The sad, stressful year of 2020 has finally come to an end. What will 2021 bring? Who knows, but how it goes for us will be greatly influenced by our perception and mindset. Will we focus on the positives or
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New Year, New Hope
I’m really ready for 2020 to end. I know I’m not alone. This has been the most challenging year of my lifetime. The stress and frustration brought on by COVID has extended into all corners of our lives. And while
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Super Market Teach
Petrified, I hover in aisle 7 waiting for a crowd to leave aisle 8. Aisle 8 may contain my last item on my grocery list, but it also contains 7 other adults — one of whom is wearing a mask
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Christmas with COVID
It’s almost here…Winter Break (you thought I was going to say Christmas)! Yes, Christmas too. Like most others, this is a time that my family and I look forward to every season. Live plays and performances…walking through Zoo Lights and
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We Roll On
It’s pushing 4:30 in the afternoon as I pedal up to River and La Cholla, my favorite spot on my ride home from school. If I’m lucky, something like this version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity will land on my
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What Are You Reading?
As I write these words, Arizona officially is number 1 in the nation for the spread of COVID-19. Cases are spiking higher than we’ve seen since July. Teachers staged sick-outs this week as school boards voted to ignore state benchmarks
Read MoreWhy I Should Take a Break from Social Media
Well, folks. We have almost made it to the end of this never-seen-before type of semester. (I am not going to use the “u” word.) As I sit at home awaiting COVID test results* and continuing to hold WebEx sessions
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A Call for Teacher Leadership in COVID Times
Why would COVID times be a good time to become a teacher leader? Isn’t it enough to just show up and make it through each day? And after all, schools have principals. Isn’t it the administrator’s job to lead? If
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A First Year Like No Other
This year we hired 40 new teachers to our district. Actually, this year we are continuing to hire “40 plus” new teachers to our district. During this difficult time, I am grateful for the number of teachers who have stepped
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Celebrating Small Wins
I was tired, worn out, and hungry when I joined a Zoom meeting for our district instructional leadership team. We meet monthly with our assistant superintendent and instructional coordinator to implement instructional practices, modify existing structures, amplify teacher voice, and
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