Why I Teach (Then)

I never grew-up wanting to be a teacher. In fact, it's probably a fair thing to say that I grew-up not wanting to be a teacher. I would describe my relationship to school, as a student, as indifferent. I loved recess, lunch, gym class, and being around my friends. I liked almost all of the subjects that are taught in school, but I wasn't always a fan as to how some of my teachers attempted to deliver the content within those subjects. After graduating high school, I didn't intend on returning to K-12 education.

My freshman year at Cornell College was spent as a business major. I always liked math (and still do), but I was quick to realize that a life in business wasn't for me. Upon transferring to the University of Iowa my major changed to something that involved Sports, Health,  Recreation, and Leisure. While I really liked the content that the coursework within this major offered, I had the awareness to realize that finding a job upon graduation may prove challenging if I continued down this path. 

To coincide with when I transferred from Cornell to Iowa, I was asked to coach the inaugural season of fifth and sixth grade tackle football in my hometown. My football career had just ended, but I wasn't ready to completely close the door on that part of my life. I still absolutely loved football (some things never change), and I was honored that I was asked to do this. 

In the fall of 2002, I had my first experience coaching. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It would have been easy to envision me enjoying coaching; it wasn't as predictable for me to enjoy my work with fifth and sixth grade kids as much as I did. All of a sudden, I could see myself making a living and enjoying a life as a coach. Fortunately, I had the foresight to know that a career as a teacher would allow for me to have the career of coaching that I really wanted. 

By January of 2004, I was a University of Iowa student in the College of Education. Two-and-a-half years later, I had graduated with an Elementary Education degree. Better yet, I'd secured my first job. I was about to become a sixth grade teacher (while coaching high school football and junior high basketball, of course).

This is part one. This is why I became an educator. Stay-tuned for part two, which will share why I remain an educator.

Personal Leadership Philosophy

As Principal at Van Allen Elementary, I recognize the privilege that I am granted of leading our staff and students. One of my favorite parts of the job are the interactions that I am able to have with students upon their arrival to school each morning. For many of our students, upon arriving at school, I am the first smile they see; it is my responsibility to greet them by name in-order to make them feel valued. During these morning interactions, I learn about their families, what types of activities that they engage in when they aren’t at school, and the things that bring them excitement and joy. These small interactions are how we build meaningful connections.

 

During a typical school day, I may be called to help minimize a student’s behavior. My initial response is to ensure that anything I feel is put into check before I encounter the student, my immediate goal is to help the student regulate their emotions; as a result, my actions become a model for them. I calmly approach the student and attempt to maintain appropriate proximity that allows me to quietly ask them what I can do to help them at this moment. I make sure not to make accusations or assumptions during these situations, and instead I simply wait with them until they are ready to talk with me. I focus on remaining optimistic during these encounters, which in turn, allows me to be the anchor for a child when his/her emotions are dysregulated.

 

While education continues to evolve, our students’ social emotional well being has moved into the forefront of our work. More than ever before, it matters how we make students feel when they arrive at school each day. It is essential that we show the empathy that they need and deserve. The trajectory of a student’s life hinges on our day-to-day actions as educators, how we make students feel and how we approach learning. I am confident in my belief in us, as educators, because everyday I see us making kids smile and building positive relationships with our students at Van Allen. And when that’s happening, learning takes off.

This post was inspired by a book that I read and a course that I took, What’s Your Leadership Story? A School Leader’s Guide to Aligning How You Lead with Who You Are by Gretchen A. Oltman and Vicki Bautista. Special thanks to Gretchen for providing me with feedback while writing my Personal Leadership Philosophy.

I believe...

I haven't written (or at least published any of my writing) since the end of 2020. I've been meaning and wanting to write, but just haven't had it in me to get started. Recently, I was inspired to write after observing a social studies lesson in one of our classrooms. Thank you, Bailey Burnes, for the inspiration.

What I've written is a list (in no particular order and it probably isn't comprehensive, either) to provide insight into the things that I value.

I believe...

1. We should listen more than we talk
2. In making time to read, everyday
3. Time has the power to fix and heal; be patient
4. In staying calm; overreacting isn't helpful
5. In fate and I believe in karma
6. Fresh air, rest, and water are the ultimate remedies
7. The things that stretch us are the things that grow us
8. Deep down, all people are good
9. Life - including work - should be fun
10. Our actions carry more weight than our words
11. Our learning never stops
12. We should make time for ourselves
13. In doing the things that make you happy
14. Routines lead to productivity
15. In waking up early
16. Hard and bad are NOT synonymous
17. In taking the high road
18. Doing things together makes them more enjoyable
19. Exercise is as good for your mental health as it is for your physical health
20. Finding comfort in uncomfortable things
21. Moments matter; make them memorable
22. In persistence; keep going
23. Practicing gratitude is a worthwhile endeavor; be thankful
24. In details; pay attention to them
25. When we look for the good, we'll find it

Ten Days, Ten Things No.10

We made it.

t's December 31st, 2020; New Year's Eve, and we're here. We made it. It's been a year filled with bumps and curves, but there have also been plenty of bright spots and things to celebrate. And while they might be little, ordinary things, these are the moments that matter the most.

We're ready for whatever 2021 will bring. The good, the bad; the highs, the lows. Good-bye 2020. Happy New Year.

There's no context for this picture that would attract a multitude of likes via social media, but that's the point. It makes me think of the Ferris Bueller quote, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

This is the tenth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

I challenge you to come-up with your own list of things. Maybe it's not 10, maybe it's five, maybe it's three, or two, at least one. Look for the good. You'll find it; it's there. Sometimes you just have to seek it out.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.9

Sports weren't cancelled.

My son stays pretty busy participating in youth sports - football, basketball, and baseball. I also stay pretty busy helping coach all of those teams. I'm confident that he loves it; I know that I do.

We were finishing up our winter workouts for his baseball team and gearing-up to start the season when the pandemic hit. Like most things, our baseball season hit pause. We were unsure if there would be a baseball season. I doubted that it would happen. And as March turned to April and then April turned to May, it was becoming clear that my son was missing sports. Beyond the character traits and work habits that sports build, they also serve as physical, social, and mental outlets for the kids that participate.

Fortunately, in June, his baseball season started. And other than the delayed start, we were able to play the entire season without any problems. It was the first glimpse that we had of a return to normal, and it was great. Soon after the baseball season ended, we started flag football. We were also able to play the entire flag football season without any issues. Basketball hasn't been so seamless; there have been many bumps in the road (finding gym space where we are able to practice, having a deep enough rotation of players for games and tournaments, our Governor hitting the pause button on all youth athletics). Nonetheless, we're still playing basketball; it's been different, but we're playing.

This is the ninth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.8

School and Work.

My work is in a school. As an elementary school principal, I'm an educator and a leader. I enjoy the work that I do. Even in 2020, I enjoy the work that I do. It should be noted that I really enjoy the people that I am able to work with. Those two things are absolutely related.

Like most professions (and things), work has been different. It has been really weird, and it has been really hard. Fortunately, I am surrounded by exceptional colleagues and co-workers.

Our resilience has been pushed to the max. We've had to test our patience, our perspective, and our purpose. Although no one's fault, the lack of answers and direction is at times maddening; the plethora of new tools, platforms, and methods to learn is exhausting. The past nine months have been extremely uncomfortable. Yet, we're still here. Through the discomfort we are able to optimize our learning and our growth, and I am confident that as a result of this experience we will be stronger and better than we ever were before.

This is the eighth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.7

Travel?

Traveling with my family is one of the things that I love the most. When I first started brainstorming this list of things, travel was going to qualify only for the potential of a big trip being on the horizon in 2021. Upon further review, we've been able to travel in 2020. In a year when we've been living through a global pandemic, we've been able to travel. 

Last January, we spent a long weekend in Florida visiting family and going to Universal Studios. That seems like such a long time ago; a lifetime ago. Then, over spring break, we took another trip to visit my brother in Seattle. Unfortunately, we ended up being pretty limited in regards to what we could do while we were there as COVID concern amplified at a rapid rate.

We managed trips to both Florida and Seattle in 2020. That's both coasts. We're blessed; I'm aware, and I'm thankful.

*Bonus: we also took trips to Decorah where we spent time hiking, canoeing, and biking, and Des Moines for my son's baseball team's state tournament.

This is the seventh of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.6

Running.

Last year, I ran a marathon. This year, I had planned to run another marathon. I started the training plan, but had a hard time following the prescribed runs. So it was probably just as well that the marathon that I had planned to run ended up being cancelled.

Despite this, running has been one of my highlights of the year. Going into the year, I had a goal to run 2020 kilometers in 2020. That equates to running 1,255 miles. With only a few days left, this year, I have far exceeded that goal. I will end-up having run over 1,600 miles in 2020. This is the most that I've ever run.

I love running. I love the way that it makes me feel both physically and mentally. And despite so many things being cancelled, this year, running hasn't been one of them. Many races may have been cancelled, but running was not.

This is the sixth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.5

Time has slowed down. 

Typically, we stay pretty busy. Between school, work, activities for our kids, and the occasional plans with family and friends, free time can seem like an uncommon luxury in our household.

Since March, however, our go-go-go pace hasn't been continuous. There have been periods where it has come to a halt. And while I wouldn't want this to become the norm, the change of pace has been okay. As a family, we've done things that we wouldn't have normally done. 

We've been gifted more family time. Unlike most things, growing-up hasn't been put on pause. Our time with our kids isn't infinite. This additional time with them, these additional "mundane" moments shouldn't be taken for granted.

This is the fifth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.4

We've remained healthy.

In the midst of a global pandemic, my family has managed to maintain good health. I'm of the belief that this good fortune is part luck and part good decision making. Good decision making in regards to things such as exercise, diet, water consumption, rest and sleep, spending time outdoors - those things make a difference. Furthermore, in this era of COVID, wearing a mask, being extra diligent about washing your hands, social distancing, and limiting opportunities for exposure outside your home are things that are within our control. My family has tried to do these things to the extent possible; we've also had some good luck on our side.

*Bonus: we aren't out of the woods, yet. But at least there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel in regards to the pandemic that we're living through.

On a hike. We've probably done more hiking these past nine months than ever before.

This is the fourth of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.3

My daughter, Olivia, started playing softball.

I don't think that I've ever pushed either of my children to do something that they don't want to do. I've tried to allow them opportunities to do what they've wanted to do. Ryne has been consistently involved in football, basketball, and baseball camps, lessons, and leagues from an early age. I believe that he loves it.

His sister, Olivia, has spent many nights and weekends attending his games and cheering him on. She has done soccer, gymnastics, and dance in the past, but never seemed to become fully invested in any of those activities. This past summer, however, she decided that she wanted to play tee-ball. It's fun to think about how watching her brother in some way has inspired her to get involved.

The condensed tee-ball season went well, and she seemed to really enjoy it. Next thing you know, she's joining an 8U softball club and playing fall ball.

It is no secret that I love sports. And I believe that participation in sports is the ideal platform to build character. So needless to say, I am pleased to see Olivia eager to play softball.

*Bonus: in 2021, she plans to start playing rec league basketball.

Family photo after Olivia's first softball tournament.

This is the third of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.2

My wife, Amy, got a new job. 

More significantly, she got a new job in the Iowa City CSD. The Iowa City CSD is also where I am employed, and it is where our children attend school. This means that our entire family now operates on one calendar; we share all of the same days-off, breaks, vacations, etc. Furthermore, while our model of school has transitioned back and forth between being online and hybrid, it has been helpful (as we continue to navigate life and school through this global pandemic) for all of us to be in the same model at the same time.

*Bonus: Amy's teaching job is at the same school where our children attend.

First day of school photo; they're all headed to the same building.

This is the second of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Ten Days, Ten Things No.1

The Last Dance 

Not much was happening during March, April, and May of 2020. Schools were closed and sports at every level had been put on hold. Things were quite bleak with no definite end in sight, and ESPN capitalized on this opportunity. Every Sunday night, from April 19th to May 17th, the 90's Bulls captivated us for two-hours at a time with The Last Dance.

While the acclaim for the Last Dance was highly positive, it also served as a fond trip down memory lane. Like many kids who were growing-up in the 1990s, there was no team that I loved more than the Chicago Bulls. This was an opportunity to relive those memories. And the best part, I watched it all with my (then) nine-year-old son who was equally enthralled each Sunday evening.

The Last Dance was appointment viewing for my son and me.

This is the first of ten days where I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year (2020). This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

I'm Going to Start Writing

For the past five months, I haven't done much writing. In fact, I haven't published anything since the end of July. How come? I love writing. It's an activity that is therapeutic for me. Yet, I've been lacking inspiration.

Why not? Fear. Full disclosure, it's been a fear that others might perceive me writing as a poor choice of my time management. Why would I spend my time writing blogs when I could spend my time doing something else (?). I've let the fear of what other people might think prohibit me from doing something that I enjoy. 

For me, writing is self-care. It's modeling vulnerability. Furthermore, it is a communication tool that provides people an insight into my thinking and my values. As a leader, these are important things. 

I'm on day three of my winter break, and I'm going to start writing.

2020 is ending, and it has been a year. Over the next ten days, each day, I'm going to share one positive experience that I've had over the course of the year. This year has been hard, no doubt, but it hasn't all been gloom and doom. There have been highlights. And when you are looking for positives, you start to find more of them.

Proud of the Process

Last weekend, my son hit the ball extremely well during the stretch of a five game baseball tournament that we played. And while I don't know all of his statistics, I recall that he hit four doubles each one landing in a gap over the top of where the outfielders were playing. I'm sure that he felt proud of the way that he hit the ball.

I’m reading a couple of books, Win in the Dark (Joshua Medcalf and Lucas Jadin) and The Inner Game of Tennis (W. Timothy Gallwey), and listening to another, The Decision (Kevin Hart), that all emphasize the importance of mindset. For almost a decade, now, I’ve been a huge proponent of developing a growth mindset. A conclusion that I’ve drawn is that you can’t claim to have a growth mindset without being process driven. Consequently, when you’re focused on the process (and not necessarily the outcome) it is natural to embody the characteristics of a growth mindset.

Anyways... as I was reading and listening to these books, I started to reflect on my son’s weekend of baseball. As his Dad, I was extremely proud of him. However, I have to be really cautious about how I frame my praise and project my feelings to my son. If he understands my feelings of being proud of him for his extra base hits then I’ve missed my mark. 

If he thinks that I'm proud of him for hitting doubles, then he'll be led to believe that I'm not proud of him when he doesn't hit doubles.

Hitting a double every time that you come-up to bat isn’t sustainable. Putting in the work that allows you to prosper is within his realm of control; effort and preparation are sustainable. That's what I have to be sure to praise - his engagement in the process, which he partakes in that allows him to be able to get a few extra base hits over the course of a weekend. 

Here's my son in our garage getting some swings before we had to leave for his tournament games. This is winning in the dark. 

He chooses to take 50-75 swings on game days, before we leave, to best prepare himself. 

This is what makes me proud.

Books About Teaching

As an educator, three of my all-time favorite books that are directly related to education are as follows:

Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School, by Carla Shalaby. The New Press, 2017.

I read Shalaby's debut book in June 2018. To describe this book in a word, 'Wow!' And although it won't sit well with everyone that's okay; it's good to have our thinking stretched in ways that make us uncomfortable. Check, this book does that. Shalaby shares the school experience of four elementary school children before closing with a powerful letter to teachers.

"...schools value quiet children over loud ones and operate as though adults are the only teachers in the room. The adults get to speak while they young people listen. Questions are answered rather than asked. Our schools are designed to prepare children to take their assumed place in the social order rather than to question and challenge that order. (p. xvi) ...I am calling on all educators - those in our classrooms, in our homes, and on our streets - to embrace and to respond to the urgency of our collective need to teach love and to learn from freedom. (p. xviii) ...We cage the birds singing most loudly. (p. xx) ... Responding differently to our troublemakers is paramount to meeting our responsibilities as educators and as human beings." (p. 180)

 

Better than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management, by Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey. ASCD, 2015.

I read this book in January 2016, and it was probably my first introduction to restorative practices. It was more than just a book about restorative practices, however. This book emphasized, at the foundational level, relationships and high quality instruction. Those are your starting points...for everything else! Furthermore, I would make a strong case that relationships precede high quality instruction.

"...restorative practices approach is a philosophy rather than a method. (p. 110) ...Restorative practices must be about reintegration, not marginalization. (p.113) ...restorative approach acknowledges that young people make mistakes in the process of growing up and that these mistakes provide them with an opportunity to learn. (p.114) ...formal restorative practices define justice as getting well rather than getting even." (p.116)

 

No More Taking Away Recess and Other Problematic Discipline Practices (No This but That), by Gianna Cassetta and Brook Sawyer. Heinemann, 2013.

I read this book in June 2015 because, despite being a tradition that is rooted deep in many schools, I knew that taking away recess was not an effective consequence. I was hopeful that this book would provide a list of alternative consequences for students for when they misbehave. It did not. Instead, it focused on the how to of building positive relationships; due to positive relationships we are better able to prevent the behaviors that once pigeonholed us into taking away recess.

"Through our relationships, we communicate to students what we expect of them - good and bad - and this often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy." (p. 25) 

On the surface these are books about: behavior, discipline, classroom management, consequences, punishment, rules, etc. But these books are about much more than those narrow topics. These are books about anti-racism and how that can be influenced within education. They're books about our mindset and how that influences everything that we do and everyone that we come into contact with. They're books about relationships, love, and humanizing people; they're books that force us to focus on a process and not necessarily an outcome, which will require us to be patient. They're books that stress the importance of forgiveness. They are books about teaching.

That's Baseball. That's Life.

‪Sometimes you strike out. Sometimes you strike out looking. Sometimes you hit a ball great only to have it land right where the defender is positioned. Sometimes the defense makes a great play. Sometimes you throw a wild pitch. Sometimes the ball goes between your legs. Sometimes the ball pops out of your glove. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you lose badly. ‬

‪That's baseball. That's sports. That's life. ‬

Our baseball team, my son's baseball team, the baseball team that I help coach went 0-5 last weekend.

Ouch. That's a lot of losing without any winning. It's easy to lose hope and become despondent when you lose five games in a row. 

Nonetheless, life is about perspective. Where are your silver linings? This was not time wasted. We got to play baseball. We got to compete. We got to experience, firsthand, the things that make sports great; we got to experience the things that build character.

A few days later, I read June 30th's entry in The Daily Stoic. "The Obstacle is the Way." What better opportunity for the nine year old kids on our team to practice, "the Stoic exercise of turning obstacles upside down, which takes one negative circumstance and uses it as an opportunity to practice an unintended virtue or form of excellence." (Holiday, Ryan. The Daily Stoic. New York, Portfolio/Penguin, 2016, 196.)

This is what I love about sports. Failure is a regular occurrence, and that makes for the ideal learning opportunity. In baseball, each at bat, each inning, each game is a new opportunity to do better than you did the time before.

"Every impediment can advance action in some form or another." (Holiday, The Daily Stoic, 196.) 

 

Top 10, Part 2

Previously, I created and then shared a list of ten people who inspire me (linked). In the midst of everything that is happening in our world, right now, I've noticed something unsettling about my list as it was being composed. Within my ten spots, I have one black person. Within my ten spots, I have one female. It's a pretty homogeneous group; there isn't a lot of diversity in regards to the people who I'm following.

I know that I need to step outside of my bubble. I'm open to any/all suggestions for who I need to add to my list so that it is has a more diverse representation. In the meantime, I'm reading things, I'm watching things, and I'm listening to things that will allow me to learn and better understand people who don't necessarily look like me.

Here's a few more lists of some things that I've consumed and that I'd recommend. I hope that you'll consider exploring some of the titles that I'm about to share. It will be worth your time.

What have I read, recently:

• All American Boys, by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reyonlds (Reading Now)
  
• The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander
• Dear Martin, by Nic Stone
• Ghost, by Jason Reynolds
• Ghost Boys, by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Reading Next)
• Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds
• The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
• The Stars Beneath Our Feet, by David Barclay Moore

What have I watched, recently:

• 13th - This. Watch this.
• Fruitvale Station - so I didn't watch this recently, but it left such an impact that it immediately came to mind  light of our current situation.
• Just Mercy and Selma - these two movies are both FREE during the month of June on Amazon 
• Watchmen - I watched this series on HBO, last fall/winter. It's the one thing on this list of things that I've watched that is not like the others. I'm including it on this list because the first episode is how/when I first learned of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.
• When They See Us - so I didn't watch this recently, either. It's a four-episode series on Netflix that I watched, last summer. It's absolutely devastating (like most of these titles), but it's also absolutely outstanding.

What have I been listening to (podcasts), recently:

• '1619,' a podcast series from the New York Times - I especially recommend the first episode.
  
• Flying Coach with Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll
  "Gregg Popovich on America in 2020, the Leadership Void, and What Needs to Change"
  
• Unlocking Us
  "Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist"

I'm not saying that these titles on this list are the best of the best, but they are what I've consumed (and I've really enjoyed them). What would you add? Please share with me. I'm looking to continue my learning so that I can better understand.

Top 10, Part 1

I don't know what sparked this idea. I don't remember why I started this list of people. And I'm not entirely certain how to classify this list of people that I've created.

Nonetheless, this is a list of people who inspire me. It is a list of people who are sharing ideas and messages that excite me. This is a list of people who are creating content - articles, books, podcasts, videos, articles - that I am pushing to the top of my reading/listening/watching lists upon publication.

• Brene Brown - First I watched her TED Talk, "The Power of Vulnerability." Then I read her book, Dare to Lead. And now I'm listening to her podcast (her voice is one of the ultimate voices for narrating a podcast), Unlocking Us. As I'm writing this, I'm questioning why have I only read one of her books?
  
  
• Pete Carroll and Steve Kerr - I am combining these two names to take-up one spot due to their partnership on the podcast that they co-host, Flying Coach. I love learning about leadership from sports. These two coaches are two of the very best in their respective sports.
  
  
• James Clear - He only has one book, Atomic Habits, but it's a great one. He has also made the rounds on the podcast circuit as an excellent guest; two that I'd highly recommend are Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris, "194 Atomic Habits,  James Clear," and The Rich Roll Podcast, "Episode 401 James Clear." His 3-2-1 Thursday (3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question) newsletter is one that I subscribe to and read regularly. And the one thing that distinguishes Clear from every other person on this list is the Clear Habit Journal that he has created and I use, daily.
  
  
• Tim Ferris - He is an author, but I've never read any of his books. He has a newsletter, 5-Bullet Friday that I subscribe to and a podcast, The Tim Ferris Show that I love. His podcast is on the lengthier side (almost always over an hour, and sometime beyond two hours), but his guest list and the content discussed is exceptional. Worth noting about the guest list for his podcast seems to be the diverse areas of expertise that they bring to each episode. He may have Jamie Foxx or Arnold Schwarzenegger one episode, Dr. Jane Goodall the next, and either Ryan Holiday or Jocko Willink to follow
  
  
• Malcolm Gladwell - He has a podcast, Revisionist History, which is good. It's his books, however, which are great and why he has a spot on my list. If you're looking for one to introduce yourself to Gladwell, my favorite is David and Goliath.
  
  
• David Goggins - The only member of the U.S. armed forces to ever to complete training as an Air Force Tactical Air Controller, Army Ranger, and Navy Seal. He is also considered to be one of the world's best ultra-endurance athletes. I highly recommend that you listen to the audio-book version Can't Hurt Me, which is the book that he wrote. His message motivates. 
  
  
• Jon Gordon - I had the pleasure of listening to Gordon speak during a School Administrators of Iowa conference some years ago. Positivity is his platform. He's written numerous books that are quick and easy reads; they are written as stories to give insight that will allow us to better ourselves as individuals. Recently, I was introduced to his Positive University Podcast where he interviews guests - many of whom are coaches.
  
  
• Ryan Holiday - The writer who turned-me on to the teachings of stoicism. Holiday's books include a stoic influenced trilogy of The Obstacle is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key (my personal favorite). He also has a podcast, The Daily Stoic with is definitely worth a listen (episodes range from a couple of minutes to under an hour).
  
  
• Joshua Medcalf - I've read one of his books, Chop Wood Carry Water, and listened to another, Pound the Stone. Chop Wood Carry Water is easily in the conversation for books that earn a spot on my Mt. Rushmore of books. Medcalf preaches process, which is a message that has me all ears. I'm counting down the days until his next book, Win in the Dark, is released.
  
  
• Jocko Willink - A retired officer of the United States Navy who also served in the Navy SEAL teams, has become one of my favorite authors and podcasters. His content is geared towards leadership and discipline, and it is great. As a Dad, I am especially fond of his Way of the Warrior Kid book series and the message that it conveys to kids.
  

None of the people on this list work in schools, but they are teachers. None of the content that the people on this list share is in regards to school, yet it is has value in education. You see, I strongly believe in personal development over professional development. And the ideas and messages that these 10 people share will undoubtedly make us better people, which in-turn makes us better educators, principals, teachers, etc.

So this is my list. It certainly doesn't end at 10 names, but for the sake of this post that is where I decided to draw the line. I'm curious to know, who would you make a case for me to add to my list?  Please share with me. And also, if you took the time to read this post, I hope that I've made a strong enough case that you're now motivated to explore at least one of the names that I've mentioned. It will be worth your time.

Listen, Learn, and Understand. Be an Ally.

Writing brings me mental clarity. It's therapeutic for me. I enjoy it.

The other night, my family and I attended a peaceful protest to combat police brutality, racism, inequity, and injustices. It was a humbling experience.

Within the messages, several ideas resonated with me that I'd like to capture and share.

• I can't walk in your shoes. But I can LISTEN and LEARN in an attempt to UNDERSTAND.
• Be an ally for you.

A thought that resonated with me the most, however, came in reference to talk of mass incarceration and the assassinations of black historical figures. And while I don't recall the direct quote, one of the speakers posed the question, how would your life be different if all of your fathers and all of your leaders were continually taken-away from you? This question underscored my privilege; it really left an impact with me and forced me to reflect. 

Shortly after the protest, while putting my nine-year-old son to bed, I ran through a daily list of prompts with him. When I asked him about something that's worrying him, he responded with being worried that racism won't end.

In 2004, Kanye West rapped, "Racism's still alive, they just be concealin' it." In light of recent events, it is apparent that racism remains a harsh reality. Nonetheless, I'm hopeful. One of my favorite movie lines, from one of my favorite movies - The Dark Knight - "The night is darkest just before the dawn."

I've spent a lot of time during the past week, or so, listening, reading, and watching content related to the social injustices that have taken and continue to take place. I'll start to close with a few more ideas that have caused me to further reflect and stretch thinking that I'd grown-up believing.

• It's not enough to not be a racist. Not being a racist is passive. Being passive towards racism allows for racism to continue. We have to be active anti-racists.
• People aren't racist. People do racist things. 
• It is harmful to say that we don't see color. Color is a part of who we are. What's harmful is to treat someone different because of their color.

We all have bias, and that's not wrong. As I imagine Brene Brown telling us, we need to lean-in. Embrace being uncomfortable in an effort to learn and grow. I'm listening, I'm learning, and I'm trying to better understand. I want to be an ally.