Music and Balance...

When I was seven, for some reason, I really wanted to play the piano. This was a bit surprising, considering no one in my family has any musical ability. At all. For some reason though, I really wanted to learn to play. When I asked my mom, her response was logical-"Dom, we don't even have a piano"-so, I did what any seven year old would do; I found one. My friend's parents had a huge, out of tune upright sitting in their living room that I had never seen anyone play. Looking back, it probably weighed well over 500 pounds. Somehow, I convinced them to let us have the piano and I can still remember my dad and his four of his friends rolling this huge piano down the street and into our home. My parents still laugh at this story, but what they sometimes don't realize is how much music has meant to me since. Or how much I miss playing today.

Fast forward twenty plus years. I really am a lucky, lucky guy. My wife is the most amazing person and we are expecting our first little one very soon. I have an incredible, close family. My dog thinks I am a rockstar. Believe it or not (don’t laugh!), I even recorded an album when I was in college. For the last six years, I have been doing what I love everyday; educating and working with amazing young people. Every day, I am surrounded by passionate, dedicated and driven colleagues and friends. Throughout the last year, I have worked hard to grow and learn from a great network of educators. I am fortunate for all of this and couldn't be more grateful.

However, I have to admit that for the last week, I decided to take a step back. Certainly, it's been a busy week, but that has little to do with this. Instead, I purposefully disconnected. There is tremendous value in collaborating, connecting, blogging, tweeting and learning, and as a goal I set one year ago, I have tried to learn from and share as much with my PLN as possible. And learn I have.

However, I also believe that sometimes, the most productive and reflective thing you can do is nothing at all.

That’s almost counterintuitive as an educator; we have so much to accomplish, so much to take part in that there is no way we can sit back and do “nothing.” Even as I was disconnecting, I found myself flipping through Twitter. Yet, I actively tried to give myself some time away from what I have come to love and as a result, I have realized so much...

...I realized that over the last few weeks, my students and I had spent a lot of time discussing what "success" is. College? Grades? Careers? But, the incredible thing I realized is that sometimes, our students know a lot more about what makes a successful person than we think. Just look at the three different service projects students took part in so far this break, simply because they wanted to.

...I have realized that there are so many intangibles that are important and really make people happy. This is a simple statement, I know, yet powerful. Family. Downtime. Hobbies. Friends. Just as it’s key for educators to stay connected and learn from one another, it’s also important to find a balance.

...Balance. I have realized that balance is perhaps one of the most important aspects in our lives. As educators, this is something many of us struggle to find. Particularly at this winter break, it’s all about finding that balance.

...I’ve also realized just how important goals are. Last year at this time, I made it a priority to grow my learning network, become active on Twitter and share my thoughts through my blog. I am proud today knowing that I am off to a great start. Of course, I’d like to get better and I know I will, but I am proud of the connections I have made and most importantly, how much I have learned through these connections.

So, with all of this, I look towards the upcoming year with eagerness and excitement. I look forward to helping students continue to find their voice and share their ideas. I can't wait to meet our little one. I look forward to learning, to connecting. I look forward to continue growing that balance.

And, I think I will start that right now. In reflecting over the last week, I have also realized that these last few years, I have not found the time to play piano nearly as much as I would like to. Some months, I don't play at all. It’s time to change that. Balance. Just hope my wife doesn’t mind the noise…

Happy New Year!

Are you "MAD," Bro?

You may be curious about the title of this post. Honestly, when I first heard this phrase, coined by our Journalism class back in October prior to our 4th annual Make a Difference Day, I laughed; the meaning was simple, humorous and once I learned what it meant, perfect. It really is perfect. As we were gearing up for our annual day of service, our Journalism class put together a great story covering this event and simply asked the question, “are you MAD, bro?” After a few awkward moments, some uncomfortable laughs and even one or two blank stares, they let us all in on the beauty of the phrase...are you “making a difference?”

Are you making a difference? I am not sure these students realized just how elegant that phrase was and in so many ways, really encompasses what Leyden and #LeydenPride is all about. See, at Leyden, so many people-students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents, community members- make a difference without really thinking about it. They’re “MAD” because that’s just what they do. It’s not about anything more than just wanting to help others and make a difference in our community. And, as our students do all of this, often without recognition and fanfare, I couldn't help but think about the huge difference they are making.

I thought about going back to the beginning of the year, but it would be near impossible to encompass everything our students have done to make a difference in one post. Then I thought, what about looking back at the last couple months? We celebrated “Act-tober” and without a flinch rolled right into November and now December and Leyden just kept on making a difference. However, I know I wouldn’t even be able to do that justice.

But, when I looked back at what Leyden has been involved with just in the last 2 weeks alone, I was floored; this is what “MAD” is all about. Since Thanksgiving alone, Leyden students have…

• Raised over $2500 dollars for the family of a maintenance worker who’s young grandson was diagnosed with, treated and has beaten cancer.
• Collected over 7,500 items of food to be donated to our local food bank for local families in need
• Served meals for the Leyden Family Services and their guests, taking the time to spread holiday cheer and kindness
• Come together to write over 150 holiday cards for children who are sick and won’t be able to go home this winter
• Passed out hot chocolate and candy canes to teachers and their classmates, just to say good morning
• Collected toys and clothing for our annual Toys for Tots drive
• Came out to support our Special Olympics Basketball Team for a Pack the Place, bringing along more canned goods to donate at the game
• Organized two “Ugly Sweater” contests where proceeds will go to our local organizations and families in need
• Volunteered in four of our local communities for their annual community Holiday Parties
• Rode the “Journey to the Northpole” along with over one hundred local children helping set the atmosphere and bring the joy
• Donated several hundred dollars as part of our "Duct Tape the Principal to the Wall" fundraiser with all proceeds going to our food drive

This is simply the last two weeks, and more likely than not, I have missed something! Wow. Now that the holiday season is here, helping others often comes under a microscope and the sentiment, are you “MAD?” takes on real meaning. At Leyden, you can feel the spirit in the air as more and more students are eager to help others. However, what I am most proud of is that although great things have been taking place over the last couple weeks, this is no different than any other time throughout the year. Just take a quick look at #LeydenPride and you will see that no matter when, no matter where, our students want to get involved and help others.

During this holiday season, Leyden is eager to make a difference. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t “MAD” all year round.

What if Normal is Incredible?

I must admit, I don’t blog nearly as much as I’d like to. Often times, there are just too many other things I’d like to get done and as a result, blogging gets pushed to the side. Or perhaps sleep simply wins out, and I like my sleep. In the midst of everything we are trying to accomplish every day, sitting down to write a post often becomes yet another task on our mountainous to-do lists. I must also admit that this is something I really would like to get better at, that I really believe in the power of blogging and that I truly value the reflective power of taking the time to write.

But, there’s another reason I sometimes find myself hesitant to post; amongst my colleagues, my PLN and even our students, there are some absolutely incredible and exceptional ideas and reflections posted every day. So, naturally, I often believe that before I write my next blog post, I better have something exceptional and profound to say. I mean, who would want to read something that is just “normal?”

As I have been writing this post in my head throughout the last week, that thought has been playing over and over again. “What incredible thoughts will I share next?” and more over, “I better not post until I have something extraordinary to say.” My guess is that I am not alone in these thoughts.

However, as I was headed home this afternoon, my mind flooded with more thoughts. Sure, sometimes I don’t write because I feel like I don’t have anything powerful to say. But, when it really comes down to it, I began to realize that what we do every single day, what is “normal” to us, really is incredible. Sometimes, it’s all about the simple things.

I started thinking about a workshop we held last week with students from both of our campuses where we began asking them to work towards defining what will ideally become some of our policies regarding social media use and technology. When talking about how social media tends to cause distractions, one of our sophomore students looked right at another teacher and I and said that it’s not the technology that distracts students; we get distracted when we are not engaged. She put is so simply and when I thought about it, I realized just how right she was. One of the biggest issues that teachers have with technology in the classroom was dispelled so eloquently by a student, who was doing what she does every single day; challenging herself.  

Then I thought about this past weekend when I was visiting with my own family and overheard the sadly common dialogue about how easy teaching is, how lazy we are because we get summers and breaks off and how ridiculous teacher pensions are. Honestly, at this point I rarely engage in this conversation because I have learned that it will do no good. However, I look back at this conversation and think yet again, what we do in education every single day, as teachers, support staff and administrators, what we pour our heart and soul into, has become “ordinary” in the minds of so many. If that’s the case though, then what is normal truly is extraordinary.

When it really comes down to it, many of the most exceptional things about schools and education as a whole are what happen every single day in the classroom, in the hallways, on the fields and throughout the building. Teachers teaching and inspiring. Students learning and creating. There is no question that extraordinary things take place, and I am extremely fortunate to be part of a school and community where they happen often, but what is most impressive is how incredible our “normal” is.

It’s normal for our students to be able to express themselves and have a voice. It’s normal that students and adults are kind to one another. It’s normal that we challenge our students academically and socially. On any given day, it would be normal for our students to pursue their passions. I could go on and on with this list. When I think about it, our normal is pretty darn incredible.

I suppose, at the end of the day, I don’t have to come up with anything exceptional to say; all it takes is one look at what’s happening at Leyden to know that it’s normal to be incredible. And I can write about that endlessly.

How Do We Measure Success?

“If students from Leyden are going to be our leaders in the next 20 years, then I feel pretty good about that…”

A few days ago, I was chatting with one of our incredible teachers, Mr. Bill Krypel, about how great our students are at Leyden and he looked right at me before saying the above quote. I smiled, and instantly, it got me thinking. He was right. We really do have an incredible group of students and if they are going to be the one’s running our businesses, towns and organizations, then we are going to be okay. But, what I also began thinking about was how often society and the media looks at young people and schools, not just at Leyden but everywhere, and quickly measure “success” based on any amount of different quantitative figures.

Test scores. Attendance rates. Graduation rates. Disciplinary referrals. The list continues. People will even push it; performance on the sports field, at dance competitions or on stage. Somehow, this “data” is used to show just how successful, or unsuccessful for that matter, a school can be. Does this truly measure success though? I believe that most people would agree with me when I have trouble agreeing with that. Instead, I began thinking about what “success” means. Success that can’t necessarily be measured with a number.

No, I thought about our student who, in a conversation with our Principal, Jason Markey, simply mentioned that he notices things are different around school. “People are holding doors for each other, and just being nice.”

Or our Boys Soccer team, who were playing the #2 team in state last month and took them to double overtime, losing only in the last 20 seconds of the match.  

I think about the countless times our Leyden family has come together to support a member of our community in need. Just this year alone, we have raised over $5,000 to support these causes.

I think about our Kindness campaign, where more and more people are joining in to spread a simple message; kindness matters.

Or I reflect on our Make a Difference Day that just took place. Simply because they wanted to do good, 360 students joined 40 adults as we took part in 15 community service projects at the same time throughout our communities. 360 students on a Saturday morning, just because they wanted to help. Nothing more.

It’s always incredibly interesting to me that when people measure how “successful” a school is, all of these would be left out. Yet, in all honesty, this is what truly makes for a successful school. As I left our Make a Difference Day event last weekend, I was in awe of what was accomplished by our students; as I tweeted that afternoon, there is not a greater group of students around. Anywhere. So proud of what everyone accomplished that day. Yet, this won’t show up on any state report cards.

Someone once told me that a true measure of a successful school is whether or not you would send your own children there. This has resonated with me, and it is more real now than it ever could have been since we are expecting our first little one in just over three months (we couldn’t be more excited!)

Without an ounce of hesitation, I know that I would be proud to send my child to Leyden High School.

Why Lead? Simple; Let's Give Students Opportunities to Be Who They Want to Be

I must admit, I have been hoping to write my “official” first blog post all summer long. See, when school let out last May, I made a commitment to myself that I would make a conscious effort to grow my online PLN through Twitter and blogging while connecting with, and more importantly, learning from, many great educators and resources. As far as using Twitter to grow my PLN? Well, to reiterate what many people stress, Twitter has become a form of professional development and growth that I have to pull myself away from at night. There are so many #EdChats that I follow, so many amazing educators that there really is not enough time to take it all in.

But, as you can see, being that this is my first blog post, I wasn’t as successful when it came to getting my thoughts and reflections down on paper. However, I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in George Couros’ incredible new School Administrator Virtual Mentoring Program, or #SAVMP where I will continue connecting with some new and amazing educators from around the world. Literally. I am connecting with Ann as my mentor, who is currently in Norway, and will be connecting closely with Prue from Australia and Anthony from Texas. How can you beat that? And with that program, I am finally charged with the task of getting my first blog post out there.

So, why do I lead and why do I teach?

The short answer is this; I lead to give students opportunities to find themselves.

Six years ago, you could quote me saying “I will never leave the classroom.” And, like many young and excited educators, I truly believed this. The impact and changes I can make with my students is what teaching is all about. As more and more students came and went each year, I fell deeper in love with what education can do. But, then something happened; I had the opportunity to become the Director of Student Activities (At Leyden, this position comes with release periods, so I still teach while working with Activities).

It wasn’t long though before I started to realize that what Student Activities was about was so much more than clubs and events. What I realized was that Student Activities was about the culture, the spirit and the opportunities for students and it was at that point that I found a new passion in education; providing students with as many opportunities to be who they wanted to be and do what they wanted to do. It was also at that point when I realized that although I love teaching and I can reach students in the classroom, by working with Activities and taking a leadership role, we can provide opportunities for students in ways far beyond the classroom walls. By working towards creating a culture of involvement, spirit and respect, the impact that we could have on our student body can be tremendous.

That passion kept growing and over the past three years, our students and teachers often had more ideas than time to get them up and running. Now, in addition to my roles as teacher and Director of Activities, I am so fortunate to begin in a new role as Director of Outreach, where our goal is quite simple; let’s create as many opportunities as possible for our students using the connections and support of our community. What new ways can our students get involved in the community? What new ways can the Leyden community get involved in our schools?

That, right there, is why I lead and why I teach. Certainly, economics, global studies, math and science are extremely important. However, I lead because of the bigger picture, because there is an incredible impact that school leaders can have on a school culture, belief system and opportunities for students. I lead because I believe that building relationships and treating everyone with respect are foundations for strong schools and students. I lead because I want to give our students as many opportunities as I can to become who they want to become. Isn’t that what education and teaching is all about?