Voice from the Field
Happy New Year!
Jana Frieler, Principal on Special Assignment, Cherry Creek (CO) School District, and President, NASSP Board of Directors — Friday, August 05, 2011
Happy New Year! No, you have not lost track of time. New Year’s Day is still celebrated on January 1—unless you work in education. Then the “New Year” begins in August with most students returning in August or September. Students come to school with renewed energy and a determination to make this year be their best year, and educators return fresh from training, vacations, and planning in order to make this year their best year as well. Just like during New Year’s celebrations, educators make New Year’s Resolutions, things that will determine their focus for the year to come. As our “New Year” kicks off, and we in education hope to make this our best year ever, here is a list of New Year’s Resolutions for the 2011-2012 school year.
Our students come to us in all shapes and sizes. Students in our schools today represent many different ethnicities, speak many different languages, practice different religions, and have varying degrees of income, among many other differences. Each year they come with their new backpacks, supplies and, yes, even school shoes (even high school students still wear new school shoes), but most importantly, they come to school with the hope that they will learn and gain the valuable knowledge and skills they need to become productive members of our society. Educators can never lose sight of what our true mission is: We must educate every one of these students. We must take them where they are and provide the scaffolding they need to be successful. We must challenge those who have already mastered the prescribed curriculum. We must teach students with diverse backgrounds how to get along with one another and how to accept their unique differences. We must provide opportunities for these students to become invested in their school community to participate in activities and events that allow students to demonstrate their proclivities outside of the classroom as well.
Educating our young people is a job that will never be complete. I am reminded of this summer when I had several home improvement projects that needed to be done. When I finished painting my living room, for example, I was finished—I could check it off my list. That is not the case with education. My father, who was also a high school principal, once told me, “Once you have taught the perfect lesson, it is time to move on.” At the time, being a new teacher, recently graduated and full of enthusiasm, I thought he was nuts. I thought, “Just watch me!” But after a year of teaching, I knew what he meant. What my dad and many others in education were trying to say is that you cannot dust your hands off at the end of the day and say you are finished teaching. There will always be a student who needs extra help or one that needs enrichment. There will be a tweak to a lesson that brings in more current information or a current event that is happening in the world. The days of using the same lesson plan and materials year after year are over. Our world is changing and our students are changing, and as educators, we must resolve to keep current.
Technology is another area that is causing education to change. Bill Daggett, an education expert who speaks frequently on this subject, says that education has not kept up with technology innovation. He says, “Kids have to leave their lives at the school doors when they come to school.” Our students do come to us with extensive technology experience. The use of mobile devices as a means to organize, compute, research, and communicate is all second nature to them. As educators, we must resolve to teach our students responsible freedoms. Schools that rely solely on the use of computers as the means of technology integration are soon finding themselves obsolete. Schools that are finding ways to teach students appropriate use of cellular technology and social media are creating educational opportunities for students that are seemingly endless. Yes, there will be students who text in class, and there may be someone who uses social media inappropriately, but such situations should not negate the benefits of appropriate use. In such instances, using discipline interventions as a learning tool rather than merely punitive will allow our students to learn, grow, and gain valuable knowledge about technology, context, and appropriate use. This is a life skill. Long after students leave the confines of school, they will be able to apply the knowledge they learned and do so appropriately.
Rules and regulations surrounding technology are not the only resolutions we educators must make. Because our students have grown up using technology, we adults have a steep learning curve. The perception that educators have all summer off is pure fallacy. Practically from the day the students leave for the summer, teachers are involved in school or district training. On the rare occasion that teachers are not involved in these types of work, you may find them enrolled in college or university courses. Teachers are taking courses (most of the time at their own expense), learning more about their content or expanding their teaching repertoire. We know we must also continue to expand our knowledge level as it pertains to technology. Knowing about technology, how to use it, and what hardware and software are available that will benefit the unique needs of our students is of paramount importance to educators.
This year educators in 46 states are going to come to school with a new challenge — how to incorporate the Common Core Standards into their instruction. While the actual implementation is still a few years out, those who areproactive must resolve to find ways to teach our students based on these nationally and internationally benchmarked, college and career ready standards. Not only must we teach these standards, but we must also create ways of determining whether students have mastered them. We must develop ways that accurately communicate to students, families, and communities how well our students are progressing on meeting the standards. The Common Core Standards have the potential to change education in our country. If implemented correctly, we will see the quality of education increase. We could see more students better prepared for the rigor of universities or entry into the world of work. While I would readily agree that all kids are not destined to university studies, the reason they do not go should not be due to a poor education. If these new standards can help us improve the quality of instruction in our country, educators should resolve to embrace them and implement them with the fidelity needed to be successful.
New standards will require educators to do things differently. The fact that we are responsible for the education of every child cannot be overlooked. Teachers are responsible for effective instructional delivery, and administrators who are responsible for instructional improvement in their schools tell us that we need more training. Every educator should resolve to begin the journey of incorporating high level, conceptual types of teaching. Principals must embrace the role of instructional leader and must continue to find ways to provide high-quality training and opportunities for professional development for the teachers in their building.
Finally, educators must resolve to promote our profession. It seems that everywhere you turn there is a criticism of education. Educators must agree to collaborate with one another. Teachers and principals must lead by example by fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. The old adage “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” must have been spoken by someone who had no idea just how difficult it is to be an excellent teacher. Educators must continue to tell the positive stories about what happens in our schools. We must work with our parents, business partners, and communities to become pillars within those communities. We want our community members to be as proud of our schools and the students as we who work with them everyday are. The bottom line is that everyday in school, someone does something amazing. Contrary to much of the rhetoric that surrounds schools, kids like their schools, care about their communities, and want to become productive members of our society. Schools are full of dedicated, compassionate adults who go to great lengths to make sure that kids succeed. Schools in this country are NOT failing! We are in the process of retraining and learning, and we will be much better as a result. As educators, business members, and community members, we must all resolve to support our schools and make them the best they can be. We have tried the critical approach to improving schools. This year, let us resolve to try the supportive approach and look for the good. I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens. Happy New Year!
Jana Frieler has been in education for 23 years, including 14 years as a school administrator. She is currently the Principal on Special Assignment for Cherry Creek School District in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Prior to her recent assignment, she was the Principal of Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado. The daughter of a high school principal, she followed in her father’s footsteps and received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Colorado State University. Since becoming a principal, Frieler has been recognized frequently for her outstanding leadership and earned the title of Colorado’s Assistant Principal of the Year in 1999. In February 2009, she was elected President-elect of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for the 2009-2010 school year and President for 2010-2011. Frieler has been a member of NASSP since 1996 and has served on several committees since joining the Board of Directors in 2005. She also served on the Colorado Association of Secondary School Principals Board for ten years. She may be reached at jfrieler@cherrycreekschools.org.
