Perspective

     New administrative appointments came out this week.  I was thrilled to be placed at one of my current schools and another school nearby.  The next morning I found out that the principal I admire and emulate is being moved to the district office.  She will be wonderful there, just as she is with us.  The promotion is bittersweet for her.
     I felt sorry for myself for losing her, sad for her, and angry at myself for not being worthy of taking her place.  Instead of replacing her, a brand new principal will take her place.  I felt horrible that district people didn't see me as good enough to take her place so I could promise things wouldn't change.
     Another woman was placed as an assistant principal at the same time I was placed.  She sent me an e-mail Friday congratulating me on my new assignment.  She ended the e-mail by saying, "The District must have a lot of trust in you to have you there helping her."  Her words got me rethinking the situation.  Maybe, instead of thinking they thought I was doing a bad job, maybe they felt confident that Jill would be able to go to the district office because I am strong enough to support a brand new principal as she learns her job.
     I am so grateful for the people in my life who help me see things in new ways.

Snap Judgements

     My teacher accused me of cheating this week.  I didn't.  He didn't ask me about it.  He just gave me a zero.  The worst part was when he wrote he expected better from me.  I haven't cheated since 6th grade and felt so guilty I swore I would never do it again.  I have been judged and labeled.  I know I am innocent, but the judgement and label still hurt.
     As an administrator it is easy to make snap judgements and assume I know who is at fault.  It's easy to believe that I know the whole story without asking questions and truly wanting to know the answers.   It's easy to hand out a punishment or consequence and move on to the next situation.  Situations come up so fast some days, snap decisions feel necessary.  This situation reminds me how hard it is for all of us to be judged, labeled, and punished without having a voice to tell our story.  We deserve better than that, especially from the adults in our lives.  

Making a Win-Win Situation

     It's easy when you deal with discipline to forget the big picture and punish students instead of helping them learn life skills.  A third-grade boy struggles with behavior in class.  He isn't a bad kid, just impulsive.  He does things to be funny, but doesn't know what to do when he goes too far.
     He's on a new behavior plan.  He helped us put it together.  When I asked him what he would like for a reward, I expected the usual - candy, more video time, etc.  I was shocked when he said, "I like to help people."
     We set up a plan for him.  He gets a sticky note in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Each note has six slits cut on it.  He gets a warning if he does something wrong, but if he continues, he loses one of his strips.  If he keeps two or more strips, he gets to help his teacher in the classroom.  If he keeps all six, he gets to help me in the office.
     Today he kept all six for the first time.  He was so proud when he came down and told me.  I helped him climb up in the display case to help me hang up a bulletin board.  As the first graders walked by and saw him, they asked why he got to be in there.  When I told them he had been very good today, they all folded their arms and said, "I'll be really good, too."
     When he finished, he delivered some cookies for a girl's birthday party, hung up hall passes, and put information in teachers' boxes.  I have never seen such a big smile as the one he had this afternoon.  It was free, it was fun, it motivated him and other students, and made him feel important.  It's so much better to find a win-win situation instead of punishing him every day for his behavior.

No Disability Here

     I am new.  I make lots of mistakes.  I doubt myself.  Sometimes I wonder if I should have stayed in the classroom because it doesn't seem like I am making any impact at all.  And then I am given a day like today.
     It started with the normal hustle and bustle and moved into controlled chaos as we gathered 1,100 kids for a school picture.  The weather was beautiful.  The photographer came early and climbed up on the roof.  When we came outside, he was sitting above us, camera in hand, smiling and waving at us.  When the Kindergarteners saw him, they gasped and asked the man helping us line up how the photographer had gotten on the roof.  When he answered, "He jumped up there," the kids whispered, "We have a superhero taking our picture?"  When it was time for the picture, I was told to stand in the front of the group on the side.  A little first-grade girl with Cerebral Palsy sat in her wheelchair next to me.  She gently reached up and held my hand for the picture.
     When it was over, I escorted her to the elevator.  She handed me the key and gave me instructions on working the elevator.  When we got inside, she informed me of all the procedures to follow - she pushes the button, we put our hands in the air, say "freeze" and freeze in that position, and then she opens the door.  As we continued down the hall, many of the older girls stopped us to give her hugs and ask her to play with them at recess.  As we passed the 6h grade room, she told me about her brother in the class and how he is the best brother in the universe.
     I was in awe of her.  She has all the reasons in the world to be sad and feel sorry for herself, yet she had the biggest smile for everyone we met.  Today she taught me that I have been the one with a disability.  I have been focusing on all the bad without seeing the good.  She sees life with all the good and none of the bad.