. I want to let others in on the secret, but if you're not connected you really won't understand. 

I want others to understand the power in connection, how easy it is to connect with others, how powerful it is to connect with others, that I wish we were more connected and not just during our once a month obligatory meeting. We only get together with the 'in real life' colleagues once a month or so. And when we do, it's usually a scripted conversation, following an agenda, making small talk, it's a very un-connected conversation. It can make me feel like I'm alone.

It would be such an extreme challenge to work as a Principal without Voxer. I couldn't imagine being where I am today without Twitter and all the amazing connections I've built.

Every awesome opportunity that happens to me in my professional life is because of my social media connections.

Even though I feel alone sometimes when I'm in large groups, I'm thankful for my behind the scenes connectedness, it's what keep me going, day

This continues to be my favorite Twitter Story video and can't believe it only has 12,000 views. Get connected, discover the possibilities, you'll feel more connected, I hope I feel less alone!

Start With An Idea - See What Happens

If you haven't seen the video below it's amazing, check it out! It has almost 10,000,000 views in just a few days!

You should now take the time to watch this next video below. Watching all of it would be great, and really at 10:03 is why I'm writing this blog post.

Casey Neistat is amazing, super creative, hard working and tons of energy. He makes a vlog everyday and posts to his YouTube channel, chronicling his life and adventures. All of his daily videos don't go viral and have millions of views, but this one did.

It all started with an idea Casey says! 

What's your idea? Do you have an idea? I'm sure everyone has an idea they would love to see into fruition? What do you need to make it happen? Money? Time? Support? Confidence? Colleagues?

I challenge you to take off with your idea! Talk about your idea with others and see where it takes you. Start small, but you must start, one foot in front of the other. You got this, make it happen!

I Cried Last Week #KidsDeserveIt #savmp

I'm blogging about this event because I don't cry very often, it's rare. It's not that I try to withhold my emotions, my tears just don't flow that often.

Last Saturday I was invited to an Eagle Court ceremony for a student I had in 4th grade, he's now a senior in high school and applying to colleges. To be honest, when the invitation came in the mail I started to get choked up, this kids meant/means a lot to me. There hasn't been a student in my career that I've spent more time with. It's been eight years since he was in my class and I still think about him a lot - and I'm so proud of who he's become.

It all started when he was in 3rd grade and I'd see him at recess or outside of his classroom because he was in 'trouble.  I knew right away he needed to be in my class - I needed him in my class. He glommed on to me pretty quick as well, his teacher in 3rd grade wasn't very nice to him, he needed to be in my class for sure.

I can still remember that first day of 4th grade, he was the first one in line when the bell rang. Ready to see our class for the first time, smiling ear to ear, excited beyond belief - I was too!

It wasn't all smooth though, we had some major challenges with behavior, academics and self esteem throughout that year. When the first report card came out his mom was at my door right after school. She gave me a hug and said he'd never had a report card like this before. The positive comments, good grades - her son was so excited for school everyday already and now this awesome report card.

He'd earned it - sometimes all a kid needs is to have someone believe in them. To help them find their awesome that's already inside.

Fast forward eight years and his mom is speaking during the Eagle Court ceremony. She's talking about the men in his life - dad, grandparents and then she starts talking about me. I couldn't hold back anymore and really started crying. Like I hadn't cried that much since my dad passed away a few years ago. These were tears of joy, celebration, excitement, pride and so much more.

After the ceremony I went on stage to congratulate him in person. He gave me the biggest hug and thanked me for always believing in him. Are you kidding I said, I'm so proud of you!

I know our paths in life were meant to cross, he needed me and I know for a fact that he's made me a better educator/person/dad with our experiences that year in 4th grade.

Educators - take the time, go the extra mile, put in the work, build those relationships, connect with kids. They won't remember what grades they earned, their scores on a standardized test or how many words they spelled correctly every Friday. They'll remember how they were treated, if they knew you cared about them, if you made school fun and exciting. It's not about the grades, it's about the relationships we build and how we make kids feel. Be awesome for kids - they deserve it!

KDI Minds Collide #KidsDeserveIt

Kids Deserve It! 

 Writing our last chapter!

Sometimes things just fall into place.  It doesn’t make sense all the time, but it always seems to happen at just the right time. The important thing to remember is - just go with it, there’s a reason it’s all happening!

Who would have known that six months ago, we would have met face to face and hit it off so well at NAESP?  That it would have led to the creation of Kids Deserve It and a book deal?

That the working relationship would turn into a friendship where it was like we’d found our long lost brother.  Where our world’s began to collide on more than just a work level.

This weekend we finally had the opportunity to spend some time in person together since July!  And even more than that our families got to meet as well.

But the best part came the next day.  On Saturday our families collided and we spent the entire day touring San Francisco.  We visited the Golden Gate Bridge, rode a cable car, walked the streets, saw thousands of Santas, rode on BART,  ran to Twitter Headquarters, and even rode (yes, all 6 of us) in a Pedicab.

And as we sat across the table from each other writing the ending of our book on Sunday morning while Adam made blueberry pancakes, it all hit us.  Look at the world we live in.  A world where when we choose to connect with others and put ourselves out there, we can really find something special.

Over the last six months our worlds have been flipped upside down.  There’s so much awesomeness that has happened.  And this weekend, spending it together with our families, was only a further reminder of even greater things to come!

So please remember - take the time to connect with people in person. With Social Media we all have so many ‘friends’ and it’s the real friends that we believe truly make the difference. They make you a better person for  you, your family, your job and for those around you everyday.

Be awesome, connect with others, practice gratitude and don’t forget to smile - you deserve it!

Writing + breakfast at Adam's house!

 Pedi cab with both families, thanks to Chris for pedaling us!

 Everyone loves a cable car ride!

Golden Gate Bridge

The Welcome's

Kids Deserve It #kidsdeserveit

My blog is on hiatus, Todd Nesloney and I are writing a book, stay tuned for a release date in 2016!

@kidsdeserveit

Keep Climbing - Never Stop #KidsDeserveIt #PrincipalsInAction

When we stop moving forward, we become stagnant. When we stop climbing, we become restless. When we stop learning, we become outdated and stale. Never ever stop, kids deserve relevant. 

Our jobs are challenging, some days it feels like there are no wins, like it's all a bunch of missed field goals and overtime losses. Being a leader is exhausting. It's deflating at times. There are days I want to leave and not come back. 

I've never cried about work or about issues I'm dealing with as Principal, but I've cried for students who need more that I can give. I've cried with teachers who need my support. Just yesterday I was a little emotional because a staff member had such positive comments towards a parent that is working through some behaviors by their child. I gave her some personal kudos for the hard work and passion she brings everyday! It's so important and valuable to focus on the positive!

We must keep climbing for kids. Even when we want to leave our keys on the table and not return. 

We must never stop for kids, they deserve every ounce of energy, enthusiasm, passion, motivation, caring and creativity that we can muster.

Sometimes you just need to stop. Collect your thoughts. Regain perspective. It's so easy to focus on what is not going well, on what needs to change, on what could be done differently. 

Being a leader is similar to climbing a big mountain with an extremely heavy pack on - in the snow, during a storm, and you've run out of water. 

No matter how hard the challenge is, we must jump in, take that leap. Lace up those shoes, run faster and farther. Keep climbing, find a new route, push yourself.

Then, during the fray - while you're climbing - when you're jumping - as you're running - stop! Look around, take a seat, refocus your attention, analyze your output and where you're spending time and energy. 

Flip the switch and focus on your wins. The more you focus on positivity, the more wins will happen for you and your community. Enjoy the journey and that climb up your mountain. 

Please don't stop climbing. Please always jump in with both feet. Please get in the game and stay there until the fourth quarter. Never stop being awesome for kids, we mean more to them that we probably even realize. 

Kids need you. They want you. They deserve us to be suited up and ready to go. Now go!

Find Your Balance #tcrwp

This post is co-written with my good friend Chara Rodrigues who is an amazing Readers and Writers Workshop coach in the Bay Area. @CharaRodrigues1

We love books. We love the story they tell. We love how they inspire us to be better for kids. We love talking about them with other educators to see their perspective which opens new doors for us.

We really love a book that makes us stop and think. Makes us examine who we are, take a step back, and then move forward with a different plan. ‘I Am Yoga’ written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds is that book.

It was no happenstance that I Am Yoga  appeared in my mailbox when it did.  It was a day when I needed a quiet reminder to “be still.”  It was a day when my kids needed a quiet reminder that it’s okay to “be slow”.  It was a day when I wish I could remind teachers to “make room in their minds to create and imagine.” This book speaks to a soul. Your soul, my soul, our souls.  It is a message that leaves a mark - one that lingers. One we need to return to, time and time again.

When I look back on my life, I find that most of the time, I was juggling.

NOT balancing.

Balls in the air.  

Dropping left and right.

Picking up dropped balls as I needed to get back in the game.  

It was okay, everyday was a new one and new balls would take precedence.  

But I never felt in control. I never felt I had a good handle on things.

Spinning. . .

Or shall I say juggling?

But balance - that is what I strive for.  That is what I want my children to strive for. It makes us better people.  Better citizens of the world.

One of my yoga teachers whispered in my ear one day, “Be the warrior, not the war!”  And that, my friends, is the true essence of balance.

We must find balance in our lives, all of us. At work, at home, with friends, with digital media, with social media - we’re better for kids when we’re balanced!

• Take time each day to balance yourself.
• Find that space where your mind can relax and balance comes back to your core.
• Take several long and slow deep breaths. Clear your mind. Breathe in your intentions and exhale your stress.
• Play calming music and close your eyes.
• Our children can see our stress, they can sense our anxiety, they feed off our energy. Make that energy positive, calming, and focus on being present in their lives.
• Read I Am Yoga and strike a tree pose like Susan below!

We feel I Am Yoga has a few different messages. What do you take from the story?

Do some yoga - Breath a little more deeply - Spend time outside in nature - Slow down - Enjoy the moment you’re currently in - Read books with kids - Have a conversation with someone - Enjoy!

Check out Susan's blog here!

Author Susan Verde striking a tree pose!