The Cardinal Way
Sharing the Stories of Southport High School
Leading and Learning: CAN WE CHANGE?
So, what does this mean for us as educators and leaders? I am not sure what you are thinking, but this table reminds me that we need to do things differently than we have in the past. The skills that were needed to be successful in a compliance based society are being replaced with ones that go far beyond the curriculums we teach. We need to revitalize our work with new concepts, ideas, and beliefs in what our students are capable of accomplishing. But, how? How do we make this change from where we sit?
I need you to think about this statement: If the only people learning in your school are from the age of 5-18 then you are doing it wrong.
As a leader, it is your responsibility to help those around you learn. You cannot do the work for them, you cannot learn for them, but much like a classroom, you can help to provide the right conditions where people want to learn. You must find ways to help people take risks and be rewarded in it. We will not get any better by standing still. Change requires movement. To help people move, we must help support them with the tools needed to make that move. If we just require change, but never support people with the tools needed to create that change, I am sure you can imagine what will happen -- anxiety, resistance, frustration, and false starts. You may create sporadic pockets of growth, but to create systematic change, each person must have the technical and emotional skills to manage the change.
Too often we try to make these changes by changing the environment. We build new schedules, offer new courses, and hire new people. While none of these are bad and can potentially move you to a better place, we must understand that great achievements do not come from changing circumstances- they come from changing ourselves as individuals. Too many believe that success is built on changed circumstances. You cannot change circumstances. If you want to influence circumstances for the better, that starts with an improvement of self. I have circumstances in my work that are out of my control, some good, some bad -- nevertheless, they are there. Each person reading this has circumstances they are facing right now. The circumstances that are happening are happening. It is as simple as that. The future holds many options and outcomes, but future circumstances only change in your favor, if you improve yourself enough to change them. There is no such thing large organizational change in our schools. The change that happens does so- one person at a time. To change culture, you must change individuals on a large scale. It is a bottom up model, not top down.
This is why the next phase of Leading with L.E.S.S. is equipping people to make changes in themselves and their environment. Everyone's trip from A to B is different, but no one will move unless you value their A first. You must start with Love, then we can move to Equip. People must know that you care about who they are first, then we can begin working with them to build the skill needed to create the change needed in our schools. If you want to change your school, first start by changing yourself, then help support change in your colleagues by equipping them with the skills needed to face the challenges our of current educational landscape.
Until next time...keep learning; keep growing; keep sharing!
What it takes to #BeACardinal:
- Vivian Leach and Alicia Tasker for supporting the STARS Program on Tuesday night.
- Cody Wakefield for running the sound and lights for the STARS program, as well.
- Amy Peddie, Brian Auger, AJ Braun, and Rico Gonzalez for supporting their students as the visited the State Museum on Thursday to share their immigration simulation projects with visitors of the museum.
Grateful Friday Challenge
Happy Friday! Have you checked the calendar in all the busyness of your life? It’s May! And today is May the 3rd… we are right here in the sweet spot between May Day and Cinco de Mayo! Olé!! May Day is a celebration of the spring and the coming of summer. Cinco de Mayo… is… well… it’s… not what we think it is… so it’s a day to speak a little Spanish and perhaps enjoy a cerveza or a margarita… It is Friday after all… if neither of those things is your cup of tea, perhaps a siesta would be appropriate? And at this point in the year- we could all probably use one (or two of each!).
What else could we use? What else could someone down the hall use? What about the students in your class? What would make the day better? A pat on the back? A nice note? A funny quote or meme? A song and a story? We only have a few Fridays left. We’ve had a pretty awesome year so far- but the stress and strain and pressure is starting to build so go Ma(y)ke somebody's day!
With banners flying as we go! #FlyAsONE
BE A CARDINAL; CHANGE LIVES; PUT A MISSION INTO MOTION!
180 Days of Learning -- #CardsLearn
Kelly Nickson
S.T.A.R.S.
Gene Lezon
Immigration Simulation
Superintendent's Lunch
Educational Humor
Southport High School
Email: bknight@perryschools.org
Website: http://perryschools.org/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHSCardinals/
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals