Learning & Leading is an Adventure
With an Innovator's Mindset
What Would George Do?
It starts with an Innovator's Mindset...
- The ability to innovate-to create something new and better-a skill that organizations worldwide are looking for today. #InnovatorMindset
- The innovator's mindset can be defined as the belief that the abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed so that they lead to the creation of new and better ideas. (pg. 33)
The Characteristics of an Innovator's Mindset
Empathetic
Problem Finders/Solvers
Risk Taker
Networked
Observant
Creators
Resilient
Reflective
**Graphic made with https://www.easel.ly/ -SUPER COOL SITE TO MAKE GRAPHICS! I made this one in about 10 minutes.
The Characteristics of an Innovative Leader
Visionary
Empathetic
Models Learning
Open Risk Taker
Networked
Observant
Team Builder
Always Focused on Relationships
EMPATHETIC
Would you want to be a staff member at your campus?
Put yourself in their shoes. You are the architect of what happens at your school.
My TOP two examples of how I lead with an innovator's mindset in this area.
1) Campus Culture Focus for the Year
2) "Thursday Brief" which morphed to SMORE (the program you are looking at)
YEARLY FOCUS FOR SCHOOL CULTURE-Set the tone for a GREAT Year and somewhere people will want to come and work.
YEAR ONE: "WE ARE CHAMPIONS!"
YEAR TWO: "GO FOR THE GOLD!"
YEAR THREE: "ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL!"
YEAR FOUR: TEACH LIKE A PIRATE!
YEAR FIVE: JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE!
YEAR SIX: HORNETS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
YEAR SEVEN: MAKE BAD DAYS GOOD AND GOOD DAYS BETTER
YEAR EIGHT: WONDER THE POSSIBILITIES
YEAR NINE: ADVENTURES IN LEARNING AT FBE
RISK TAKER
Risk is necessary to meet the need of all students and teachers.
You cannot expect your teachers to be risk takers if you aren't. I am so proud of many of my teachers that have embraced this. Remember, as principal, you will model what is expected. However, in my case, I also had to do some "direct teaching" initially that specifically told them...PLEASE DO TAKE RISKS AND TRY NEW THINGS! I VALUE YOU AS THE PROFESSIONAL IN THE ROOM. Don't assume the person you replaced lead with the same mindset as you.
NETWORKED
If you are not on TWITTER! Get on there today!
- School Leaders Now-great short lists on different topics (and funny memes)
- We Are Teachers-also great short lists to share with teachers (and funny memes)
- SimpleK12-They have a ton of stuff short list, how to videos, you can find it all
- Danny Steele-short inspirational tweets. I love them and always say...when I grow up I'm going to be Danny Steele. (Also, just bought his book co-authored with Todd Whitaker, more like short tenants of principalship and him and Todd are presenting at the Grow Conference!)
- John Wink-He is a superintendent in Texas and amazing. I love everything he writes about and encourages. We did our first #LoveMySchool Day this year and it was just amazing and so much fun!
- Alice Keeler-She is actually a math teacher somewhere (I think NM) but oh my gosh. I learn SO MUCH from her! If you utilize Google follow her.
- And Of Course...George Couros! His (no offense to all others) are the best. He tweets everything from motivation, to articles, to his own blog posts, to how to videos. Seriously, if I don't read the tweet immediately I bookmark it for later.
OBSERVANT
Sometimes the most valuable thing you get from the network isn't an idea but the inspiration or courage to try something new.
"Inspiration is everywhere and often in unexpected places; you just have to keep your eyes open." -Author Unknown
When I think about "observant" I think about what Jaime Casap has to say about a variety of things. (He has a YouTube Channel Follow Him-It's fun to watch him as he travels and talks.) He will say instead of asking a child what they want to be when they grow up, ask them what problem do they want to solve? Then what skills do they need in order to solve that problem and what skills do they have/enjoy. He also emphasizes how individual perspective and experiences are advantages not disadvantages. I just have one of his many videos attached below.
As a principal, I'm always observing and turning my inspirations and learning into realities. My current observations turning to reality are The Positivity Project and Pediatric Cancer Awareness in September.
Also, being here at TEPSA Summer Conference is a great FIRST STEP! I hope you were inspired and observant to the ideas out there and how you can apply those to your work as a campus administrator. Have a great 2019-2020 school year and don't forget to ask yourself...hmmm...What would George do?
Dr. Nikol Youngberg
Flour Bluff Elementary School
Email: nyoungberg@flourbluffschools.net
Website: flourbluffschools.net
Location: 2505 Waldron Road, Corpus Christi, TX, 78418
Phone: (361) 694-9599
Twitter: @FB_Elementary