Love What You Do

Recently, family, friends, and co-workers have asked, "Are you working over break?" This seems like a loaded question. But the simple answer is yes, I am working over break.

As educators, continuous learning is our work. And if you love what you are doing, that can sometimes make it difficult to qualify it as work. So over the break, I am engaging in my own personal Genius Hour, Passion Project, Google's 20% time, or whatever title you'd like to apply. I am reading, I am writing, I am connecting, and I am playing. And I am enJOYing all of those things.

Reading - I forget where I read it, but if we (as adult educators) are asking our students to read (outside of school), shouldn't we be reading, too? Yes, we should! So I have a goal of reading five books over the break.

• Embracing a Culture of Joy, by Dean Shareski (already finished!)
• Reimagining Literacy through Global Collaboration, by Pernille Ripp (already finished!)
• Your School Rocks, by Ryan McLane and Eric Lowe (already finished!)
• Tribe, by Sebastian Junger
• The Best Man, by Richard Peck - this is on my list because earlier this year, we had a teacher, Ali Houselog (6th gr.), who asked me to read a book and do a book review via podcast (check out her blog that contains all of her book review podcasts) to share with her students. I did this, and then donated the book that I read to the classroom. I really enjoyed doing this, and I hope that the students enjoyed it, too. So I wanted to do it again...

Blogging - I love writing; I always have. It's therapeutic, and it's a great way for people to have an insight into what I am thinking. I've got this post, and another one (Pause to Reflect, link coming...) that I am simultaneously drafting. Stay-tuned...

Connecting - I value so many people in my PLN. Over winter break, I've had extended time to reach-out to those who I learn from and with via Twitter and Voxer. These people (too many to name) are a) a primary reason for my inspiration and motivation to continue innovating, learning, and growing, AND b) a key source of my positive outlook. Thanks!

Playing - I have made time to experiment (play) with several new tools that have appealed to me.

• #BookSnaps - what a great opportunity to engage our (especially older) students in their reading (a couple of my examples are below)

• Stop motion videos - what a great opportunity for our students to create, summarize, and/or tell a story
  Thanks to Andrew Fenstermaker for telling me about the app to use, AND thanks to my son for engaging in this activity with me!

Our First Penguin Award

When penguins jump into the water where there are predators, one has to go first.

Or that penguin might get first dibs on all the tasty fish in the ocean. Take the risk.

"Failure is not just acceptable, it's often essential." - Randy Pausch

Inspired by the The Last Lecture, I heard about this idea - to recognize an individual for taking a risk. Admittedly, I was hesitant to do this. How were teachers going to receive this? What would it do to the culture and climate of the building when we were going to recognize and single-out one staff member with an award. Regardless, I did it anyway. I took the risk.

We want to create a culture that encourages risk taking. Where risk taking not only becomes the norm, but it is also something that is regularly recognized and celebrated. Because that's how you learn. That's how you grow. And eventually, that's how you get better.

We awarded our first ever, First Penguin Award at Van Allen Elementary School to Lisa Hildebrand (@vanallen_PE), our PE Teacher on Thursday, December 8th, 2016. Congratulations! I've used the word inaugural in this post because this is something that I plan on becoming a ritual at our school. It is something that we will do at the conclusion of each (or near the conclusion of each) trimester. Eventually, I want to be able to individually recognize ALL of our teachers for the risks that they take.

Taking risks has to be more than something that we just talk about. Taking risks has to be more than something that we just do. Taking risks has to be something that we celebrate!

#Thankful

For the past couple of months, I've been telling people that, professionally, I've never been happier. Now, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, this seems like an appropriate time and place to elaborate on the why that has led to my happiness.

I am thankful for the six years that I spent as an educator in the Davenport CSD. After growing-up in West Branch, the diversity that I was able to experience for the first time was life changing. It was during this time that I realized the value of relationships. I am also thankful for being allowed the opportunity to work with Marianne Corbin while I was in Davenport. Her positive attitude and willingness to try new things had a huge impact on me. Thank you.

I am thankful for the opportunity that Chris Armstrong and the Highland CSD gave me as a 29 year old that had never worked in an elementary school to become an elementary school principal. I am also thankful for the opportunity that I had to serve as principal in the Marion ISD, last year. I was fortunate to work with some really great people in both of these districts. Furthermore, these two experiences were vital in shaping me into the educator that I've become. Thank you.

And I am especially thankful for the opportunity that Steve Murley, Amy Kortemeyer, Matt Degner, Jim Pedersen, and the rest of the Iowa City CSD gave me to join their team. I'll never forget that phone call from when I was offered this job; it felt, it still feels too good to be true. Iowa City is where I've always wanted to be, and working in this District has not disappointed. Working in this District has been a GREAT! Thank you.

I am thankful for the staff, students, and school community at Van Allen Elementary. Transitioning into a new job is difficult; there is always a learning curve. This has been less overwhelming because Van Allen is such a great place to work, to learn, and just overall a great place to be. Thank you.

I am thankful for all of the positive feedback that I've received from staff, students, and school community members during my first five months on the job. This is never why we do the things that we do, but it is always nice to have our work acknowledged. Thank you.

I am thankful to work and live in the same community. I know that my family is thrilled with my reduced commute to and from work each day (and I am happy about that, too). I believe that the school community probably appreciates me being "one of their own" in regards to where I reside. North Liberty, Coralville, Iowa City - this area just feels like home. It's a feeling that is hard to describe. Nonetheless, it feels great. Thank you.

I am thankful for having such an amazing Professional Learning Network of people for support. Through platforms such as Twitter and Voxer, I've been able to connect with wonderful educators from coast to coast. These connections have inspired me with not only ideas for things to try, but also inspired me with an attitude and a mindset that is always in a positive place. Thank you.

I am thankful because I love what I do. Working as an educator, there isn't a lack of purpose for our work. I can't imagine doing anything else that (I could/would be qualified to do) was as rewarding and enjoyable as being an elementary school principal. In fact, it doesn't feel like work most of the time due to the enjoyment and the passion that I have for what I do. Thank you.

I am thankful that my family circumstances are not a burden to me while I am at work. For that I am lucky. I realize that not everyone is as blessed and fortunate regarding what you leave at home when you come to work and what you come home to when you leave work. Thank you.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows. I've got issues that I have to deal with and work through. I have days that aren't as good as others. But I know that perspective is a key; my bad days aren't as bad as some people's bad days. And I also firmly believe that the more positives that we look for, the more positives we will find.