I Believe... - My Philosophy of Education #SAVMP

I believe all students can learn. Not only can students learn, but they can apply their learning. Not only can students apply their learning, but they should be able to apply their learning. Not only should students be able to apply their learning, but they should be able to apply their learning in a way that connects to the real world.

I believe in providing all students with opportunities to learn. Not only should students be provided opportunities to learn, but they should be given opportunities to demonstrate their learning. Not only should students be provided with opportunities to demonstrate their learning, but they should also be required to justify and defend their learning. Not only should students be able to justify and defend their learning, but they should also be presented with differing points of view.

I believe students should be exposed to technology. Not only should students be exposed to technology, but they should be allowed to explore and create with technology. Not only should students be able to explore and create with technology, they should use technology in a manner which enhances their learning. Not only should students use technology to enhance their learning, they should use technology in a positive and respectful manner to improve the world around them.

I believe all students should be cared for. Not only should students be cared for, but they should be told they are cared for. Not only should students be told they are cared for, they should be held accountable for their behavior. Not only should students be held accountable for their behavior, they should be taught how to meet our expectations. Not only should students be taught to meet our expectations, they should be praised when they exceed our expectations. Not only should students be praised when they exceed our expectations, they should be taught how to set and achieve goals.

I believe students deserve adults who believe in their students!

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Why Do I Lead???

Why do I lead? The answer is fairly simple. I like to be a part of making things happen - it's fun. I've never been one to sit on the bench or be content to let others do the work. I want to be part of the action. More directly, I want to have an impact on what happens. I've always been this way.

About seven years ago I had called my parents to inform them I was hired for my first principal position. My mom spoke through tears, telling me how proud she was. As any proud mom would, she shared stories with me in which she recalled my leadership as a child. She spoke of lists I had made, organizing pick-up football games at the local high school. These lists included names/phone numbers of my friends, with "yes/no" columns indicating their ability to join the game. As a twelve year old, I took the role of compiling competitve footbal games very seriously. Leading led to fun.

As I matured into my high school years, I seemed drawn to various leadership roles in athletics. In football, wanted to be the quarterback. When called upon to serve as our team's captain, I did so with a great deal of pride. As a junior in high school, during the half time of my first game as the starting quarterback, I eagerly praised our team for a great first hallf and wanted to set the tone for the rest of the game before Coach Kahl had a chance to discuss adjustments for the second half. He echoed my comments and prepared us for the second half. We played with energy and we won. Leading led to fun.

While a junior in college, I had worked for the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department, in Topeka, Kansas, as a Summer Camp Counselor. I led groups of twelve boys and girls, ranging from age 5 to 12. We played games, went on hikes, participated in team building activities. The following summer, I was asked to serve as a Summer Camp Director for up to 60 children, ages 5 to 12. I supervised five Camp Counselors who led groups of children in summer activities. We served as mentors and role models, while helping to create memories. Leading led to fun.

As a Physical Education and Special Education teacher, I took a great deal of pride to organize and create highly engaging learning activities for elementary students. Whether we worked on locomotor skills or learned about lifetime sports, I was driven to help students see the joys of physical activity and fitness. When working to with students to improve reading fluency, I found it very rewarding when a student was able to fill in their fluency chart with a "personal best." Leading led to fun.

Finally, as a building principal, I am in a constant state of reflection. I believe in being effective and efficient in everything we do. When a student is able to move from Tier II to Tier I support (Response to Intervention), I explode with pride and excitement for the student and the teachers. I love creating and thinking of new ways to present to staff, regarding effective instructional strategies. I enjoy participating in passionate dialogue as we look to challenge our students and staff. I am motivated to work hard when I see our teachers come to tears when a struggling students exceeds his or her expectations. I look forward to celebrating with students when they meet our Quarterly Celebration Effort Goals. So, when I'm asked why I lead, the answer has been there all my life. For me, leading leads to fun.

 

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