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.  

Don't Let your Passions Swim with Concrete Boots - April 11, 2019

Don’t Let your Passion Swim with Concrete Boots 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 11, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining down our students and staff as they exited our den for dismissal. Some hopped in daycare vans, others skipped towards the community with their comrades, while others ran to their parents with open arms and mile wide smiles. I was strolling through our school parking lot, passing all the busses and burning my nasal cavity by inhaling their exhaust fumes. I didn’t mind, this day was perfect and the blessing from Mother Nature was icing on the gluten free, vegan cake. As I was strolling to the end of the bus line a student stopped me. They looked at me, shot their chin in the air, and said, “Mr. E., what happened to your passion?” I replied with a confused look at responded, “What are you talking about? I’m bringing my passion to school every day!” “Nah, I feel your passion is all spent!”  

I jumped up, confused and not knowing where I was or what was going on. I checked my watch, 1:43. It was a dream, a nightmare more like it. I didn’t even get to catch the end of the movie playing in my mind. What was my response going to be? What would I have said to explain? Honestly, I feel that’s why I awoke. I have been given the opportunity to reflect and see where my passion stands. Is it as strong as the beginning of the year? Has it fizzled down? Am I still getting out of my comfort zone, pushing boundaries, doing what’s best for kids, all while challenging the status quo of education?  

After thinking this over on my morning run, I can confidently say, “Yes.” Is there room for improvement? Of course, there always is. None of us are perfect. We still have 38 days left of this school year (I don’t do countdowns and had to go to a calendar to count) to make a difference, to change students’ lives. I still have many tricks up my sleeve, opportunities for self- growth and the success of those I lead. I’m far from done and this dream has awoken my understanding for keeping the fire of passion burning each day.  

This is an extremely tiring time of the school year for educators and students. State testing, limited breaks, routines thrown off due to end of the year activities. We cannot let our passion simmer. We cannot get dulled down and just go through the motions of the job. Our kids don’t deserve that. Every day is game day. Our students are always watching and know when our hearts aren’t in it. It’s not fair to them. Get some logs on your fire and finish this year strong until that last student steps out of view at dismissal on the final day of school. After that, after knowing you gave your all every day for students, sleep like a baby.  

Out of Step

Out of Step

January 24, 2019

By, Michael Earnshaw

@mearnshaw158

“I don’t care about test scores." This is what I boldly stated to my audience at a recent Pastries with the Principals Parent Café I held. A few jaws dropped, you could hear the gasps sucking the air out of room, and many sets of wide eyes gazed upon me. I could literally read my parents minds for a few minutes, “What is he talking about? What are our kids going to do for their future? Maybe it’s a midlife crisis? He should probably stop skateboarding and hanging out in the halls all day and start doing real ‘principal’ work.” 

I said it, and I admitted to our parents that I would say the same thing in front of my superintendent. I truly believe this, and I have my entire educational career. I think back to when I was a classroom teacher, grades 6-8 ELA. I had standards and curriculum that needed to be met, and I did just that. If I didn’t teach kids what they’d be tested on I wouldn’t have a job or have lasted as long as I have in our field. I’m not saying abandon all curriculum and just do what you want, I grew up punk rock, not a hippie. I’ve always wanted to challenge the systems, still do, because status quo is so artificial.  

Back to my story as a classroom teacher. My main focus was never on teaching to the test. I have always focused on, and always will focus on, putting relationships first. That’s my nature. Since I was a child I have always loved talking to others, getting to know their stories, their interests, their passions, and then sharing mine with them. I like to believe that the relationships I’ve built have helped others as much as they have benefited and improved my life. I find nothing more gratifying than sitting down and talking with students about their life, outside of the classroom. I did this daily as a teacher and had less discipline problems and higher test scores than many of my counterparts, and remember, I didn’t stress about that upcoming test.  

I’ll never forget a 7th grade class I had. We began every class talking about our lives, what was going well, what was stressing us out, and we all helped each other out with empathy and advice. When it came time for our Winter assessment, we did a little prep, I spoke to students about where they were in the Fall so they had an idea, but I never put our main focus on this test. It was a test, anything can happen, anyone can be having an off day. I’ll never forget my principal walking up to me during my plan time to tell me about the upcoming assembly to celebrate our students’ successes on making growth. Not only did my 7th grade have some of the best growth of the school, I had the honor of having in my ELA class the student that surpassed their goal and showed the most growth out of 750 or so students! Reflecting, I know that my students’ success wasn’t luck, which I believed at the time. 

Fast forward to my career as a building administrator, and recently my self-given title of Lead Learner. Everyday I focus on building relationships with my staff, families, and most importantly students. It’s not uncommon for me to be talking to a staff member about topics directly affecting their classroom and then morph into topics about our children, music, and weekend hobbies. The same goes for students. We spend lunches and hallway powwows discussing Fortnite, Super Smash Bros., and then lead into choices, behaviors, expectations, and studying.  

No academic progress will be accomplished if we do not build meaningful, trusting, and loving relationships. Period. 

We are currently in our Winter assessment window. All school year I have stressed relationships first, relationships second, relationships third, relationships always. I asked my staff to trust me that by building these relationships everything else will fall in place. We are not yet done testing, but I cannot tell you how many teachers have come to me with smiles stretching farther than ear to ear, bragging on how much growth their kids have made as a class, and individually! This is the first year where at any point of the day you will find smiling kids speed walking the halls to find that adult they are busting at the seams to share their progress and goal graph! 

Is this all because daily we listen to kids, encourage them to take risks, and tell them we love them? The answer is “No”. We have an amazing staff here that is dedicated to educating the whole child. Our strong curriculum also plays a huge factor. But the relationships this year are different. Everyone enjoys walking into our den every day, it can be felt in the air.  

“I don’t care about test scores." This is what I boldly stated to my audience at a recent Pastries with the Principals Parent Café. After I let that marinade for what felt like hours with our parents, I followed up with, “Test scores are important, and I do want our kids to show growth and success, they need to, but that’s not what they are going to remember about us. I want our kids to leave here ready for the world. I want them to know they don’t have to go through life alone. It’s ok to ask others for help, to care about people who are different than them. It’s more important to me that our kids know how to question, solve, challenge, and most importantly love.” 

Once the frame of relationships and love are in place, the other pieces will fit together.