NO MORE SECRETS! TELL YOUR STORY!

What is happening in your school district? In your building? In your classroom? Are you shouting it from the rooftops? Why not? Last year, I had the privilege of attending an inspiring conference with my boss and a colleague: Digital Leadership. I left motivated to be more courageous and do more sharing.

It was at this conference that I clearly began to understand the concept of BRANDING: Telling your school's story, thanks to keynote speaker, Eric Sheninger and workshop presenter, Tony Sinanis. These men are courageous pioneers and school leaders in education. They planted the seeds that have turned me into a great publicist for my school community. I recently finished a great read: The Power of Branding (Corwin, 2014) by school district leaders Tony Sinanis and Joe Sanfelippo, PhD.  THE MESSAGE: YOU MUST TELL YOUR STORY!  If not you, then who? You (we) are the educators deeply entrenched in the classrooms, on the fields and on the courts! Share the great events, pictures and anecdotes that make your school special. Still struggling with the concept, I asked the question, "How do you respond to the critics who say you are bragging?"  The response was simple: "Keep the focus on what your STUDENTS are doing. Share for them and their families." As we say on Twitter, BOOM!!! There it is!

  

For one crazy year in our district, I was appointed as our district's first Instructional Technologist. I was deeply entrenched in earning my administrative degree and learning the power of technology as an educational tool. It seemed like a great fit. However, what I did not anticipate was the overwhelming response from my colleagues for support, research, ideas and even going into the classroom to co-teach lessons with them to quell the fear of technology failing. It was a rewarding experience! However, my primary role as middle school foreign language teacher, and my many other hats that I wear (Grade 8 Team Leader, Foreign Language Dept. Chair, APPR Team, PDP Team, Curriculum Council, etc.) suffered. It was apparent that I could not continue in what I viewed as a critical role for our district and do it as well as it needed to be done.

However, I am proudest of one initiative in my short-lived role that was my own that continues to flourish today: our school district Facebook Fan Page. Inspired by the only district fan page around at that time, Queensbury Union Free School District (my home district), I met with the Queensbury Director of Technology, Matt Hladun, who coached me through launching a page. I was fortunate to have a great administrative team in my district who saw the potential of improving communication with our community and allowed me to move forward. The page caught on like wild fire. It is visited by Facebook users and linked to our home page for non-FB users. As the administrator of the page, I receive the weekly data that reports as many as 10, 000 views for a given week for this tool. BOOM!!

Our Facebook page is dynamic and enriched by the love of our school district! I am connected (via Facebook and personal relationships that span 18 years as a faculty member). Throughout my 18 years, I have attended community events (parades, fundraisers, etc.) and school activities in 3 buildings. We do amazing work as a school and community. It was time that we share for everyone we know and celebrate. Thank you to all of my colleagues, friends, co-workers and community members who share with me for the purpose of making our page dynamic and a significant source of communication. I have taken great pride in maintaining and sustaining the page (as a volunteer for the last 5 years) and have appreciated the feedback from many.

As the Facebook page continued to thrive as a district branding tool, I learned about the power of Twitter. I confess, had it not been for the relentless encouraging (nudging?) of my Principal and role model, Lisa Meade, I might not have found my way back to my defunct Twitter account. Twitter has rocked my professional (and personal) world in ways too numerous to share in this blog. In a nutshell, I have become connected to learners all over the world with on-demand professional development and support that has significantly contributed to my role as an educator. I have discovered the value of a PLN (professional or personal learning network), a group of educators who help me to sustain my energy and inspire me with new ideas daily. I am blessed.

This year, Twitter has also become another tool of TELLING OUR SCHOOL'S STORY - BRANDING IT! We now have our own hashtag (#CorinthMSPBIS) where I Tweet often and value reading the Tweets of my Principal and colleagues!  Even some students started Tweeting this year! We share the snapshots of what makes our school an incredible learning environment. Shout outs to colleagues who are providing exceptional learning experiences for our students are also part of my branding. Is it making an impact, you might wonder? YES! We are building community and modeling responsible social media use for our students and community. The positive impact on school culture is amazing!

Examples of success: One of my students returned to afternoon homeroom recently and asked if I had Tweeted the pictures from our Project Based Learning Technology debate yet (2 periods earlier). He could not wait to see them! Another young lady thanked me for Tweeting pictures from their modified field hockey! Last spring, the Boys Varsity Baseball team, while giving me updates of their success to share on Facebook, suggested that I follow some sports writers on Twitter to read blogs and other highlights of their season. YES! Our students use Twitter!

We live in challenging and turbulent times where educators and our educational system is under a microscope and the recipient of harsh criticism. Mandates from the state and federal government (testing, common core learning standards, APPR to name a few) are causing many to lose faith in our schools and our profession. While we navigate what we must, challenge and advocate to our politicians who are ill-equipped to deliver such directives, I encourage you to focus on the positive. Exceptional, creative, incredible teaching and learning is happening in everyone's schools, despite the current climate in education. SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS! BRAND YOUR DISTRICT -SCHOOL - GRADE LEVEL - AND CLASSROOM!! Tell your story! Share your students' stories! Give our students, families and colleagues reason to celebrate all that we do!!

How do you get started? Please read Tony and Joe's book (information above). It is a how-to manual with ideas, evidence and answers! The Corwin  connected learning books are incredible tools for educators. They are short, easy reads for those of us with little time focused on specific topics of interest. Each one that I have read has impacted some part of my life as an educator. Check them out!

My WOW Factors this WEEK!

A 50 minute car ride to Schenectady this morning provided me with an opportunity to reflect on a terrific week. Facebook friends know that our family celebrated much this week with our son, Mike (14 year old freshman). His terrific report card, a big indoor travel soccer game and making the high school basketball team after never having played a single game were some of the highlights this week for the Sianos. My husband and I are sometimes in awe of our son. His courage, risk-taking and outlook on new challenges amaze us both. We have much for which to be grateful!

As I enjoyed the beautiful sunshine on my ride down the Adirondack Northway, flashes of great moments at school played in my head. I felt compelled to share. I am inspired by the work of Tony Sinanis and Joseph Sanfelippo entitled: The Power of Branding. (Future blog coming on that topic, as I just finished their insightful book!) They remind me how important it is to tell my school's story.

Anyone who knows me in any capacity knows that I love my school and my job as a classroom educator, as I often share/post/tout! Reflecting on a Visible Learning workshop this week with Dr. Peter DeWitt, I am reminded that it is important to be explicit and cite evidence when sharing. So, here are a few snapshots from my week that demonstrate why I LOVE where and with whom I work.

Observation/Participation:
Google Hang Out (video call) with Jasper Fox, facilitated by my incredible leader, Lisa Meade. I was excited to take away a few new ideas to tweak my flipped learning mantra in my classroom. However, I was even more jazzed to participate in the call with several middle school colleagues interested in starting or kicking up their versions of flipped learning. We now have created a support network in-house to take this concept to new levels, thanks to that experience. WOW!

Conversation at our team 8 meeting:
"I would love to hold my own lunch bunch to address specific skills for certain learners. Would anyone help me out once in a while by covering my recess duty?"  Before I can open my own mouth, 3 team 8 colleagues responded, "Sure, just let me know." "I would be glad to help." "No problem. Tell me when!"  WOW, again! 

Conversation at our team 8 meeting:
"I am at a loss at how to get a few minutes with this student to retrain and sustain our PBIS behaviors in the classroom due to his schedule." Before I can interject, another colleague responds, "I can cover your 20 minute PM homeroom to free you up. " Wow, again!

Observation:
I witness our incredible guidance counselor shaking the hand of a student who has a behavior plan that we are executing on our team to get him back on track. He congratulates him on his success for several weeks. Student posture changes: He lifts his head, puts his shoulders back and makes eye contact with said counselor. He was truly impacted by the gesture and the words, a student with whom we are working hard to sustain the improvements. Bravo, CC! 

Observation:
Team 8 chooses to give all students extra recess Friday afternoon in PM homeroom, as all work is up-to-date for students. I observe my colleagues on team 8 playing in the GaGa ball pit with students, playing a modified lacrosse game with students, chatting with students. I start snapping pictures with my phone to remember how great it felt/feels to work with such a talented group of educators, using our PM homeroom to CONNECT with students! WOW!

Quote from a team 8 colleague; "I really like this group of students. They are a great class." (This is group has had some challenges, as a whole, along the way. Our mission as a team was/is to give them the best final year of middle school possible.) WOW!

Observation:
Student issue arises at dismissal on Friday. As we hold the buses, I observe (and participate with) no less than 7 staff members (teachers, teaching assistant, counselor and secretary)who stop everything that they are doing to help resolve the issue. Resolved! WOW!

Conversation:
Walking out the door on Friday afternoon, a colleague shares her plans to purchase a winter coat for one of our 8th graders because she learned that she is in need. We discuss size and possible cost, as there is not one available for her in our NEW "closet" filled with donations from staff and community members created by one of our counselors.  (WOW and WOW!)


Finally, my own special moment to share. I make an effort to give "shout outs" to colleagues whenever possible via Facebook and Twitter, celebrating what they do for our students, TELLING/BRANDING OUR STORY, as educators. This week, I had the joy of being on the receiving end of a shout from a colleague on Facebook: "Had a student today tell me you are her favorite teacher... And not because she loves Spanish, but because you are positive, upbeat and kind!!!"
This statement had a profound impact on me. I do not know to whom she is referring, nor will I ask. Our school respects the confidentiality of our students. But, I know that our school social worker meets with students in need, students with issues. Reading that I was seen in this light by a student who might need a kind, positive, upbeat adult in her life was my HOMERUN for the 2014-15 school year. (I had to sneak a baseball metaphor in here somewhere.)  Connecting with students, creating relationships and an environment where they feel loved and safe is more important than anything we do (and cannot be measured by APPR, CCLS, assessments or anything else that is required of us, as educators).

I am privileged to work at my school (Corinth Middle School) and with some of the most amazing educators and staff members around. The "Polyanna" in me hopes that every school is filled with experiences like the ones that I had this week. One thing is for sure, PEOPLE make the difference. A big shout out to EVERYONE with whom I work, especially TEAM 8!! ROCK STARS! WOW!!

High on EdCamp...Two Weeks Later!

On October 25, 2014, the first ever EdCampUNY was held at Queensbury High School. Not only did I attend, but I was one of the organizers. The irony is/was, I had never attended an Edcamp (a brilliant new movement in professional development, an un-conference). I believe that the EdCampUNY experience was the catalyst that I needed to re-energize and rejuvenate me professionally and personally this school year!!

One of the highlights of that weekend was connecting in person with my PLN (professional/personal learning network). I have been privileged to have connected with some incredible professionals in the field of education, among them a small, tight group that coordinated this day. Thanks to my Principal, Lisa Meade, I raised my Twitter account from the dead and started connecting with like-minded people. What I cherished about my PLN that weekend (and always), is that I realized that they are all JUST LIKE ME in many ways. They are hard-working adults with husbands, wives and partners. They have families who count on them, whether it be parents, children or siblings. Friday night, as we met at the venue to set up and shared a meal together, I was in awe of all of them. And, I realized, that we were all so alike in the most important way: we are CONNECTED LEARNERS. We seek out inspiration, collaboration and support for our passion/calling: education. We make time for all of the aforementioned important parts of our lives AND our profession, being or helping others to be the best. My new friends have become an important part of my life, probably more than they know. I want to give a special shout out to Lisa Meade, Peter DeWitt, Christina Luce, Vicki Vissar/Day and Tim Dawkins.

Highlights from our first EdCampUNY include expanding my PLN to include new friends to celebrate: Doug Manion, Ross Cooper, Matt Hladun and Jon Harper (who is one of my inspirations to blog after that weekend!) I was also thrilled to see some district colleagues in attendance. Another great moment was sharing the EdCampUNY experience with 2 of my 8th grade teammates, Rich Starace and Drew McEvoy. We attended a session together that inspired the 3 of us to use GOOGLE CLASSROOM with our students.

In addition, I was drafted/coaxed by my friend, Christina Luce, to facilitate a discussion on Twitter. I was reluctant, as my strength is not winging it, nor am I a Twitter expert. But, once in the moment, I LOVED IT. (THANK YOU, CHRISTINA!) We sat together in a room full of professionals seeking great discussion on Twitter (and other social media). It was so empowering to share experiences and help others to navigate their new goals. I realized at that moment, I AM PROUD OF and COMMITTED TO branding my school/district/classroom. It was an AHA moment that will be a subject of a future blog!!

In the 2 weeks that followed EdCampUNY, I find myself focusing on the positive, working around any obstacles and negativity, inspired to set/reach new goals as an educator. I look forward to my next edcamp (EdCampCNY this summer), and even more importantly, staying a CONNECTED LEARNER. I believe in EVERY ONE of my students and colleagues, and will reach out to my PLN for continued inspiration. (I just finished my 5th Twitter chat in 8 days! My mind is overflowing with great ideas!)
To quote a friend, "THE VIRTUAL IS INDEED REAL." Get connected! Make new friends! Access a circle of support as needed/when it fits your busy life!!