Jo+Ann+Stratford+HS

**School Has Begun & SHS Spartans Are Stronger Than Ever** Our "can do" spirit usually keeps us in the boat, but I find myself throwing lifelines to overwhelmed and overworked teachers more frequently as the semester progresses. Remaining positive is my responsibility. If I don't radiate positivity, how can I expect our teachers to? I want teachers to see me as one of them, and recalling my classroom days helps me understand their challenges. I allow them to vent and/or express their frustrations, but then I throw a lifeline and offer solutions and suggestions. My efforts are diluted if I simply offer a sympathetic ear and nod in agreement. As their captain I have to lighten the cargo and lead the way.

FACES of ME

Grandbabies and Students Keep Me Young at Heart







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 * Leading Learning **


 * PL Activity 1:
 * How will you communicate the efforts of your teachers (EA and other)? ( // illuminating the bright spots // - blog, wiki, Twitter, etc.)
 * How will you encourage, manage and support sign-ups for in-class support and/or planning time (iCal, Google Calendar, etc.)
 * How will you maintain consistent and transparent communication with your building administrators?
 * How will you leverage your communication tools to bridge the efforts of EA teachers with those of non-EA teachers?
 * ===== PL Activity 2: =====
 * 1) Individually, design a teacher resource, activity, or mini-challenge to test-drive in the next month.
 * 2) Post to our Professional Learning activity
 * 3) Gather feedback from team - adjust, modify, tweak
 * 4) Try out resource, activity, or mini-challenge during the month(s), documenting plan, process, execution and reflection and collecting artifacts from teachers engagement.
 * PL Activity 3:
 * "First 5 Weeks" - Using CSI thinking routine, paint a clear picture of your reality
 * How did your actions, language and priorities support your vision/mission as an Early Adopter iCoach (aka //your destination postcard//)?
 * In what ways did your they dilute your efforts?
 * PL Activity 4:


 * PL Activity 4:
 * **Reflecting Forward, January 2014**


 * At every opportunity, I support my vision by first asking teachers to reflect on the good things that are happening in their classrooms. I offer praise and relay my hope that their innovative practices "bleed" into their departments. I ask them to continue trying new things and allow their classrooms to be noisy and messy. Of course, there are those who tend to focus on what went wrong (not our EA teachers, of course!). In the next four weeks, I plan to attend as many peer observations as possible. I've made suggestions for those who still rely on "old school" methods to observe our EA teachers and others who are trying new things. Since I am the contact person for this campus initiative, I am documenting the visits. This data will allow me to measure my achievement. To keep my own "optimism and hope alive" I will communicate with our building principal who always reminds me that baby steps forward are better than no steps at all!
 * Remaining positive is easy for me since it's part of my character. Just yesterday a teacher praised me in her own way by saying, "You're never grouchy, are you?" Given my efforts, I feel I've earned the trust of my colleagues. They are calling on me and asking for suggestions more than ever. I need support in persuading those who are still "teaching the way they were taught" to take risks.
 * I will continue to "illuminate the bright spots" with praise. When I observe great things in classrooms, I e-mail the principal and include the teacher in the communication. He is so helpful and supportive in his responses.


 * PL Activity 5:
 * PL Activity 6:
 * PL Activity 7:
 * PL Activity 8:
 * PL Activity 9: