I started yesterday as I expected, attending sessions that left me with notes like, “consider Fablevision’s Animation-ish for Mrs. Griffith, it looks better than the software she’s got; Starboard vs. Smartboard–what’s the cost? Any promos on quantity purchase?; check out more about Qwizdom as a flexible student response system; look at the Lumens document cameras, with a 5 yr. warranty, for Science teachers; ask if anyone is using Brainpop’s digital citizenship piece.”

That’s what I signed up for–ideas about smart technology. What I got next ramped this conference up considerably for me. Chris Lehmann. I’ve been reading Chris for at least three years, he’s the principal of Philadelphia’s Science Leadership Academy, a magnet school. When I started blogging in 2006, Chris was also out there writing and along with Christian Long we had some of the best conversations of my early blog learning. To finally meet Chris face to face reminded me why those conversations were so helpful to me.

I want to leave education when my time is done having done something important and meaningful that benefits our kids, our teachers and our community. I don’t think it’s my job to keep everything just as it’s always been–that’s how we will eventually become obsolete and I’m not game for sailing into retirement knowing I did nothing to change, that I didn’t lead our organization. We can do this better. Not that we aren’t doing it well, just that we can do it better. School can have more meaning and purpose for our students than it does now. And here’s why attending Chris Lehmann’s afternoon session and key note last night left my brain spinning early this morning. Chris talked about how they have made the entire learning experience different at Science Leadership Academy and on every point I thought, “why can’t we do that?” It wasn’t that he’s a magnet school and we’re not. It’s that they have a vision and goals and a plan–a system of student learning to which  every member of the organization is committed, focused on, and working.

Too many people in our educational system are comfortable and happy with the way things are to the point that they don’t make anything better happen. As Chris said last night, then it’s all about them not the kids. And what did Chris say that I’m most considering? “It’s not about engagement. A TV show can be engaging. It’s about empowerment and meaningful work.”

From Wikipedia we can learn what the Science Leadership Academy is about and what they are committed to,

The Science Leadership Academy, or SLA, is a magnet high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that opened in September 2006. The school is a partnership between The Franklin Institute and the School District of Philadelphia. SLA is a 1:1 laptop school where all students and teachers use Macintosh laptops as their primary learning tool. This is the first year with a full house of students, grades 9-12, with approximately 500 students in the school. The first class of seniors will graduate from the Science Leadership Academy in June 2010.

The Science Leadership Academy is an understanding-driven, project-based school where the learning is centered around the five core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. Students do benchmark projects every quarter to demonstrate the application of their learning.

In Spring 2009, SLA was named an Apple Distinguished School, one of only 33 schools in the nation with that distinction^[1]. In addition, SLA was featured in the April 2007 Edutopia Magazine article, “My School, Meet MySpace” where the school is called “… [John] Dewey for the digital age, old-fashioned progressive education with a technological twist.”^[2]

Inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. Exactly what I hope my own kids will  do well as adults. Empower my kid and give him meaningful work. He isn’t going to get anywhere in life by being a good test taker. Better yet, empower our kindergarten students and first graders and let’s give them those experiences all the way through–let’s make their education relevant and a part of their lives that they can’t wait to get to each day. I’m not saying we have to be SLA, but why can’t we be RCS, just better? Why can’t we give our kids meaningful work in our classrooms and empower them? Lots of our teachers are already doing that, from Kindergarten through the Senior year. We need more work as a system to make it happen consistently and with planning and for every child in every classroom. And that’s the same thing just about every other public school needs too. Let’s not wait for them. Let’s make it happen in Randolph.

And why is Randolph any different, why can we make it happen? Because we already do this better than any other public school district I’ve been in–our kids are learning in meaningful ways in classrooms throughout this district every day. Let’s plan for it to happen as a system.

Learning with Passion, Innovation and Leadership.

Sometimes the smallest things just become ENORMOUS for people. You’ve probably read here how we handled the dismissals, first at 1:00 last week with everyone permitted to leave and then at 11:30 this week with employees allowed to leave to go to the game or work in their rooms if not.

Amazing as it may seem, a lot of conversation and planning goes into something like this. I walked in the door on Monday thinking, “we need to just have school all day on Friday. We can’t give up that instructional time and for many families RCS football doesn’t mean a lot. I worried about child care issues for working parents and as one parent said to me, ‘what message does that send to our kids if we say it’s okay to miss school for a football game’.” All of that was on my mind as I met with our admin team, our AD, and others. I knew from the week before that I had the BOE’s support either way, but that generally most of them said, “This is a big opportunity for our kids and our school, a success to celebrate.”

I do support our kids in every success that they have, on the athletic fields and off. Randolph has much more experience with state championships than I do and part of my job is to understand the community I serve. This is a town that supports its athletes and I’m a part of that as the school superintendent. Together we made the decision to dismiss at 11:30. Why 11:30 and not 1:00? Because last week’s 1:00 departure time left us with 27% of our kids, in addition to the athletes involved, leaving at 11:30 anyway. And can we please remember it’s not like anyone thought “woo hoo! Football game, a chance to dismiss school!” It’s because the game starts at 5:00 on Friday in Rochester–if it started at 7:00 or was on Saturday, we’d have a big send-off here at school at the end of our regular day and otherwise it’d be business as usual.

The final decision (after MUCH discussion) just seemed logical. We’re dismissing early for a semi-final state athletic event. If a teacher or staff member is going to the event, paying his or her own gas and ticket in the door for RCS, then okay—he or she doesn’t have to take personal time. If they’re not going to the game for which we’re dismissing, then they can enjoy having time to work alone in the classroom catching up on something, planning, working on the website, communicating with parents. Or if someone wants to leave for a doctor or personal reason, he or she can use personal or sick time given. Seems simple enough to me, but I’m learning that no matter what, every-one’s got an opinion and I’m not even going to try to make everyone happy.

There’s a bit of an uproar about “fair” and a sense of entitlement that employees should all just have the afternoon off or that everyone should have to use their own time, going to the game or not. Don’t get me wrong, there are LOTS of employees who quietly said, “Cool. Time to work in my room? I’ll take it.” or who can’t wait to get to the game. Others aren’t interested in going or have other commitments that evening, and that’s okay too.

But how about “fair” for the taxpayers who expect us to work for the wage we’re given? How about “fair” for all of the parents and community members who want to go but work at jobs where they can’t get out early or who can’t afford to drive to Rochester? This issue of fair is a bit ridiculous and when is anything completely “fair” to every possible party? My mom would say, “Life’s not fair, get used to it.”

It’s a football game. Not a huge life or death injustice that’s been dealt to anyone. It’s a positive event, something to celebrate. We will work hard to make sure we honor all of our student successes. This is one of them.

This means they advance to play Groton on Friday night, 11/20/09, in Rochester again at 5:00. That’s our last step on this journey to the State Championships which will be held on Saturday, November 28 in Syracuse.

What are our plans for this Friday regarding school and a possible early dismissal?

We learned last Friday that a 1:00 dismissal didn’t seem to work for most families with over 100 students dismissed before 1:00. That also didn’t allow for any of our bus drivers (usually ardent fans of our team!) to attend with everyone else. In addition, we had lunches to get in before 1:00 and the whole thing will just work better if we call it a 1/2 day, dismissing students at 11:30. This also affords us the opportunity to have an ENORMOUS, ENERGETIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC send off in which a cavalcade of fans can follow the buses to Rochester!

Staff and faculty will be expected to stay and work their usual work day–our teachers often ask for more time to work together on curriculum planning or on their integration of technology or on their websites–unless they choose to go to the game too.

A parent broadcast message will be going out soon, the news is updated on our Randolph Facebook page (with 300 members already!) and we’ll send notes home in our PK-6 backpacks this week. As always, please contact me with any questions.

I think we have another State Championship on the way!!!

Having a school facebook page is a great idea.
However, is it necessary to unlock it for the children at school? Should children be on facebook during school from their phones/schools computers? It happens, the proof is out there.
How about the teachers that have students as ‘friends’ on their personal pages? Is that professional behavior? I could see a ‘class’ page to be checked from HOME.

Let’s take the two points raised separately. First, there’s the question about unlocking Facebook at school. I have written here often about my own belief that filtering and blocking is not the solution for our kids, but rather teaching them to use the web effectively and appropriately. I don’t know how we do that, how we have the necessary discussions that help them to understand any potential problems they can encounter on the web, if we block and filter. I also know that teachers are absolutely responsible, first and foremost, to engage students in learning. If a teacher creates a classroom where kids have an opportunity to sit on their phones or on-line on Facebook or any other website–instead of focusing on learning–then we’ve got a bigger problem than filtering, don’t we?

Having said that, I have wrestled with the idea of, “what purpose could it serve for a kid to have access to Facebook during the day?” I’m not sure I can answer that with any concrete examples, yet. I just know that our effectiveness as teachers depends largely on our ability to connect with our students. That was true when I started teaching in 1989 and it’s true today. If Facebook is one of the primary ways our students are connecting then I want in on that, I want to learn more about them,  and I want a chance to influence their thinking.

Which brings us to “randolphparent’s” second point, what about teachers “friending” students on Facebook? And using it professionally? Adults are using Facebook in many different ways and our teachers and staff have to understand the appropriateness of the content they put out there on Facebook if they are “friending” students and their parents.

Just like I wouldn’t want our teachers to swear or drink a beer in front of our students, I don’t want them portraying all the parts of their personal life to them on Facebook. The line between personal and professional life is blurring and it’s up to every individual to think about that when they post content on Facebook or anywhere else.

Personally, the RCS Facebook Page makes this all easier for me as an educator.  I don’t “friend” RCS students, staff and community members. Why not? Frankly, I’m already here 9-12 hours per day and what I do the other 12 hours of the day is my business. If I’m at a Sabres game with friends and someone posts a comment or a picture about our time there, I just don’t think anyone needs to know where I am and what I’m doing 24/7. I like having a personal life when I can just be Kim with my friends and family. A time when I’m not the superintendent of schools, I’m just Kim, helps me to return to RCS refreshed and ready to face whatever work brings.

If teachers are using Facebook to connect with students and to post in a professional way, I think that’s terrific. But “randolphparent” is right, it needs to be done professionally and with reason or it shouldn’t be done at all.

But hey, that’s just what I think Readers, what do you think?

As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, our boys football team beat Maple Grove at Ralph Wilson stadium to become the Section VI champions—another WOOT! A huge congratulations to our team and our coaches–I think half the town was at that game. It was a night when I got to feel very proud to be the RCS superintendent. Our boys advance to play the Section V champion in Rochester this Friday night at 5:00. Let’s do it again!

In order to allow everyone (this town sent over 500 people to Friday night’s game!) to safely travel to the game on Friday in time, we will dismiss all students, faculty and staff at 1:00 pm. That gives everyone plenty of time to drive safely and also allows time for our spectator bus to arrive for the 5:00 start time.

Spectator bus tickets are available in the HS main office for $5.00. No pre-sale tickets are available for this game, we have to buy them when we arrive. The spectator bus will leave at 1:00 pm and will be chaperoned.

Something else to think about. . . we have parent teacher conferences scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Elementary teachers who want to travel to the game may ask parents scheduled for a few late Friday conferences to reschedule. This is not to say your conference isn’t important! Your child’s academic progress comes first–always, without a doubt. Your child’s teacher will work with you to find a time that works for you if it is rescheduled. If YOU want to reschedule because you’re headed to the game, please let your child’s teacher know as soon as possible.

Hopefully we’ve covered all of the details. If I haven’t answered a question here, as always, give us a call!

And you can follow the conversation on Facebook at our RCS Facebook page for more up to the minute information. We’re up to 241 members!

I do want you to know that the majority of the vaccine available to our RCS students is the mist as opposed to just a few doses of the inject-able vaccine. If you want to read more about the difference as you make a decision for your child, you can go to the Cattaraugus Health Department website to read more about the flu shot or the nasal spray mist. There is a limited supply available tomorrow of either types–only about 370 doses–so remember it’s on a first come, first served basis.

RCS Cross Country at Sectionals today—Go CARDINALS!

I could just leave this post at that, right? An announcement of a relatively benign new media source. After all–this blog, the Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube videos, our school website with some amazing teacher webpages–are all on-line sources for members of our school community to COMMUNICATE. A quicker, more real time version of the good old fashioned school newsletter–a source those connected can go to for information, to ask questions, to offer opinions. And now with the Facebook page, a place to announce reunions or to find old friends, to talk about the game Friday night and how to get tickets, or to announce upcoming events.

I wonder how many people won’t think it’s benign. There are still a lot of people who don’t participate, who don’t understand and who therefore, may fear these types of media. But if I don’t step up and use them productively, how will they ever know? How will they ever see it as anything other than what they perceive?

I know on-line sources of information can’t replace more traditional media/communication tools (at least not yet)–we have members of our school community who aren’t connected here. But many of my teachers, parents and students are connected on Facebook–so why not join the conversation?

I need to lead as a superintendent. I want to step up and use the tools I hope our teachers are using. Why not a facebook page created with your class to communicate about that night’s homework assignment? Or for a sports team where all of the parents and students can join and share photos?

I know, I know. Because it’s DANGEROUS. (Read sarcasm here please.) People may do bad things on there. They may make disparaging remarks or connect in inappropriate ways. But you know what? Our fear of what could go wrong should not prohibit us from using these tools for the 99% of the community members who will do so appropriately and productively.

Are we going to make all of our decisions based on what can go wrong? Or are we going to make them based on what we make go right? And if we’re not leading the way, if we’re not stepping out as role models and as teachers to show kids the appropriate way to create content and to use these tools, who will? Who’s going to show them, through example and discussion, how to leave a digital footprint that will help them get a job, instead of telling them later that their posted content wasn’t as private as they thought and actually hurt their chances?

And if you’re worried the teachers won’t use it correctly or appropriately, please remember that we trust them with our kids every day, can’t we trust them with collaborative communication tools too? I want our teachers leading learning and out here is one of the best places to learn to lead. Let me be one of the first to raise my hand so you know it’s safe to raise yours too.

Check out the #1 RCS Girls Volleyball team this week– tonight as they play Pine Valley here at 6:00 and when they secure a win tonight, on to play this Friday night at 6:00. This team is on fire and hoping for another big win this year!

RCS Cross Country will be tearing it up in the CCAA League Championships at Long Point this Friday at 3:30.

Friday night brings our RCS Football Team(7-1) to our field to battle Portville (7-1) at 7:30 pm. Next game? Friday, November 6, 6:00 pm at the Ralph. If you want to see excellent football played with enthusiasm, Randolph’s field is always the place to be.

#3 Randolph Boys Soccer should dominate #6 Chautauqua Lake at home this Friday at 3:30, with Semifinals around the corner on November 3 at Southwestern. Friday is clearly the day to see lots of sports action for the Red & White here at home.

And don’t forget #5 Randolph Girls Soccer taking to the field today at 3:30 against #12 Silver Creek then advancing to the Quarterfinals on Saturday at 2:00 pm against #4 Holland. Soccer has come a long way over the past several years and spectators can expect to see some great play from our girls!

And if sports isn’t your only thing–join us for a High School Halloween Howl of a concert tonight at 7:30 being performed at the Elementary School for the benefit of all of our little ghouls and goblins who are attending our Halloween Fun Night from 6:30-8:00.

The premise of the report is that it describes how a woman’s nation changes everything about how we live and work today. Chapters include among others: The New Breadwinners, Family Friendly for All Families: Workers and caregivers need government policies that reflect today’s realities, Sick and Tired: Working women and their health, Better Educating Our New Breadwinners: Creating opportunities for all women to succeed in the workforce.

I’ve not expressed my opinions on working women/mothers often. Largely I’ve been quiet because I don’t want to generalize or take away from someone else’s struggle, which may be real. So here’s my disclaimer, loud and clear, I am NOT generalizing or speaking of any other woman’s experience but my own. This is my personal experience with the topic at hand.

I don’t want anyone “creating opportunities for women”. I have thirty years in the workforce. Thirty, started when I was fifteen and have worked as everything from a sales clerk to a 7/11 manager to a secretary and then on to teaching and now administration. Throughout my education and in my professional life, I have never once been discriminated against, left out, eliminated or treated differently because I am a woman. Never. I worked hard and with ambition. I have gone after every job I’ve ever wanted, competed against men and women, and succeeded. Because of who I am as an employee/leader/thinker/problem solver–NOT because of my gender nor despite it.

Any talk of equalizing the opportunities for women is galling.  I’m proud to know that I can now sit at the school superintendents’ table as an equal without ever having been given a hand up. I have succeeded on my own merit and would compete against any male or female superintendent who I know for a position, without hesitation.

Next, I’ve succeeded while raising two kids along side my working husband. We’ve done it together as a team, we sought out and hired excellent caregivers when our children were small and we’ve shared responsibilities. I can remember feeling guilty for leaving my kids at the same time that my sister in law got to feel guilty for staying home and not providing an income. Hogwash. It’s a personal choice that a family makes and neither is right nor wrong. How we work out the details is what makes the difference.

“Sick and Tired?” As far as my health goes, I would challenge that my involvement in the work force, my commitment to learning, my ability to set and achieve goals are the same qualities that get me out of bed at 5:10 am to get on the treadmill, exercise, eat right and make healthy choices. I also maintain friendships with other working and non-working women who all do the same things. We support and encourage one another.

“Workers and caregivers need government policies that reflect today’s realities.” And here’s what really has me furiously writing this post–the conclusion of Shriver’s report is, get this:

The academic research, anecdotal evidence, personal reflections, and poll results that make up this unique report all confirm that recognizing women now constitute half of the workers in the United States is only the first step. The second is identifying what we need to do to reshape the institutions around us. We can then begin to take the necessary actions to readjust our policies and practices.

Yep, that’s just what successful hard working women like me have been waiting for all of these years–GOVERNMENT policies and practices to help us figure it out because goodness knows we can’t do it on our own. ARGH! Perhaps our government should just mind their own business, something that could sorely use their attention.