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00:00:17 --> 00:00:23 Grundmeyer Leader Services, where together we are transforming education, one leader at a time.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 Now, get ready to amplify your day with your morning boost.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 Welcome back to your morning boost. Happy Thursday, everybody.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:40 Today is November 20th, and again, we are still talking about our American Education Wink.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:45 And recognizing the work that you do every single day as a school leader,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 school teacher, assistant principal, principal, superintendent,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 all the way, custodian, it does not matter who you are.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 If you're involved in schools and doing the hard work every day,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 you certainly deserve a little bit of recognition for doing so.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:05 Welcome back to Dr. Lisa Hill, joining us all week long on the podcast as we
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 talk about ways that our APs can be successful.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 A reminder, her podcast, Vice Principal on Office, can be found,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 I think, just about anywhere that podcasts can be found.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 So choose your favorite platform to listen to that.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 And Dr. Hill, that comes out about every other week or so, right?
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 About every two weeks? It's a biweekly podcast.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 That's what I thought. That's what I thought. So if you haven't had a chance
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 to check that one out, I would strongly recommend that you do so.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 And there's always little funny tidbits and a lot of learning that goes on during
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 that show. So, if you haven't done so already, do so as soon as you can.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 Today, we're going to move on and we're going to try to get past simply just
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 collecting metrics and just doing the daily grind and start talking about some
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 strategies where we can really have an impact on student achievement as APs.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:56 So, there's your hint into the question and we will dive right into that one
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 right after we get back from this commercial break.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:05 Hi, I'm Dr. Lisa Hill, a longtime educator of nearly 40 years as a teacher,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:09 counselor, professor, and vice principal. And I've seen just about everything
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 public schools can throw at you.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:16 And now I'm sharing my tales on my comedy podcast, Vice Principal Unofficed.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:20 It's where school leadership meets laugh out loud stories from underwear required
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 parent teacher conferences. Yes, really.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 To staff lounge confessions and more. you won't believe. I'm telling it all
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 with humor and a whole lot of heart.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 I also tackle the serious stuff too, like what schools really need to change
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 and those behind-the-scenes moments no one talks about.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 So if you're ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even cry a little,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:45 but mostly laugh, join me and my 90-year-old mom, my unofficial co-host,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 on Vice Principal Unofficed.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:53 New episodes drop bi-weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast picks.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 Trust me, this is one detention you'll actually look forward to.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 All right, welcome back to your Morning Boost. And like I said,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:06 we've talked about a lot of things this week, And one of them that I think is really tough as an AP,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 and it wasn't all that many years ago, I was in that exact same role and always
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 wanted to try to make sure that I was doing that job of an instructional leader.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 And it's just hard sometimes within that role.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 So here's your question to answer.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:24 The AP role is often hijacked by dealing with discipline.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:30 So what is one practical scheduling hack or delegation strategy,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:36 something that you've used to ensure that you dedicate protected time to instructional
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 leadership and teacher coaching?
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 Boy, that's a really good question, and it's really tough to do,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:49 especially for someone just starting out as an AP, because we are instructional leaders first.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:54 So first, let me say, some APs get very comfortable with the discipline role,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 and they're afraid to grow as an instructional leader.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 And so you can just sit back and let all the discipline take over your life
00:04:02 --> 00:04:08 and never move forward with the instructional stuff. So you've got to be aware of that.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:15 But a hack or a scheduling thing that I would use is fill up your calendar.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:19 If there's a PLC that you're in charge of, you need to get there unless the
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 building's on fire or there's a fight or something major's come up.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:29 Because things can wait. Teachers can wait. Not everything's an issue.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Some teachers may say, this kid's out of control.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 And when you go in the room, they're really not out of control.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 So it's all perspective.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:42 But you have to keep your self focused
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 on growing and so
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 that calendar really drives things and
00:04:48 --> 00:04:52 I would share my calendar with everybody I don't care who sees it I'm very transparent
00:04:52 --> 00:04:57 so that they would know and hopefully you have a principal who supports you
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 in growing as an instructional leader because sometimes you might get a principal
00:05:01 --> 00:05:07 and they just leave you with all the heavy lifting of discipline, and off they go.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 And so you've got to be really aware of that and make sure that your principal
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 becomes your mentor so you can grow.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 You're going to spend a lot of time reading outside of school.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:20 You're going to spend a lot of time in meetings outside of school.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:27 But that's part of the growth process. I think as an AP, it's almost like you're
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 still in school learning to
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 become the head leader, learning all the different ins and outs of school.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:38 And if you get your system down and your teachers understand and you train your
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 teachers to deal with emergency things, which really aren't emergencies,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 what is the behavior system that you have set up within your school?
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 What are the processes? How do you empower your teachers?
00:05:50 --> 00:05:58 Do you have anybody that might be wanting to become an administrator and needs hours and lean on them?
00:05:58 --> 00:06:03 But you've got to let your office staff know this is not an emergency. This is an emergency.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 Sometimes the secretaries would call and say, oh, my God, this parent needs
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 you ready. They don't. Their kids might be in trouble. They can wait.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:17 It's just, I think it's prioritizing. And it's busy. It's a lot of plate spinning.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 It really is. But if you get a system down, like a PBIS system,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 I'm currently working in a school. It's very tight.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 PBIS works. The teachers know what they're to do. The kids know.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 Parents know. So it works. If it's loose, you're just going to be bogged down in discipline.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:38 I don't know if I'm answering your question because it's just so, it's messy.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:44 Leadership is so messy. And discipline is messy because you have no idea what's
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 coming one day to the next. Could be a girl fight. Could be plagiarism.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:53 Who knows? But then you also have to look, can the kid who cheated on a test wait? Yes.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 The teacher might not think so, but they can wait. The fight,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 yeah, you might have to go deal with that. And then get yourself into classrooms,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 because when kids see you, they'll know who you are.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:10 It does change behaviors, and you work along with teachers to get the discipline,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 I guess, to get things to run smooth.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:26 So what I hear you saying is you're going to have to protect some time and to
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 do so, you honestly have to kind of educate those around you as well.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 So whether it's your front office staff, again, like you had mentioned about
00:07:33 --> 00:07:38 what's really an emergency, what isn't an emergency and empower them a little
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 bit to make some of those decisions. That's a great opportunity for them.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 You know, yeah, no, we don't have to deal with this one. And right now,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 this kiddo can sit outside the office and I'll be back with them as soon as
00:07:49 --> 00:07:54 I'm done with this observation or this PLC meeting because it's not a true emergency.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 That's great. And that's hard. You have that, you know, that parent that comes
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 busting in the door that's just wanting to see the principal right now.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 Well, they're just not available right now. And we don't need to at this point in time.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:10 And frankly, with that much emotion, probably now is not the best time for that
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 meeting in the first place.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 True, true. True. And I think the same goes with the emotions of teachers.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:21 And you do have to let your teachers know if you take over the discipline and
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 you might not need to, then you take the power away from the teacher.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 So you really have to partner with those teachers.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:31 And they'll understand they want you at their PLC meeting. Yeah.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:38 Yeah. So it is prioritizing and working alongside people and training them on the system,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:42 letting them have a voice, understanding what's urgent, what's not urgent,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:47 and then sticking to it. That's the hard part.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:53 You do want to rescue people, but you can't. No, you're right. You're right.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:58 Well, again, it's just awesome stuff and just a wealth of knowledge here.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 So I love it. We've got through four. We got one more to go.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 So I'll see if I can give you one to stump you on Friday because I haven't done
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 so far. You just nailed these again.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:11 But all right. Well, thank you one more time to Dr. Lisa Hill for joining us
00:09:11 --> 00:09:15 this week on your Morning Boost and Boosters. Thank you for joining us as well.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 Keep going out there and keep doing the good work every single day.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 Thank you very much for doing so.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 But again, thank you for listening, and we will talk with you again tomorrow.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 Brought to you with the generous support of Grundmeyer Leader Services.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 Join us again tomorrow for more. Until then, keep boosting your impact.