Principles of Principals

As a newly minted emergency certified teacher in a self-contained room, I had to learn with great speed the important survival skill of praising and teaching with specificity . Early on you might have heard me say something like, "Hey! Don't do that!".  Which begged the question, don't do what ? You may have also heard me say, "Good job!" Which begs another question, what made it a good job ? After a year, I was sinking. Students were sinking. It was a social skill and academic skill morass. After some terrific training - I learned that specificity of feedback was the hallmark of success.  What I was doing was telling my students to find the corner in the round room, and saying good job or don't do that when they couldn't find it. Once I added some important language, sentence stems, and reflective questions - I increased the likelihood of them replicating good choices, and replacing poor choices with viable skills. I had to scaffold and teach repl

Are we talking about equity of opportunity? Or, as I suspect, are we shouting about equity of outcome? Those two are different in very important ways. If equity of outcome is the end that justifies the current means, I have some questions. When will we know if we have achieved said equality? How is equality accomplished? How are we tracking progress towards said equality? Who decides that we're progressing or not? Finally, why do they get to decide for all of us?  Let me put this another way; What is it that we expect everyone to be able to know and do around equality? How will we know that they know and are doing ? What is one thing I can do to demonstrate equality? What is one thing I have successfully done to demonstrate my commitment to equality? How decides that I've met the know and do rubric?  What happens to me if I am unable to meet the rubric in the suggested time frame? Who decides what happens to me? Onward! Dr. J

Here are the facts from the CDC: 3.2% of American population is 85+, but one third of COVID-19 deaths. 7% of the American population is 75+, but 59% of COVID-19 deaths. 70% of the American population is 54 and younger, but 8% of COVID-19 deaths. The number of COVID-19 deaths don't register a % until the ages of 15-24, even then at 0.2% Children, teenagers, minors and young adults, preK - college undergrad are in no statistically significant danger of death from  COVID-19 (emphasis added). The median age of COVID-19 deaths in America is 78, which is approximately the current average life expectancy. ( source )( source ) I add the distinction since CDC data lists #covid-19 deaths as dying by COVID-19, rather than from COVID-19. The pedantic play on words, by and from, is key. The CDC goes only as far as saying that the deaths by COVID-19 are co-related, not causal. I get scared too. I get it. I do.  However, facts don't care about feelings. Those are the facts from the Centers

Schooling is dead, long live Schooling. My child is doing school online...what are my rights, roles and responsibilities? Private, Independent, Charter, or District, so much has stayed the same with schooling, while so much continues to change. Here are some things on which to reflect, ponder and pray... Parental rights ; Your rights have not changed as a parent. You are entitled to access premium curriculum that is focused on promoting the American culture. You have the right to know your child's teacher and administrator. You have a right to observe and listen to the lesson. You have a right to access the very best resources for your child. Parental   roles ; Parent - setting and keeping loving, healthy boundaries for and with your child. Care-giver - reasonable financial support, food, shelter, clothing. Professional - modeling and facilitating meaningful conversations, and critical thinking skills. Listener - asking questions like, "What are you hoping to accomplish?"

Allies, friends, mirrors, social circles, check ins, check outs, special handshakes, hugs, high fives...gone? Outside the walled-off political fortresses, there exists real scientific evidence  regarding the impact of social isolation on children. What evidence?  Well, ask the World Health Organization what happened when the iron curtain fell and we got a look at marginalized children surviving in socialist/communist communities. In the anecdotal extremes, Romanian children held hostage in orphanages by a communist regime who rocked back and forth, presented as intellectually disabled, and grossly underweight/underdeveloped. What evidence?  In recent months, explore the exponential increase of children and adolescent anti-depressant prescriptions since March of 2020(check Utah County). See also the FDA warning regarding the increase of suicidal thoughts in children taking SSRI's. Particularly, when first taking the medication. ( source ). Air pollution increases odds of early death

Caveat Emptor: I am not a medical doctor, nor do I play one on TV. More and more we are reading research that extols the benefits of UV rays, Vitamin D, and exercise when it comes to fighting disease. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves, that we might take care of others, and not be a drain on an already tapped system. What other ways can we prepare us Northern Hemisphere residents for what will likely be a long winter, especially in the dog days of February? Here are three point five ways to flourish this fall, and conquer old man winter like a boss; Get outside - you've heard me say this before. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a GORUCK sandbag, or your BlackDiamond hiking poles and get after it! Are you getting enough sleep? How much blue light do you ingest before you hit the hay? Well, adjust and limit your screen time . As in, how about none after 5:30 pm? Are you getting enough of the right supplementation necessary to a healthy gut? What nutrient dense fo

  In the coming weeks, our children are collectively going back to school. Thing is, no one gets to the see the new kicks or the latest fit they got. Remember, new kicks, one pair, for the entire school year? New school outfit? Those were the days. Across the nation, parents are leaning into choice as an option for their child to return to the semblance of normalcy.  The School-Choice menu includes;  Charter Independent Private Public/district Activists will shame you by saying that Private, Charter and Independent are stealing resources from public districts and that they don't serve marginalized populations. They will virtue signal and name call, like the private school leader who is a  socialist  for requiring masks, and then a  Trumper  for facilitating face to face instruction - talk about a no win scenario. Lies. They do more with less. Reach more children, provide more services, and have zero public funds. Did you know that in the heart of the pandemic,  democratically ru

In the past week we've received several emails and phone messages from the school districts where our children attend. The pendulum swings from one side to the other, often within 24 hours.  If you're like us, head scratching, teeth grinding, and confusion swarms what might have otherwise been a normal day. But, these days are anything but normal. As our girls shed tears about the loss of connection around their friends and teachers, cancelled sports, postponed extra-curricular and arts programs, we try to find solutions to these challenges. First, let me unequivocally say that I do not, nor will I ever, apologize for working for and acquiring the resources to support my family. It has never been, nor do I expect it to be, easy (whatever that means). I only know that it is worth it. I know that it is my responsibility as a father, and I do the best that I am able under the circumstances. Here are seven point five ideas for parents who have students who are forced by unelected o

Lies.  That's a heavy word.  But I mean to get your attention - after reading, I invite you to decide if they're lies or if you've just been mislead ...by the billions of tax-payer dollars. I recall reform-based 2 hour meetings and 300+ hours of Learning Observation Instruments (LOI's).  Never you mind the looks of terror on my colleagues' faces when they forgot to enter them; neigh dear reader...the looks of horror on my staffs' faces when they came in for the post-observation final score.  They wanted to know one thing, "How did I do?". I had just wrapped up my 9 yr. old daughter's parent-teacher conference.  15 minutes of "here's how she's doing" followed by "thanks, see you soon."  In my son's words, lame sauce compared to what they could be. Anyhow, I ventured home, and massaged a sweet headache. I kept thinking about what they said about the red folder.  The red folder.  Not about concepts or proj

I have addressed three point five solutions for school boards that would help sustain meaningful reform.  Today, we tackle the school executive, the superintendent. The school superintendent.  All at once the educational ambassador to the community, and the policy advocate to the stakeholders.  It's a tenuous post, often held only for a short time - but all the same, quite influential.  While the $ is contextually high, and by that I mean higher than a principal, yet considerably lower for job a-likes in the private sector, the average 2.5 year stay impedes sustainable reform.  Sup's have narrow windows of opportunity. Don't be distracted...focus! They say that all a superintendent needs is a majority board, and they get to keep their jobs.  Bullocks.  What a red herring.  A very loathsome way to regard the role of an educational executive.  And yet, private sector executives face the same conditions.  Just ask me.  I'll tell you.  But perhaps some other t

As a child, I was often deployed to spend my summers on ranches near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Before you say, "Oh wow! That place is beautiful!", which by the way it is, understand that this was very much a working vacation .  I love my family. I loved my time on the ranches. I was outside. I was free. I learned by doing. I was tutored by experts who cared deeply about me and about the work. The ranch and the animals treated everyone equally . There was diversity of experience and life. We were all included in the tasks. My grandpa's sister, Eula, kept sheep. Lots of them. This day was my day to help, while the others cut, raked, and bailed hay. One day while we were riding around in the flat bed Chevy, checking irrigation and fence, as we headed back to the pens, she was telling me about how she knew each of her sheep by their voice. I was inwardly incredulous, as they all sounded alike, echoing one another with their baa-ing. As we wound our way up the dirt road tow

I got a report of a fight on the playground while I was away at a district meeting.  Standard protocols ensue, call to parents, and a promise to investigate upon my return to my office. Upon my return, I find on of the two 3rd grade boys who went at each other over who was faster in a foot race.  On the surface, a typical scuffle right? While waiting for Dad to arrive, Seth (name changed) tells me about his Dad's return from surgery, how excited he is to go camping so that they can get out of the shelter for a spell, and how he's having trouble with his Mom.  She's been knocking him down "...a lot more than usual."  Now...I have to call the police. I'm informed that Dad is up front, Seth leaves, quickly returning with tears in his eyes and a staff member in tow, paramedics have been called, Dad's having a heart attack in the front office. Contrary to stern advice, Dad refuses transport to the hospital, citing trouble with his wife hitting the kids