Ready, Get Set, Lead...

Went to a great meeting on Monday (yes I said great meeting)! It was for beginning Elementary Administrators and offered through the School Administrators of Iowa. The meeting focused on tips for success, Law issues, and round table discussions with veteran elementary administrators. What made this meeting GREAT? All the people attending were in the same boat and found out that it was impossible to know everything but with help we can make a successful start. Everyone was willing to leave email addresses so that networks could be created. The veteran principals were willing to be part of the networks and also had great sound advice but also admitted they learn new things every day. The SAI staff was also part of the networking component and encouraged everyone to call and call often. Everyone went on with an idea of how to get started and where to go in the process of becoming an educational leader. A big thank you to SAI and everyone involved. The beginning of the school year is just around the corner and I am excited to start the process of learning more than I could ever imagine!

Life is that way...

I like to ride my motorcycle. No it is not a Harley but I love it anyway. Yesterday it needed gas so I took my 10 year old son with me to the small town of Otho to get gas. This was also the day it was 110 degree heat index. We were enjoying the ride going the long way around on the river road and just started up the hill which winds through beautiful trees and is very park like and the bike starts sputtering. I was running out of gas...who would of thought? So I choose to give it all the gas that was left and cranked the throttle back. Well we made it to the top and rolled into the gas station. My son reflected that we could of pushed it up the rest of the way... he is so young and positive minded. Well at the gas station for a reward I bought us a king size chocolate candy bar. Did I say it was 110 degrees outside? By the time we got our helmets on and the bike started we were practically drinking the candy bar. We had chocolate all over everything , the bike mirror , gas tank, hands, seat, and helmet. Time to go home. What a great ride! Why? I was with someone I love, we were doing something we loved, eating something we loved , what is not to enjoy? The running out of gas and getting chocolate all over just adds to the story.
Now the segway.....
I hope next year as my first year as assistant principal that I appreciate that I am with people I love, doing something we all love (teaching ), consuming something we love (education, learning). All the other things just add to the story....AND I MEAN IT!!!!!!

BLOGSAFEAR !!!

I was having a discussion just the other day with a non-blogger. The comment was made that once you post on a blog it is there forever. Is that what you really want and could that come back to haunt you. Well I had thought of this concept when I started my blog and every time I was commenting on another blog. That was before I became an assistant principal. Now I am thinking the concept over in a new light. I know of professional people who blog all the time and have blogs at work. I also know those who do not. Is there such a thing as a public blog and a private blog. I suppose so but as far as I know the private blog can be accessed also. I hope that anything I have ever posted on a blog is an open discussion and that it would be viewed that way. I also hope that people will also understand that with that open discussion I may change my opinion especially with more information and the passage of time. So I will continue to blog and if I ever run for a political office I am sure the news media will have fun with endless open discussions that I have posted and commented on.