slide into 1st:AN EDUCATIONAL

CHALLENGE

slide into 1st:slide into 1st:AN EDUCATIONAL AN EDUCATIONAL

CHALLENGECHALLENGE

• Brain WashingBrain Washing

• Get Rid of Get Rid of Stinking ThinkingStinking Thinking

• Reverse Reverse Psycho-sclerosis:Psycho-sclerosis: – hardening of the attitudehardening of the attitude

• StepStep On Some Toes - On Some Toes - Stomp Stomp On Some On Some FeetFeet

• Southern Diplomacy will be usedSouthern Diplomacy will be used

• To withstand the “pinata syndrome”To withstand the “pinata syndrome”

• ChallengeChallenge

• RejuvenateRejuvenate

• Reclaim a servant heartReclaim a servant heart

• DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER - You may get - You may get your feelings hurt. Only the your feelings hurt. Only the strong should stay!strong should stay!

• Immediately think of….• Repairing the curriculum

– May need to change strategies

• Fixing the teachers– May need redirecting

• Addressing the deficits of the students– Let’s address the accomplishments

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

• Every person wants schools to improve

• Like trying to change a flat tire on a moving car

• Some schools are not moving• It is hard to steer a parked car

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

• Only good when it gets to a teacher, who implements it with the students in and out of the classroom.

• Only good when it gets to a teacher, who establishes good relationships in and out of the classroom.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

• The culture that permeates your school is derived from the relationships of the adults in that building.

• The culture is established by everything we do and don’t do.

• We are getting better or we are getting worse.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

•Programs & Process are important, but the most important is People; they cause the process to move forward or backwards.

•Besides…if we fail, who really gets left behind?

IF YOU ALWAYS DO IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE, ALWAYS DONE,

YOU WILL ALWAYS YOU WILL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU GET WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAVE ALWAYS

GOTTEN.GOTTEN.

Much worse than training people and losingthem is notnot training them and having to keephaving to keepthem!them!

We say we don’t have resources!We have the greatest resources any where!We have human resources!We have US!

• You are the same person today that you will be in 5 years except for 3 things…

• The books you read• The information you

choose to put into your brain

• The people with whom you associate

The Pep Talk – Kevin ElkoTraining Camp - Jon Gordon

Have a Little Faith – Mitch AlbomANDY ANDREWS

The Traveler’s Gift

Mastering the Seven Decisions

The Heart Mender

YOU CAN SIT IN YOU CAN SIT IN MCDONALD’S TILL MCDONALD’S TILL CLOSING TIME…CLOSING TIME…

• YOU STILL WILL NOT YOU STILL WILL NOT BECOME A BECOME A HAMBURGERHAMBURGER

LIKEWISE……LIKEWISE……

• PEOPLE SIT IN PEOPLE SIT IN EDUCATION EDUCATION CLASSES..CLASSES..

• DOES NOT MAKE DOES NOT MAKE THEM AN THEM AN EDUCATOREDUCATOR

• “Men don’t follow titles. They follow courage.”– “Brave Heart”: William Wallace

• “Techniques don’t produce quality products or pick up the garbage on time; people do, people who care, people who are treated as creative contributing individuals.”– Tom Peters

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• ALL CAN BE RECOGNIZED ALL CAN BE RECOGNIZED

IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE CLASSROOM, LOUNGE, AND FACULTY LOUNGE, AND FACULTY MEETINGMEETING

• agitators - deactivatorsagitators - deactivators

• Undertakers Undertakers • spectators - commentatorsspectators - commentators

• CaretakersCaretakers• participators - facilitatorsparticipators - facilitators

• RisktakersRisktakers

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Undertakers: Undertakers: deactivators and deactivators and

agitatorsagitators• hearse drivenhearse driven

• content to see things die and will give content to see things die and will give a detail explanation of how & whya detail explanation of how & why

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Undertakers: Undertakers: deactivators and deactivators and

agitatorsagitators• will avoid giving life to a programwill avoid giving life to a program

• identified by comments of identified by comments of “not in my job “not in my job description” & “that won’t work here”description” & “that won’t work here”

• hyenas of hyenas of Lion King, Lion King, “ if it weren’t for the “ if it weren’t for the lions, we would be running the place!”lions, we would be running the place!”

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Undertakers: Undertakers: deactivators and deactivators and

agitatorsagitators• secretive - waiting in the shadowssecretive - waiting in the shadows• smiling when something does not worksmiling when something does not work• some are consciously trying to destroy some are consciously trying to destroy

anything that may work and is somebody anything that may work and is somebody else’s ideaelse’s idea

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Undertakers: Undertakers: deactivators and deactivators and

agitatorsagitators• heard in the lounge saying, “ I don’t heard in the lounge saying, “ I don’t

like to gossip but, they said …...”like to gossip but, they said …...”

• ready to put you in the ground if you ready to put you in the ground if you get in the wayget in the way

•Mediocre educators are always at their best… so are mediocre administrators.

• If you are average then you are the best of the worst.

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Caretakers: Caretakers: procrastinators, procrastinators,

spectators, and commentatorsspectators, and commentators

• maintenance driven - maintain the maintenance driven - maintain the minimal standardminimal standard

• heard to say, “...well I am not the heard to say, “...well I am not the worse!” “I’ve tried that and ...” worse!” “I’ve tried that and ...”

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Caretakers: Caretakers: procrastinators, procrastinators,

spectators, and commentatorsspectators, and commentators• work hand in hand with work hand in hand with

undertakers ... “You put it in the grave undertakers ... “You put it in the grave and we will make sure it stays there!”and we will make sure it stays there!”

• waiting to get students worthy of their waiting to get students worthy of their teaching abilitiesteaching abilities

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Caretakers: Caretakers: procrastinators, procrastinators,

spectators, and commentatorsspectators, and commentators• identified by their callidentified by their call of “I don’t care of “I don’t care

what this school needs I ........” “ what this school needs I ........” “ Mr. Bartee will just have to change that Mr. Bartee will just have to change that because I have done it this way because I have done it this way since ....”since ....”

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Caretakers: Caretakers: procrastinators, procrastinators,

spectators, and commentatorsspectators, and commentators• local nesting placeslocal nesting places: lounge or coffee pot: lounge or coffee pot

• maybe found at 3:00maybe found at 3:00 telling students, “Last telling students, “Last one out turn off the lights and lock the one out turn off the lights and lock the door!”door!”

Undertakers:Undertakers: Caretakers: Caretakers: • USUALLY MAKE UP USUALLY MAKE UP

THE B.M.W. CLUBTHE B.M.W. CLUB– BLAME - MOAN - WHINEBLAME - MOAN - WHINE

• TALK ABOUT BEING TALK ABOUT BEING BURNED OUT - THEY WERE BURNED OUT - THEY WERE NEVER LIT IN THE 1st NEVER LIT IN THE 1st PLACE!PLACE!

• I’LL QUIT IF I HAVE TO I’LL QUIT IF I HAVE TO WORK WITH SO & SO ! WORK WITH SO & SO ! WHAT DO YOU MEAN QUIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN QUIT, YOU NEVER STARTEDYOU NEVER STARTED

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors

• Risktakers:Risktakers: participators and participators and activatorsactivators

• results driven ... want to win, but results driven ... want to win, but trying is most important parttrying is most important part

• plan the work and work the planplan the work and work the plan

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Risktakers:Risktakers: participators and participators and

activatorsactivators• will go against the odds if good might will go against the odds if good might

resultresult• identified by comments of “What identified by comments of “What

needs to be done?”needs to be done?”

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Risktakers:Risktakers: participators and participators and

activatorsactivators

• never worry about the clock ...finish never worry about the clock ...finish the job ...”What’s next?”the job ...”What’s next?”

• risk being used and laughed at, but risk being used and laughed at, but will uplift everyone by their actionswill uplift everyone by their actions

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Risktakers:Risktakers: participators and participators and

activatorsactivators

• have a “FIDO” & “WOWS” attitudehave a “FIDO” & “WOWS” attitude

• like a thoroughbred, ready to runlike a thoroughbred, ready to run

• love their job ...will be early & stay love their job ...will be early & stay latelate

‘‘takers & ‘torstakers & ‘tors• Risktakers:Risktakers: participators and participators and

activatorsactivators

• recognized by their call of the recognized by their call of the pronouns, “WE” and “OUR”pronouns, “WE” and “OUR”

• step out on belief in others:step out on belief in others:

• will be heard to say, “What can I help will be heard to say, “What can I help you with now?”you with now?”

• will become leaderswill become leaders

Effective praise is:• Authentic: recognizing for something

that is true• Specific: acknowledged behavior will

continue• Immediate: recognize in a timely

manner (snapshot)• Clean: has no buts, no qualifiers• Private: when in doubt praise in private

– Could anyone have done it?• Todd Whitaker

• One Word – Thanks• Two Words - I Care• Three Words – You are right• Four words – What do you think• Five words – I am proud of you

How Do We Change and How Do We Change and Change Our School?Change Our School?

• Make them part of the team– Ex: farmer and one mule team

• You cultivate the ground – plant the seed – fertilize and water – pull out weeds – harvest the crop – students reap the fruits of the labor

How Do We Change and How Do We Change and Change Our School?Change Our School?

How Do We Change and How Do We Change and Change Our School?Change Our School?

• Set high expectations...talk Set high expectations...talk positively as if they have or will positively as if they have or will happen.happen. – ex: 5 good things & 5 bad thingsex: 5 good things & 5 bad things

• Find the good ... no matter how Find the good ... no matter how small ..talk and praise the goodsmall ..talk and praise the good

• Edify each other ..uplift & brag on Edify each other ..uplift & brag on each other ..each other ..– toot the horn ... toot the horn ... – husband & wife... when to tellhusband & wife... when to tell– worms have to wiggleworms have to wiggle

• Set high expectations...talk Set high expectations...talk positively as if they have or will positively as if they have or will happen.happen. – ex: 5 good things & 5 bad thingsex: 5 good things & 5 bad things

• Find the good ... no matter how Find the good ... no matter how small ..talk and praise the goodsmall ..talk and praise the good

• Edify each other ..uplift & brag on Edify each other ..uplift & brag on each other ..each other ..– toot the horn ... toot the horn ... – husband & wife... when to tellhusband & wife... when to tell– worms have to wiggleworms have to wiggle

How Do We Change and How Do We Change and Change Our School?Change Our School?

How Do We Change and How Do We Change and Change Our School?Change Our School?

• We change We change undertakersundertakers to to caretakerscaretakers and and caretakerscaretakers to to risktakersrisktakers and and risktakersrisktakers to to leadersleaders

• Risk letting others know you careRisk letting others know you care• Risk trying something differentRisk trying something different• Risk upholding good & rightRisk upholding good & right• Risk letting go of the pastRisk letting go of the past• Risk the fear/whatever holds you Risk the fear/whatever holds you

backback

What Keeps Us From Being the Best

Educators We Can Be?•F - False•E - Evidence•A - Appearing•R - Real• If you knew you could not fail, what

would you do as a educator?

• Being an educator:– starts as a whim in your mind takes seed

as an idea – moves to the heart as a passion

• Risktaker – easy to be when you have passion

– unfortunately moves to the mind again in the form of rationalization and slowly dies…

• Caretaker• Undertaker – if it stays to long

– unless you move it back to the heart and rekindle the passion

– It must be a passion!

• YOU ARE THE MAGIC: YOU ARE THE MAGIC:

– THE REAL DIFFERENCE THE REAL DIFFERENCE IS YOUIS YOU

• LION KING - BE THE KING..LION KING - BE THE KING..

– BE THE EDUCATOR I BE THE EDUCATOR I SEE INSIDESEE INSIDE

• BE THE EDUCATOR YOU BE THE EDUCATOR YOU THINK YOU ARETHINK YOU ARE

• BE THE EDUCATOR YOU BE THE EDUCATOR YOU KNOW YOU CAN BEKNOW YOU CAN BE

– NOBODY CAN KEEP NOBODY CAN KEEP YOU FROM THIS, YOU FROM THIS, UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT TO HAPPENTO HAPPEN

– THE EDUCATOR YOU THE EDUCATOR YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILDWANT FOR YOUR CHILD

Slide Into First… What Slide Into First… What does it mean?does it mean?

Slide Into First… What Slide Into First… What does it mean?does it mean?

• You are hustlingYou are hustling• You are giving all that you haveYou are giving all that you have• You are doing all you can for the good You are doing all you can for the good

of the teamof the team• SacrificeSacrifice• IntensityIntensity• Sometime so intent, lose track of Sometime so intent, lose track of

where and what you are doing.where and what you are doing.• You must get to first before you can You must get to first before you can

score!!!!!score!!!!!

• close play at firstclose play at first• Steve Lyons, Chicago White SoxSteve Lyons, Chicago White Sox• 5 TV appearances - no hitter 5 TV appearances - no hitter

pitcher only onepitcher only one• How many of us are sliding into How many of us are sliding into

1st when it comes to..1st when it comes to..• our our teachingteaching• movingmoving our school forward our school forward• new new ideasideas and and techniquestechniques• encouragingencouraging & & edifyingedifying each each

otherother

Why Slide Into 1st?Why Slide Into 1st?• Because we have aBecause we have a passion passion for for

educationeducation

• We We needneed to to rejuvenaterejuvenate our our passion for education like we passion for education like we once hadonce had

• Because the education we Because the education we deliver is the deliver is the ticketticket for a for a better better futurefuture for our students for our students

• To give kids anTo give kids an education education that is that is worth moreworth more than the money that than the money that was was allocated allocated

Why Slide Into 1st?Why Slide Into 1st?• So our So our schoolschool will continue to will continue to

movemove to the to the fore-frontfore-front as a as a school on the move –school on the move –

• While other schools say….While other schools say….– ““That other school gets all the best That other school gets all the best

students”students”– While a faculty “whines” about its While a faculty “whines” about its

slice of the pie, other unified & slice of the pie, other unified & supportive faculties are moving to supportive faculties are moving to the the front as “showcase the the front as “showcase schools”schools”

Why Slide Into 1st?Why Slide Into 1st?• So that if your were arrested for So that if your were arrested for

impersonating an educator, impersonating an educator, there would be there would be enough evidenceenough evidence to convict you to convict you 3 times over3 times over..

• So that when the day comes to So that when the day comes to leave, your leave, your namename is is spokenspoken with with honorhonor ... so your students will ... so your students will say, say,

• ““Now she (he) was a realNow she (he) was a real

teacher !”teacher !”

Why Slide Into 1st?Why Slide Into 1st?• Teach with Intensity - get some Teach with Intensity - get some

“teaching dirt”“teaching dirt” on your clothes on your clothes

• Be in a Be in a “league of your own”“league of your own”

• Down To This:Down To This: – Bring them in from different Bring them in from different

areas & culturesareas & cultures– Build them upBuild them up– Send them out as examplesSend them out as examples– We are judged & critiqued on We are judged & critiqued on

the productthe product

Melvin Slaughter: A Great AmericanA Great American• Lewis Grizzard, Lewis Grizzard, The Last Bus To The Last Bus To

AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque• Gulf Station - Last full service in USGulf Station - Last full service in US• Put in gas - attacked front Put in gas - attacked front

windshield - then the back windowwindshield - then the back window• Best job since gas was 30 cents a Best job since gas was 30 cents a

gallongallon• ““I just try to do the best job I can I just try to do the best job I can

do! That’s what they pay for!”do! That’s what they pay for!”• Person took pride..even if it was Person took pride..even if it was

bug goobug goo

The Choice Is YoursThe Choice Is YoursThe Choice Is YoursThe Choice Is Yours• A Self Service Education or..A Self Service Education or..

• Slide Into 1st With a Passion & Slide Into 1st With a Passion & Give a Full Service EducationGive a Full Service Education

• Besides...Besides...

• ““That’s what they pay me for!”That’s what they pay me for!”

• The auctioneer...The auctioneer...

You, As An Educator, Will You, As An Educator, Will Change Lives… Be The Change Lives… Be The

Master EducatorMaster Educator

4leadership@wor4leadership@work//k//

Jim & Vev ArringtonJim & Vev Arrington

334-315-4804334-315-4804

james.e.arrington@gmail.com