MEMSPA Region 3
Making a difference, one person at a time
Zoom with Paul Liabenow
Ben Gilpin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Region 3 Zoom Meeting
Time: May 1, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99757856734?pwd=bGI0d0VsNVB3cjFwaFNxam8zcHVpdz09
Meeting ID: 997 5785 6734
Password: 3DsXdH
Friday, May 1, 2020, 01:00 PM
Your House
Now & Next (April 20)
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin
Several years ago I was sitting in a graduate class when my professor, Dr. Hamilton shared a message that has always stuck with me.
As a leader it is important that you understand the past, focus on the present, and prepare for the future. - Dr. David Hamilton
It's safe to say that our daily lives have changed. As leaders, the absolute top priority needs to be the wellbeing of our staff and students. This is our NOW.
When dealing with the NOW it's likely to feel a few things. Your feelings may range from exhaustion to a confident, I got this!
Here are some focus points on the NOW:
1. Social and Emotional wellbeing. Helping families with food and day-to-day survival has to come first. It's impossible to expect learning to occur in a home that is starving. As a leader, find ways to work with a local pantry, church, or organization to help provide for your community. The emotional side can be challenging. However, I would encourage you all to connect with at least 3 families each day. Ask the simple question, how can the school best support your family?
2. Be Supportive and Available for your staff. It begins by modeling the way. If you want teachers to pick up the phone and connect with families, the question is, are you doing this for them? Are you as the leader doing for your staff what you hope they are doing for their students?
Check in often. Lift up your staff through announcements and shout outs. Remember, we rise by lifting others!
3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. These times demand that we are transparent and communicate with our staff and community. It's important to note, people want to see their leaders face. Sending a memo or written announcement is fine, but a brief video announcement has a greater impact.
Dealing with the Now has vital importance, but just as Dr. Hamilton shared with me years ago, we need to prepare for the future. Fair question, how do you prepare for the unknown? I would first encourage you to reflect and theorize. Essentially, if (and that's a big if) things return to normal you likely don't need to prepare out of the ordinary. But, if things don't return to normal what do we do?
Here are a few suggestions to begin thinking about what could be NEXT:
* Professional Development. Make no mistake, our world is different. Helping our staff navigate unchartered water will be extremely important. The PD will likely involve...SEL, working with families, and distance learning.
* Large Gatherings. If we return in the Fall do we need to make Back-2-School Night look vastly different? Do we still conduct building wide assemblies? Do extracurricular events involve an audience?
* When we return it is fairly safe to say that not all families will be ready to send their child back to school. As leaders, we should be planning for some type of remote learning options.
* It is almost certain that funding will be less next year. If student count numbers are down and funding is down, what does this mean for districts? Nobody likes to think like this, but planning for these challenges can soften the blow.
* What if ALL people are required to wear masks? This will be a major adjustment for staff and students. We may not be ready to plan for this, but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens.
* What if full capacity buildings are frowned upon? Imagine the suggestion of 50% capacity on a given day. As leaders we would need to develop alternate scheduling with online options.
My aim is to get you as a leader thinking. What truly frightens me is the amount of people that simply assume we are going to go back and be, business as usual. I'm fairly certain that won't be the case.
One thing is for certain...I don't have all the answers. BUT you can bet I'm going to take risks and try to be as proactive as possible when it comes to leading staff and students.
As the month of April winds down, I suggest it is now that you begin discussions and brainstorming for what could be Next.