Change Begins with Me - June 3, 2020

Change Begins with Me

June 3, 2020

By, Michael Earnshaw

@EduChefEarnshaw

As an educator and father, I have always believed that I did a good job of teaching my own children about our world, the issues we face, and how to treat others. In the wake of tragic murder of George Floyd, the peaceful protests to bring awareness to the racism that still plagues our country, and the looting and destroying of local businesses, I realize I have not done a good job. Not even close. For this I am ashamed and feel I have let my children down. I need to smash the own distorted window that I have been trying to gaze through these last 40 years.

My window was finally shattered on Sunday, May 30, 2020. My wife and I were watching the 5:00 pm news. We sat close on the couch, phone screens locked and focused all of our attention to the scenes being reported. Some were peaceful protests full of chants, signs, and a message that America must come together to bring an end to racism. These scenes were scarce in the big picture. Many of what was being shown were storefront windows being shattered, vehicles pulling up right to the now open space created by a pipe dancing with the glass window, only to be filled with goods and products that were not paid for. We also saw buildings being set on fire, local family owned businesses being destroyed and ransacked. Many of these scenes were not even three miles from where we were sitting. “Dad, why are they doing that? Why are they breaking into stores and stealing and destroying?” my daughter whispered. I knew that she was not only curious, but overcome with fear. We’ve always kept our children away from many of the scenes the news plays. We don’t hide them from the truth, but there are many images and stories we feel they can be taught about from us and not how the media displays it for adult eyes. I looked at, grabbed her hand, and told her, “Babe, there’s just something going on in the world and people are upset. They are letting our government know that changes need to be made.” This wasn’t the time for me to go into details with my 8 year old daughter on why there was a mix of peaceful protests and looting. Why we needed justice for not only George Floyd, but all of the African Americans being subjected to racism still in 2020 solely because of the color of their skin. For those that lost their lives at the hands of a racist clothed in blue and a badge. Without hesitation my daughter responded. “Is it because that white police officer kneeled on George Floyd’s neck and killed him? Because George Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and the white police just kept doing it? That’s what people are saying on Tik Tok. I know it’s not right, why would he do that?” My heart was shattered. My innocent 8 year old daughter knew more about the horrific situation from her social media platforms than I thought. This was her news. These were her questions. And it is time that I follow the mission I lead by.

I knew in that moment that it was time to no longer hide the true realities of our world from my children. They already know what is going on, whether I share the information with them or not. As an educator, as a father, it is my responsibility to inform them, teach them, and empower them. This all begins with me. I have finally opened my eyes. I have self-reflected on these issues and I must learn, alongside my country, my neighbor, my children, how to be a force, a voice, to bring an end to racism in our country. It is my responsibility, as a white male, to be honest about my faults, my mistakes, my wrongs not only with those I serve but my children and most importantly, myself. I truly believe in my heart that my children, your children, OUR children, are the catalyst that will bring about true change in our world. There is no way this is going to happen if we are not honest with them about the racism that still infects so much of our country. It is our duty to learn ourselves first and then teach them so they are that force empowered and determined to change this world. That is never going to happen if we don’t begin with ourselves.

Dreams Vs. Goals: Rd. 2 - June 19, 2019

Dreams Vs. Goals Rd. 2 

June 19, 2019  

By. Michael Earnshaw 

@mearnshaw158 

If you’ve read my last blog on Dreams Vs. Goals Rd. 1, you understand that I'm not saying we need to abandon dreams, but instead transform them into goals. By setting goals, creating action plans, and doing whatever it takes to reach that goal builds our character. It gives us strength and the ability to inspire others. Goals would not be possible without first having dreams.  

A key characteristic we must remember while climbing that ladder to a goal is to stay true to our word. Displaying action behind what we say shows so much more about our character than the actual words we speak. Keeping true to our word shows ourselves, others, and the enemy mind that we will not be stopped on our mission for betterment.  

Thinking about proving our word brought me back to a time five years ago when I took my role as Principal. I had served as an AP for 2 years and was trusted by my Superintendent and School Board to lead Oak Glen Elementary to amazing opportunities.  

I took up my Principalship at the end of July. At the August School Board meeting all the district’s Principals were presenting on, at the time, our local STAR assessment data from the previous school year. When looking at all three of our elementary school’s next to one another, the one I had just inherited was below the others and did not show the same level of growth or achievement. One of the points all the principal’s needed to make was our plan of action for the next school year: How were we going to show improvements?  

I had no nerves about presenting our plan. After I explained what we would do as a school, our action plan, I finished up my presentation by stating, “I guarantee that next year that our scores will improve.” 

The Board President responded, “Did you just guarantee your scores will improve?” A few of the other Board members chuckled. I began hearing those voices in my head, “Dude, did you just say guarantee?” “What is wrong with you?” “Oh my God, I meant to say I guarantee that we will work hard to raise scores, not guarantee that they for sure will go up!” 

“Are those mics on?”, I replied. “Yes, I did. I guarantee when I present to you next year our scores will have improved.”  

That was it, my portion of the presentation was over. The next day my Superintendent had a laugh over my comment, but I had said it, now it was time to prove it.  

I spent the remainder of the year learning my building, staff, and families. I always had what I proclaimed in the back of my mind, tucked away in that old trunk not shut with the latch, but it wasn’t the driving force behind my leadership. I knew that by building relationships, being visible, and being active we would come through on my word.  

August rolled around again. I crept up to the District Office, mentally preparing for our annual data presentation. My wife must have secretly fed my caterpillar cocoons that hatched during the commute because I now had a butterfly conservatory housed in my belly. When my turn came up to present Oak Glen’s STAR data, I showed our charts, explained the data, and concluded with, “If you remember last year, I guaranteed our scores would improve. Well, there you have it!”  

Our scores did in fact improve that first year, and I’m proud to say have continued to since then. Some years better than others, but still growth.  

To show your true character, others are looking at your actions behind your words, not the words themselves.  

Take your dreams, put them into goals, get an action plan behind them, and then be sure your actions stay true to what you said you would accomplish.  

Dreams vs. Goals Rd. 1 - May 21, 2019

Dreams vs. Goals Rd. 1 

May 21, 2019 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

@mearnshaw158 

There is a huge misconception when it comes to understanding the importance of having dreams and goals in one’s life. Since we are young, we are taught to have big dreams, dreams that are going to take us to places we’ve never imagined! We’ll discover new lands, create music no ears have ever been christened with, cure diseases that haven’t even been birthed yet. This is all great, and I am 100% for inspiring our kids to have big, bold, dreams. But we must take it a step further.

 That’s the key, we must take our dreams to the next level.  

Nobody ever faults a child for having bold dreams. It's the adults, the professionals, that get scoffed at when sharing theirs. This is an inevitable piece of life. The reason being, many never take the next step and transform their dreams into reality. There comes a turning point in life when we reach the age where responsibility, drive, and adulthood take over. Unfortunately, this is the time many people’s dreams wither away and die like that prom corsage sitting on the bedroom floor. It doesn’t have to be this way.  

Those who take their dreams, who hold onto them despite how crazy others may think they are, those are the ones that are viewed as heroes, as geniuses. They were not afraid to keep the dream alive. The way it was kept breathing was by spending time in a cocoon and then reemerging as a goal.  

Goals differ from dreams in the sense that the idea has been brought to reality. The individual has put thought and a plan of action into reaching a destination. When someone has a goal they are reaching for, they are not seen as crazy like those chasing dreams. It’s crucial that we teach our students, our kids, to not only have big grandiose dreams, but to manifest them into goals.  

Teachable Moments - May 8, 2019

Teachable Moments 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 8, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

“Daddy, why don’t you want to go in there? I want to see what they have?” was what my daughter questioned, displaying confusion as to why I was telling her “no” to a simple request many parents would grant without hesitation. I replied, “Because babe, I said so, we have some other things I have to take care of.” Of course, with her being 7 my answer didn’t suffice. Eventually, I pulled rank and silenced her petition, “No, it’s done, don’t ask any more please!” Silence.  

My daughter wasn’t mad or hold a grudge the rest of the evening, and we had a great time together. Before heading home for the night, she pulled out her crowbar and tried prying one more time, one last ditch effort. “Dad, now can we check it out?” I took in a big hit of air, gazed into those eyes that melt my heart and said, “Honey, I’m sorry, but no, it’s over with now anyways.” Silence.  

We did one last sweep throughout the hallways, checking over everything to ensure there wasn’t something we missed. It was then we were approached by someone needing a favor. I put on a smile and graciously helped them with their simple request. My daughter threw on her coat, I grabbed my car keys and we headed home.  

As I was driving my daughter asked in an inquisitive voice, “Dad, why wouldn’t you let me see what they had in there? I wasn’t going to buy anything, I just wanted to look.” I pondered how I would respond for a few seconds. “Babe, I didn’t want us to go in there because there were some unfriendly people in there. They aren’t very happy with Daddy.” With a slight tilt of her head and scrunching of her brow she replied, “Why don’t they like you? What did you do?” I gazed at my daughter from my rear-view mirror and said, “They just don’t agree with or like the way Daddy does some things. They aren’t very happy with me and have a lot of negativity. Daddy doesn’t have time or the need to bring that negativity around him or his life.” The wheels were turning in my daughter’s beautiful brain. “But Dad, why’d you help that lady? Is she one of the people who aren’t happy with you?” 

My daughter is so smart. She wasn’t going to let this go until she knew why I would help someone who isn’t very fond of me. I knew I had to respond with the right words, this was a teachable moment.  

“Just because someone doesn’t like another person, that doesn’t give anyone the right to be disrespectful or unkind back. I don’t have room for negativity in my life. I’m a kind person, and if I put kindness out there, I know it’s going to come back to me.”  

That was my response, and without me saying that our conversation was over, it was over. I hope my daughter understands why I live my life with a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) mindset. I pray that she can follow in my footsteps. Only time will tell if she learned from this lesson. I believe she did.