Honk If You Love Someone

Honk If You Love Someone

Someone sent me a link to this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EwYLZmkUxo

Check it out. It proves just how easy it can be to put a smile on someone’s face, change their day, and promote positive leadership. I felt compelled to try it out at our middle school. Every other Friday we have an advisory schedule. We shorten the regular class schedule by a few minutes each period and preserve an activity schedule at the end of the day.  Each certified staffulty member has a group of students that they advise.

I decided to show the YouTube video to my group of students and then give the idea a shot in front of our school. My face still hurts from laughing and smiling so much. First, we made signs similar to the ones in the YouTube video. “Honk if you love someone.” “Honk if you are happy.”  Then we headed to the front of our school. Since I saw the video several weeks ago, I made a permanent sign for a conference we had in January (below). 

It started slowly but the students were totally engaged within a few minutes. Cars, vans, and trucks were honking and smiling. One lady stopped, rolled down her window, and smiled ear to ear. She said, “I can’t honk because I’m not happy.” I said, “Then why are you smiling?” 

The kids were jumping up and down, waving, and spreading happiness. Wow! What a great idea. Make sure you watch the video then spread the smiles!

When students think about “paying it forward” or a service learning project, they may reflect upon a monetary goal. This particular event is quick, easy, and anyone can replicate it. It works! 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  – Margaret Meade

 

Let Your Students Shine!

“You saw my son’s light shine before other people. Thank you!”

The above quote was from a parent conversation about a year ago. I saw many leadership moments in her son during his time in our school. Most importantly, I let him know that I noticed. Sometimes, people look for negatives in their students rather than positives. As educators, we cannot have that mindset.

There are times when we allow the smallest events to get us in a bad mood. It’s not fair to our students, our colleagues, or us. I always found it a challenge to connect that “one” student that did not seem connected. I knew when it happened that I chose the right profession.

Early in my teaching career, I taught high school accounting. It sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well I made the most of it because my students needed me to engage them. I applied for a grant to get ten IBM PCs in my classroom. This was before anyone knew what the integration of technology was.

I found that some students that were not normally engaged became different people. Later I learned that there was some theory that I could apply. Students became leaders when they knew they had a niche. They also became facilitators.

Another concept I learned early in my career was that there was a strong correlation between leadership and service.  Because I wanted my students to be connected to the school and the community, I started a group called “The Accounting Maniacs.” We raised money to buy turkeys and hams during the holidays. The students led the group and arranged a bowling outing to raise money.

This was an opportunity for the students to take ownership in themselves and the people around them. They embraced the fact that they had a connection to the school and to the community. I applauded their efforts and the positive difference they made. They were proud of their accomplishments, and I was, too. Most importantly, they knew I was proud of them. Their confidence carried over into their classroom effort and performance. Little things make a BIG difference. Try it. I dare you!

As I was writing this post, another cool thing just happened. I call students down to the office a lot to either congratulate them for doing the right thing or ask their opinions. A fifth grade girl just came to my office, and she was really nervous. I congratulated her for her performance in the school play. She was so excited. I asked her why she was nervous. She said she thought she did something wrong, I told her she did something right. People get called to the principal’s office for doing great things. She left with the biggest smile I ever saw on a fifth grader.

And by the way, do kids know what cool means? I told my eleven year old daughter the other day that her hair looked cool. She replied. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I said cool means cool. It’s positive. She told me just to say her hair is gorgeous next time.

Peace.

Feel the Passion

Each week I start off with a quote and email it to the staffulty (faculty and staff) Here’s this week's Tip of the Week #19 - “Leaders think and talk about solutions. Followers think and talk about problems. “- Brian Tracy

This quote encouraged me to think about the endless possibilities that we give our students and each other at our school. It also makes me realize the significance of including everyone. It makes me realize, most importantly, how significant it is for teachers and administrators to connect with the students in the classroom and at school related events.

Last week, we hosted the PennJersey Collaborative JostensRenaissance Leadership Conference. (It’s a mouthful.) This was an opportunity for all school stakeholders to connect. We had 25 breakout sessions with speakers from as far away as Kansas. (We are in NJ).The biggest thrill that I received as principal of a middle school was to see our students facilitate breakout sessions and give tours of our school.

“The great things happening in our schools are nation’s best kept secrets.” Larry Biddle 

When educators walked around our school to take pictures and ask questions about how we approached school culture, we made connections that will allow us to fine tune the quality of our process. At times, our optimism gets lost in the bureaucracy of politics and blind faith in mandated accountability. This time, we came together at a time to celebrate success and commonality instead of crises and tragedy, bureaucracy not included.

We started the day with a pep rally to revel our connections of education and human spirit. Our theme was “We Rock.” The rest of the day was filled with breakout sessions in three rotations. Even the lunch had a feeling of collegiality that was jammed with enthusiasm and anticipation of new ideas.

One of our teachers says it best in her email to me. As for me, it was a day that made me proud that I chose the noblest profession of all, one that makes me feel like I make a positive difference in our future.

“I woke up Friday not feeling well, but knowing we were hosting the conference gave me the strength to come into school. The pep rally was one of the best I have ever seen!  The energy in the room was awesome.  I was sitting near Charley Nelson and watching the smile on his face was priceless.  Both the kids and teachers all seem to enjoy every second of it.  Throughout the day I heard people saying such great things about our school and our students that it almost brought tears to my eyes I was so proud.  Even in the bathroom there were teachers taking pictures (we have murals and quotes) to share with their schools when they returned.  I found myself last night thinking again how truly fortunate I am to be a part of such a great school.  I know it was a team effort, but none of it would have been possible without you.  You are truly an inspiration to so many teachers and students.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”  

“We don’t need a herd of chickens. We need a team of eagles.” Rudnesky

Angels and Heroes

Angels and Heroes

I cannot imagine a school shooting being more sensational than the last but this time it was. The images of the Sandy Hook Elementary School will be long lasting in my mind and the minds of my children at home and at the school where I work. It’s puzzling that now we are on a renewed heightened awareness just as we were after 9/11.

There are some differences with this school shooting mainly because of the ages of the children, our new angels. I hope you didn’t wait for this tragedy to hug your children. Even though it was the first thing I did when I returned home, I always make it a habit and so should you. Tell the people around you that you love them.

I remember after 9/11 that everyone was friendlier. Too bad it took a tragedy and too bad it didn’t last. Maybe this time the kindness will last. At the time of 9/11, I heard a man on the radio say he made a commitment to buy a stranger a cup of coffee at least once a week. He said the reactions were unbelievable in ways he could not imagine. Some people could not believe the kindness. I tried it. He was right. Some people are surprised when others are kind to them for no reason.

I always tell my kids at home and my kids at school that their heroes are all around them in their parents, grandparents, teachers, military, and first responders. This latest tragedy has proven me right. Parents always want to know that their children are safe.

I received a call from a local television station asking me for comments about the Sandy Hook tragedy. I agreed for two reasons: one, the television station visits us when we have success. They weren’t contacting us just because there was a tragedy. Every news media outlet should try the positives once in a while. Another reason was because I want the parents to know that we treat their children with unconditional love just as we do with our children at home.

The latest incident has proven that our children’s educators put themselves in harm’s way to protect their students with unconditional love and unconditional leadership. I am not surprised because that is the commitment educators make when they decide to enter the noblest profession on earth. They are true heroes just as the first responders are in this case.

Be nice, angels are watching. Accept your role as a leader and empower those people around you to be leaders. Peace.

Choose Your Attitude

Attitude

You have total control over one thing every day: yourself (your attitude). It starts as soon as you get out of bed. When your feet hit the floor, you’ve already overcome one obstacle. Then when you turn on the light in your bathroom, don’t scream. That reflection in the mirror is you! Some people let the slightest thing set them off in a negative direction.

“Attitude determines altitude. Altitude determines outcome. Choose your attitude; make it a positive one!” –Rudnesky

Your attitude will control your destiny. Your attitude will definitely control your leadership. Choose your attitude, make it a positive one. See every barrier and conflict as an opportunity to improve the quality of your leadership ability. It’s not always easy but it will allow you and the people around you to be more successful in the long-term.

People that are negative, underachievers, and complainers become a disease after awhile. It is much easier to complain than to do something to improve. It’s easier to sit on the couch and eat chips and drink soda than to exercise and eat right. It’s much easier to bash your coworkers than to take charge of yourself and your attitude. It’s much easier to complain than to join the positive revolution. If you are shooting for average, congratulations you are almost there. If you think you can’t, you are there! Close this book and relax. Sleep on the couch and when you wake up join a social network.

Instead of a complaint, praise a coworker. Instead of underachieving, reach your potential through commitment and hard work. Instead of bashing your supervisors, join the Leader-Ship. It sails every day.

You may not always be able to always control your emotions but you should certainly be able to control how you act towards other people.

Excerpt from a letter sent by a student:

I had so much fun at Almost Anything Goes last night. ………….We work so well together no matter who we are with. At AAG, everyone was with new people. Right from the start my team was stretching, talking, making up names, cheers, and figuring out plans. As we looked around the room, every team was together and talking, I was so happy to see our school as one big, happy family. I have always wanted to make a change in people’s lives. That is what you do each and every day. Thank you for all your determination and courage to make this school a great place to be. I love every single Jostens renaissance event. You rock!

Almost Anything Goes is an annual nighttime event our organization has every year. We pack our gymnasium with ten teams that perform quirky relay races and activities. The culmination is an obstacle course where the team captain gets a shaving cream pie in the face. The premise is team-building and fun. 

Now choose your attitude and have fun!