Giving Thanks

In the midst of the recent terror attacks in Paris and the home invasion and shooting of a young mother and wife, I needed to take a break from all the bad in the world to watch something heartwarming. So on this chilly Saturday morning, I decided to check out what was on Netflix. I chose a Christmas movie (I am sure from the Hallmark or Lifetime channel). The movie was about a family whose young son was dying from cancer, and the entire neighborhood pulled together to give him one last Christmas. I didn't realize that I would cry through the entire movie, and I didn't realize that it would inspire me to update my blog. Four out of my five children are grown, and my youngest step-daughter lives with her mom, so we normally only see her every other weekend, but the movie made me question if I had spent enough time with my kids as they were growing-up. As adults, my children have their own lives--their own friends, jobs or college, and their own interests. I miss the sounds of their laughter and silliness, and seeing them in their PJs playing video games or watching movies--I even miss their bickering and arguing. I know as adults, they are healthy and happy. I also know that they are really good people, so it makes missing them a little easier. As an educator for the past 23 years, I have seen students grow-up and start their own lives. I am always surprised when one of them posts on social media that they are celebrating their 29th birthday, or they are having a baby, or that their oldest child is starting Kindergarten. I still see them as the young, awkward teens that I once knew. Time goes by so quickly, and in a blink of an eye, the baby you are holding right now or the the toddler that is making messes all over the house, or the elementary child you are taxiing all over town for activities, or the teenager that you are always arguing with will be an adult. Time is fleeting, so in this season of thanks and giving, take a few minutes to give thanks for the blessings in your life and to cherish those blessings. We need to remember what is good about our lives and cherish those fleeting moments with the people we love. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Being married to a cop

The news media lately has been blowing up the airwaves about police brutality, excessive force, and race-related shootings/murders. (My personal opinion of the news media is that they have become rating mongers who sell their souls to sensationalize stories to the public to boost their ratings and their sponsorships, but that is a different blog for a different day.) I want to tell America that my husband is a good--no a GREAT cop--who does not believe he is above the law but is a servant of the law. I am not the only one who thinks he is a great cop--most everyone who meets him thinks he is a great cop. (I also have to mention that he doesn't like the word cop--he prefers police officer.) I had the privilege today of attending my 13th superintendent's retreat, and I heard current and recently graduated students who expressed what RRISD mean to them. Several of these students knew my husband because he serves as a School Resource Officer (SRO) for one of the high schools. These students mentioned to me how much they like my husband and how much they respect the work he does. This is not an uncommon story---everyone I meet tells me the same thing. My husband makes a difference in the lives of countless community members that he serves---kids and parents. He has a genuine love and appreciation for humans, and he has the capacity to relate to people and humbly help them. He is a gentle giant who will go the extra mile to make sure that this community is safe and understands that police officers are truly here to protect and to serve. He is really good at both. Everywhere we go, people remember him. It isn't because he is 6'4" and weighs about 275 or that he missed his calling as a stand-up comedian, but it is because of the way he cares for them, or protects them, or serves them as a servant of the law. He has disdain for police officers who abuse their powers or who resort to violence before they use "verbal judo"--the ability to calm a person or a situation down. I am not saying that he has never had to go hands on with someone, but I am saying that he uses that as his very last option; consequently, he has made more ER trips than I care to count. Many people don't realize that good police officers will often hurt themselves trying to restrain an offender so the offender isn't injured; moreover, they also don't realize that good cops don't like to hurt people. I know there are bad cops on our streets and in police departments across America, and I am not excusing their actions. I simply want to point out that there are some very good police officers serving and protecting our communities, and I am fortunate to be married to one of the best. I am thankful for the work he does, but I am also cognizant that every day that he puts on that uniform and walks out that door, he is putting his life at risk---the media doesn't tell you that. As a public servant, I want to recognize all the other public servants who humbly serve our communities and want to make a small difference in the world--social workers, teachers, fire fighters, EMTs, council members, and police officers. Thank you for your service to our communities---you deserve a standing ovation for doing the jobs that others can't or won't do. As far as the police brutality and the race-related shootings/murders, this is indicative of societal ill that we must address (once again, a different blog for a different day), but don't lump all police officers into the category of "bad cop" because many of them are excellent, and I don't even want to imagine our society without them.

Happy Spring Break

I hope that you are able to take some time this spring break for rest and renewal.  Testing season begins when we return, so please take this time to "de-stress." Enjoy your time with family and friends.

It's Texas Legislative Season

The Legislature is in session, and once again, the topic of school finance will be debated.  As school districts begin planning for next year, new and innovative options are put on hold as we wait with "crossed fingers" to see the impact Legislative representatives will have on local school budgets. Money Still Matters! by the Equity Center is a great resource to read as it discusses why school funding should not be cut, but rather, it should be increased. Please write your Texas representative and ask them to do the right thing for Texas schools. Public education is and will continue to be our greatest investment in human capital.

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!

25 DAYS!!!!

It is August 1st--you know what that means?  School starts in 25 days!  I am super excited for the return of our teachers and staff.  Once they return and get their rooms set up, then we will be ready for the kids.  This is my favorite time of the year--so much hope surrounds our building--the hope of our kids to make new friends, make good grades, make their parents proud, and the hope of our teachers to make a difference in the lives of their students!  The next 25 days will fly by, and soon our halls will be filled with laughter and hope!  :o)

We are finally completely staffed.  Our new counselor is Alileah Hoke--she is coming to us from Manor ISD.  I know you are going to love her.  Also, I would like to welcome:

• Kalee Mallonee as our new 7th grade Accel teacher---Karen Nanninga accepted a position in Pflugerville as an instructional coach.
• Vanessa Brown as our new reading teacher--Lean Magnon accepted a position in Georgetown, closer to her home.
• Elizabeth Alarcon as our new Functional Communications Class teacher---we are adding a Functional Academic Class to our program, so we were able to hire an additional teacher.
• Rachelle McClellan as our new Assistant Choir Director--Patrick Mann accepted a position at Round Rock High School.

It is going to be a great year--we are Ranger Strong!

Bittersweet Good-Byes---Exciting Hellos

June is one the busiest months of the year.  It is filled with resignations, interviews, and new hires. I am lucky that my campus is not losing many teachers, but there have been some key positions that we have had to fill. It is never easy to say good-bye, but the following teachers and staff that have faithfully served DMS--- I thank you and wish you all the best!
Lynn Smith, AP--moved to Dallas
Jennifer Lyon, Counselor--transfered to Grisham
Casey Davids, Counselor--moved to Austin
Bernadette Delagarza, 8th grade Science--transferred to Grisham
Natalie Collins, 8th grade Science--transferred to Cedar Ridge HS
Elaine Fowler, 8th grade math--accepted position as new Master Teacher at Hernandez
Alberto Nissim, 7th grade math--transferred to Round Rock HS
Joe Topa, SPED Inclusion--retired
Laurie Rogoff, 6th grade ELA--accepted into nursing school

I am excited to announce the newest members of our Deerpark family--they are all pretty amazing!

Aimee Swann, Assistant Principal
Shannon Bond, Counselor
Victoria Barkelew, 8th grade Science
Andrew Lyon, 7th grade Science
Andrea Pikas, 8th grade math & Algebra
Jacob Taras, 8th grade math & Algebra

We still have one more counselor to hire, but I am hoping to fill that position soon. I know you will all enjoy meeting the newest members of our team.

Being a Principal

A parent recently asked me what was the hardest part of my job.  I smiled and causally said, "Keeping everyone happy." I didn't elaborate, and the conversation went into a different direction, but the question has been hiding in the dark corners of my mind ever since. When I started teaching in 1993, I never imagined that I was going to be a principal one day.  I feared the principal who hired me---he never smiled, never complimented, never really spoke.  I don't remember faculty meetings or parties---I just remember that I really struggled as a first year teacher, and I was too afraid to ask for help. As my career progressed, and I changed schools, I grew to love my profession.  I loved teaching--I loved kids---I loved school.  I spent hours creating lessons and grading papers.  I sponsored Student Council, Cheerleading, Prom, and Mock Trial.  I volunteered to be at every function, and I was the loudest voice at every school event, cheering on my kids.  Teaching was all I ever wanted to do---it was who I was---it was my heart. I didn't serve on the school leadership team--I wasn't department chair--I wasn't on Site Base.  I never knew what happened in the front office because I was too occupied dealing with my own little teaching world.  I could simply close the door and find my place as the Queen of my classroom. I was a teaching "goddess"--I could out-teach any of my peers.  The kids loved me, and they were prepared for college when they left my classroom. I never thought I would be a principal--it just wasn't me.

Then one day, something happened. I was called into the principal's office and questioned about an incident that had nothing to do with me. I saw kids who were victimized by an administrator who had no idea or clue what he was doing. I went to my classroom, and I sat and looked at all the desks in my room.  I realized that I could impact the 150 students that walked into my class every day when it came to reading, writing, philosophy, and a passion for learning, but I couldn't make a difference where it mattered the most---equity, social justice, fairness, responsibility, second chances, and the belief that education was a means to improve our society. I looked on-line and enrolled in a Master's degree program to become an administrator.

Some of my teachers have asked me if I have ever regretted my decision to become a principal.  Although I miss the classroom very much, I have never once thought I made the wrong decision. Being a principal has been the hardest, but the most rewarding career path. I wasn't joking that the hardest part of being a principal is keeping everyone happy.  I have so many people that I have to appease, motivate, encourage, and support, and they all have different demands.  It isn't easy to keep 1000 students, 2000 parents, 40,000 community members, 100 teachers/staff members, 3 bosses, and 7 school board members happy--in fact, it is next to impossible.  Yes, I work at it every day, with a smile on my face and love in my heart.  I may not be able to do everything, but what I can do, makes a difference every day.  :o)

Insanity

• Yesterday, my secretary came to tell me that 2 bombs exploded in Boston at the Boston marathon--reasons unknown! 
• It was only a short time ago that a gunman went into an elementary school to shoot and kill innocent children and teachers.
• Last week, I heard on the news that the Texas legislators were looking at a bill that would pay for teachers to be trained to carry conceal weapons at school.
• The North Korean leader is sending death and nuclear bomb threats to the United States.

With all the insanity that is happening in our world, it makes me wonder where have all the good people gone? I know we are still here, and I know we are the majority.

• Yesterday, at the Boston marathon bombing, I saw hundreds of people running to those hurt and rendered aid.  This morning, hundreds of Boston residents were opening their homes and their hearts to tourists who couldn't go back to their hotel rooms.
• The response by the world to the Sandy Hook shooting was amazing.  This tragedy has inspired debates about gun control and serious consideration for gun control legislation. People all over the world have embraced the small community and offered prayers and support to both the victims and the survivors.
• The Texas legislature may be considering having teachers carry controlled weapons to school, but I have talked to thousands of teachers that agree it is not the answer to securing our schools and protecting our youth.  Even if the Texas legislators have completely lost their mind, our dedicated and caring educators have not.
• One leader out of hundreds is threatening violence against the USA---we forget about the hundreds of leaders that value and support our country and will do whatever in their power to help protect this great country.

Evil exists in this world, but as long as good people with good intentions continue to be the majority, then evil can not win. As we have to watch the horrors unfold in the media, let's not forget that there is still goodness, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and love that will always triumph over evil.

Spring Break?

I can not believe that we are already at spring break---where has time gone?  As I look at my blog, I realize that I haven't posted anything since December---it seems like December was just yesterday.  I remember when I was a kid, I thought--"I can't wait to grow up---I can't wait to be on my own---I can't wait to have my own family---I wish time would move faster!"  Now that I am grown, on my own, and have my own family, I am begging time to slow down---it is just moving so quickly.
STAAR testing will be upon us very soon.  EOCs will follow, and then this year will be over!  I hope you have the opportunity to spend some much needed time with your student.  I hope that every minute that you have with them next week moves at a snail's pace.  One day soon, they will be gone--on their own, with their own family.  Treasure every moment--time goes by too quickly.
Enjoy your spring break!

Yes, My Dear Ones, there is a Santa!

My 8 year old step daughter told me the other day that her mom informed her that there was "no Santa Clause and that parents put the gifts for children under the tree."  I was sad when she told me this because, she is our youngest child, and I had hoped that she would hang onto the magic of Christmas for a few more years. Although, my step-daughter is correct that her dad and I are the ones who buys and wraps her gifts, she is very much mistaken that there is no Santa.  I was reminded today that Santa will be very much alive in our world this Christmas after two major tragedies in the last 2 weeks. 
Last Friday, I watched the news in shock and horror as the story of Sandy Creek elementary in Newtown, Connecticut unfolded.  Not once in my worst nightmare could I have imagined someone coming in off the streets and killing innocent 6 and 7 year old children. As I stayed glued to the news coverage all weekend, I heard people questioning how something like this could happen. There was so much focus on the horror and the tragedy of the event that we forgot to look at the love and support that our country and the world sent to this small town.
Early this morning, 3 apartment buildings were burned, and 7 of my families, 15 of my feeder elementary school's families, and 17 of my feeder high school's families all lost everything---most of them were still in their pjs when they learned they lost everything.  As the news of this tragedy spread throughout our community, countless numbers of people brought clothing, food, toiletries and money to our campuses for those that lost everything.  My own teachers were coming to the office and taking their own coats off their backs to donate to our families or going home to get blankets and food. Many people donated money so that these families could replace Christmas gifts---they were adament that our children would not wake up Christmas morning without a present.  My students at school were organizing and showing support in any way possible. As I witnessed the generosity of my community, I stopped to remember that although Santa may not be a "real person," his spirit and his magic exist in the giving and generous nature of all people. The spirit of Santa is alive and well as long as goodness and love exist in this world. As long as we continue to believe in Santa, then there will always be one.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and may the holiday spirit fill you with love and hope. I love my wonderful Deerpark community.

Merry Christmas

On behalf of the Deerpark faculty and staff, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  School will be closed December 21-January 7th. May your holiday be spent with those you love, and you enjoy all the season has to offer.  Have a wonderful break, and we will see you in January!

The Texas Middle School Association's Schools to Watch committee will be here on December 5th.  We are very excited to show off our wonderful campus.  The day they are visiting is an excursion day.  Starting excursions this year has been a challenge, but the student love them.  It is a day filled with creativity and wonder.  I see so much joy on the faces of our students, and they ask me quite often why every day can't be an excursion day.  I hope that this particular day goes well.  Our students are so amazing, and my teachers are truly phenomenal---they deserve this recognition.  :o)

Happy Halloween

I hope you all have a "spooktacular" evening and receive nothing but treats!  I can't believe tomorrow is November---where is this year going?

For the love of learning...

Yesterday, DMS hosted its 2nd excursion day.  An excursion is an enrichment in an activity in which the students want to learn. These activities are fun, and include everything from Flash Mob to Photography!  The kids had a great time, and the teachers enjoyed it, too.  I will post pictures soon.