Keeping the Vision Alive

Soon the Labor Day weekend will be behind us, the humidity will drift away and take the shape of falling leaves and pep bands, and it will be time to embark on a new and exciting school year. Parents, students, and school staff will be refreshed, focused, and ambitious to take on the challenges the 2014-15 school year will have to offer and make it the best one yet.  Many might wonder, how do we sustain that energy we are experiencing for the school year now and make it last? What steps do we need to take to ensure we stay focused through the bitter cold mornings in January? Fortunately, I am honored and humbled to be part of a district and school that is deliberately and systematically putting things in place to ensure that our vision is kept alive. Now it is my job to follow suit and keep that vision cultivated for the students, teachers, and parents I get the privilege to interact with on a daily basis.

During our in-service this week I was able to sit in on the beginning of our Special Education Department meeting lead by Christine McMasters @clmcmasters, and I was inspired by the short video clip she was sharing with her staff from Jon Gordon @jongordon11 on making their vision visible. His idea of a one word personal vision really hit home with me, and it didn't take long for the word "Present" to immediately smack me across the face.

No, "Present" doesn't mean I am looking to receive or dish out presents on a regular basis this year, nor does it mean that I want to do a lot of presenting. However, for me, it is to "be present" and devote my entire self to what I am doing at any given time. As someone who admittedly likes to have things in order and a certain level of control in his life (sometimes to an obsessive state), this is something that will be difficult for me both at school and at home as the chaos and managerial tasks begin to set in. I owe it to my family and those I work with to give them my full attention when it matters, and that is why I chose "Present" as my one word for this year.

Luckily I don't need an extensive marketing budget to promote my vision for the school year to myself, so I went with Sharpie on red paper above my computer screens. On the far right are the five pillars that form our district strategic plan, in the middle are our building's administrative foci, and on the left is my one word vision. I know carrying out this plan will take much more than just making these things visible; however, I am hopeful and committed to ensuring that these constant reminders throughout my day and year will help keep my vision alive.