Spotlight on Success Presentation

The following is an excerpt from a presentation I made to a group of peers at yesterday's principals' meeting.

This I believe…sometimes, in order to sustain change, you must keep things the same.

As most of you know, in July of 2008, I moved into the principal position at Laird. At that time, Laird had a reputation as a strong Reading First site, with several grade levels K-3 frequently ranking at the top of the Reading First project data. Laird also found itself showing well in TD3’s Comprehensive Achievement Analysis. For all intents and purposes, under Dr. Klajda’s leadership, Laird had “turned around” and was showing academic success that “beat the odds” given its level of “at-risk-ness”. As I prepared to take this role, I shared my concerns with some of my colleagues, “If you go into a school with data that is in the toilet, the only direction you can go is up. When you assume the reins of a high flyer, there is always a risk of crashing the plane.”

Often times, we, as leaders, when assuming a new role, are anxious to make it “ours”; that temptation was there for me during my first year. We must be cautious, however, to do a systemic assessment before we rush into any change. Where research-based leadership, instruction, intervention and assessment systems are in place, we need to analyze their effectiveness prior to performing a radical overhaul.

During my first year at Laird, based on an analysis of their data, I chose to do everything in my power to keep the momentum going, while assessing and analyzing site needs and available resources. Instruction and intervention systems remained in place, weekly leadership team meetings continued to be held with a focus on student data. Weekly grade level team meetings for (alternately) reading and math continued. Intervention systems remained in place. Walkthroughs and coaching across K-7 in reading and math was ongoing.

Even with these constants, there were still changes. Not only had the principal role changed, but there were new staff members in kindergarten, fifth grade, sixth grade and seventh grade as well as in the Language Arts coach position. This was the first year Laird housed a seventh grade. As a first year principal my level of effectiveness as a leader and as an instructional coach was not as strong as I would have liked it to be.

The result, we saw gains in our data, but not to the extent we would have liked. Our status, although remaining in the top tier on the CAA, dropped. A couple of grade levels showed a decrease in their effectiveness. All in all, we stayed the course, and successfully added a seventh grade to the mix.

During year two I began to refine, build, and scaffold those areas that were rough, had gaps, or started to fall off. I also began to identify the gaps in my own skill set that needed support in order for me to help Laird move forward. Math grew as a focus while maintaining the gains made in reading. More new staff joined the Laird team. Teachers demonstrating less effectiveness were challenged to step up. Eighth grade was added to the campus. Reading systems continued to receive the support for sustainability. Intervention systems for reading remained in place.

The result, our reading data remained solid across all grade levels except for second, where we continue to see a dip. All grades made AYP for math outright except for 7^th and 3^rd. Math will continue to be an area to target for improvement.

As I move into year three, I have made the most significant changes. The only grade level staying the same in regards to staffing is 4^th. Instruction and intervention systems, leadership team meetings, grade level team meetings and data driven decisions remain an integral part of Laird’s culture. These are areas of systemic change that need to continue to be refined, but must remain in place in order for Laird to maintain its current level of success.

The lesson for all of us, especially Ken, maintaining systemic reforms that have led to achievement gains are more important than putting our personal leadership stamp on our schools. When we are placed into new leadership roles, we must sustain the positive changes that have happened before us while continuing our quest to improve. As we bring on new principals to existing sites, we must also support them in maintaining and sustaining areas where systemic change has already happened.

My Modest Proposal

In the spirit of Jonathan Swift...

It has come to my attention that there is a criminal element in the churches of America that needs to be addressed. Whether it be local officials, such as county attorneys, state attorneys general, or even the federal government, someone must do something about this soon. Might I even suggest a Congressional inquiry? This activity has been going on for decades and it must be stopped.

Churches across America have been funding criminal activity on an international scope. Smugglers and rebellion leaders have been sent into countries with the full intention of breaking the laws of that country. Even if appropriate documents had been secured to enter the country, once inside, the criminal activity began. Contraband was handed out to the country's nationals, often times, contraband that was funded, or even purchased by the American churches. Illegal meetings were held covertly, behind closed doors, with the intent to encourage the nationals to recruit others into this illegal activity as well.

A quick online search tells me these activities are still going on today. There is even an organization founded by one of the famous early smugglers that brags about this illegal activity. I myself was subject to propaganda in the form of a comic book that made this early smuggler out to be a hero.

What should we do about this behavior? Should there be financial sanctions? Should criminal charges be filed? Whatever the case, I know that my brothers and sisters in Christ condemn any criminal activity, and will be anxious to stop this behavior immediately.

Lost OR Found

I'm not entirely sure how I got to where I am at this moment. There were a lot of events leading up to my current state, but I think the final step can be summarized like this... I was sitting in our church "office", a rented house in a neighborhood not far from my school or my home. The room was filled with brothers and sisters in Christ, some of them English speakers, some of them Spanish speakers. Were any of them concerned about the effects of SB1070 on their families? Probably. Two blocks away, two thirteen year olds and one eighteen year old sat in front of a laundromat. All three have been using drugs recently. Some, if not all, are also dealing. At least one was in a gang fight last week that sent one child to the hospital fighting for his life, and another family on the run from the authorities.

I sat there, singing, asking myself, what are we doing here? Are we reaching the real needs of the neighborhood? When we meet together on Sunday morning, what is our purpose? Yes, I am fully aware of the importance of gathering together as one body and worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, giving glory to God the Father, the Maker and Creator of all things. However, at what point do we go beyond building and equipping and start winning souls? Are we reaching the lost?

Which brings me to the other thing that has me troubled. Why are we, as Christians, even talking about illegal vs. legal, documented, vs. undocumented. Is that how our Father sees the world? OR Does he see us as lost or found? I'm sick of all the conversations about SB1070. It doesn't matter whether you are a resident or alien when it comes to the US of A. What matters is whether you are a resident or alien in the Kingdom of God. AND if you are a resident in the Kingdom of God, you are an alien EVERYWHERE on this Earth.

So, as a conservative, white, suburban born and raised, Christian, registered Republican, I choose to love you, cry for you, pray for you, and desire your salvation whether you are documented or undocumented, saint or sinner, upstanding citizen or convicted felon. I refuse to let politicians, rhetoric, the media, religious leaders, or even my friends define who you are. I ask and pray that every day, the Holy Spirit will allow me to see you through my Father's eyes.

Is it dangerous to pray?

Ok, so I probably shouldn't post this until after I checkout the prayer discussion on the Sunrise Church Facebook page. Anyhow...

A couple of weeks ago, things seemed to be going REALLY well. I was receiving lots of words of affirmation from just about everyone in my life. Knowing pride is a weakness, I quickly prayed and gave thanks and glory to God for all of those positive things and also asked that He would keep me humble.

So...a couple weeks later and things seem completely overwhelming. I find myself close to tears for at least the third day in a row. I seem to be on an emotional roller coaster.

In less than 48 hours, my son will be my son legally, forever. The joy that comes in thinking about that cannot be captured in words. Yet, still, I struggle.

My purpose, my point, in posting these ponderings... I asked to be kept humble and my prayer was answered. Shall I give Him thanks for that? Shall I rejoice in my struggles? Shall I...surrender?