I wrote this post initially in 2018 and did a revisit at the beginning of the 2020 school year. I didn’t even read the 2020 version because I was trying to block that time out of my memory.

Here is the second point I shared in the post and a recent story related to the principle:

No matter how happy (or sad) your colleagues or students seem, don’t hesitate to share a kind word or action.

I was talking to someone from Nebraska, and as we were speaking, I said, “I remember years ago, I keynoted a conference there, and the organizer was one of the nicest people I had ever encountered.” I even remembered her name. 

So then I Googled her, and she still worked with the same organization and had the same phone number. Our last correspondence was in 2014, but I called her, and she picked up, and I told her how highly I just spoke of her and that I still remember her kindness almost ten years later.

I know it made her day, but it also improved mine in the process.

We often wait for something wrong to happen or for someone to leave before we share our gratitude and appreciation for them. Sometimes, our reluctance to share that appreciation at the moment is part of the reason they leave. Why stay in a place where you don’t feel valued?

Not a place you are valued.

But a place where you don’t feel valued. 

Those are different things.

After this throwback post, I hope you take the time to connect with someone you haven’t in a while and share your appreciation with them. I promise you, it will make both of you feel better 🙂 

Onto the post!

3 Reminders for the Beginning of the School Year

Working with schools at the beginning of the year is such a pleasure. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to hopefully push thinking on what is possible for the upcoming school year while showing an appreciation for the fantastic work already done. I also hope to provide some inspiration through some humor and emotional storytelling.  For my presentations and my life, I try to live by these words from the late Jim Valvano:

So as you enter the school year (or are in the middle of it, depending on where you teach in the world), here are a few reminders for the school year.

1. For some students, school is their happy place, and they missed their happy place. 

   In the past few years, I have met students from all over the world, and they have inspired me with stories of perseverance and thriving through tremendous adversity. Honestly, adversity that I do not think I could have dealt with as a child. On the first day of school, many teachers, myself included, would focus on the “rules” of the classroom.  Later in my career, I focused more on relationship building and creating a positive but challenging environment in the first week rather than being obsessed with the “rules.” Early on, I focused more on rules, and later I focused more on creating a positive classroom culture.This doesn’t mean “school” should always be “fun,” but it is way easier to struggle in an environment you enjoy being a part of rather than struggling in a space you hate coming to every day.

   For some students, school is the most joyous place they go to in a day. The same is true for some adults.I don’t believe schools can fix all societal issues, but I know that we can create an environment where students feel appreciated, as we should with the adults, they are more likely to thrive during and after their time in our classrooms.

    

2. No matter how happy (or sad) your colleagues or students seem, don’t hesitate to share a kind word or action.
   

   You never know what anyone is going through so if you think of something nice about a person, say it. Don’t ever let an opportunity pass to make someone’s day.

   — George Couros (@gcouros) July 26, 2018

   
   It is natural to see someone as cheerful and happy and believe they don’t need recognition or a kind word. It is often common that some of the people we see as the most optimistic are still fighting battles that we do not understand. Going out of your way to share a kind word, saying hi in the hallway (always), or showing appreciation for excellent work can make a world of difference. Displaying kindness can take seconds but can make someone’s whole day. Always assume that there is something you can do to make another person’s day better.

    

3. Give everyone a new beginning.
   
   We know kids should always start every day with a new beginning.Things may have happened in the past, but if a school is a place where we are supposed to grow, we need to give our students a fresh start so that they can step into that growth.  As a principal, I remember having to suspend students, and when they would come back to school, the first thing I focused on was talking to them as a person, not focusing on the unfavorable action that happened a day prior. I wanted to ensure that they knew that although they made a mistake, they were a valued part of our community and that we were excited for them to be back to contribute positively to our environment.  It made a difference for myself and, hopefully, our students.

   But do not reserve the “fresh beginning” for students only.

   Staff can get pigeonholed, and they can only get a new start if they leave or a new administrator enters the building.  Expect your colleagues to impress you, and most often, they will.  I will not pretend this is easy to do, but I will say it is critical to culture. People won’t want to grow and get better if it is not acknowledged when they do.

   The “fresh start” should not be reserved only for your students.

   (P.S. While giving a “fresh start” to your students and colleagues, we often don’t do the same for ourselves. When I struggle some days, I go to bed early and commit to starting anew the next day. It has helped me tremendously. If it is good for others, it is good for you.)

    

I would love any reminders you have for educators to be shared in the comments below, and to all educators starting a new school year, I hope it is your best one yet!