KIDS FIRST is our Vision. Vision creates focus and establishes a constant leadership agenda that serves as a daily guide for the entire organization. I share this with you as I believe in it, have used it for the last 17 years, and it works. Our Vision is foundational to all decision-making whether it is by teachers in the classroom, by classified staff, department heads, or by administrators
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KIDS FIRST - Always think, are we doing the right thing by the kids? Foundational decision-making must always be based on our thoughts of Kids First.
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I come second, as kids come first - As adults, we must focus our actions on always doing what is best for kids; basically, just treating all kids as if they were our own. Adults truly are important and we must show our concern for them so that they know that while they do come second, it is a very, very close second.
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Doing our best as teachers and staff, every day, for every child - Schools must be a haven for both children and all adults. We know that there are times when we have tough mornings for a multitude of reasons, but when we open the door and cross the threshold into our school buildings, we must put our personal difficulties aside, for if school is to truly be a haven for our children and for us, it is the adult behavior that establishes that special environment.
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Setting high expectations for all - 99% of our kids can meet high expectations when we communicate effectively with them. We must expect excellence. I have high expectations of all faculty and staff and expect excellence from all. I promise I’ll never ask you to work harder than I do.
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Finding problems to just be opportunities for creative solutions - “I can’t” is not an acceptable response. We all find ourselves in situations were we are initially at a loss as to what to do. However, after we step back and consider the problem, we, sometimes with some help, always find a creative solution. That creative solution not only solves the short-term problem, it builds our confidence.
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If educationally correct, it must be administratively possible - This simply means we must insure that we do the right thing educationally for every kid, always; we can’t take shortcuts or take the easy way out; we must go the extra mile and administer with integrity.
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Respect-modeled, given, received, and praised - Respect can be given, but it is most often earned. Kids could care less how much a teacher or principal knows, but they are intimately aware of how much teachers and administrators care about them as an individual. Earning another’s respect is critical to the teaching/learning process. If at school, adults model respect, earn it, give it, and praise it, they will most assuredly receive it. That is the definition of a win-win situation.
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Sharing an articulated, challenging, real-world, technologically integrated curriculum - Yep, that’s a mouth full but very important. A teacher can have great skill but if they are not teaching what the child needs instructionally, it is not a quality use of time for either the teacher or the student. This statement says the curriculum will be organized grade level to grade level, we will challenge each student individually, we will teach real world necessities as well as state standards, and we will use technology to assist us so that kids can learn more and learn it faster.
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Trust-earned, granted, forging a true partnership between faculty, staff, administration, students, and community - Trust is the key. If you can earn the trust of your class, your school, your district, your community, the sky is the limit. If you don’t have trust, you really don’t have anything. Earn trust, value it, and then whatever you do, make sure you don’t do anything that would cause you to lose it. |