The Solution

To finish last week’s wonderful world of work, I engaged in our state conference on education for administrators.  It’s always a fabulous few days of enlightenment and connectivity.  It’s the conference that I most look forward to.  Not only does our state organization (North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders) put on a great conference, but the conference gives us a chance to collaborate and communicate commonalities and differences that exist in our schools.  We talk about all sorts of positives and problems that exist in our local schools.  We try to be proactive and solution based as we think about the critical components of educating all children.

We truly do have the best interest of every student at the forefront of our minds.  It’s amazing to see over 400 people sitting in a room, knowing that each of us has the desire to not only improve student learning, but to make a profound difference in the youth of our nation. North Dakota you are truly blessed to have the individuals that you do representing your children.

Throughout the course of the conference we will talk about topics that include curriculum development, school safety and security, classroom management, blended learning, data analysis, formative and summative assessment, school improvement and much more.  Not to discredit the solutions and action plans that come from these topics, but I often walk away thinking we missed a critical component.  Whether it is enhancing school safety or increasing student achievement I feel one characteristic that certainly covers all others tends to be on everyone’s mind, but often taken for granted as a viable solution.

You see, I honestly believe that the best security and safety measure that a school can take is building relationships of trust and care with students.  We can put in metal detectors, arm school personnel with guns, and put buzzer systems on our doors, but I feel that these are all reactionary solutions.  What if we started from an entirely different angle?  What if we start by building positive relationships with our students…every student?  If we can show them that we care, if we can show them that they matter, if we can show them that their dreams can become reality and their nightmares a falsity then we will instill hope in them.  Hope gives us all a purpose.  Hope inspires.  What if we inspire our students on the forefront?  What if instead of being reactionary we put all of our efforts into being proactive?  How would this change things?

No doubt, we cannot minimize the importance of school safety.  If children feel safe and secure then they will be more apt to learn.  But I can’t help think a little inspiration could be a fix to the list of all the topics above.  If we recognize the uniqueness of each individual and celebrate that each and every day, I can guarantee that our students will do better in school.  We will see test scores rise.  You will see less violence in school.  Our data would indicate schools are achieving at high levels.

I’ve done zero formal research, but I can tell you that I perform better when I’m being praised.  I perform better when I know people care about me.  I perform better when I’m allowed to be creative.  Simply, I perform better when I’m inspired.  I feel a sense of worth.  I believe I can contribute.  I daydream about possibilities and I want others to feel the same way.

I do think that we take this for granted.  I believe as educators we believe that we are already doing this, and therefor tend to talk about “surface solutions” (I like to call them), rather than digging deeper into the social and emotional well-being of our students.

As we walk away from our conferences let’s make sure that first and foremost our job as educators is to inspire children.  Let this be task number one.  If we can do this effectively tasks number two, three, four, and so on will be much easier to accomplish.

Thank you North Dakota educators and NDCEL for doing what you do.  It is because of your encouragement, advice, and inspiration that I’m ready to enter another wonderful week of work and have many more fabulous days ahead of me. 

   

He Provides

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 NKJV

Last Wednesday night my two boys hugged their grandpa as we were leaving their cousins house.  It’s been a regular routine for them – they hug their papa and grandma when we leave their presence.  But, little did my kids know the hug they shared could have possibly been their last.  Their papa was about to have risky surgery the next day to remove his cancer.

Their papa is an incredible man.  Not only is he a great grandpa to my kids, but he’s the father-in-law that you could only dream of having.  He has lived a life of service, and will always put himself second to everyone else and their needs.  He’s a farmer.  Like all farmers – they work their tails off for the benefit of everyone else.  They put countless hours of work in so that households across the world will have food on their plates.  Really when I think of Jim Kjos (Papa) – the phrase that continues to pop into my mind is “he provides.”

Without a doubt he provides.  He provides support.  He provides love.  He provides an inspiration that is contagious, and let me tell you – he has inspired my two little boys beyond belief.

 

This past summer he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Doctors gave him two to five years to live and told him that his cancer was not operational.  He began to undergo chemo treatments and did so for many months.  It must be noted that these chemo treatments came during the peak farming period but they didn’t stop him.  He provided when his body told him not to.  He rolled out of bed when it would have been much easier to fall back asleep.  When his body was telling him to NOT give another inch, he gave a mile.

About a month ago he was given the option by a second doctor to undergo surgery to try and remove most of the cancer.  He was told that without the surgery he would have months to live.  The surgery was going to be risky; a 50% chance of survival.  Without a blink of an eye and caution being tossed at him from all around – he decided to undergo the surgery.  A surgery that would last 10-12 hours.

The prayer chain that had started back when he was first diagnosed began to grow much larger and stronger.  People that didn’t even know him prayed for him day after day after day.  The Shiloh community that I’m a part of lifted him up in prayer each and every day.  My family and I prayed for papa every night before we went to bed.

We prayed even harder the day of the surgery.  Anticipation and nervousness surrounded the family as we waited to hear the first report from the doctor.  Shortly after 9 am – we received the first report.  The doctor told the family that the cancer was not as bad as they had first thought.  Each report after for the next 10 hours was better and better.  Finally just before the surgery was complete the doctor visited the family and told us that he believed to have extracted all of the cancer.  Not only that, he believed that papa has a very good chance to beat this cancer all together.

The power of prayer is amazing.  God provides support.  He provides love, and he continues to provide us inspiration.  He tells us to cast all of our worries on him.  As the verse at the top of this blog post states “if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  Really when I think of God – the phrase that continues to pop into my mind is “he provides.”

“Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

God does care for you.  We all have stories that are similar to the one above.  Each day we deal with pressure and anxiety.  We have loved ones that are sick and we have loved ones that we have lost.  Throw your worries to the lord and trust in his will.

“I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble.  I will be your glorious Hero and give you a feast!” Psalm 91:15 TPT

I appreciate that God continues to give me a feast.  I also appreciate that papa will also be able to continue his work and give everyone a feast.  Please continue the prayers for this amazing man.  He has many more great things to offer to this world and certainly has many more hugs to offer my children.  He is not out of the woods but he has certainly cut down many of the trees with his bare hands.  His recovery could take longer and his cancer may come back, but round 1 goes to papa.  

Papa and Grandma with all the grandkids.

Random Act

“Your child will follow your example, not your advice.”

-Unknown

I saw this quote and I immediately thought of a funny story.  Two Sundays ago, as I was sitting on the sidelines watching my seven year old play flag football, I began to notice that the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.  You see, Tayten is the type of kid that thinks he knows it all, but he fails to pay attention to what is being told to him.   He got a short two minute break and came over to me for a drink of PowerAde, and I said to him.  “When you are playing receiver, do not run so deep that the quarterback can’t throw you the ball.” 

The very next play he is in as wide receiver and you could almost guess what he does.  He runs 25 yards down field, doesn’t get a pass and gets frustrated.  I quickly reminded his mother (the tree) what she has created. J

Fast forward to this morning as we are both standing in front of the school greeting students and parents as they come in.  He has seen me open the door, say good morning, and greet people for a few months now.   We have two sets of doors that one must walk through in the morning.  I notice that he has now taken it upon himself to open the second set of doors, say good morning, and greet people as they walk in.

Two totally different circumstances, but both relevant to the quote above.  I laughed when I read the quote because it’s the absolute truth.  My child will follow my actions more than he will follow my words.

What a great reminder for us all.  I’ve said it before, but if we think better and do better, the world in which we live will ultimately be better.  In my position as Superintendent, people tend to ask me how it feels to be a boss.  The question frustrates me because I couldn’t be further from being a boss.  I’m a leader.  You are a leader.  We are all leaders.  Great leaders talk less and listen more.  They encourage and empower others.  Great leaders lead by example.

What example are you setting?  Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, business leader, or human for that matter, please reflect on your example.  I would like to start a simple challenge and hope that it can spread all over the world.  I’m a Social Media guy - so this will be the vehicle.  I absolutely love the power it has to connect individuals and deliver professional development opportunities at our finger tips.

Here is the challenge.

1. If you don’t have a Twitter or Facebook account get one.
2. Every day for the next 5 days do one random act of kindness.  It can be anything from complimenting somebody to opening a door, etc.  Just one random act.
3. Share what you did by writing the hash tag #SCRandomAct at the end of your post.
4. No need to share names, just share the act.
5. I’ve started it for you and my random act can be found by looking up the hashtag on Twitter.

Please don’t let this die.  Could you imagine a world in which each and every one of us makes it a point to carry out one random act of kindness each day for the next five days? Ten days? Lifetime?  When you help others you help yourself.  It’s fun and simple and we can start making a difference.  Are you with me?  Share this with others and inspire them to do the same.  One random act for the next five days – Go.

Permission to Fail

When was the last time you failed at something?  How did you feel?  What did you do next?

Think about the three questions above after you have read this short blog.  Why do we continue to put a negative emphasis on failing?  Nobody wants to fail.  As your children go back to school, I would like to tell you something that might sound completely out of the box.  Give them permission to fail.

As crazy as this sounds, I think it is vitally important for the up-bringing of today's children.  We all have heard of how successful people failed before they became successful.  What we learn through the process of failure is far more important than the failed task itself.  Failure does not have to be fatal.  Instead I’ve seen this; which makes way more sense.

F – First     A – Attempt   I – In    L – Learning

Let it be heard around the world that it is O.K. to fail.  With that said however; it is not O.K. to give up.  Life is not completely peachy.  Success is not automatic.  You will fall down.  What is important is that you get back up.

How many of you suffered from test anxiety?  How many of you still do?  What if we took the pressure off?  As we begin a new school year, I have come up with a few tips that each of us can live by that will help us do just that.

Students

Society is filled with millions of pressures.  You don’t have to try to be somebody that you are not.  It is O.K. to be yourself.   You don’t have to be good at everything.  Failing at something is not the end of the world.  With that said; don’t give up.  If you believe in something and you have a dream, don’t let failure be the end all.  You can achieve and keep pushing forward.  Having the permission to fail does not mean that you get to sit back and relax and do nothing the entire school year.  You must try.  You must keep moving forward.  You must bounce back and have a positive attitude. Remember this if nothing else;  failure does not define you, it’s what you do after that does.

Parents

Help alleviate some of the pressure your children are feeling.  Give them permission to fail.  This will lift much of the stress and anxiety that they may have built up.  Be there as a support for them when they fail.  Be there to high-five them when they accomplish something.   Do not live your life through your child.  Do not put unrealistic expectations on your child.  Help your child by giving them tools that will help them along the way.  Let it be known to them that you will love them if they fail, and you will love them when they succeed.  Encourage your children at all times.

Teachers

Right now we have things backwards.  We have time as a constant and learning is the variable.  These two things need to be switched around.  Learning needs to be constant and time the variable.  If a child fails a test or an assignment – allow them the opportunity to do it again.  If a child cannot show mastery by taking a pencil-paper test, allow them to show mastery in other ways.  Also, rethink deadlines.  What is your ultimate goal with a project or assignment?  Is it to meet a deadline or for the child to master a skill?  Allow your students to be innovative.  Allow them to collaborate and communicate with each other.  Finally, allow them to be creative.  These are the competencies that our children will need when they graduate.

Everyone

The permission to fail does not just apply to our children.  Give yourself permission.  By doing so, you will feel more comfortable taking risks.  Stepping outside of our comfort zones and taking risks will help us realize our full potential.  We have the ability to do amazing things.  Just stop fearing failure.  Embrace it and fail forward.  When adults take risks and fail, our children will do the same.  One step back and two steps forward….you have heard it before.  Let’s live by it.

A Future Yankee?

   

I was six years old and I was doing what I loved best.  I was watching the Yankees take on the Twins in the Humbert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  We were fortunate to be able to make this trip often.  Somewhere in the middle of the game my dad reached over to me and asked me to step a few rows down and ask a certain gentleman for his autograph.  Being the lovely and abiding son that I was, I obliged to his request.

I didn’t know the guy, but he quickly pulled me up on to his lap and began a conversation with me.  I can’t recall our conversation, but he eventually wrote the following on my program;

To Travis

A future Yankee

From his pal

George Steinbrenner.  

Pretty cool huh?  Well actually he never did call me.  I never put on the Yankee uniform and I never stepped out onto the famous grounds of Yankee Stadium.  It would have been a dream come true for me to one day play for the Yankees or to step foot on the field wearing the Yankee jersey.  In reality, I had many dreams as a kid as I'm sure you did as well.    

When I was in grade school, I dreamed of playing professional basketball.  I played basketball in my driveway pretending I was the next Michael Jordan.  I attended camp after camp.  The first and last thing I did every day was shoot baskets.  In all honesty, I slept with a basketball.  The dream was real in my mind and it gave me a great deal of purpose in my childhood.

I really got to thinking about all of this, over the past weekend.  I took my two boys to the Yankees and Twins games in Minneapolis.  I just remember how special these trips were to me and I wanted that same thing for my boys.  On Friday afternoon before the game we were able to take a tour of Target Field.  It was an awesome experience.  At one point in time, I snapped the photo below.

Tayten (7) on left.  Jeter (5) on right.

This picture reminds me so much of my childhood.  I knew the feeling that was going through them as they looked out over the field.  I felt that same thing years ago.  We eventually were able to get close to the Yankee dugout and obtain a few autographs.  The kids were on cloud 9.  Tayten later told me, that when he’s out on the field he will throw me a ball and sign an autograph for me.  I knew at that moment that a dream was brewing in his heart.

The moral of all of this is that dreams are vitally important to our children.  No matter how big the dream is, we need to encourage our kids. I know that my children drive me crazy from time to time, but that is what they are supposed to do.  I know this because this is what my mother told me.   No matter the circumstance we need to fuel the dreams of our children.  We need to let them experience setbacks.  We need to guide them and encourage them, but not necessarily point the way.  I’m a big fan of the GPS and compass analogy.  Rather than giving our kids a GPS which shows them the way, give them a compass and let them find their own way.

But don’t be a dream killer.  Don’t knock their dreams down, and (along that same token), don’t give up on your dreams.  Who said you had to be a kid to dream?  We all have dreams.  Dreams drive us.  Faith guides us.  Fear nothing and give everything.  You can.  It’s that simple.  Anything is possible.

I will never be that parent that lives through his children, but I will be that parent that gives his kids every opportunity possible to experience life.  It is through these opportunities that my children will be able to dream big and dream often.  They may never get a call from the Yankees, and that is completely fine.  But they will get a call someday.  A dream will become a reality.  No matter the shape or size of the dreams, some will become reality, while others not so much.  Be there to celebrate those that become realities, and be there to provide support and guidance for those that don’t. 

Whatever you do, be a dream driver and not a dream killer.  Don’t believe all the hype about grounding your children in reality.  The reality is, they will learn and feel as they go.  Just be a support.  Love them unconditionally. Support your children in their dreams.  If possible expose them to as many opportunities as possible.

If they want to sleep with a basketball in their hands – let them J

An Encouraging Word

“Never underestimate the power of an encouraging word”

John C. Maxwell

Have you ever felt like you don’t fit in?  Or maybe you continue to work tirelessly but don’t ever feel appreciated? 

I would definitely have to question you if you answered no to the above questions.  We all have a need to feel appreciated, and we definitely have a need to feel some self-worth. 

When we feel appreciated we are better at what we do.  We are also happier.  When we are happier we are healthier.  Now what if everyone in the world felt appreciated?  The world would be happier and healthier.  How would this impact society?

John Maxwell is right on with his quote above.  An encouraging word goes a long way.  Let me tell you this.  You are appreciated.  The work you do is appreciated.  Sometimes we get caught up in our daily lives that we take for granted the things we do and the things we DON’T say.  Step back for a minute and think about all the things that happen to you throughout a day.  Think about all the things that have to happen for your day to be complete.  From the people that manufacture our beds, alarm clocks, clothes, etc. to the people that we work with and those that watch our children.  Everything comes together to make the day work.  People behind the scenes are working to make society work for you.

Here is a simple challenge for you.  Encourage someone today.  Show your appreciation to someone and make their day.  This should create a ripple effect.  What if for one moment everyone in the world felt appreciated at the same time?  This would be an amazing utopia.  Seriously though, just accept the challenge and go encourage someone.  What are you waiting for? 

We are all working together to make the world work for us.  Step back a moment and think about all the people working at this very moment to benefit you.  Now, when you get the opportunity, thank these people.  These people are all blessing you in some way, shape, or form, and let’s not forget to thank God for the blessings we have in our lives.

Go forth and appreciate the people that make your life possible.

Have a great day.  I appreciate you!

The Permanent Jersey

It was the 10th of March 2015, and I was driving home from school when I noticed a group of boys playing basketball in a driveway.  I know this might not sound shocking to most of you but it was odd for three different reasons.

1.     It's winter in North Dakota.

2.     It seems as though a pickup game of basketball just doesn't occur on driveways as much as they used to.

3.     The most important reason and the inspiration for this blog post...their season had just ended the night before with a loss in the first round of the regional tournament.

You see, for these guys the season started the day after it finished.  The loss they experienced the day before was not going to be their defining moment. The drive to keep going and to get better was rich within them.  What they had done and what they were currently doing was preparing them for what was to come.

This story is a great metaphor for life. How many times have we given up? How many times have you wanted to throw in the towel? How many times have we allowed ourselves to become complacent and accept the status quo?

It's important to keep going.  Never take off your jersey.  As educators this time of year is often accompanied by a sense of relief.  We get to sit back and enjoy the summer.  We can take off our jerseys and throw caution to the wind.

It’s okay to feel this way, but don't take off your jersey.  You have an obligation to reflect, recharge, and refocus.  Now is the time to make sure the next school year is better than the previous.  Now is the time to grow.

As I currently sit in my office for the last time at Griggs County Central, I'm thinking about those boys shooting hoops that day.  I, like them, believe the season is just beginning.  I get the opportunity to wear a new jersey in a different arena. As I make the transition from one school to the next, I have set a few goals for myself.

1.  To continue to show people that they matter.  We all have God given talent.  We are all great at something.  It is our duty as humans to do our best to make this world a better place.  Why not start with letting someone know that they matter?  Give someone a compliment every day.  Better yet compliment people all the time.

2.  To grow in faith.  I’ve always considered myself to be a religious person.  However, I like many, tend to keep my faith and beliefs to myself.  I’m excited to become more extroverted with it.  I know that my teammates at Shiloh Christian will be a great help with this.

    

What are your goals for the coming year?  Setting goals will help ensure that your jersey stays on. Remember that it is completely okay to reflect and recharge before you refocus.  But don’t stop being who you are.  Keep your jersey on.  Continue to make each day better than the previous. You have something to offer this world.  

Since we are on the theme of basketball, feel free to live by the following quote that was once told to me by my basketball coach; “shoot until you are on, and then shoot until you are off.”  This way you are constantly shooting uand moving forward.  This might explain however why we didn’t win too many games. J 

Blog explained in one paragraph.

I bet you are a little perturbed that you see this paragraph.  You could have scrolled down and read this one paragraph without going through the whole thing.  Of course, you can take your jersey off and wash it.  However, I and some of you were a little superstitious when we were younger, weren’t we?  We didn’t wash our socks or our practice jersey because we were afraid to break the streak.  The jersey is a metaphor for who you are and what you do.  If this confused you, I apologize.  I may need to take a moment to reflect, recharge, and refocus.