The Bulldog Educator

My “One Word” for 2018

I thought long and hard about this word. I knew this word would be my word, but, honestly I didn’t want to admit it. It was a word that I kept denying was my word… until after my family determined our “One Word,” EMBRACE, and that word told me I couldn’t escape the word. (YouContinue reading “My “One Word” for 2018″

The Dance of Change and Progress

In the process of change and progress there are moments of celebration and times of distress. Too much change within the systems, its supports and the expectations can take a toll. Learning how to effectively lead and support through the dance of change and progress is a dance that requires expertise, understanding and awareness. OftenContinue reading “The Dance of Change and Progress”

Restoration of my Blog…

Since moving from a Instructional Technology Specialist to a campus based instructional coach and now an Elementary Assistant Principal, I have struggled with writing blog posts. It isn’t so much about the content, but where the ideas come for the content. In my current position, and the last position as a campus based instructional coach,Continue reading “Restoration of my Blog…”

What Does Failing Forward Mean?

Recently at a social event a person quizzically stated to me, “I bet you are glad to see the school year almost over.” I hesitated and then responded, “I feel like there is so much I still want to do that I thought I would have already accomplished. So I guess I am a littleContinue reading “What Does Failing Forward Mean?”

Relevance, Rigor and Research #TCEA17

Last week myself and Sue Fitzgerald (the library-media specialist at Pike Middle School- where I previously served as a Campus Instructional Coach) and I presented on an instructional collaboration we had designed together for our students and 6th Grade World Geography and Technology Apps teachers in 2015-16 at TCEA 2017 in Austin, Texas. The titleContinue reading “Relevance, Rigor and Research #TCEA17”

The Good in the World…

It has been a long time since I have written in my own professional blog. Hundreds of posts have been crafted in my head. Yet, they never make it here, to the place and space for those ideas to become more than murmurings and ideas of my own. A place and space to share myContinue reading “The Good in the World…”

Learning to “TEAM”

Many times when we see the word “TEAM” we think of its association with sports. Quickly we make the connection to winning. With a sports team every individual has a role and is trained and ready to fulfill that role so that the “TEAM” will hopefully win. However, in education, we come with all kindsContinue reading “Learning to “TEAM””

Having a “Can Do” Attitude…

I have had the unique experience of transitioning from Middle School as an instructional coach to Elementary as an Assistant Principal. If you put a kindergarten parent side by side with a parent of an entering middle schooler, I am sure their fears and concerns would be very similar. One thing I think educators andContinue reading “Having a “Can Do” Attitude…”

Genius Hour Comes Full Circle…

As this year came to a close it marked four years ago I closed the end of a school year as a classroom teacher. It was four years ago that I stepped out and tried Genius Hour in my classroom and it was four years ago that I began to put together my story toContinue reading “Genius Hour Comes Full Circle…”

Going Back to 7th Grade…#shadowastudentchallenge

I am not sure many know how deeply I love working on a middle school campus. This passion for investing in middle schoolers comes from a less positive place in my own life. When I was the age of today’s middle schoolers it was not a time that would be categorized as “fond memories.” InContinue reading “Going Back to 7th Grade…#shadowastudentchallenge”