Principles of Principals

Esteemed Members of the Arizona House and Senate, As a concerned Arizonan, I'm writing to ask for your help, and because I respect your service to your communities' educational agencies. I have worked in Arizona district and charter schools for a combined 18 years here in Arizona.  Most of those were shared with underprivileged, homeless, at-risk, and more recently refugee children. I have lobbied some of you, worked campaigns as a LD10 (now LD20) Precinct Committeman, lobbied members of the House and Senate at the Federal level, and most importantly I am a father of five incredible children. Presently, I'm a school principal in East Phoenix, where we've labored diligently, turning a major corner taking our school from corrective action to a B in one single year.  We also have some of the highest re-classification rates among Latino, Refugee and Homeless children (50-60%).  We are building a  national model  for serving this population of ch...

I love connecting people.  I mean, I'm no Scott Lazerson , but on a local and on a growing national level, I love saying to people, "I know someone you need to meet."  Here's a few to add to your list. Jeff Bradbury of TeacherCast  - here's a humble professional reaching out across the Twitterverse and connecting professionals of all walks.  His site features app reviews, podcasts, blogs, and tips that light your educational fire!   John Angelo of The Angelo Group  - My grandchildren will buy houses from John. Eric Bennett - from loosing his arm in a car accident at 15, to Paralympic contender, 4th in the world.  Father, husband, Physics teacher, hunter, and dear friend. John McLean - graduates with his Masters Degree in counseling this month.  He's 55.  Alaskan fish-boat captain.  Dad.  Grandfather.  Husband.  Hack on the basketball court.  Beat his demons.  Prime example of human poten...

School choice.   Hot topic at both extremes of the political pendulum.  Legislators and activists beat the choice drum with vigor, urging stakeholders to exercise their ability to choose, while some important criteria remain elusive to those of us who will find themselves facing a growing myriad of choices.  Whether public, private or district...the array is broad. So, how does one choose  a district, charter or private school?  It may be one of the most important commitments we make.  Here are 5.5 criteria that should help get you thinking: Vision - sounds cliche right?  Well, consider asking where the district or group intends to be 5-10 years from now.  If the word traditional  is found anywhere in their mission statement or foundational documents...I'd ask some tough questions. Awards  - not just the type of awards but from whence to they come?  Accolades can be indicative of the network the district or group belongs. ...

Some of you have heard the parable of the boy who leaves a splitting wedge in the nape of a young tree on his way in the house when called to dinner.  Days go by, then months turn to years, all the while he intends to return the wedge to the shed.  In his adulthood, a violent evening storm strikes his home, and in the morning he awakes to find his beloved tree split - exposing the long-forgotten wedge, precisely in it's hurried resting place.  Frustrated he gathers the remnants of the tree that once provided shade to his home and lofty heights to his children. In our haste, fast-paced as our lives have become, have we placed an errant mental, physical or spiritual wedge in places that may cause us future grief or frustration?  What potential consequences may distract or overwhelm us in the midst of a seemingly focused life?  Wedges or wedgies...it matters little.  Fact is, if we have them, we're stuck.  Something's between us and where we want to be...

April 15, 1981 brought a shrill ring to the kitchen yellow-rotary phone in our Colorado double-wide trailer.  The call changed the lives of 15 families forever and left my 27-year old mother to raise 5 children on her own.  A methane gas explosion took the lives of fifteen coal miners that day, and left me with the stark reality of shattered dreams, 12 years old, I lost my best friend, my Dad. Developmentally, those years were principle to me, as they are to all young boys.  And I entered my 7 th grade year one angry child.  While my mother wasn’t equipped to address my angst, I found refuge in school and in the comfort of my classrooms. I remember the names and faces of every single teacher I’ve ever had.  The principals too.  I recall key conversations, escapes from bad days to Mr. Hayes’ office, extra laps courtesy of the Coach Martin/Price/Close trio, another draft of my essay on Watergate at the red-inked edits of Mr. Tesmer, and the repeate...

I wear Argyle socks almost every single day.  I've done so, off and on, since high school.  Even going to an obnoxious level of wrestling in them...drove Coach Manown and some of my team bananas.  You might say it's  a bit of a personal trademark. As I've grown, personally and professionally, I've become an ardent observer of people.  I adore the human race, in all it's quirkiness.  In my profession, I've noticed that most of my colleagues have habits of dress or accouterments , like personal trademarks, that set them apart from others. They range from Sponge Bob ties, exclusive Polo logos on all shirts, Moleskine notebooks & certain coffee house beverages glued to their desks.  Intriguing to me on so many levels - how have we adopted these traits or habits, such that they've become a part of our public identities? I wonder...what would happen if we were known by our overwhelming demonstration of character traits?  What would t...