1-25-2019

Mary’s Minute

“80% of success is showing up.”

                                                                       ~ Woody Allen

We can define success in many different ways, but I think that Woody Allen’s advice works regardless of your definition.  Attendance matters.  We know that for our students and for ourselves.  Just showing up makes a difference. 

I received a letter this week from former Perry Central teacher and life-long PC fan, Charles Schnell.  He said that when he taught at Perry Central he wanted Perry Central to be the best, so he maintained a 21 and ½ year record of perfect attendance.  My jaw dropped at the thought of that feat.  First of all, it is simply amazing, but I also thought what it said about how he feels about Perry Central and how he cared about his students.

When we “show up” – whether that means going to class for college students, going to work for us adults, hopping on the school bus every morning for students, attending not for profit meetings, or simply being present when we are talking to someone – we will find success.  Research shows that being present leads to happiness, and educational research points to the link between school attendance and grades.  I have not seen the research, but I am willing to bet that students perform better when their teachers have great attendance. 

And the story of Mr. Schnell reminds me of one more thing “showing up” illustrates.  It shows we care.  Thanks for showing for up for our students!

                                                                           Have a great week!

                                                                                             Mary                                    

1-18-2019

Mary’s Minute

"Finding good players is easy.  Getting them to play as a team is another story." 

                                                                           ~ Casey Stengel

Typically the word team conjures up sports images.  Since I have personally never played on a sports team, that reference is abstract to me.  Yet, I feel like I understand the value and the elements that make up a successful team. 

We are all part of different teams and different levels of teams.  Our families are one team.  As teachers, we see our students as members of another kind of team.  We have work teams.  Teams are also at different levels.  For instance, for me I have my administrative team with whom I work most closely, but I also consider the entire Perry Central staff my team, and going one step broader, I am proud to be part of the team of the Perry Central community. 

Teams are not just about having good people, although that is certainly a plus.  A successful team is about how the people come together.  I can boil down the elements of team to two concepts:  sharing a common goal and relationships.  For a team to be successful its members need to share a common goal, and they need to care about each other.  I think both are essential.  At Perry Central relationships matter, making us one step closer to having a successful team.

I am especially proud to be part of a strong, caring administrative team, which includes a supportive school board.  It isn’t something I take for granted.  We share common goals of creating positive experiences for our students, and we care about each other.

I was fortunate to be able to represent my amazing team in Indianapolis on Tuesday night.  I am grateful for our shared vision and our strong relationship.  I was lucky enough to dine with the Governor, but I was there representing my awesome team!  

                

                                                                              Have a great week!

                                                                                               Mary                                    

1-11-2019

Mary’s Minute

“If you’re crazy enough to do what you love for a living, then you’re bound to create a life that matters.” 

                                                                                    ~ Herb Kelleher

Herb Kelleher not only loved what he did for a living, he loved the company and the people with whom he worked.  Herb was the long-time President of Southwest Airlines and is credited with making Southwest the fun airline.  Herb recently passed away, but leaves a legacy of being passionate about what you do.

I have always felt very fortunate to love what I do for a living.  It seems pretty easy to love what you do when you work with great people and are driven by a mission of helping children.  It is neat to think that a natural by-product of loving what you do, is creating a life that matters. 

Then again, maybe it is not that you love what you do that allows you to make a difference, but because you make a difference it is easier to love what you do.  The chicken or the egg isn’t important, but the exciting part is that they do go together. 

I always told my own children how important it is to find a job you love.  I also always told them that they had an obligation to make the world a better place.  Now I realize that the two are connected!  How cool is that?  Find a job you love and make a difference!  Or is it make a difference, and you are sure to love what you do?

                                                                            Have a great week!

                                                                                          Mary    

1-4-2019

Mary’s Minute

“Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees.”

                                                            ~ Swedish Proverb

Some of us are big picture people, and others are better at details.  Some of us can recognize the forest better, while others are experts at understanding the intricacies of the trees. 

The Swedish proverb warns us of the danger of getting too bogged down in the details to remember the big picture.  For me the big picture is often the “why” of what we do.

My daughter, Zosha, wrote about creating solid New Year’s resolutions in her blog.  (Motherly plug: You can follow her on Facebook at Choose Happy or on her website, Zoshamarie.com.)  One of her suggestions was to focus on the “why” of your resolutions to gain true focus and to remain motivated to complete the goal.

I thought this idea of remembering to see the forest, while visualizing the trees, was a good one.  I think it has relevance to all goal setting.  If we want to lose weight (the tree), we need to also remember the “why” of leading a healthy life, etc., (the forest) in order to stay focused and maybe even to set the right goal. 

In education we are constantly focused on goals, and as we focus on goals with our students we also need to constantly remind ourselves of the big picture.  For instance, we need to remember that the reason we teach phonics is to teach students to learn to read and to love reading.  The reason we teach government is to create a critical citizenship. 

The trees are important, but when the trees come together to create the big picture of the forest, we can push ourselves to an even higher plane.

                                                                Happy New Year!

                                                                                 Mary