What Matters What Matters MostMost

Success in life is judgedSuccess in life is judged

by the lives you touch.by the lives you touch.

Garcia & CottrellGarcia & Cottrell

Teaching is the greatest act Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.of optimism.

Colleen WilcoxColleen Wilcox

For every student with a For every student with a spark of brilliance, there spark of brilliance, there

are about ten with ignition are about ten with ignition trouble.trouble.

Milton BerleMilton Berle

When you become a When you become a teacher, you choose one of teacher, you choose one of the greatest and most the greatest and most important professions on the important professions on the planet, more important than planet, more important than rocket science, greater than rocket science, greater than running a corporation, more running a corporation, more noble than the Peace Corps noble than the Peace Corps or military service.or military service.

And, you made a good And, you made a good choice. You now have the choice. You now have the

spectacular privilege of spectacular privilege of spending time with children spending time with children and young people who are and young people who are

eager to learn today eager to learn today

Okay, most of them.Okay, most of them.

Children are apt to live up Children are apt to live up to what you believe of to what you believe of

them.them.

Lady Bird JohnsonLady Bird Johnson

If we treat an individual as If we treat an individual as he is, he will remain as he he is, he will remain as he

is.is.

But if you treat him as if he But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be were what he ought to be

and could be,and could be,

He will become what he He will become what he ought to be and could be.ought to be and could be.

GoetheGoethe

We hope our achievements in We hope our achievements in life shall be theselife shall be these

►We will have fought for what is right and We will have fought for what is right and fairfair

►We will have risked for that which We will have risked for that which matteredmattered

►We will have given help to those who We will have given help to those who were in need…were in need…

►We will have left the earth a better We will have left the earth a better place for what we have done and who place for what we have done and who we have beenwe have been

ChangeChange

The excitement of starting The excitement of starting a new school year provides a new school year provides opportunities to opportunities to reestablish expectations reestablish expectations and introduce changes.and introduce changes.

The process of changing the The process of changing the culture of any organization culture of any organization begins by changing the way begins by changing the way in which the people of that in which the people of that organization behave. organization behave.

Bossidy & Charan, 2002Bossidy & Charan, 2002

There are three kinds of There are three kinds of people in the world: people in the world:

Those who make change Those who make change happenhappen

Those who watch change Those who watch change happenhappen

And those who do not know And those who do not know what hit them!what hit them!

Change begins with me! Change begins with me! We’re all “me’s,” and we all We’re all “me’s,” and we all share responsibility for share responsibility for bringing organizational bringing organizational values to life.values to life.

MaslowMaslow

I find the important thing in I find the important thing in life is not where we are, but life is not where we are, but in what direction we are in what direction we are moving.moving.

Oliver Wendell HolmesOliver Wendell Holmes

Never doubt that a small Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, group of thoughtful,

committed people can committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.the only thing that ever has.

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

If not you, who? If not now, If not you, who? If not now, when? when?

MaslowMaslow

Shared VisionShared Vision

Living according to our beliefs Living according to our beliefs and those of our organizations and those of our organizations takes conscious effort, takes conscious effort, persistence, some courage, a persistence, some courage, a good-size helping of good-size helping of commitment, and a ton of self-commitment, and a ton of self-discipline.discipline.

If it was easy, we wouldn’t If it was easy, we wouldn’t need those attributes to need those attributes to

succeedsucceed

If it was easy, it wouldn’t be If it was easy, it wouldn’t be a challengea challenge

If it was easy, everybody If it was easy, everybody would do it all the timewould do it all the time

Teachers who are part of a Teachers who are part of a building or system with a building or system with a

clear vision for learning give clear vision for learning give energy to each other and energy to each other and

continually transform goals continually transform goals to match their vision for to match their vision for

children.children.

Graves, 2001Graves, 2001

The most important resource The most important resource in every school will continue in every school will continue

to be the professionals to be the professionals within it.within it.

Teachers and students go hand Teachers and students go hand and hand as learners…or they and hand as learners…or they

don’t go at all.don’t go at all.

BarthBarth

Let’s dare to think some Let’s dare to think some bold, new thoughts,bold, new thoughts,

trust life a little more,trust life a little more,unlearn some things that we unlearn some things that we

have been taught.have been taught.Let’s spread our wings and Let’s spread our wings and

soar.soar.

ExpectationsExpectations

High Performing Middle High Performing Middle SchoolsSchools

►Establish norms, structures, and Establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to organizational arrangements to support and sustain their support and sustain their trajectory towards excellence.trajectory towards excellence.

►Have a sense of purpose that Have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice drives every facet of practice and decision-making.and decision-making.

We must keep our attention We must keep our attention on the issues that matter, on the issues that matter, not divert our effort and not divert our effort and energy to trivial energy to trivial annoyances.annoyances.

The real challenge is to The real challenge is to treat everyone with treat everyone with respect every day. respect every day.

Whitaker, 2005Whitaker, 2005

Great teachers and principals do Great teachers and principals do what is right no matter what what is right no matter what

else is going on.else is going on.

Whitaker, 2005Whitaker, 2005

Stay positive in tough timesStay positive in tough times

Complaining is like a rocking Complaining is like a rocking chair. It gives you something chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you to do but it doesn’t get you

anywhere.anywhere.

By consistently filtering out By consistently filtering out the negatives that don’t the negatives that don’t

matter and sharing a positive matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a attitude, we can create a

much more successful much more successful school.school.

Consciously or Consciously or unconsciously, we decide the unconsciously, we decide the

tone of our school. tone of our school.

To make a difference in the To make a difference in the world,world,

you must first dare to be you must first dare to be different.different.

When the truth needs to be When the truth needs to be said,said,

when the work needs to be when the work needs to be done,done,

when the help needs to be when the help needs to be given…given…

you can make a difference.you can make a difference.

CollegialityCollegiality

It should be evident that schools will never realize the fundamental purpose of helping all students achieve at high levels if the educators within them work in isolation.

Building a school’s capacity to learn is a collective rather than an individual task.

Meaningful collaboration arises out of genuine interests or purposes held in common.

Two large sources of energy in Two large sources of energy in teachers’ lives: the students, teachers’ lives: the students, and a sense of collegiality with and a sense of collegiality with

one another.one another.

Graves, 2001Graves, 2001

Educators cannot help Educators cannot help students learn at high levels students learn at high levels unless they work together unless they work together collaboratively.collaboratively.

DuFour, 2005DuFour, 2005

The best thing to invest in right now is collegiality. The number one skill that teachers will need is to be team-based, collegial, sharing their knowledge and wisdom.

Alan November

REFLECTIONREFLECTION

School improvement is when purpose and effort unite.

I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I was somebody.

Lily Tomlin

What matters most to you?What matters most to you?

Will you be hit by change, or make it happen?Will you be hit by change, or make it happen?

Will your vision be shared and aligned with Will your vision be shared and aligned with organizational values and goals?organizational values and goals?

Will you be persistent and make every effort Will you be persistent and make every effort to make a difference?to make a difference?

How will you collaborate? Share your practice? How will you collaborate? Share your practice?

As your lead learners, we challenge you to grow as an organization and continue to strive for excellence. We have the potential and capacity to be the best! Why not act on it?

Please join us on this journey.

Mike, Gus, Tracey