Buzzer Beater

"How hard would it be to call a fifth foul on one of those kids?"

I asked the question to myself as opposing players were introduced at a junior high boy's game. The host team only had five players total. As farms get bigger and families get smaller, population decline in rural areas creates interesting dynamics in schools. Two of the players on the team were girls.

Soon it was evident that the opposing point guard- pony tail and all- was an athlete. Her crossover kept defenders off balance and her passes to team mates were crisp, although most times they quickly passed it back to her. She had the best shot on the team, maybe on both teams.

The game was lopsided early, but there was an element of suspense. How would she hold up for four quarters?

I've used this space before to highlight how small schools are good for kids because each one is known and valued. Obviously a basketball team with only five members must value each kid, regardless of ability. But this extends beyond the team and even beyond the school.

Small communities are great about knowing and valuing each other's kids. You want your school to come out on top, but over the course of the seasons you get to know the names on the other rosters pretty well, and you wish them the best too.

This game was the perfect example. Throughout the game both teams' fans held their breath each time the point guard shot. Late in the game when it looked like she might be injured after a collision, both sets of fans expressed concern and applauded when she resumed play.

With less than a minute left, the Norborne Pirates led by more than thirty. The point guard had scored all but one of her team's points. As the final second ticked off the clock she threw up a three pointer. When it fell through the net, she was the game's leading scorer.

Everyone applauded.

First Six Months As Superintendent

A little over a year ago, our family made a choice to begin a new journey when I moved from a principalship where I was comfortable and successful to accept a superintendency in district two hours away. A busy, move filled, summer ended in July when my contract began. The six months since then have flown by.  I had been told that an advantage of being a superintendent is having thirty days to make decisions instead of thirty seconds- which is what it often feels like as a principal. Somehow I thought that might make the school year slow down a little. That hasn't been the case.

A frozen, then burst, water line and subsequent clean up interrupted Christmas break but I did want to take time to reflect on what I've learned so far.

DESE is extremely supportive. One of my biggest worries was missing a deadline or failing to complete a form correctly. What I've found is that our regional supervisor is great about helping with navigating reporting cycles. Also, folks in the various departments at DESE are only a phone call away and generously provide direct numbers.

School board members have important jobs. I've been fortunate to enjoy a relationship with board members that has been mutually supportive. An important ingredient in the relationship is communication. Texts, emails, conversations at ball games are always worth the effort. Board members want what is best for kids and teachers and they depend on accurate information to do that.

Running a district is a team effort. Seemingly simple tasks like repairing a door or putting tires on a bus often involve more than what is originally expected. Often a project impacts employees that seem to have little connection. Communication and a culture of team work are vital. You don't get into school administration unless you're passionate about student learning. Sometimes the details of transportation, facilities, and finance seem far removed from kids, but all the details impact the work of teachers and support staff. Learning and respecting the work of all district employees is important because most district accomplishments are only possible with the good work of many people.

The best resource is the community of superintendents. I've been blown away by how willing other superintendents have been to share advice, resources, and friendship. One of the things I miss most about being a classroom teacher is the fellowship of teachers in the building. Being a superintendent means giving up proximity to colleagues, but the emails, texts, and conversations at regional meetings help bridge the gap. I think the biggest mistake a new superintendent could make would be to choose to be isolated from more experienced mentors.

An incomplete list of new experiences in the last six months.
-Setting the tax rate
-Presenting a revised budget
-Purchasing a bus
-Completing a building project
-Preparing agendas for six school board meetings
-Advertising for roofing and HVAC bids
-Auctioning a district owned building
-Securing a tech support company
-Getting my bus drivers liscence
-Working with an insurance company and clean up contractor in response to a busted water line at Christmas break

Eight

"Some people try to find things in this game that don't exist, but football is only two things - blocking and tackling."

-Vince Lombardi

Twenty three Missouri schools play eight man football. 

At the fundamental level the game is not any different than the game I played, but the differences sure make a difference. Eight players on a field that is forty by eighty yards. The games are fast paced and can get lopsided early. In eleven man football having a fast kid who can get to the corner or behind the secondary is an advantage. In eight man, the corner is closer to the center and the secondary is usually two line backers who start the play a couple quick steps from behind the line of scrimmage. Tough, disciplined play from the line will win a game, but if it's combined with speed- look for a running clock. 

The game is a little different and so is the atmosphere. Bean and corn fields usually stretch to the horizon. There are chat tracks and trains within ear shot. The crowds, some watching from tailgates or utility vehicles, are small but passionate and knowledgable. Eight man is played in farm country, so you're as likely to see a McMansion driving to the game as a free safety or a team lining up to kick an extra point. 

“You must learn how to hold a team together. You must lift some men up, calm others down, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat. Then you’ve got yourself a team.”

-Bear Bryant

I spent most of this season watching the game on the same field that produced Max Lane, who played for the Patriots' 1996 Super Bowl Team. I watched some great athletes play this season, but I also watched young men of all abilities learn to support each other and overcome challenges. I watched communities support their kids, including the band and cheerleaders from the national anthem till the end of the fourth quarter. I also watched something that I didn't see as much in my own experience as a third string tight end who was small but really slow- one of over five hundred in my graduating class. All sports build camaraderie, but in eight man the platoon mentality is magnified.

What I saw in eight man football is a lot like what I see in the small schools that produce the teams. I see communities where each kid is known and valued.

That difference is valuable in itself. 

Completion Date: First Construction Project

In July when I began as superintendent, the district was entering the final stages of a building project. A bond issue had been passed to build a weight room/fitness center. Community access was an important aspect of the project. In October, the building opened to the public.

Watching the project reach completion was exciting, but it was not without challenges. Important features were not included in the contracted scope of the work: locks, key card systems, internet infrastructure, and security cameras. Outside the building, landscaping, particularly storm water drainage, needed attention.

I learned a great deal from the experience:

Collaboration:
The work demanded much coordination between and with contractors. Also, community members and board members played important roles in making sure the final result met or exceeded the original vision.

Questions:
Asking questions proved to be valuable. Why is this step needed? What alternatives are there? What additional costs will be incurred? After almost every conversation, I wished I asked more questions. And when I did ask questions, I always learned more than the information I originally sought.

Communication:
Answering emails, returning phone calls, gathering information: all these activities were important. Sharing information on costs and timelines (which sometimes were adjusted) took a great deal of time and effort.

Capital improvement projects are important events in the life of a school district. Watching the completion of this project will help me be prepared for the start of any future projects.

Notes From MARE 2016

I was fortunate to attend the 2016 Missouri Association of Rural Education conference. Below are a few takeaways I found valuable.

Address from DESE commissioner:
Dr. Vandeven addressed the group. I was impressed with her understanding of the challenges faced by small rural schools. Vandeven was willing to openly discuss the challenges presented by creating MSIP, and she solicited questions from the group. Her candor was appreciated.

Keynote:
Kent Stock coached Norway High School to an Iowa state championship in baseball during its final year of existence. His experience was made into a movie, The Final Season. His talk focused on the value of relationships and learning from failures.

Legal Issues:
A school attorney led a breakout session which focused on the legal issues surrounding communication with board members. She stressed that if a board member used "reply all" to an email the communication would be subject to sunshine law. She also cautioned that informal gatherings of four or more board members could be an "unposted" board meeting, which is a violation of state statute.

Address from Missouri Teacher of the Year:
Darbie Valenti shared her experience of growing up in an abusive environment and her journey to becoming a nationally recognized educator. Her message inspired the audience to cultivate environments where all students were supported and challenged to learn.

Finance:
A session was held on calculating the costs of salary schedule improvements. Participants worked through a scenario which included requests from teachers and limits from board members. One strategy which was explored was adding to the base, but not granting steps in the same year. Over the course of two years teachers gained their requested increase, but the district budget was stabilized in the first year.

Teacher Motivation:
A session on staff motivation reminded administrators of the importance of considering the perspective of teachers. Supporting teachers properly begins with seeing challenges from their perspective.

Fellowship:
While all the sessions were valuable, I found more value in the down time between sessions, visiting with other superintendents, especially those with more experience. The encouragement and advice was appreciated.

First Day As Superintendent

Seventeen years ago I had my first first day of school as an educator, teaching English at Simonsen 9th grade center in Jefferson City, a building with 700 ninth graders. I was excited about the challenges ahead of me, humbled by the responsibility I had been given, and a little nervous: halfway through my first class I spilled cofee on a student. 

This year I found myself in a new role as superintendent of Norborne RVIII, a district just shy of 200 students. In all honesty, I felt much more relaxed on this first day; however, it came on the heels of a six week ramp up that was anything but. When the kids got off the busses and headed to class it was satisfying moment and I took time to reflect on all the hard work I had witnessed from so many people that summer: coaches, principals, and teachers for sure, but also, and especially, custodians, secretaries, cooks, paras, and bus drivers. It takes so many folks to make a district go. Turns out, the superintendancy is the best seat in the house for watching all the activity.

Looking ahead at the year before me I am again excited about the challenges, humbled by the responsibility, and a little nervous. 

But at least I haven't spilled coffee on anyone, yet. 

(My first day was also my son's first day of kindergarten.)

Legal Issues Impacting Educators in 2016/17

A few notes from two school law seminars: Mickes O'Toole, July 31; EdCounsel, July 29.

Student Data:
There is increasing pressure on schools to protect student data. The Missouri State Auditor's office is auditing schools' data security measures. Schools must be able to identify the individuals, policies, and practices that are used to protect student data.

Payroll:
FLSA regulations now require that "salaried" employees must be paid $47,476 a year, or have their hours tracked and be paid for overtime. The regulations do not apply to teachers, but this could impact non-certificated employees.  Every school employee is vital to serving students and all deserve fair compensation, but districts will be forced to hire additional employees to eliminate the need for overtime or raise salaries and expectations. Both measures will redirect funds that might go directly to instruction. It's unlikely that state/federal revenues will be adjusted to address this need so district leaders must be prepared to think strategically.

Reporting of Assaults:
Missouri schools have been required to report assaults to law enforcement for student interactions that did not result in injuries and may not have been motivated by malicious intent. Beginning January 2017, the threshold for reporting assaults will be higher. Interactions where students knowingly cause physical injury will be reported as assaults.  Districts should review their policies for reporting.

Transgender:
No other issue is as unsettled as the support for transgender students in public schools. While some legal advisors encourage adaptation of specific policies, all attorneys rightly acknowledge that no court with authority over Missouri has ruled on the issue. Adopting a policy may not be appropriate at this time.  Whether a district adopts a policy or not, educators must be prepared to work with parents and students to ensure expectations, supports, and protections are well communicated.

Bullying and Suicide Prevention:
House Bill 1583 tightens expectations for districts regarding the response to bullying.  With this law and the increasing trend of suits being brought against districts for failing to properly address bullying and harassment, districts must be more vigilant in documenting how bullying complaints are addressed. Efforts to address complaints that do not include punishment (student conferences and parent notification) should be carefully documented, especially in incidents of cyberbullying. Often cyberbullying takes place outside school hours on student owned devices. Schools may find it difficult to punish students for many of these incidents, but best practice will be to document efforts made to communicate to parents or appropriate law enforcement agencies.  School personnel who observe bullying must report it within two days. Investigations must be complete in ten days.

SB 638
Senate bill 638 enacts requirements for civics education, the constitution project, dyslexia, and the pledge of allegiance.