I just dropped another VLOG Post! https://youtu.be/MGfmtRdviUw
A Drop In The Bucket
My writing is reflective of my own experiences and learning that have shaped my growth and thoughts.
Saturday, June 5, 2021
Monday, May 3, 2021
Vlog Post 2: Happy Teacher Appreciation Week
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week: https://youtu.be/jAgpz2nuPrM
Saturday, May 1, 2021
VLOG Post 1: I'm In Reflection Mode On This First Day Of May 2021
It's time to start vlogging in between the times of putting pen to pad! Two words that I keep hearing in education are Innovation and Revolutionary. These 2 words are profound as we strive to reach families and kids in ways that stretch us outside of our comfort zones. Below is the link to the VLOG post:
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Thanksgiving and Sacrifice Go Hand in Glove in Leadership
My feelings about this holiday season over the years have evolved into more and more reflection time around what really matters in my life. As a black man in America, I don’t get into the logistics over the history of the holiday that I've educated myself on because this is a PERSONAL time of reflection, gratitude towards my family and friends, and of appreciating my blessings. This year, especially, there are 2 words that ring loud and clear in my inner being as I reflect, and those are Thanksgiving and Sacrifice.
As one who holds leadership roles in education and at my church, I take those roles very seriously. I’m thankful to be blessed to operate in both roles, and it requires sacrifice. The very act of being thankful for your blessings should propel one to look beyond the blessings and say to oneself, “How can I sacrifice in order to pass the blessings that I have been bestowed upon me to someone else?” This is where it gets personal for me. The blessing that I have worked diligently to pass on is safety. As a school leader during this pandemic, parents are entrusting me to ensure a maximum level of safety for their kids. In turn, my wife and my own kids at home have an extremely high expectation that as a husband and father, I will live my life everyday during this pandemic in a manner that does not expose them.
The confidence that my family and the families I serve put in me LEADS ME to sacrifice everyday that I wake up, and I do offer that sacrifice with a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Will I miss seeing family and friends for Thanksgiving? I certainly will. Do I miss watching my kids participate in soccer, basketball, and field hockey during the fall and winter months? I miss it to a level that you wouldn’t believe. However, I know that my level of thankfulness to be in the position that I am has LEAD me to sacrifice the things I love to ensure that the kids I serve can continue to attend school in person if their parents have chosen that option. My level of thankfulness to serve in a leadership capacity at my church has LEAD me to sacrifice my personal desires for the members (30% or less of capacity; socially distant; and following all state and CDC guidelines for houses of worship) that look forward to attending in person to hear a message of Good News every Sunday. My level of thankfulness for having a beautiful wife and kids has LEAD me to sacrifice by isolating myself from all the things I love to do to ensure that I am keeping them safe. My thankfulness has LEAD me to think about the families of my colleagues, my neighbor that I may pass on my morning or evening walks as we both walk our dogs, and my fellows brothers and sisters that I don’t know, and apply personal sacrifices to my life for them.
However you celebrate, or if you don’t celebrate during this season at all, I implore you to love on the family in your house, reflect on the bright spots of 2020 that bring a smile to your face, and be hopeful that the future brings greatness to all around you.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Evolving Mindsets...Leaders, Tap Into Your Teachers
If you are reading this, please make sure to go back and read the blog post by my friend and colleague, Doug Timm @DougTimm34, and this post will make more sense to you. His post, "What I Thought, Is Not What It Is," got my mind in reflection mode so I decided to write. I'm challenging my friend and colleague Deanna @Hessteacherest to follow this post up with her wonderful insight to help Doug and I channel this in a great way that she always does.
There were 2 statements that Doug had in the blog post that captivated my thoughts. Here they are:
- "I thought my presence, title, and perceived power would bring my 'thoughts' to truth and facts."
- "It turns out my thoughts were wrong. It is a lot of hard work, constantly growing, and mindsets evolving."
Saturday, December 28, 2019
All Roles and Roads Lead Back To The Classroom Series - Part 1
- this person will collaborate with administration, teachers, counselors, social workers, and other pertinent personnel to develop appropriate and positive behavior modifications or supports to assist students in being successful across a variety of settings
- The teacher informs the Dean, BI, or admin
- The Dean, BI, or admin are first to pull the student from class to have a talk with him or her about the behavior
- The student returns to the classroom with our without a consequence (this depends on the school and/or district's code of conduct, policies, procedures, or protocols, but consequences is not a part of this discussion or the intent of my journey)
- The cycle continues with multiple students throughout the school that are experiencing behavior or socioemotional concerns
Monday, July 30, 2018
Reflections on Fatherhood
As I stare at my 3 kids everyday, I always reflect on how I think I'm doing as a dad. I've come to realize that there is not a manual for parenting.... AT ALL. I'd never buy one of those "better parenting" type books as long as my conscious and love for humanity exists in my inner being. All kids are different so this whole process of "parenting" is trial and error. I hang my hat on 2 specific self reflection questions, which are:
- Am I actively listening to my kids' concerns, passions, interests, etc.?
- Am I fully supporting my kids in all their endeavors, great and small?