What's Next?

The last school bus has pulled out of the driveway for the last time. The routines that featured early rising, meeting friends at their locker to catch up on the latest gossip, participating in engaging activities and completing homework has quickly been replaced by summer vacation.  

Educators and students have once again been liberated from their daily responsibilities that binds them together for ten months.  Each now faced with that daunting question that only accompanies that last bell each June. What's next?

For the educator; some will press on, first tying up loose ends and then steadfastly preparing for the reopening of school in September. Some will head off into retirement and begin to transition into a life that is more tranquil and slow paced. Some will travel about the globe, absorbing the earth's majestic beauty. Some will "sharpen their saw"reflecting on the experiences of the past school year, attend conferences or pursue the written word  in order to fine tune their craft. Some will change hats and head off  to their summer employment. What's next? always leads to the writing of new and exciting chapters in our lives.

 

For our students,the fast paced, five day a week rigorous schedule has been replaced by a more leisurely life offered with the arrival of an eleven week summer vacation. For them it's time to reflect upon their recent social and academic growth. It's time to enjoy their recent success, consider failures and begin to set goals for the near future. 

Some will spend the upcoming days, sleeping in, earning money at summer jobs, spending time with friends and even looking to enrich their academic skill set. One thing is for certain. There will be plenty of time for joy and amusement as the summer of 2016 evolves.

The most promising element of life's journey is that while continuous, there are always beginnings and endings intertwined along the way. For students and teachers alike summer vacation offers us once again the opportunity not only to ponder but more importantly to explore , What's next? 

Exploring what comes next allows us to exit our comfort zone and invite adventure. We can approach the crossroads with apprehension or we can embrace the unknown with passionate enthusiasm. The decision will ultimately bring change and the need for adaptation. However, growth is only possible when we are willing to courageously pursue new opportunities, regardless of understanding the outcomes in advance.  

What' next is the  question, are you ready to search for the answer?

 

Steps

Two years ago my neice Molly courageously left the comfort of her mother's care and headed off to preschool. Certainly there was trepidation as she headed into an unfamiliar environment, but her mother carefully prepared her for the challenges that awaited and she was willing to take the risk.

Yesterday on a sunny May morning I attended her preschool graduation and witnessed her finding courage once again, this time as she was preparing to leave the comfort of her preschool home and head off to Kindergarten. 

As the ceremony evolved I was immediately impressed by the strong relationships that had been fostered by the teachers with their young students.  This was never more evident as the students concluded thier singing performance and the program moved on to the distribution of awards.

Each graduate received an award and a comment about their future aspirations. Some were "most kind", while others were, "most funny"or "most dramatic." We learned that some of the children wanted to be firemen or policeman or teachers, and we were told of the inspiration behind each one.  Clearly these teachers had invested time and energy in building relationships with each one of their students over the course of the past two years.

As the ceremony neared conclusion it was time for one final song. This  was perhaps my favorite moment. I watched and listened to the graduates proudly and confidently sing " I don't know but I've been told that Kindergartens the place to be." 

While I am quite sure that my niece has mastered all of the necessary skills to be  "Kindergarten Ready", listening to the confident rendition of this song signaled to me that she also posesses the necessary social/emotional skills to take the next step on her educational journey.

Taking these steps into her kindergarten classroom will again force my neice to face new risks, but I am reminded of a Henry David Thoreau quote that calls for us to "go confidently in the direction of our dreams." Due to the guidance, support and nurturing of her preschool teachers, she is ready to do just that.

H is for Honor

For the past few months I have struggled with how to best craft this post. My greatest challenge has been to share the news of this wonderful honor with others and still come across as humble. What you are about to read is a reflection of my gratitude for the honors bestowed upon me, since being named the 2016 Teacher of the Year at Pond Road Middle School.

The past several months have featured administrators, colleagues, students and parents going to great lengths to honor my professional commitment to the community of Robbinsville. 

 It all began on a mild Friday afternoon in early January, when a celebratory party  including my Asisstant Superintendent, my Superintendent, my Principal, my Assistant Principal and my teammates arrived on my classroom doorstep and then proceeded to make their way inside.  My long time friend and our Assistant Superintendent then announced with great enthusiasm that I had been selected as our school's honoree for the 2016 Teacher of the Year.  A bouquet of flowers, hugs and congratulatory wishes followed from everyone present.I was overwhelmed with joy and overcome by emotion.

Later that afternoon came an announcement over the school intercom that I was the Pond Road Middle School Teacher of the Year. My 8th period class was estatic and voiced just how thrilled they were, raising the decibel level exponentially in the room. Outside in the hall students began to excitedly chant my last name and again I became emotional.  As the day came to a close many colleagues and former students stopped by with congratulatory wishes and hugs. This would become a day etched in my memory not to ever be forgotten. Telling my family that evening of the honor bestowed upon me was one of the proudest moments of my 21 year career.

A few months later, the sign in front of our school posted the news that I was being honored as the 2016 Teacher of the Year . In the days that followed, many people throughout the community have extended congratulatory wishes via cards, emails or in person. I've been touched by their gestures. I must admit to feeling a great deal of pride upon arrival and departure from school each day, as I take a passing glance at that sign.

Today I had the special privilege of attending two celebrations with the two other outstanding educators being honored by my district. Both Amanda Matticks and Jason Armstrong are exceptional educators and amazing people.

Jason is a reflective high School educator who understands the value of the written word. He uses writing to inspire and empower his students. Moreover, he continues to use writing as a transformative tool to assist with his own professional and personal growth.

Amanda is a primary school educator who gives tirelessly of herself to engage her students and empower them to adopt a lifelong love of learning. As a technology coach she also goes to great lengths to help her colleagues grow professionally, as 21st century educators.

The morning celebration started witha breakfast reception at our district offices. All of our district administrators rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like royalty. They went to great lengths to make sure that our day was off to a great start. Mission Accomplished! I am grateful for all that they did to make this experience a special one I and will never forget their kind words and generous contributions in making this day memorable.

A short ride into Princeton and a luncheon honoring the Teachers of the Year recipients from throughout Mercer County at ETS followed our breakfast reception.  Brief welcome remarks and a moving speech from the 2016 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, started off our afternoon. Being in a room of passionate innovative educators who shared this award on this day was an honor in itself.

 A special bonus during the program was the inspiring speech by the 2015 Mercer County Teacher of the Year, our own Ed Holub. Ed's reflections included his own professional transformation toward becoming a student centered educator along with thoughts on the many daunting challenges that face our students today.

When the time came to recognize Robbinsville's recipients, again we were honored by the eloquent and heartfelt comments delivered by our acting Superintendent Kathie Foster who was accompanied by board member Tom Halm. The afternoon came to an end following the closing remarks.  We headed out into a steady rain but our hearts were full of sunshine as we made the trek home.

I am grateful for the measures that have been taken over the past several months by the various stakeholders within our school community, honoring my service and professionalism to our community.

I am especially honored by the steps taken by two cherished collegues and friends that believed me worthy of this award, early on in the nominating process.

While I am honored to represent the Robbinsviile School District as one of their three Teachers of the Year for 2016,  my greatest honor continues to be inspiring, educating and motivating  today's learners, as they prepare to make an impact on the world tomorrow.

( This post is dedicated in honor and memory of the late Dr. Steven Mayer who championed both kids and teachers and inspired me to inspire others.)

Circle of Life

One life ends,another begins anew. This was the unusual juxtaposition of my thoughts on a recent Saturday morning in March.  I was in the midst of checking in on my friend and colleague via a direct message on the status of his unborn daughter, when I received a text from my brother that a life long family friend had passed. Immediately upon finishing the text I received a photo reply from my friend announcing the birth of his daughter.  The irony did not escape me as I began to reflect on the passing of my life long family friend.

Ginny Moyer (Miss Ginny as I referred to her in my youth)was the closest thing I ever had to a guardian angel. From the early days of my youth she gave me that extra attention that would make a huge difference in my life. Perhaps it was the knitting of a sweater, or an invitation to swim in her family pool with my siblings, or just a check in to see how things were going. Their were even times that called for a crack on the back side as a reminder that I needed to fly straight. 

Later as an adult with children of my own we spent many Christmas Eve's together

at my Mom's. Ginny and her husband Ralph, still all of these years later always took an enthusiastic interest in our lives.

Now they were watching the evolution of the next generation, and the same warmth that I felt as a child they extended to my children. Over the years Ginny continued to find ways to extend her love to our family. The knitting continued for the children but most importantly her prescence in our lives remained constant.  We were fortunate to share decades of memories and benefitted a great deal from her influence.

Ginny was a kind, selfless individual. She was a person of service who loved her family, her friends, her church and especially children. She was devoted to making life better for others and often went to great lengths to accomplish this.

Over the years when my life became tumultuous, it was her compassion and calming influence that helped to restore order in my life.  I will be forever grateful for her commitment to me and my family.

I don't know what the world has in store for Aubrey Passafero or the impact that she will make upon this world but I have observed first hand the impact that her

parents continue to make.  They are kind, genuine people with strong family values and high standards.  They have made it their lives vocation to serve others as educators of the highest  quality.  With their influence and guidance, their daughter no doubt will eventually put a positive footprint on the world that embodies all of their qualities.

As I look back on that March morning, I reflect with meloncholy upon the passing of my good friend Ginny Moyer. I also look ahead at the promising future of  Aubry Pasafero, the lives she will touch  and the hearts she will warm as well.

"Voices"

Our free speech rights are of the most precious afforded to us by the Constitution of this great nation. However we must recognize that while it creates an informed society it can also cause social discord leading to the polarization of our citizens. While "free speech" is not absolute and certainly carries specific constraints it is the restraint associated with this freedom that we should be more cognizant of.

Currently a movement has been set in motion that is fueling the Republican nomination bid of Donald Trump. This movement seeks to obliterate a "politically correct " mindset and is gaining traction throughout the land. This is both tragic and dangerous. Potentially we risk reversing decades of social progress. We face an almost certain return to a time of social unrest and violence if we permit the cultivation of a mindset that legitimizes the intolerance of cultural diversity.

Our classrooms and our homes are environments where children are educated about the importance of acceptance, respect, tolerance and even the celebration of our diversity.  Yet the rhetoric and ideology of Trump and his supporters consistently disavow the need for these values. 

If we have learned from the grevious mistakes of our past, then we must do everything to prevent the future generations from inheriting an environment in vast need of social and cultural repair.  We must be careful with who we empower to serve as our voice on near and distant shores. The leadership choices that we make currently and in the near future 

could bring catostrophic consequences if we fail to learn from the social and political failures which stunted the growth of previous generations.

 Electing leaders that abandon "political correctness" puts our national and personal security in immediate jeopardy.  Even worse it puts our children in a position where they will ultimately invest a large percentage of their adult life paying down a cultural debt fueled by social injustice and intolerance.

 The voice that speaks for the collective good needs to reign. This is the voice that calls for harmony over discord. This is the voice that embraces instead of shuns. This is the voice of compassion instead of insensitivity. When these are the voices that resonate from sea to shining sea then we will know the American Dream has moved closer to fullfillment. Then we can confidently pass the baton to the next generation and empower them to control their own destinies.

Always Make Time For Fun

"Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous"

-Confucius-

Recently on Inspiration Monday, our 6th grade students were given the opportunity to reflect on the importance of having fun while learning. They expressed unanimously that when learning was fun they were more engaged and thus performed better academically.  Honestly, I was not surprised with their responses but I was thrilled that they were strongly voicing their learning preferences.

They were emphatic in all of my classes that hands on activities brought their learning experiences to life. Lab experiments were especially favored because they enabled direct involvement in the lessons.  They went on to discuss the joy that game playing brought to the learning experience, citing the fun of competing when using Kahoot or Quizlet.

Some even shared the fun they experienced, moving a beach ball throughout the room, during a Q & A review.

Of the five groups that I teach every day, a couple are particularly social. They often challenge each other's ideas and 

felt that creating a structured debate would be a more productive way to learn. 

Admittedly,  I have some early reservations about giving these groups the opportunity to engage in structured debate. However, if the proper scaffolds are put into place and we establish some group norms, I am confident that a memorable and meaningful learning experience will take place.

As the conversation continued the students really settled in. They felt more empowered to discuss their genuine concerns that were relevant to the learning proces.  One student candidly shared that they needed to move while learning because he had trouble attending for long stretches of time otherwise. This authentic nugget of information strengthened what I already knew about the importance of movement and engagement but I was thrilled that this particular student had the courage to share it.

My co-teacher Kathy St. John  continues to demonstrate a keen understanding for the value of movement. On several occasions this year, we have partnered to create station activities that focus on the various learning intelligences of our students. On all occasions our students have been highly motivated and engaged. Her leadership in the planning and the execution of these activities has been vital to the success of our classroom culture this year.

Another interesting revelation took place when our students were asked about having fun when learning independently.

Some students indicated that they take notes using different bright colors of ink, while others cited using food incentives as  they navigated through their study materials.  One student told us that they put  "gummy bears" on the printed page and when they finished reading several paragraphs, they would indulge. Another student told me how their Dad would provide them with a "sweet treat" based on their success during a study session.  Whatever steps were taken to make studying fun, all of my students indicated that they studied better when those steps were taken.

Educators including Dave Burgess and Julie Adams in their books "Teach Like a Pirate"and "Game Changers" respectively, emphasize the positive impact of engagement on student learning. Both publications share proven engagement best practices and are valuleable pedagogical resources. Their research verifies that students learn better when they are engaged and educators are embracing their philosophies around the globe.  

On a cold February day recently, my students reinforced at least three very important lessons for me that were pertinent to their learning.

1. They will provide honest and meaningful feedback about matters that impact their learning.

2. They are especially passionate about their learning when their learning is engaging and fun. (Using familer technology makes a definite difference.)

3. They will not hesitate to make suggestions on how to create a more fun and engaging learning culture.

Usually my intention is to bring inspiration to my students in various ways,especially on Monday. However on this particular Monday, my students inspired me. They inspired me with their commitment to our classroom community and culture. Through a series of honest and reflective answers, they reinforced the value of engagement and fun in learning. Moreover, they unwittingly challenged me to renew my commitment to providing both of these on a more consistent basis.

The Broken Promise

Janet sat at her kitchen table drinking her evening cup of coffee as tears steamed down her face. The open windows allowed her to hear the waves crashing in the distance. The sound usually brought great comfort to her but tonight they did nothing but leave her unsettled.

Born and raised in Cape Cod, there was not much in life that brought her more joy than all that her beach community had to offer. She had built many strong relationships here as a young girl. Her ancestors were among the town founders and Janet's immediate family were active members of the community. Her father had recently retired after 50 years of service as mayor and her mother was on the executive board at Dawson Memorial Hospital. 

Janet had returned to the Cape fifteen years ago after a failed marriage that resulted in the ultimate departure of her husband without so much as a note. The pull of the shore, her family and a position teaching 2nd grade at the local grammar school made the decision to return home an easy one. With each passing day it was obvious that coming home was the right decision.  Old friendships were renewed and the charm of this wonderful place made her wonder why she had ever left in the first place. There was nothing in life that she was more passionate about, than her hometown. Except for him, he was the love of her life.

Kevin Hope had recently celebrated his 15th birthday on Labor Day weekend at a clambake for the ages. The party was attended by his mother Janet, his grandparents, and a large assortment of family and friends. High School had followed shortly thereafter and Kevin was adjusting nicely. He and his friends were keeping busy with their studies, playing football and still finding time to fish on the beach.

Kevin's dad had left when he was just six  months old and made a decision not to be an active part of his life. He didn't know much about him other than what his Mom referred to him as - the man who she loved once but misjudged. He was not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood and left one day never to be heard from again. For 15 years Kevin had grown up in a loving home raised by his devoted mother and strongly supported by his extended family.

His grandfather and he had an especially strong bond. He taught him how to swim, how to catch a baseball and most importantly how to catch Stripers. Over the years Kevin's passion for the Cape would match his mothers and he couldn't imagine a better place to grow up.  Year after year he and his grandfather would enter the annual Striper fishing competition and every year they would emerge with the largest Striper.

Fishing was one of Kevin's greatest passions in life and he always looked for opportunities to get to the beach and fish.  The running joke with all that knew him was that, " if you couldn't find Kevin, head to the beach on 51st Street and look for the kid with the fishing pole in front of him.  

Unfortunately Kevin's new schedule allowed little time for fishing. After a few weeks Kevin became frustrated with his inability to manage his new schedule to acccomadate his love for fishing.  Eventually he devised a plan to skip some morning classes a day or two a week in order to steal some time away at the beach and fish.  Kevin's classes were large and his absence went unnoticed at first. He would usually arrive in time for lunch and then resume his day as scheduled.

 Balance was returning to his life and Kevin was happy to be able spend some quality alone time doing one of the things he enjoyed most in life, fishing for Striped Bass.

 For awhile no one was the wiser to his morning excursions. Then one day there was a substitute teacher in Mr. Mooring's Science class who kept meticulous records. Miss Watts had finished taking attendance and noticed that Kevin Hope's name did not appear on the attendance list. She called theschool attendance officer who verified that Kevin was not in school and not marked absent. The attendance officers next move was to call Kevin's mom to inform her that Kevin was currently unaccounted for.

On this beautiful Tuesday morning Janet had just returned to her classroom after dropping her students off at their Music class.  As she prepared to grade some papers the phone rang and the voice on the other end informed her that Kevin turned up absent in Science and was currently unaccounted for after a thorough search.

Janet was alarmed at first but then remembered Kevin complaining lately about not having enough time to fish. She thanked the attendance officer for the call and told her she had a pretty good idea where he was. 

Janet arranged for coverage and headed for the beach. As she pulled up to 51st Street she noticed a boy about Kevin's height with headphones on, standing next to his fishing pole. As she got closer there was no doubt that it was Kevin, who had cut class to go fishing.

As Kevin turned to start packing up, he saw a shocking sight. His mother was 15 yards away and heading towards him. The gig was up and his morning fishing excursions were about to come to a quick halt.

After listening to his mom share how disappointed and worried she was, and telling Kevin how important his education was to his future, they headed back to school.  Kevin tried to tell his side of the story but realized the error of his ways and vowed to stop cutting class.  On the ride back to school Janet grounded Kevin and told him that he was not allowed to fish for a full month. Kevin protested but accepted the punishment.

The fall went by without further incident and then a colder and snowier than usual winter settled in. Storm after storm had forced the residents of the Cape inside throughout most of the winter. Kevin was itching to get to the beach and go fishing, but conditions just wouldn't allow  it.

When spring finally arrived Kevin was thrilled that not only were his Redsox poised to make a run at the pennant but calmer oceans meant the fish would be running soon.

One afternoon after school on a day when a downpour had forced the postponement of his baseball game, Kevin decided to go fishing.  Excitedly he headed home grabbed his fishing gear and headed for the beach. In his haste to get to the beach he forgot to call his Mom and tell her. 

Eventually Janet arrived at the game only to find out that the game had been postponed. Some of the boys were still hanging around and told her that hadn't seen Kevin since fourth period.  Not happy to hear that news she headed for home. When she arrived home she noticed that she had two voicemails. The first was from the school attendence officer informing her that Kevin had cut last period. In anger she rushed to her car and headed for the beach. In her haste she never listened to the second message.

When Janet arrived at the 51st Street beach she was beyond angry. Not only was Kevin cutting school again but he had broken his promise to her and that was heartbreaking.  When she finally arrived at Kevin's fishing spot a joyful Kevin turned and greeted her with a hug and kiss. The look on Janet's face though indicated this was not a coincidental or happy visit. Kevin had caught a 50 lb. Striper and was beyond thrilled to share the news, but his Mom's look worried him. She asked him to pack up immediately and head for the car.

On the way home she began to cry because after informing Kevin about the phone call and the "broken promise" he denied it.  He insisted that he went fishing after school only when he found out the game had been postponed, but had been in school all day. Not only did he break a promise Janet thought, but now he was lying too. This was unacceptable. Janet's next move was to ground Kevin from fishing for two whole months. It would be June before he fished again.  This was more than Kevin could take. He couldn't fish for two months and the most important person in his life thought he was a liar. Distraught he ran out of the car as they pulled in the driveway and headed in a direction away from his home.

Sitting at her kitchen table, Janet called her dad in tears and told him the details of the conflict with Kevin which ended with him running off. Her dad reassured her that things would work out and that he had a good idea where he was.

Sure enough Kevin's grandpa found him drinking a milkshake at their favorite ice cream shop on the Cape called Soft and Sweet. After calling Janet to tell her he found Kevin, he talked to Kevin and assured him that things would work out. Full from the milkshake and satisfied with the conversation, Kevin and his grandfather headed for home.

After hanging up with her dad and learning that Kevin was okay, Janet noticed that there was an additional voice mail message. The school attendance officer was calling back to apologize for the first phone call. It was actually Kevin Jones and not Kevin Hope who had cut last period. The school had regretted the error.  

As Janet hung up the phone she began to cry tears of joy and tears of sadness all at once. Her son was not lying and had not broken a promise after all, but she had refused to believe him despite his assurances otherwise. Now it turns out that his entire story checked out.  How would she repair the damage done to the one relationship in her life that mattered most?

When Kevin returned home a few minutes later it was apparent that his Mom had been crying.  Kevin sat down at the table and listened to Janet's apology. Then he listened as she shared the details of both voicemails. Angry at first Kevin eventually turned empathetic, telling his Mom that he understood why she reacted in the manner she did.  While Janet felt much better now that they had cleared the air, she still had more to say.

She told Kevin that she learned a valuable lesson on this day that would serve her well as both a teacher and a parent. She went on to say that two plus two doesn't always add up to four.  When you gather your facts and confront someone else with your evidence, you should always leave room for doubt and other possible explanations. When you dig in and refuse to listen, you close the door to all other possibilities.  Most importantly you forget to allow for the possibility that things are not always as they seem and perhaps you are being told the truth.  As she found out on this day this can often be the case.  She promised Kevin to keep an open mind in the future and always give him the benefit of the doubt. Kevin nodded, smiled and asked his mother if she could cook him a burger because while the milkshake was a good snack he was still rather hungry.

Janet smiled and replied that takeout was a better plan. Kevin smiled in agreement and said "deal."  They got in the car and headed down the road to their favorite fast food place. As they pulled into Bob's Burger Bonanza they observed a beautiful sunset, thus signaling an end to what had become an emotional and exhausting day.