I have become discouraged. I have allowed school and other distractions to hinder my personal growth, begun as a result of the habits workshop. I keep saying I'll get back to journaling and a more consistent exercise routine. I did quite well for over a year. While I appreciate that success and recognize the importance of continuing it, I seem to need a refresher. Maybe I can find support with my workshop partner to help. That is a wise idea that we have those with whom we can commiserate, something we all need.

I been thinking on what to say for my final blog. Education has been a part of my life for 34 years of teaching. I would not change many things. People who became teachers did it for the love of children. Each year we have different students with different backgrounds in which we have to adjust. As in sports you work with the type of players or students you. You treat each child different but you always want to be fair and gain each one 's respect. When I leave this profession, I want people to say that I was fair and loved each student as if they were my own.

Final October Implementation Post--Make It Count!

Dear Colleagues,

This is your final post for the 2009-2010 Blount County PLU--unless you are very far behind and need to catch up. I will award the 2 PLUs at the end of the month, so please be sure that you have caught up on any posts and that you complete your final October Implementation Post. I will send reminders out soon to any of you with missing posts.

For this final post, you have two options:

1) Please add a comment under this post detailing ONE strategy that you are currently implementing or plan to implement at your school that grew out of our work with the Ethics Standards, 7 Habits, or The Leader in Me book study.

2) Add a comment under this post which explores any personal growth that has come from our work with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me, or the Ethics Standards.

Remember, if your comment posts above these directions, then you need to remove it and post it as a "comment" under this original post. Again, you do this by logging into your account and clicking on the title of the post or the number of comments underneath.

Thanks for a great PLU kickoff, and I look forward to reaching our destination and awarding these ACLD-approved PLUs!

I have long admired my sixth grade teacher. I had enjoyed academic success and some recognitions in school previously but had not really like school until the sixth grade. She made me feel special. She praised my writing; she asked that I repeat a very nervous class performance for parents who stopped by to visit that day; she created various challenging activities. I recall one low-income, low achieving classmate who frequently missed school that she elevated. We spent part of a morning outside as he showed us how to carve simple whistles. Not only did I, and I suspect others, love her, but she made us feel she loved us also. She exemplified to me what a good teacher is and all three quotations.

Educators must start each year with a clean slate. We need to work toward the possible in a child and expect the impossible. It is of extreme importance that we do not limit a child with OUR expectations. If you only look, they will never cease to amaze you.

August Blog Post

3 August 2010

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
Standard 6: Public Funds and Property
Standard 7: Remunerative Conduct
Standard 8: Maintenance of Confidentiality
Standard 9: Abandonment of Contract


The Leader in Me—Chapter 10
Stephen R. Covey

“Live life in crescendo.”—Stephen R. Covey

Chapter 10 literally brings The Leader in Me home. Think of how you can apply these principles in your own family. How can you apply them to your family relationships? Please create a blog post addressing one of the following prompts:

1. Respond to one of the three quotes at the bottom of page 210.
2. How is the ubiquitous Leader in Me implementation different from character education?
3. How should “modeling” be used at home and in school to empower a Leader in Me implementation?
4. What are the benefits of a family mission statement?

Covey impressed me with his portion under "Not One More Thing." I especially liked the quotation from Richard DuFour qand Robert Eake, authors of Professional Learning Community. The two spoke of the American curricular tendency to attempt too much. Covey also freferred to statistics cited by Robert J. Marzano of "essential' and "non-essential" standards in fifth grade U.S. mathematics.
I think we do need to do more to prioritize. Just because a textbook has material does not mean we ahve to teach it. I taught U.S. history form beginning to end in one year twenty years ago. Now we think we need two years.
We also need to convey this message to state committees as they look toward new courses of study.

May Blog

6 May 2010

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
Standard 6: Public Funds and Property
Standard 7: Remunerative Conduct
Standard 8: Maintenance of Confidentiality

Standard 9: Abandonment of Contract
An educator should fulfill all of the terms and obligations detailed in the contract with the local board of education or educational agency for the duration of the contract.
Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Abandoning the contract for professional services without prior release from the contract by the employer;
• Refusing to perform services required by the contract.


The Leader in Me—Chapter 9
Stephen R. Covey

“When literally hundreds of students arrive in unison each morning like a giant wave, or when they depart en masse at the end of the day like the tide going out, it must be difficult for educators to always keep in mind that ultimately, in the final analysis, every child is a one—a unique spirit with gifts.”—Stephen R. Covey

Please choose one of the following key phrases from Chapter 9. Reflect on the phrase and how it relates to your thoughts on the book as a whole. Please post a comment on the blog related to your chosen phrase.

1. “Modern-Day Miracle Worker”
2. “The Tradition of Caring”
3. “Not One More Thing”
4. “Universal Nature”

April Posting Directions

8 April 2010

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
Standard 6: Public Funds and Property
Standard 7: Remunerative Conduct

Standard 8: Maintenance of Confidentiality
An educator should comply with state and federal laws and local school board policies relating to confidentiality of student and personnel records, standardized test material, and other information covered by confidentiality agreements.

Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Keeping in confidence information about students that has been obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
• Maintaining diligently the security of standardized test supplies and resources.

Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Sharing confidential information concerning student academic and disciplinary records, health and medical information, family status/income, and assessment/testing results unless disclosure is required or permitted by law.
• Violating confidentiality agreements related to standardized testing including copying or teaching identified test items, publishing or distributing test items or answers, discussing test items, and violating local school system or state directions for the use of tests or test items.
• Violating other confidentiality agreements required by state or local policy.


The Leader in Me—Chapter 8
Stephen R. Covey

“If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to get the same results.”—W. Edwards Deming

Questions to consider for Chapter 8

1. What are The 4 Imperatives of Leadership?
2. Why do the majority of change initiatives fail?
3. How can you successfully implement and sustain change in your school?

There are many different opportunities during the school day to give many different students opportunities to become leaders. While one student may be a natural leader in math or history class, another student may be a successful leader in a physical education class or a reading class. Our sixth grade teachers have found additional opportunities to encourage student leadership while planning and preparing for the sixth grade play. We have been pleasantly surprised over the past few years at the unlikely students who step up and show so much leadership while practicing and taking part in this very important sixth grade presentation.

March Posting Directions

Please remember to log in, click on "March Posting Directions" or "Comments" at the bottom and then add a comment to this original post. If you have posted correctly, your comment will appear underneath these original directions.

For ease of location, please post all make-up comments under an original post from January, February, or March.

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
Standard 6: Public Funds and Property

Standard 7: Remunerative Conduct
An educator should maintain integrity with students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities, favors, and additional compensation.

Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Insuring that institutional privileges are not used for personal gain.
• Insuring that school policies or procedures are not impacted by gifts or gratuities from any person or organization.

Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Soliciting students or parents of students to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from the educator or to participate in activities that financially benefit the educator unless approved by the local governing body.
• Accepting gifts from vendors or potential vendors for personal use or gain where there appears to be a conflict of interest.
• Tutoring students assigned to the educator for remuneration unless approved by the local board of education.


The Leader in Me—Chapter 7
Stephen R. Covey

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”—Gandhi

Questions to consider for Chapter 7

1. How have middle and high schools integrated the 7 Habits into their schedules?
2. What impact have these efforts had on students?
3. How can you apply one thing from this chapter that could improve your school culture?

Implementation of new ideas and other strategies is always where improvement gets bogged down and progess slows. One common thread among the schools discussed in chapter 6 of THE LEADER IN ME is common purpose and action. In interviews, representatives of every school featured talked about how the work on implementation of the leadership them brought the faculty together for a shared vision. When faculties can achieve this common bond and purpose, great things can happen at school for the students.

Rodney Green: School Culture

As has already been said, school culture is reflected by everyone and everything that happens at the school. Culture must be nutured through our behaviors, language, stories and celebrations. I believe our school culture in Blount County is very positive and there is an environment that promotes student success and learning. Our buildings and grounds are well kept and provide an orderly, safe and secure haven for our students. Our schools are now constantly looking at student achievement and ways to keep our students engaged. Our attitudes have changed and we are looking at each child and trying to make sure they have every opportunity to be successful. Thanks to all of you!

Leadership Style

The leadership theme can work for all schools regardless of the leadership style used by the administrator. You must implement the leadership theme and the 7 habits in your own way. Teachers must live and love the habits in order to teach and internalize them into their students. Using your own voice and personality will help you and your students feel ownership instead of duplicating and initiative from another school.

February Posting Directions

Please add a comment related to the Code of Ethics Standards or Chapter 6 of The Leader in Me.

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship
Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession

Standard 6: Public Funds and Property
An educator entrusted with public funds and property should honor that trust with a high level of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility.
Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Maximizing the positive effect of school funds through judicious use of said funds.
• Modeling for students and colleagues the responsible use of public property.

Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Misusing public or school-related funds.
• Failing to account for funds collected from students or parents.
• Submitting fraudulent requests for reimbursement of expenses or for pay.
• Co-mingling public or school-related funds with personal funds or checking accounts.
• Using school property without the approval of the local board of education/governing body.


The Leader in Me—Chapter 6
Stephen R. Covey

“In years to come, your students may forget what you taught them. But they will always remember how you made them feel.”—Sign in A.B. Combs faculty room, author unknown

Questions to consider for Chapter 6

What are the lessons learned from this chapter about duplicating an initiative from another school?
What are some of the tangible results from implementing a leadership theme?
How are the roles of leadership and partnerships with community stakeholders and parents important in implementing such a change initiative?

January Posting Instructions

Please review the information posted below. Read Chapter 5 in The Leader in Me. Read the optional article on school culture (access it through the link at the bottom of this post). Post a comment to this discussion thread which addresses Ethics Standard 5, one of the three questions from Chapter 5, or the linked article on school culture. Please remember to sign in, view blog, and post as a COMMENT not as a New Post.

Code of Ethics Standards

Standard 1: Professional Conduct
Standard 2: Trustworthiness
Standard 3: Unlawful Acts
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship

Standard 5: Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use or Possession
An educator should refrain from the use of alcohol and/or tobacco during the course of professional practice and should never use illegal or unauthorized drugs.
Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Factually representing the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use and abuse to students during the course of professional practice.

Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Being under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal or unauthorized drugs.
• Being on school premises or at a school-related activity involving students while documented as being under the influence of, possessing, or consuming alcoholic beverages or using tobacco. A school-related activity includes, but is not limited to, any activity that is sponsored by a school or a school system or any activity designed to enhance the school curriculum such as club trips, etc., where students are involved.


The Leader in Me—Chapter 5
Stephen R. Covey

“If you don’t know how to execute, the whole of your efforts as a leader will always be less than the sum of its parts.”—Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan

Questions to consider for Chapter 5

1. What makes a “world-class” school culture?
2. What are the five factors to consider when exploring school culture?
3. Is your culture more positive or more toxic, and how can you work as a change agent to improve your school culture?

School Culture Article

School Culture Triage Survey