Supporting Superior Student Talent!

This was a pretty exciting week for many SD 60 students. The Peace River Zone Drama Festival saw amazing performances from a number of North Peace Secondary students. The winning entry was written, directed and acted by NPSS students. A second of of the three entries featured a script adapted from an original screenplay by one of our grade 11 students, and also featured award winning acting talent of current NPSS students in its cast. Its director also was a graduate of this district's drama programs. The remaining play included yet another recent NPSS drama alumni. Not to be outdone the current drama class contributed a presentation to the festival as well.

Meanwhile in Lethbridge, five SD 60 students ranging in age between grades 7 and 11 competed and were honoured with medals, cash awards and scholarships at the Canada Wide Science Fair.  Closer to home the students of Duncan Cran Elementary School were recognized nationally as the top school in all of Canada in Canadian Geographic's Classroom Energy Diet contest for the second year in a row. All in all our students had a pretty good week.

SD 60 takes pride in assisting students to reach their potential in whatever path they choose. This week's accomplishments clearly demonstrate our district goals of literacy, numeracy and social responsibility are taking hold,and that our students can compete, and excel, against any in the country. At the drama festival a spokesperson voiced admiration and some amazement at the talent displayed by our teen aged students. While the the admiration was certainly earned, I don't think anyone should be surprised that our students are amazing and talented.  SD 60 students have demonstrated for years that they are more than capable as any found anywhere else.

Its easy to chalk up student accomplishments to individual talent or to family support. There is no doubt such forces do play a tremendous role in supporting talented children, but the role of SD 60 educators cannot be discounted when one examines  how these students got to where they are today. In his book Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihaly points out the importance of exceptional teachers in the lives of talented teens, how genuine and enthusiastic educators can help spur talented students on to remarkable accomplishments.

Living in the north its sometimes easy to think that we have to settle for less than what other regions have to offer. Measures like the Fraser Institute reports are quick to point out the shortcomings of school districts beyond the reaches of the lower mainland. Accomplishments like those posted by SD 60 students last week illustrate just how false those suggestions can be. We really do have great students supported by an excellent school system. Our district motto is "Together we Learn" and it rings especially true every time we celebrate the accomplishments of our students and the adults who inspire and support them.

Changes

This week the district announced several changes to our leadership team  As the new superintendent I've heard a lot recently about the need to ensure that leadership changes are completed well in advance of the coming year so the new people can get a good understanding of what they've inherited and get a good start on where they might like to go. Being part of the change process myself, I've certainly got a sense of why and how people are sometimes frustrated by the pace of change.

In a perfect world all leadership changes take place smoothly and on a timeline that allows for seamless transition. People have the opportunity to say goodbye and cleanly wrap up the projects and initiatives they've worked on. Arrival in a new position comes with ample lead time and a clear mandate of what and how needed changes are to be implemented. In the real world however, things are rarely that simple. Change requires time and consideration. Context and other factors needs to be examined. A change in one place is rarely self contained and frequently sends shock waves of cascading effect throughout the organization. Inevitably some people are pleased and others disappointed in whatever choices are made.
 Another view of change can be found at What I've Learned About Change, a great blog post by Justin Tarte, forwarded to me by one of district administrators. Justin lists 8 very valid thoughts for change agents including that change is rarely easy and that "You will need to put on your big boy or big girl pants. You will need to wear an extra set of armor both on the front and the back, and you will need to keep your emotions and personal feelings in check. Change can be fun, exciting, and beneficial to the entire organization, but it's definitely not easy, and almost always becomes personal".

Everyone has an opinion on change. In her novel "Frankenstein" Mary Shelley wrote, “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” Charles Kettering wrote "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has ever brought progress" and the Greek philosopher Heraclitus claimed that "Change is the only constant".  Here's hoping that this week's changes bring only progress and good things and that we all adapt to them the best we can!

Do You Want the Extra?

A few years back Canadian Lottery Commissions ran ads featuring the tagline "Do want to play the extra?"  Invariably the unhappy customer would say no, only to realize later just how much he had lost out. A similar situation is potentially brewing in our schools. As fewer and fewer educators take on the joys and challenges of extra curricular activities, we run the risk of missing out on valuable opportunities.

Fortunately there are still many fine people taking up the challenge. Recently our district hosted a regional science fair. Over hundreds of student scientists displayed their projects to even greater numbers of appreciative parents, judges and other onlookers. Following closely on the heels of the science fair came the district elementary badminton tournament. Again literally hundreds of students had the opportunity to come together and compete with peers from all across the district.

These events don't just happen by themselves. They are the culmination of hours of dedicated volunteer service from teachers, administrators, parents and other volunteers who are willing to put in time over and above their regular obligations. The members of the Science Fair organizing committee and the coordinators of sporting tournaments aren't getting overtime for their efforts. Often unseen and under appreciated, these people put in the time for the love of the activity and the satisfaction of doing good things for kids. Our badminton tournament ran hours long this year on a Friday afternoon. Rather than cut it short the organizers stayed until the final shot was played. Their efforts, like those of the folks that put in the time for other extra curricular activities are truly appreciated.

The benefits of involvement in extra curricular activities is well documented. The benefits to students are obvious. Websites like kidshealth.org clearly identify how extra curricular involvement can enhance senses of connectedness, competence and caring in students. There are huge benefits for the adults as well. Extra curriculars allow adults to connect with students in a different setting than the classroom. They allow both students and educators to see each other as people in ways that can enhance and benefit learning relationships elsewhere. For one teacher's list of reasons for being involved in extra curriculars check out Chase march's .blogspot.ca.

Its sad that in recent times extra curriculars have become a political hot button topic, with withdrawal of participation being used as a lever in labour actions. Choosing the extra really does have so many benefits. Here's hoping that the folks who are willing to put in the extra continue to do so for many years to come!

Blizzards in April, Adventures In Adversity

Spring is often late in the north Peace. This year winter has lingered longer than most and all of us were relieved when warmer temperatures finally began to erode the snow banks and the grass began to re-emerge! This morning Mother Nature, in a particularly cruel twist, brought back winter  for one last blast. Five centimeters of snow fell over freezing rain with 50 km winds and blowing snow making driving a nasty challenge. All this on the second to last day of April!

Our district people took the event in stride. Buses were cancelled. Contingency plans were rolled out as staff, students and parents dealt with the situation. We're a resilient bunch up here. In my 24 years working in the district I have witnessed snowfalls in every month on the calendar. Our ability to cope with such events is one of the things that makes working here so interesting.

Not everyone appreciated the challenge. Quite frankly, snow in late April is quite hard to take, even for me, and as anyone who's seen my penguin presentations knows, I like it cold. For the most part, however folks took the event in stride. By tomorrow, the sun will (hopefully) be back and today's event will be just another story about living in the north.

Being resilient helps with more than coping with adverse unseasonable weather.  Positive Psychologist Shawn Achor identifies several strategies for dealing with life's challenges. Amongst them are ideas like: no matter how bad things are; always try to identify a positive outcome or a way to find an opportunity, even if it’s just to acknowledge that the challenge can be seen as an opportunity to grow. Find ways to keep motivated, even if it means getting motivation from different parts of one's life. Focus on what's within our control. We might not be in a position to decide what the outcome will be, or to have any control over the situation but at the very least we can choose our attitudes and reactions.

I'll admit, looking outside first thing in the morning to encounter a howling blizzard is not my preferred way to start the week. Seeing how well our people coped with the challenge, however was great. I feel fortunate to be working with and for such resilient and optimistic people.

Up Up and Away!

Friday I accepted the superintendent's position within my district. The congratulations and good wishes from colleagues, trustees, staff, parents, former students and people I didn't even know, was both gratifying and humbling. Its nice to know the board's decision was a popular one, and I will do my best to prove worthy of such support.

Now the real work begins. Not that I was wasn't working before, but as the Assistant Superintendent, and the Director of Instruction before that, there was always at least one more door I could bring questions to. Its a bit intimidating to think that that last door is now mine. Its not like there's about to be wholesale change. I did work as part of the outgoing superintendent's senior management team for over six years. I had a big part in creating the circumstances he's handing off, and that should help make the change over a little easier.

There will be differences though. The previous superintendent and I have our similarities but there are significant differences too! So the future will bring a combination of new and old. A guest column blog entry at The Ratrace Trap.com by Mario Taylor, entitled "You Have A Dream, So Now What?" summarizes this situation well. Everyone learns from those who've come before them. The key is to do the legwork  and "maven up". 

Valuing past learning needs to be combined with forward looking action. As identified by Sources of Insight, and other advisors for personal efficacy, fresh starts need to focus on opportunities and not getting bogged down in the enormity of the tasks at hand. An emphasis on valuing up the opportunity can help combat feelings of backlog burnout. To do lists are suddenly a bigger part of my life.

So onwards and upwards. The road ahead is daunting and the tasks varied and many, but exciting none the less. Paraphrasing Lucy Maud Montgomery's heroine, Anne Shirley only slightly, I can say "Before my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does!"  Bringing out the best in people is really what education strives for. Our district's motto is "Together We Learn".  I'm certain there are going to be lots of learning opportunities ahead for everyone. 

Transitions: Dealing With Seasons of Change

Last month our superintendent retired. The timing of his announcement caught many within our organization by surprise. Expressions of congratulations on a great career and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead for him poured into the district office. And then? Then came the realization that things were about to change.  A period of transition has been thrust upon us.

Transitions can be both interesting and challenging. There is a subtle but important difference between change and transition. Change is situational; it can be an event: something that happens. Transitions are  psychological. A transition evolves out of how one feels about and reacts to a change. It's not the just the event alone that causes the transition; it's the inner-reorientation and meaning-redefinitions people make as they incorporate those changes into their lives.  Paradoxically education is a field where change and transition seem almost constant. Having effective strategies to deal with transitions is a valuable 21st century skill.

Colorado State University authors S. Quick, R.J. Fetsch and M. Rupured offer many strategies for coping with transitions. One strategy that resonates with me is taking a seasons approach to transitions, likening different types of response to fall, winter and spring. Fall transitions break old patterns. They involve saying farewell to familiar people, places and routines. Transitions that evoke winter bring feelings of emptiness, numbness, and confusion. Such transitions occurs when people haven't yet connected to new situations and aren't yet completely disconnected from the past. Springlike transitions require the letting go of the old relationships, situations or events and starting anew. Just as spring leaves bud and flowers bloom, in a spring transition, people find new energy to make a new beginning. (For a more in depth look at this analogy see William Bridges book Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes)

Research suggests resilient people handle transitions better. Building resilience involves maintaining an optimistic outlook, taking steps to positively influence the things one can control and having the wisdom and confidence not to worry or fixate on the things over which one has no control. Developing a good network of friends both at work and away from the office always helps one navigate the choppy periods of uncertainty that accompany transitions. One should also look after their health and well being by getting enough sleep and exercise. 

Its important to remember that transitions. no matter how challenging, don't last forever. Just like the seasons, transitions do pass. To paraphrase Shakespeare's Richard III there may be no guarantees that our winters of discontent will be made glorious summer, but through awareness and positive response our stern alarums may be changed to merry meetings and our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Recognizing a transition for what it is and moving forward with resilience and a positive attitude can dispel or lessen feelings of anxiety and uncertainty and help us welcome a new season of change.

Challenge, Crisis and Opportunity

Finding opportunity in a challenge is often easier said than done. Challenges left unattended have a way of growing into crises, real or imagined. Last week our family experienced a small scale domestic crisis first hand. Hours before I was due to leave on a trip, my son discovered a puddle in the middle of his basement bedroom. Closer examination revealed the challenge was a  bathroom pipe that had been leaking  through the wall and under his carpet for some time. In the past this situation might have set our whole family into a tailspin, but not this time. Once we'd shut off the water,  removed the sopping carpet and called the plumber the worst was over. While I was away, other family members collaborated on solutions. By the time I returned, plumbing repairs were complete and a re-modelling plan had begun to take shape. My son and I now have an opportunity to build something better together together.

Finding opportunity in crisis has a long history as a business strategy.  Forbes Magazine succinctly summarizes the traditional view that crisis can be leveraged to get more from people within an organization. The idea that a crisis can help managers find inner strengths and new levels of productivity in their employees has some validity, but seems cold and and a bit manipulative.  Bruce Evan Goldstein's book Collaborative Resilience takes a different tack, presenting a series of essays that describe how groups and organizations have pulled together to cope and come back stronger from real life altering crises.

The wave of change coming through public education may still be more of a challenge than a crisis, but just like our plumbing issue, it does have potential for setting people and districts into a tizzy. Calm and resilient response, that generates clear and collaborative solutions that value all stakeholders is the best way forward. Keeping education engaging, effective and  relevant in the face of rapid change and ever tightening resources isn't easy. Simply exploiting a challenge by driving people to work harder only burns them out or feeds a sense of crisis and impending doom. Recognizing a need for change and redesigning systems, or effecting solutions that leave things better than we found them, takes the sting out of challenges and turn them into a real opportunities.