MiddleView

Reading the paper over again, I was reminded how much this simple message had impacted me as a school leader. When I was a teacher, I was pretty much in control of my time with the students. Of course, there was always that teachable moment that took me down an unplanned path or the inevitable change in the schedule due to an unforeseen event, but most days, my time with the students was my own. When I became an administrator, I suddenly found my time was not always my own. I would begin a project only to be interrupted about something "very important" by someone who assured me I was the only person who could help, or the phone would ring and three hours later I was still investigating the parent’s complaint. All middle level leaders live that on a daily basis--being interrupted is the name of the game.

When I shared this frustration with a colleague, she gave me some very wise advice – it was my choice as to how I was going to respond to these daily occurrences. Then she handed me a piece of paper with this message (I wish I could give credit to the author but no name is listed):

"On Being Interrupted"

When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that the very frequency of your interruptions may indicate the value of your life. Only the people who are full of help and strength and “available” are burdened by other people's needs. The interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our availability. The greatest condemnation anybody could incur is to be so independent, so unhelpful, so uncaring, that nobody every interrupts them, and they are left comfortably alone.

The Poor Clares of Aptos have this unofficial motto and prayer hanging in their community room: "Lord, make me interruptible!"

While visiting the University of Notre Dame, Henri Nouwen met an older experienced professor who had spent most of his life there. While they strolled over the beautiful campus, he said with a certain melancholy in his voice: "You know, my whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions are my work."

As a new middle level leader, I then and there made the commitment to try my best to be "interruptible." No, it wasn’t always possible and I'm sure there were times I rolled my eyes or let out a long sigh when someone came in at an inopportune time--but overall, it made a huge difference in how I viewed being interrupted. Give it a try next time you're interrupted.

Posted by Patti Kinney at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just how high should we set the bar?  That is the question...

 I read an interesting report comparing the states in regards to state assessments and determining proficiency.  If you have been reading my blog, you know I recently moved to South Carolina from Florida.  When I moved here all of the teachers were telling me how difficult the PACT is.  I was sure it was difficult, but I was also sure all of the other state’s assessments were difficult as well.  It was funny, in Florida we all thought the FCAT was probably the most difficult of all. 

As time went on here in SC I kept hearing how difficult the PACT is.  I kept thinking, “Well, O.K., but so are ALL of the other assessments the other states utilize.  I then came across this report that scales the state assessments to the NAEP.  I think this is a great tool to gauge where states stand.  Are some states requiring their kids to do much better than other sates?  It appears as this is the case.  It plainly points out the differences in what is considered proficient from state to state.

I understand the NCLB is a federal act and the state’s are to determine the course of public eduction (in theory at least).  However, if the states are responsible for moving all of their students to proficient or above,  I think we should all use the same measuring stick.  You can view the report at

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007482.asp

If a state sets the bar too high, is it a double edged sword?  Is it worth it?  I would love to hear your reaction to the findings.  Where does your state rank? 

Posted by Michael Waiksnis at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It’s interesting how some things become instant traditions.  The first year I was a principal, I ended my very first staff meeting of the year by reading aloud from a children’s picture book that I felt had a good message.  I didn’t expect it to be a regular occurrence, but throughout that year, I had staff members bring me books they’d found along with the message, “this would be a good one for you to read next year.”  And so it became a tradition for me to start the year by reading aloud to the staff.  So much so that at my retirement party last spring, I was read a “doctored” up version of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!   Inscribed in the front is the message, “Because you always start us off with a book to inspire us at the beginning of each year, we thought it would be fitting to read a book in your honor as we send you off to a new place…”

Some of my favorites?

            Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss
            Through the Cracks by Carolyn Sollman, Barbara Emmons, and Judith Paolini
            Dumpy LaRue by Elizabeth Winthrop
            Mr. DeVore’s Do-Over by David Puckett
            Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna
            Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
            Courage by Bernard Waber
            I Can Make a Difference by Marian Wright Edelman

If I were still principal, tomorrow would be our first staff meeting and I would be reading from yet another book.  And I know exactly what I would be reading – I found it at Barnes and Noble this weekend - old habits die hard!  It’s called Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes. By Susan Bosak.  The book is filled with wonderful illustrations and inspirational quotes and through the text the author takes us from the dreams of youth to those of old age.  And the message is clear – we need to discover and act upon the possibilities within us.  It’s a good message for both educators and the students we work with.

What are your dreams for this coming year?

Posted by Patti Kinney at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about change – probably because recently I’ve been experiencing a significant amount of it in my life.  In the past few months I’ve retired from being a middle school principal and taken this new position with NASSP, left a state I’ve lived in all my life and moved 3000 miles to the “other” coast, sold (well, am trying to sell) a house I’ve lived in for 20+ years and moved into a townhouse, and given up the security of a longtime circle of friends and family and am establishing a new network here in the east.  Plus, I now have to go about the business of finding replacements for all the professionals and services I used on a regular basis – doctor, dentist, optometrist, grocery store, pharmacy, hair stylist, nail technician, and the list goes on and on!

This morning as I was driving to work, the two DJs on the radio were discussing their memories of starting school.  As they reminisced over their experiences, it was a good reminder that students also experience a great deal of change at this time of year – especially those coming into middle school for the first time.  They’re leaving the security of familiar faces, places, and procedures and, along with their parents, are entering a whole new world.

As a middle level leader, we have the responsibility to help ease this time of transition.  At my former school, the first day of school was a half-day just for students new to the school.  This allowed them to pick up their schedules, meet their teachers, try out their lockers, and walk through their classes in a much smaller setting.  That evening we held a back-to-school night for these students and their parents – the first half hour was a group meeting in the gym that allowed us to introduce a few key staff members and share some tips for a successful year; the second half hour gave the students an opportunity to walk their parents through their schedule, introduce them to their teachers, and once more practice opening the all-important locker; the last half hour we served root beer floats in the cafeteria. All in all, it was a great way to introduce the students and their parents to middle school life.

In the words of Yogi Berra, “Sometimes change means doing things different.”  What changes will you be making this year that will help your students and staff be more successful?

Posted by Patti Kinney at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I find it a bit ironic that one of the responsibilities of my new job as principal of NASSP’s National Center for Middle Level Leadership is to establish and maintain a blog for middle level leaders--ironic because I’ve never been able to maintain a diary or journal in my life--even though I’ve tried numerous times. In packing to move cross-country to take this position, I ran across a diary from childhood days--in reading through it, I was amused at my sporadic commentary on important events through my third grade eyes. The highlights of my life in those days ranged from remarking on Alan Shepard’s and John Glenn’s adventures in space to my friend and me walking to the grocery store to buy something to drink. Fast forward to today and I hope my commentaries will be a little more relevant and thought provoking than they were in the past.

It’s the beginning of the school year and for the first time since I was 6 years old, I am not "going back to school" as a student, a teacher, or a principal and it feels strange. I find myself reflecting on what I would be doing if I were still principal at Talent Middle School in southern Oregon--answering questions from all sides, preparing the ever-popular duty schedule for teachers, averting the crisis of the moment, attending endless meetings, digesting data and looking for ways to make it relevant, looking for ways to stretch the budget, preparing for the first staff meeting, and the list goes on and on. And while it’s nice to be operating at a less frenetic pace, I find I miss the energy, the excitement, and the enthusiasm that comes with being in a middle school at the beginning of a new year.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage reflection on what it means to be a middle level leader. My friend Theresa (a middle school teacher from North Carolina) and I were having dinner the other night and she shared a conversation she had just had with her teammates regarding the upcoming school year. They had discussed the question, "How will we know we’ve had a successful year - what will it look like - what are the indicators?" It’s a good question to ask regardless of your role in education. I’m asking it of myself as I try and wrap my arms around what it means to guide NASSP’s middle level efforts. I’m reminded of a passage from an essay by Jennifer James: "Success is not a destination that you ever reach. Success is the quality of the journey." So my question is, come June, what will be the indicators that your journey through the 07-08 school year was successful?

Posted by Patti Kinney at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)