Exciting things happening...

There are 10 days left of October. The end of the month brings many fun things for students and staff.  The first is Red Ribbon week next week.  The kids and faculty love dressing up on the different themed days.  We also end our week with Halloween, and the annual faculty Halloween costume contest.  I never know what crazy costumes I will see from my staff---rumor this year is that "something wicked" is coming to DMS on Halloween day! Our fall excursions are next week on the early release day, and the kids are very excited.  I love excursion day as teachers bring out their creative best to enrich the TEKS they are currently teaching. Happy end of October everyone!

Do a little dance...

Great time at the 1st dance!

And it is October...

I am knocking on wood right now because for the most part we have had a really smooth start to the 2014-15 school year. August and September came and went, and the excitement of the beginning of the year is now beginning to fade.  I refer to October as "Shocktober," because students are settling into the routine of learning, and the honeymoon period is over.  It is the month when grades are first due, discipline issues begin to surface, and the workload for teachers increases. We begin noticing students who have gaps in their learning, students who are apathetic, and students who have difficulties in their personal life, and we begin the work of supporting and helping them.  Teaching is hard work--it takes patience and out of the box thinking.  If you think that teachers still teach the way that you were taught as a child, then think again. Teachers today have to wear many hats, and our students are expected to do more and more while the funding is increasingly less and less. So, as we settle into October, I am continuously looking for ways to support my teachers so they can do the work--the work of teaching and learning. I told my staff yesterday that my primary role is to support them and to "lead them into the October battle."  I told them that "I will die on that hill for them", because they are worth, but more importantly, our students are worth it. We can not turn back now.

Hearing the beat of a different drummer

I recently read an article about the difference between compliance and engagement.  I was surprised to see this article in an education journal that was published in August 2014, because we have been talking about the difference between compliance and engagement for years now. I stopped to reflect, because I realized that the reason we are still talking about it is because there is STILL A PROBLEM.  Teachers continue to struggle with creating lessons that engage students and motivate them to want to learn. I see it day in and day out in many different classrooms.  Kids are quietly doing their work in class, but there is no spark in their eyes and no joy in what they are learning.  I question myself on what else I can do to motivate my teachers to want to create a learning environment that sparks curiosity, imagination, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and real world problem solving.  I know I have wonderful teachers that love kids, so how can I spark my teacher's love for learning? I think the answer lies in Thoreau's philosophy on "hearing the beat of a different drum." I need to think differently about the way I engage my teachers in this conversation. I need to be more creative on how to solve this problem---I need for them to be part of the conversation. Researchers and administrators can continue to have the conversation, but until teachers start having the conversation, nothing will change. Schools should be places where creativity and imagination thrive---we just have to figure out how to make that happen every day in every class. We need to start listening to the beat of a different drum.

The school is alive with the sounds of students.....

Tomorrow starts the new school year, and we are so excited to welcome our 1000 students.  This year's staff is committed to supporting all students in their academic endeavors.  As the halls fill tomorrow with laughter and student chatter, we will strive to make 2014-15 the best school year ever!  Happy New Year, Everyone!

The teachers are coming, the teachers are coming!

Summer flew by, and the DMS teachers will officially report to work tomorrow!  I am so excited to see them and prepare for our students. This year we will continue to focus on building positive relationships, creating relevant lessons, and raising the rigor of instruction to meet college readiness standards.  We are and will continue to be a school of excellence.  Let the 2014-15 school year begin!