Making Progress! Leadership Day 2012

Today is Leadership Day 2012. Dr. Scott McLeod, Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency 8 in Iowa, has been calling people to write Leadership Day posts since 2007. (This year’s post is here.)

Last year I wrote my first Leadership Day post as an open letter to my administrator whom I had yet to met. I didn’t know anything about her. Now, I have had the joy of meeting her and working with her for one year.

As I re-read my post from last year, I am excited! A lot has happened since then, including some great professional development last year. We took a quick tour of the five Characteristics of Effective Instruction described in the Iowa Core. We also did some technology trainings. And, one of the best things, we bought two new laptop carts with Macs. One is housed in my room, with easy access for my students!

My class became more student-centered, due in part to our in-school PD, but even more as a result of my PLN and all I’m learning and sharing as a connected educator. This year I am excited to work more on rigor and relevance in my student-centered, genius classroom. We’ll be studying that characteristic in depth at school. I know I will grow yet again as an educator. I have appreciated our new administrator’s leadership.

And, bonus! On Monday I came into the office after the summer and she told me she was tweeting now. I was tickled! She is becoming a connected educator, and she’s already been tweeting out resources for others to benefit from! I’m looking forward to the new things we will learn together. Follow her at @LisaHamerlinck1

Tonight is open house at our school.

Lisa, I am planning to spend tonight and the first five days of school inspiring learning in my geniuses, not telling students what they can’t do. When they come into my room, this slideshow will be rolling.

Read more Leadership Day 2012 posts here.

9 thoughts on “Making Progress! Leadership Day 2012

    1. Thanks, Joy! I appreciate so much your reading, and letting me know about it!

      Denise

  1. What a wonderful welcome or you students. The beginning of a wonderful year.

    Laura

  2. I had back-to-school night tonight too, and I am tired! That comment should say: wonderful welcome for your students!

  3. Thanks, Laura! I understand about being tired. I’m tired too, so I read it just the way you meant it! Thanks for reading and commenting! I hope your new start goes swimmingly!

    Denise

  4. Hi Denise,

    I love the idea of showing a slideshow as the kids come in, and to use your words, “inspiring learning in my geniuses, not telling students what they can’t do”.
    Fabulous 🙂

    Last year, I showed the kids a short prezi on the first day with a welcome message and this will.i.am/sesame street you tube clip
    http://youtu.be/cyVzjoj96vs

    Time to start thinking about how I will start this year (we don’t start until Sept 4). Exciting 🙂

    Thanks for always inspiring me to try new things! You inspire us!

    ~Gallit

    1. Thanks, Gallit,
      I always appreciate your comments. I’m really excited for this year too. I look forward to patiently inspiring learning in my geniuses! So many wonderful opportunities are before us! They come on Monday, not too excited, some of them. Hopefully they will come around and get some passion!

      Regards,
      Denise

  5. Hello, Denise. I really appreciated your slides especially slides 8 and 16. We need our students to be more than just consumers. They must become creators and curators. Your slides communicate this idea wonderfully with both words and images. Kudos! (And thanks for stopping by my blog!)

    1. Philip,
      Thanks so much for coming and visiting my blog too. Yes, it’s hard to help students see that they are geniuses and that the world needs their contribution. I am looking forward to the challenge, though. They will be coming soon!

      Regards,
      Denise

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