Bad Weather Moods

This morning, I took my 5 year old niece to school. It was pouring down rain, 50 degress, traffic was awful, and I was extremely stressed because I had an 8:00 parent meeting for which I knew I was going to be late. As I was waiting in the mile long line to pull into the school, I saw a crossing guard stopping traffic to allow kids to cross the street. She was in a rain poncho, had an umbrella, but her feet and slacks were soaking wet. I felt sorry for her having to be out in the bad weather, but as I watched her, I noticed that she was smiling and laughing with kids and parents. As she gave some kids "a high five" and waved at passersby, shouting "hello--how are you today," I couldn't help but think to myself that this woman loves her job. It didn't matter that it was 50 degrees outside, pouring down rain, and traffic was awful---she was happy, smiling, laughing, and treating kids as if it were a glorious sun-shining day! I thought to myself--this is the attitude that I need to convey everyday to my parents, teachers, and staff. I could be having the worst day--a child sick at home, and angry parent waiting on my doorstep, a child who was hurt on the playground, poor benchmark scores, and too many kids in the AP office, but the fact is---I love my job, and I need to show that to everyone. I need to treat every day--even the rainy, cold ones--as if it is the best day of my life. I truly believe in positive energy, and if we as a community can bring positive energy into our lives, then our school would be great places to be everyday! I wish you all the spirit of happiness, positive joy, peace and love this holiday season. Merry Christmas to everyone. :o)

Happy Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, my family is traveling to Orlando for a family reunion. It is a non-traditional celebration of Thanksgiving for my family, but the time spent with them will be very memorable. I hope you and your family have a very blessed holiday.

Happy Veteran's Day!!!

This was my blog from last year---I decided to post it again in honor of all veterans!


My dad was born in 1928, he was second to the youngest of 13 children. He was 12 years old when his older brother joined the navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. My dad, who grew up extremely poor and never went anywhere, once told me that he was so jealous that his brother got to "see the world and have fun hanging out in Hawaii." On December 7, my uncle was on the USS Oklahoma when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. (My uncle survived, but he really never talked about that day.) My dad wanted desperately to join the war, so at 16, he quit school, lied about his age, and joined the navy. Although he never saw a battle like Pearl Harbor, he proudly served our country for 6 years. He came home to a country that was proud of him, but without an education, he never found a solid career. My father-in-law, a college graduate and a father of 2 small children, was drafted at the age of 25 to serve in Vietnam. He was a canine handler, and he and his dog were trained to seek out "boobie traps" before sending troops in to an unknown territory. He saved hundreds of lives. He came home to a country that was divided by war, and he was not celebrated as the hero that he was. He missed 4 years of his young children's lives. My son joined the army because he didn't like college. He was chosen for military intelligence, and he currently seeks out terrorists' cells. I haven't seen him in a year, and I haven't heard his voice since Mother's Day. He still has another year before he finishes his commitment. My sister's husband was recently deployed to a clinic in Egypt where they send wounded soldiers from Afghanistan. He is a medic in the Army National Guard, and this is his 3rd deployment in 4 years. My 4 year old niece and my 2 year old nephew tell me every day how much they miss their daddy, and my sister has had to raise her children pretty much alone. I am proud of all these men, but their service to our country as come at personal costs to their families. Every day I can say that I don't agree with our government, or I can protest some new law. I can choose where I live, own a gun, raise my children in my religious preference, read uncensored literature, attend school, earn a living in a profession of my choice, travel, and do countless other things that I take for granted. We say that we are proud to be Americans, and we enjoy our freedom, but do we really understand what that means? Do we really appreciate all that we have in this country? Do we really acknowledge the men and women that serve in our armed forces every day to secure our way of life? So as we celebrate Veteran's Day, I challenge all of us to thank our country's heroes--the men and women who leave their families to serve our country. I challenge us to not just thank them on November 11th but to thank them every day. It is their sacrifice that keeps us from having to sacrifice our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Child's Play

I was a child of the 70s and an 80s teenager. When I was a kid, Atari was new, but I wasn't allowed to have one. There were only 3 television stations---we couldn't get cable TV where I lived. Cartoons only came on Saturday morning, and music videos only played after the 10pm news on Saturday night. So, there wasn't much to do indoors growing up; consequently, I played outside most of the day. I was lucky to live in the country with friends nearby--we raced go carts, hunted for "snipe," played in an old tire swing, climbed trees, and played hide and seek in the woods. We actually played games like Capture the Flag, dodge ball, and 4 square. My friends and I were creative when it came to finding new things to do. We made up relay races where we had to wear old clothes, throw eggs into a basket, or jump through hoops. It doesn't really matter what games we played, the point is, we played. We were kids in a time that it was okay just to be a kid. We didn't care if it was silly, and we didn't know what "cool" was. I know I am being nostalgic, but I get so sad sometimes when I see our middle school students trying to be more and more grown up. I went Halloween costume shopping with my 14 year old daughter yesterday, and I was shocked at how many costumes for "tween girls" were seductive and used the words "sexy" and "vixen." I understand that change happens, but I think taking away childhood from kids is one the most egregious changes of our time. Our kids don't know how to play unless it is an organized sport, or they have an electronic device. Yesterday, we hosted our first intramural games among our Zone classes. The morning was filled with child's play: dodge ball, Capture the Flag, and Anything Goes (silly relay races.) For most of our students, they had a great time---they had the opportunity to just be kids and play. Of course, there were some that sat in the stands, with their headphones,and their Iphones and acted "too cool" to run a race, throw an egg, chase after a flag, or dodge a ball. I felt sad for those students for the world has tainted them into thinking that just being a kid is "uncool." I hope that as a society, we can return to where kids are just kids---where they can simply play. For if kids are just kids, then maybe we won't have 12-14 year olds experimenting with sex and drugs because in their mind, they are too young for that nonsense--they are simply too busy having fun with child's play.

Tackling Math

I have decided to pursue my PhD. It is a goal that I set for myself when I was still working on my Bachelor's degree many years ago. I have found plenty of excuses to put off obtaining my doctorate, but I am done making excuses---it is time. I have applied to Texas A&M university. The application process was fairly easy to navigate--fill out the application, send your transcripts, write an essay, get a few references, take the GRE---wait, take the GRE????? That was the one requirement that caused a sudden rush of panic and my stomach to turn.
I remember taking the GRE for my Master's degree, but I don't remember the test. So, when I registered for the test, I downloaded the practice test and sample questions to refresh my memory. The GRE has been revised since I last took it, and the ELA section was manageable. I was an English major, and I still continue to read and write, so I thought, I can do this.
I then looked at the math. I had flashbacks to college Algebra where I sat in a classroom of 200 students and had no idea of what the professor was teaching. I panicked! I immediately found one of my 8th grade teachers (thank you Mr. Teal) to tutor me. I think he was surprised at how little I knew! The great thing about working with Mr. Teal is that he models the problem for me, then I practice it, and then he corrects me. He also gives me practice problems to work at home. After about a week, I took my first practice test. I only got 4 out of 20 problems correct! It was pretty dismal, and I finally understood how some of my students feel when they take a test! This past weekend, I bought a practice book---more explanations and more problems to solve. I promised myself that I would practice the book every day for at least one hour (most nights, it has been 2 hours.) It helps to have the practice book because once Mr. Teal explained the madness behind the math problem, I was able to refresh my memory with the explanations in the book as I practiced. So, after 3 days of studying and practicing, I took another practice test. This time I got 13/20 correct! I am seeing progress. It dawned on me that math is hard for me. I have to work at it to remember it---it isn't simple, clear, and logical the way my Algebra teacher in high school told me. Because I am challenged by math, I have to practice it everyday! I can't skip a day because then I forget some thing. This is the lesson I want our students to understand: math is challenging, but to get good at it, you have to pay attention to the teacher, take notes, practice it at home, and keep trying. I take the GRE in 2 weeks, and I know that no matter what my score is, I will be as ready as I possibly can be for the math portion. Afterall, education is a lesson in perseverance, and I will persevere through this crazy hard math test! :o)

It's autumn---SIKE!!!!

Okay, I am an 80s teenager, so the word "Sike" was used quite a bit when I was in school. It basically means that the previous statement was incorrect! So, last week when the weather was absolutely "perfectly" gorgeous with cool autumn temps in the morning, and pleasant late summer temps in the afternoon, I thought, "wow, we are in for an early fall." Sike! It was so not true--we are right back to triple digit temps this week, and it feels like the middle of July! You are probably wondering why I am talking about the weather when this is a reflective blog about working in a middle school. Well, this weather pattern is very similar to dealing with adolescent teenagers. They are often moody and inconsistent with their behavior. One day, they are "perfect" angels, and then the next, they are wild and crazy. It is like one day, they are the most pleasant people in the world, filled with wonder and happiness, and then the next day, they "sike you out" because they are like 2 year olds on a sugar rush! It absolutely blows my mind how teens can change so drastically from one day to the next! Well, at least I can say this--it keeps things interesting around school--there is never a dull moment. I am hoping that this autumn holds more perfect weather days rather than wild crazy summer temps---it is those perfect days which make school so much fun for everyone!

Loving middle school students

Since today is the first day of school, I just can't help but write about how much I love middle school students. Everyday, I am in shock and awe by them. After a very lonely summer, my students returned today to start a new school year. Most of them had brand new clothes on and big smiles. I received a lot of hugs and high fives, and I had the opportunity to "bother" some of my 8th graders today at lunch. (I couldn't bother 6th grade today--they were too nervous, but I think I will bother 7th tomorrow!) Some of them were complaining about having to sit by Zones, but once I sat and talked with them, we were laughing and having a great time. They are just so much fun and so entertaining! (By the way, they get to sit where they want next week--just in case some of them read my blog!)
Middle school students are stuck between wanting to act cool for their peers but still be silly like a child. They want to make important decisions to make them feel like an adult, but they also want structure that makes them feel safe like a kid. I truly enjoy watching them grow and develop between the ages of 11 and 14---they turn from scared and shy 6th graders into outgoing and (somewhat) cocky 8th graders. I have learned that the best way to get along with this age group is to go with the flow and enjoy them. They really are funny, and I can't wait to see what will happen next---everyday is a new adventure! So, Happy New (school) Year everyone---may all your learning this year be meaningful and bright! :o)

The kids are coming!!!!

I am so excited for Tuesday--the first day of school. Shakespeare once wrote, "Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, but love from love, toward school with heavy looks." Well, I hate to argue with Master Shakespeare, but I have found that most kids really enjoy the start of a new school year. School opens new doors for them whether it be an opportunity to star in the school play, play a sport, read a new book, make a new friend or see old ones again--it is the promise of something different, something new. My niece is starting Kindergarten this year, and she is so excited, and she just beams with joy when she speaks of making new friends and learning new things. I hope that my middle school students are experiencing the same excitement and joy at the start of this new school year. I wish them all a healthy and happy school year. I hope they will all take advantage of all the opportunities that middle school offers, and they will make positive and productive choices. As for my teachers, I know you will understand my excitement when I yell, "The kids are coming!!!!!!!"

DMS is "Tech Savvy"

Today, my teachers participated in the Amazing Race in to learn about all the technology applications available to students and teachers. Since today's students are considered the digital generation, my staff is working hard to find ways to engage them in their native language! We learned so many new cool and interesting things, and I can't wait to see how my staff will implement these applications into their lessons. DMS is going to be one tech savvy school! :o)

Is it autumn yet?

I know the students and the teachers all enjoy summer. It is a chance for renewal, relaxation, and rest. As the end of July nears, and the temperatures continue to stay at triple digits, I can't help but wish that autumn would hurry up and arrive. I am tired of the heat, but more importantly I am tired of the quietness of the school. I can spend my summer planning for the return of my teachers, and all of their professional development needs....I can work on renewing the school with fresh paint and new wax on the floors....I can work on district committees preparing curriculum and instruction to prepare our students for the new STAAR test, and I can do countless other things that I am suppose to do in the summer, but....the reason I went into education was to inspire and motivate young adults into becoming more than what they currently think they are capable of being. I wanted to work with students to help them reach their full potential at the same time teaching them that they are all a part of something greater than themselves. So, I miss my students. I miss their laughter, their happy faces, and the hugs, high-fives, and "knuckles." I miss watching their faces light up when they get the right answer, hearing their thought processes, and watching them conduct a science experience. I miss watching them play football, playing in the band, or singing in the choir. I miss them, and I am eager for their return. So, I pose the question---is it autumn yet? I am ready for a school filled with children and some cooler weather! :o)

TAKS Testing----Again

Today marks the 3rd round of TAKS testing for DMS. Our 6th and 7th graders are taking the TAKS math test as I write this. I know they are prepared---my teachers have done a great job of teaching them the skills they need to be successful. High stakes testing is stressful on all involved, and I know the students want to do well. So, I am sending them positive thoughts and keeping my fingers crossed that they all get commended! :o)

Parent Support

A parent recently asked me what they could do to support their student in middle school. It is a question that I am asked on a daily basis. The middle years are difficult sometimes because as children turn into teenagers, their focus shifts from "wanting to please mom and dad" to "wanting to fit in and please their friends." Teens become more social and more aware of their peers and how they "fit in" the social network of school. As I ponder how parents can best support their child, then the best answer I can give is to use every opportunity as a teachable moment. It is so easy for us as parents to want our children to excel at everything, be the best, have a lot of friends, and always make the right decision. However, the reality is that there is always going to be someone better, smarter, or more popular. Kids are kids--they make mistakes. We have to teach them how to learn from those mistakes, and the first lesson is a lesson in personal responsibility. Students have to learn how to make good choices, and if we don't hold them accountable for the wrong choices, then how do we get them to see what the right choice is? It is so much easier to move past the teachable moments by blaming some other kid, blowing it off as "not that big of a deal," or simply ignoring it. Being a parent isn't easy, but we have to be parents. We can not simply sit by and allow society or the school to raise our children for us. So, my advice to parents on how best to support their child---hold your student accountable for all of their choices--good or bad. Celebrate when they make the right choice, and hold them accountable when they make the wrong choice and remember that a little bit of patience goes a long way! :o)

Blue Skies

I went outside a few minutes ago to go buy lunch. I stepped out of the building, and I was engulfed in the warmth of this beautiful spring day. There is nothing more beautiful than the blue skies of Texas in spring. I just wanted to stay outside the rest of the day and enjoy the sunshine, but school beckoned me back inside. It dawned on me that the kids probably have "cabin fever" as well. They are wanting to go outside as much as I am---they are wanting to bask in the sun as much as I do. As Summer quickly approaches, the kids become more and more anxious for school to be done (I think some of the adults do as well.) It is always a challenge to navigate these last 5-6 weeks because we want the kids to be focused on the learning that will prepare them for next year, but we are all looking outside at the blue skies. I will be talking with teachers over the next few weeks about having some lessons under the trees. The more we embrace this gorgeous Texas weather and the desire to be outside, the easier it will be on everyone---if only I can figure out a way to move my office outside! :o) So, as the song goes..."blue skies are shining on me--nothing but blue skies do I see!" Enjoy your weekend and if you live in Austin, Texas--enjoy the blue skies! :o)

Happy TAKS testing

Today, my 8th graders are taking the Math TAKS test. I was a little worried about them taking a test on a Monday, but this morning when I saw them, they were eager and ready. Many of them told me, "Don't worry---I've got this." I know our students are ready, and I will be excited to get back our scores in a few weeks. Tomorrow, the 8th graders take TAKS reading---and I know they will just do just as well. We have to keep the momentum going and the confidence soaring for our students as we reach for Exemplary! :o)

Spring renewal

It has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I have been under so much stress that my muse has abandoned me until I get the cortisol in my system under control. As a middle school principal, I am constantly amazed by how much stress one person can endure before he/she finally falls apart. Texas schools are being put to the test by our state when it comes to funding. I have been saying for years that public education is in trouble when it comes to public perception, and now it has come to fruition. For the past 6 months, I have been to countless meetings to discuss the school budget and the impact the budget deficit is going to have on our district. It has been a roller coaster---positive news one minute, and then not so positive news the next. If the budget reductions simply affected me, then I think I could handle the stress. But as an empathic person, I have carried the stress of my staff as they worry whether or not they will even have a job next year. I have heard their personal stories, seen their tears, and watch them as they struggle to comprehend how state leaders can put so little faith into the one institution that guarantees our students' future. Public education is not perfect, and it should constantly strive to continuously improve to meet the needs of its students; however, to cut funding to the one thing that guarantees hope for our youth is not only heartbreaking, it is unethical and immoral. I am saddened everytime I watch the news, and I hear our state leaders blame others for the budgetary problems of our state. True leadership is taking responsibility for all that goes wrong, and giving the glory to others when things go right. So, as my stomach aches, my weight increases, my joints hurt, and my head spins from the unbelieavble amount of stress from dealing with impending budget cuts, upcoming state accountability tests, and trying to schedule classes with less teachers and resources, I look for my muse to return to guide me in writing my blog as a way of stress reduction. With the weather turning beautiful as we move into Texas spring time, I will find the time for renewal. There is nothing more beautiful than springtime in Texas with skies of blue that mirror fields of blue with the bluebonets. I am hoping that the beauty of Texas reminds our state leaders that to preserve this beautiful state, we need to continue to invest in its future---we need to fully fund education with the schools that our children deserve.

What are they thinking?

I have tried to stay away from all the discussion about budget cuts in my blog, but today, I have to write about the state of Texas and their infinite wisdom to cut public education $10 billion dollars. What are they thinking?

The Countdown is on!

There are 29 school days until our first TAKS test! Yikes--the school year goes by so quickly. We spend the fall semester working on creating learners and working on culture. The spring semester, we fine tune and really prepare our students for the testing season. Our goal is to be an Exemplary campus. This is the last year for TAKS in Texas, and next year our students will take the new STARR test. So, this is it--this is our grand push to be an Exemplary campus, and we are excited, anxious, and nervous. I have all the right people in the right places, and our students are poised to do us all proud. I know we can do this, so let the countdown begin!