Stay the Course

One thing I am definitely learning as a rookie principal is that our profession has quite the itchy trigger finger.  We are a profession that is always creating, adding, changing, implementing, etc...  Before we know if a program, software, or idea worked, you have someone telling you about the next thing.  You here your friend who teaches in another district talk about the curriculum they are using and think you need to change.  You attend a conference and learn about the latest and greatest website and want to immediately implement in your school.

I can't keep that pace.  It feels like I am trying to sprint a mile.   I am trying to learn to trust the process.  If the process is good, research-based, and working, than trust it!  Slow down that trigger finger!

 I recently sent my teachers a memo that was titled "Keep Doing What You Are Doing."  Here is an excerpt from that memo:

I just counted and we are officially 10 weeks from the window opening for computer-based LEAP 2025 testing.  While there is no changing that testing results are the bottom line we will be measured on and we would be foolish not to know and plan accordingly, I refuse to start worrying.  I want my message to you to be KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!  Keep giving students independent reading time.  Keep giving daily small group instruction based on individual student needs.  Keep using interventionist and others to reach more kids than ever before.  Keep having students experiment in science AND write about it.  Keep having students navigate multiple texts in social studies AND write about it.  Keep exposing kids to rigorous, challenging texts in authentic reading experiences AND write about it.  Keep designing rigorous assessments that mirror LEAP and test the standards.  Keep focusing on standards, rigor, and relevance.  Keep building relationships.  Keep taking risk and trying new strategies (Hattie’s effect size) while implementing our curriculum with fidelity.  Keep designing interventions and giving kids who need it the opportunity to receive it.  Keep having rich collaboration with your peers.  Keep bringing challenging CFAs to discuss in data teams.  Keep doing what you are ALREADY doing!

So, stay the course!  Keep doing the good work you are doing.  Slow down that itchy trigger finger and instead, be critical of all your programs and initiatives.  Evaluate them fairly but don't move on without solid reasons and a certain plan.

Can you relate?  Let me know!