Photo by Saketh Garuda on Unsplash No, not the bendy kind of flexible - I mean, the kind of flexible when you consider other people's perspectives, when you're open to new ideas, and when you're willing to consider many options for solving a problem. When you're facing complex problems and feeling frustrated, confused, tired, or stressed, the habit... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – Imagine the Possibilities
As children, our imaginations could take us anywhere and could solve any problem. We could dream up hundreds of creative solutions and ideas. Then we grew up, and for some of us, our creative, imaginative, and innovative spirits got pushed aside for more realistic and logical reasoning. Right now, our world looks completely different than... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – Let’s Not Get Ahead of Ourselves
Sometimes when we’re unsure of what to do we make hasty decisions. Hasty decisions can lead to regret, anger, and strained relationships - even when we made those decisions with the best intentions. Yikes! Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash How might we slow down and manage our impulsivity so that we can move forward without regrets? In this... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
The Beatles weren't wrong - we all need the help of our friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, or community to get by...especially when we're facing tough times. The Beatles might not have faired well towards the end, but they were able to work together and accomplish great things in their 7 years together. And while most... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – When the Going Gets Tough
In 1985 Billy Ocean released his song When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going and it was a hit (are you singing it yet?)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n3sUWR4FV4 Just in case you needed to hear it again. Think about that saying “when the going gets tough” - you think Billy Ocean was talking about times like... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – Laughter is the BEST Medicine
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter"E.E. Cummings Photo by Huyen Nguyen on Unsplash When things look bleak and you’re unsure of what to do, finding humor might just be the best answer! Not only does laughter burn calories, but it also helps us feel connected to others and provides us an outlet in difficult... Continue Reading →
The DEEL Reel – Is it Worth the Risk?
How do you move forward when you’re stuck? How do you find options when you don’t know what your next step should be? We often find ourselves faced with uncertainty - especially now while the world is facing such a dynamic health crisis. As educators, learning to support our students and colleagues in new territory... Continue Reading →
Introducing TLI 2020
At the heart of every school you’ll find teacher leaders. They serve on the School Improvement Team, they are coaches, they lead PLCs, they organize community events, and they are mentors; these teachers serve their schools and their students selflessly. Their passion and determination push them to better themselves and better their schools. Because teacher... Continue Reading →
Celebrating Key BTs
The Key Beginning Teacher (Key BT) Program began in the 2014 - 2015 school year as a way to engage and empower beginning teacher leaders. Since its inception, approximately 190 beginning teachers have participated in the Key BT program. The Key BT program is designed to work with highly effective Beginning Teachers to train and... Continue Reading →
Got DRIVE?
Drive - it’s what gets us out of bed in the morning instead of sleeping in, it’s what keeps us going in good times and in bad, and it’s what can make or break a school system. In his book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, author Daniel Pink points out that “We... Continue Reading →
Let’s Give Thanks
Here in Pitt County Schools, we are blessed to have many amazing educators throughout the county that we are SO very thankful for. And so we thought that with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we would give those educators a chance to share what they are thankful for. Recently, I reached out to many of... Continue Reading →
Got Data?
The world of education is filled with “buzz” words. Perhaps one of the most used (and potentially abused) “buzz” words is the word DATA; what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its usage in daily conversations about student learning. Schools are data-rich: state test scores, daily attendance, parent surveys, graduation rates, student... Continue Reading →