R3

R3...

As we anticipate our upcoming break, here are some things to remember…

Rest

The days off from school are a great time to catch up on sleep!  Take a break from the busy schedules of
school and outside events, and rest.  Enjoy time to just be.

Relax

Take advantage of the extra days to spend time with family and friends.  Set aside time to relax and
do something you love to do.  

Rejuvenate

These extra days off give you extra opportunities to do something for you. Give yourself a clean
break from school and put your school things aside. When you return, you will be ready for the
second half of the year!

Most importantly, savor the time you have together with your friends and families.  Enjoy!
Merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy new year!

Problem Solving Mindset

Thank you.  Thank you for your problem solving mindset when faced with new challenges.  Thank you for creatively approaching issues in a way that doesn't take no for an answer.  Thank you for collaborating with staff, families, and students to get the best results possible.

When you have an effective problem solving mindset, you become a valuable resource for friends, family, and colleagues. Even in the most stressful of situations, you are seen as an ally and a cheerleader for the good of the group.

Critical aspects of a problem solving mindset

The following skills are critical aspects of a problem solving mindset: 

1. Responsibility

Responsibility is both a skill and an attitude. When you encounter a problem in your life, you can either bury your head in the sand or, you can choose to do something proactive about the situation. With a problem solving mindset, you know that if you do not attempt to deal with the problem; you are creating a bigger problem which, when you are eventually forced to deal with it; it will be more difficult to resolve successfully. Therefore, when you see a problem, you are willing to step up and attempt to resolve the situation.

2. Emotional intelligence

When things go wrong, it is easy to lose control of your emotions. With a problem solving mindset you take ownership of your emotions, think calmly, and then choose a response to the situation.

3. Goal identification

When trying to solve a problem, a problem solving mindset realizes that it's important to first understand the true nature of the problem, and then decide what solution you would like to achieve. It's very difficult if you have no idea of the outcome you are trying to achieve!  It's also important to see the big picture of the problem, and not place blame on individual people, programs, etc.  Identify what can be controlled, and focus on that.

4. Active listening

When you genuinely listen to people and take an interest in what they say, this communicates itself to the person speaking. When you listen actively, ask questions and reflect, the speaker feels valued and appreciated thus encouraging them to be more open, trustworthy and helpful as you try to resolve the problem. Active listening is not just listening. It is listening with the purpose of gathering as much information about the problem as possible to clarify any misconceptions, and to start to work on a solution.

5. Desire to find the most appropriate solution

Too often, when trying to solve a problem, people jump at the first solution that comes into their head. In my experience, the first solution is rarely the best or most appropriate solution. It is best to take a period of time to generate as many potential solutions as possible. Invite all of the relevant stakeholders to offer their thoughts. Then, together, you can evaluate each potential solution to determine which one is most likely to bring about the conclusion that you are seeking.  Don't be afraid to share your solution -  this might be the key to success!

All Students

We started the year with reading an article about the idea of teaching ALL students.  As we approach the midway point of the year, I'd like to remind ourselves of what we talked about, way back in August! I've highlighted some of the ideas we identified as important - things we'll circle back to at this week's Late Start.

All Means All

Anne E. Conzemius

“This is a social justice issue,” Superintendent Demond Means tells a room full of educators and community members. “All means all! We made a commitment as educators when we walked into our classrooms for the first time that we will reach every kid in our classroom. We didn’t make a commitment to reach 75% of the students.” (Promoting Excellence for All: A report from the State Superintendent’s Task Force on Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap, page 8)

You might not expect to hear these remarks from the superintendent of the district named the #1 K-12 district in the state of Wisconsin the past three years, whose high school achieved an ACT composite score of 26 and whose middle school, it was learned just the day before, is being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Dr. Means, now in his eighth year as superintendent of the Mequon-Thiensville School District, is passionate about closing the achievement gap. He is fearless in his pursuit of excellence, because of a deeply held sense of responsibility for each and every child in our state. As Chair of the State Superintendent’s Task Force on Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap, he led the state’s effort to identify proven-effective school and classroom practices that do just that – close the gap for children of color, English language learners, students with disabilities and students living in poverty.

The challenge facing high-performing organizations like Mequon-Thiensville is convincing people that improvement is needed. In this case, their greatest accomplishments will be their greatest challenges. In the words of our friend and professional colleague, Kathy Larson, “change is inevitable, improvement is optional, transformation is a courageous choice.” Transformation is what Dr. Means is all about. The courage comes from within and is fueled by his commitment to justice, not test scores. His responsibility is to frame the transformation as a journey toward a larger vision of a culture that “supports and challenges all students to achieve their full potential” (Mequon-Thiensville Strategic Plan). The job of educational leaders is to build capacity not just for great results, but for continuous improvement of the learning experiences that students and adults have within the organization and the community.