Principal Principles

TOOLS EVERY LEADER SHOULD BE USING TO STAY ORGANIZED

2022-04-26T06:14:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt that school educators are busy every minute of the day. Effective task management can be quite a challenge, especially when dealing with complex assignments or projects, each with its own specific requirements, deadlines, and deliverables. Thankfully, I geek out in organizational tools! I can't wait to share with you a few tools that will make your life so much easier. In the end, your every day tasks get less complicated and you are more efficient.

HOW TO GROUP YOUR TABS

Do you have 250 tabs open on your computer's search engine? If so, I bet you are often clicking through all of them to find the one you need. I have a solution to help you quickly find the tab right away. Recently, I switched to Microsoft Edge instead of Chrome. Let me tell you why. Edge allows me to create organized tabs and they don't disappear. In Chrome, you can also create these tabs, but I can't seem to get them to stay. Until Chrome figures out how to make groups stay, I will use Microsoft Edge for all my searches.

When you click on one of the groups you have created, it opens up to see all the tabs. When you click it again, it will condense and hide. This keeps your tabs all clean and organized.

The grouped tabs display the color in a line across the top and the group name is on the left side. From here, there are a couple of things you can do:

To collapse or expand all the tabs, click the group name or color indicator
To move all the tabs around as a group, click and drag the group name.
To move a tab into another group, drag and drop it to the other group.
To add a new blank tab or ungroup tabs, right-click the tab group’s name.

STEPS to CREATE TABS

1. Open Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser

2. Click Group Tab

3. Name your tab groups and customize colors

4. Click and drag a tab group name or colored circle to move the groups

HOW TO SCHEDULE INSTANT MEETINGS IN GMAIL

This great idea was shared by my good friend, Lauren. She knew I would love this. I have been using Calendly for the last few years. I just switched to Boomerang. Boomerang is a free add-on to gmail unless you want all of the features. Honestly, I think Boomerang is way easier to use than Calendly. The set up was simple.

Boomerang is a one-click calendar scheduling system that integrates within your gmail.

Take a look at the bottom of my email signature. The orange MEET button at the bottom allows you to schedule a meeting without emailing back and forth suggested times. Time saver!

Boomerang is the #1 Gmail extension. It lets you schedule sending email, track if someone replies to an email, and set reminders on important messages.

INSTANT AGENDAS AND MEETING NOTES

Google has built-in agendas and meeting notes! I have been creating agendas all year within my google drive. Attendees get instant access to the agenda immediately after sending a calendar invitation to them.

The agenda automatically adds the attendees from the calendar invite and the date.

CLOSING

I hope you have enjoyed the items above and find that these tools save you time throughout the day. I know these seems simple, but saving time on the simple tasks allow you to focus on the bigger ones. Guarding your time and managing it well is crucial to your success. It's not just about getting things done. It's about avoiding burnout and having a sense of contentment and accomplishment at the end of each day.

Academic Showcase (Parent Open House Night)

2022-03-03T16:54:00.004-06:00

I'm excited to share with you our district's Academic Showcase Night. One of my best friends shared this idea with me a few years ago. I was finally able to bring it to life in my own district.

We started planning back in October for this event. I formed a committee and shared this idea with the team, and they helped me bring this to life. The committee helped me make it better than I had ever imagined. We created a presentation to share with the rest of the staff to let them know about the event and how to be prepared for our big showcase night.

An Academic Showcase is similar to an Open House. But instead of parents going to classrooms, our event was held in our cafeteria and gym. A1 Rent-All was hired to install the booths. We rented the dividers and a few tables. Our cafeteria has almost all round tables. We designed our layout to fit the space of our existing tables. By not having to rent tables, we were able to save funds.

THE ACADEMIC SHOWCASE NIGHT

We dismissed school at 1:00 pm to allow us to transform the space. While teachers were in a short staff meeting or working in their rooms from 1:00-2:00, the team moved tables and chairs. I had planned ahead and held a short meeting with the team prior to the night to discuss the layout and the job duties. The teachers set up/decorated their booths, and we opened our doors to the public from 5:00-7:00.

Every teacher and subject area was represented in the two spaces. Teachers had a booth similar to a tradeshow or convention. They decorated their space and showcased their academic content area. In the gym (connecting to the cafeteria), we had live performances from our physical education teachers, band, and theatre department.

Behind the cafeteria, we served hot dogs from a food truck/grill on wheels. Also, we had our Agricultural classes showcase their projects outside. In addition, we were able to rent a STEAM bus from a neighboring school district.

The meal was provided by local businesses which was such a help to us. They grilled and served almost 500 hotdogs. We purchased to-go bags and hotdog wrappers from Amazon. Parents could grab their meal bag and have dinner on the go or attend the baseball game that was happening that same night.

BOOTH SIGNAGE

We had vinyl signs made for every booth which will be reused year after year. They are very durable. We used zip ties to tie them onto the booth. Our regional education service center was able to create these for us. We sent them a list of booth signs, and they were able to create these within a few days.

WELCOME SIGNAGE

VistaPrint is another vendor that we used to create our welcome banner. We did not put a date on these banners, so we can use them again next year.

THE WHY

1. Having this event in one space allowed parents to not just see one grade level or one teacher. They could view all of the great things happening in every grade level.

2. Our staff shared an appreciation for the other campuses or other teachers and could see all of the great things happening in another grade level or campus.

3. Parents communicated they loved this new redesign because they were not traveling from school to school.

4. Typically, we have lower attendance from secondary parents at our Open House events. We had more parents show up for middle and high school this year. We hope to continue to see more secondary parents attend as we make this a tradition.

5. It is important that we showcase the learning that is happening in our district. We need to celebrate the accomplishment of our students, but also give the opportunity for teachers to share their classrooms with the community. Our teachers work so hard, and I just loved seeing them share their passion with their parents.

Take a look at our video!

What do you think? Any questions? Email me principalprinciples@gmail.com

The School Leader Gift Guide

2021-11-28T09:03:00.006-06:00

It's the time of the year where all the school leaders stress over how to show appreciation to your staff but not break the budget in the process. From the secretaries, co-workers, cafeteria workers, and teachers, it is easy to become overwhelmed with anxiety.

I have put together a few ideas that I hope you find helpful. If you funds are limited, maybe consider purchasing one item just for the campus to enjoy all year long. I have some suggestions for that too.

If you are looking for a wide variety of ideas to spread the holiday cheer all through the month of December, check out this 12 Days of Christmas post.

[Disclosure: This document may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.]

If in a hurry, download the gift guide PDF here: https://bit.ly/principalprinciplesgiftguide

TEACHER STICKERS

Teachers’ Day Stickers

Inspiring Leaders Spotlight: WIN Time

2021-10-13T05:02:00.003-05:00

I have had the great pleasure of sharing WIN Time with you many, many times. However, I am excited about the opportunity to share with you amazing school leaders who believe in WIN Time. These leaders know the importance of the system and see the results. Help me welcome Crystal Mayes, Susan Hankins, and John Weaver to the platform today.

I hope you enjoy their story.

CRYSTAL MAYES, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, TEXAS

Crystal Mayes, Elementary Principal (Texas)

How do you collect data?

Every three weeks our teachers give students common assessment on a spiral readiness TEKS that we focus on during Space Time (WIN). We will report out the results during PLC common planning and analyze student work. We hone in to make sure that our "meets" percentage is high before moving on to our next lowest score - student expectations. We ask the four essential Marzano questions for the new skills. We also use survey level assessments in Aimsweb curriculum-based assessments, and Interim exams.

How do you track data?

We created a Google sheet in which we track students growth and progress from test a test and look for the +10 from John Wink’s philosophy. It has a conditional formatting color-coded for students that might be falling behind. We also track each classrooms percentage of approaches, meets, and masters. The goal is to have the entire class grow +10 from the beginning of the year until the end of each category. Whichever Space Time spiral TEKS were focused on for 3 weeks (must be a readiness standard and highly tested) during then the teachers track the four question common assessment by item rigor of high, medium, and low to see if there are any gaps or strengths in different classrooms.

How do you group students using data?

The instructional coach and I try to homogeneously group students by their levels of masters, meets, and approaches. We then have special population groups such as our homeless, RTI/MTSS, Dyslexic, and resource. Teachers who are strongest in particular areas or subjects are then selected to teach reading or math. English Language and RTI aides are also pushed into the classroom, so they can build relationships with students, help track tier paperwork, and assist the teacher for an additional small group.

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes)

This will be our third year of implementation. One of the first struggles was to have buy-in for teachers to switch students around the grade level rather than keeping their homeroom. We then realized we needed different instructional resources to use during this time.

We also realize that we need very clear expectations of what this time looks like and what it does not look like. We had to make sure that our aides are provided resources for our conducting a small group as well as being trained on how to use the resources. We had to make this time a very sacred time, and we do not ever give it up except for party days.

SUSAN HANKINS, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, MICHIGAN

Susan Hankins, Elementary Principal and Curriculum (Michigan)

How do you collect data?

We have a school information system called Illuminate.

How do you track data?

The School Improvement Team analyzes and tracks data. Teachers also meet weekly to track data at a classroom and grade level.

How do you group students using data?

Students are grouped by skill area. Students are progress monitored throughout a 6 week period and once they show mastery they move to a different group.

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes

In 2016 I became principal at the elementary school where I taught. That year was spent learning my new role, working to strengthen relationships, and getting a feeling from things at an administrative level. After learning from my teachers and observing the needs of the building, we worked to create a strong, active School Improvement Team in the 2017-2018 school year.

This team consists of teachers from various levels, general and special education, and program directors. They are the incredible driving force behind our success. We spent this year really studying our data. We learned about our strengths and weaknesses and spent a lot of time talking about what we needed to drive change.

The 2018-2019 school year was spent building capacity and the need with the staff. Our current system had paraprofessionals at the helm of intervention. In the past, data wasn’t used to drive decision-making, and students were pulled out of class to receive their intervention. Scores were decent but stagnant, and our most intensive and gifted students weren’t growing as much as we would like. We spent a lot of time talking about how we could put our teachers with our students with the most intense needs. Then I came across Stephanie McConnell and her WIN Time implementation. I brought the idea to my School Improvement Team, and they ran with it.

We spent each of our meetings looking at data and planning for implementation. The first thing we had to do was create a master schedule. Something that this building never had. In that master schedule, we included 120 minutes for ELA, 90 minutes for math, 50 minutes for special, 20 minutes for lunch, 20 minutes for recess, and 45 minutes for WIN. As we were working on the master schedule, we began to build capacity with the staff. We walked teachers through a process of a needs assessment, so they say WIN as a need like we did. Asking teachers to take 30-45 minutes of their day every day for something new was a paradigm shift. However, the whole staff quickly became as excited about it as this team.

The summer prior to the 2018-2019 school year, the SIT spent looking at data, making groups for the teachers, and setting goals for the groups. We did this for them for the first round of WIN as we wanted to gradually release control as not to overwhelm the teachers. We continued to go slow to go fast.

Upon return, the teachers planned for the groups and their skills. They planned with paras. Paras worked with our students who were at grade level, we had an advanced program for those working above, and our teachers worked with our most intensive kids. We set the scene that WIN was the most important time of the day. Classes were not to be interrupted during this time, and we were taught the expectations of behavior. We monitored growth every six weeks and rearranged groups as needed. Teachers used their daily common planning time to plan for WIN and monitor growth. Teachers shared students based on need, and this really helped to build the team approach at grade levels that didn’t work together as closely as others.

We immediately started seeing changes in our scores. (I can provide the growth since starting WIN.) Students were focused and engaged in lessons that they needed. They loved being mixed with students from other classes and working with different teachers. WIN quickly became the best part of the students’ and teachers’ day.

Our biggest challenge was COVID. We had to change year two because students could no longer mix groups. However, we are thankful that we had a solid foundation going into year 2. We continue to see growth, monitor our students, and grow; however, we look forward to year 3, when hopefully we can begin mixing groups again.

WIN has changed our school for the better. I am grateful every day for having the opportunity to have this program for our students.

Links to articles about our school and WIN.

https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/case-study/31948/A-Michigan-elementary-school-taps-the-power-of-data-to-effect-positive-change_NWEA_casestudy.pdf/?fbclid=IwAR2OgnT55YN55opTAtwUy6X5l5_nBQfntfEN43TocxYwUOnEQRHGpUZYswY

https://www.nwea.org/blog/2021/how-map-growth-helps-elementary-school-teachers-differentiate-instruction/

Check out the results prior to WIN and after WIN was implemented!

Susan Hankins Board Report

JOHN WEAVER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, FLORIDA

John Weaver, High School Assistant Principal (Florida)

How do you collect data?

Weekly; grades, progress monitoring via AP and PreAP classroom, Achieve 3k, Aleks, PBIS and MTSS data

How do you track data?

Weekly team meetings

How do you group students using data?

Special Ed with a case manager, AP with instructors, all teachers have access to the building, Multiple boot camps, and specific areas that need to be addressed on a daily basis

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes

We’re entering the fourth year of our flex\win time. It has grown tremendously within this time as we are a school to two thousand students. Teachers move on a daily basis to support their needs. Students and parents can also request to move via our software.

We had an 88% reduction in parent-teacher conferences as Flex (WIN Time) supports rectifying academic and personal concerns.

In regards to the credit recovery program, 50% of the enrollment now consists of underclassmen as the overall decrease in D and F grades has allowed seats to vacate in this area.

Further, the open credit recovery seats have become especially significant given the lack of progress our Digital learners accomplished last year, which has also significantly decreased our summer school
enrollment.

Yet, most importantly our 33% increase with regards to recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses have been directly related to Flex.

Meaning, our aforementioned Equity initiative could never be accomplished without our Flex program.

Further, as we enter our fourth year, classroom observations, as well as formative and summative assessments, reflect the overall increase in daily synthesis and evaluation in all subject areas as
Flex has now become a proactive need as opposed to reactive support.

John Weaver's Campus Presentation

download

IN CLOSING

We can definitely say we have many great things happening in these schools. These schools have proven their ability to make dramatic, lasting changes for their students. Behind every great school is a strong instructional leader who understands excellent instruction, problem solves, and works alongside their teachers to improve student outcomes. Their strategy is built on analyzing their school's performance, expanding great opportunities for their students, and creating new structures that demand the high-quality education they deserve.

If you are doing amazing things and have created a WIN Time, I would love to give you a shoutout too. Fill out the form and let's start a conversation.

Ready to learn more about how to implement WIN Time too?

Check out this post and download all of the WIN Time materials.

What is WIN Time

2021-10-11T06:54:00.003-05:00

What is WIN Time?

WIN Time stands for What I Need.

WIN Time is a 45 minute period on Monday-Friday embedded in the Master Schedule for students to self-regulate and prioritize their learning. WIN Time acknowledges that students lead busy lives and navigate competing demands for their time in and outside of school. WIN Time provides students the opportunity to self-direct and engages in their own learning.

While some school-wide initiatives might occur during WIN Time, teachers will not be teaching the new course material. Teachers will be accessible to students for additional help and guidance on current and ongoing learning. As this is school instructional time, students are expected to be in the classroom or designated learning space for the entire WIN Time period.

WHAT are the benefits of WIN Time?

WIN Time provides students the opportunity to:

Complete assignments
Practice presentations
Study for tests & quizzes
Receive help from a teacher
Make progress on long-term assignments
Collaborate with classmates on group assignments
Reduce homework
Improve skills in a specific area
Engage in a personal passion project of interest

Our Mission:
To ensure that ALL students learn at grade level or higher.

HOW to start WIN Time?

WIN Time: Secondary and WIN Time Elementary are now available for download. You can edit them to brand to your district and add your campus information throughout. The guidebook and the PowerPoint allow you to communicate the system on your campus. These two pieces have been a big lifesaver. When you put in a new system, communication is imperative.

At my school, creating a guiding advisory team was important to me. I wanted WIN Time to be successful, so I needed the teachers to help build it and create ownership over it. The templates below will help you every step of the way.

STUDENT DATA TRACKING

Letting students lead goal setting is one way to foster student ownership and begin to create a learner-centered environment. Research shows that students who feel ownership of their learning are more likely to persevere in the face of challenges and take steps to proactively meet their goals. When students monitor their own progress, it means that they have set a goal and know how to measure where they are in the process of achieving it.

When students track their own progress on assessments using graphic displays, the gains are even higher. Students are never too young to begin tracking!

WIN TIME STUDENT SUCCESS TRACKER

WIN TIME SOFTWARE

Looking for a better and easier way to implement your WIN Time program? Take WIN Time Software for a test drive! Visit www.wintime.education to view the demo videos and get started with a free demo school. #WINTime

EVALUATE YOUR WIN TIME

If you already have a WIN Time set up on your campus, here is Program Implementation Evaluation toolkit that is used to determine the school's progress toward WIN implementation. Your school can quickly identify the areas it should improve and the areas it should protect. Section 2 of the guide helps to develop a process for implementation. Following the essential questions, sample check in documents, and focus agendas for 30-60-90 day milestones are intended to help put action to implementation.

Download: Program Evaluation

JOIN THE WIN TIME FACEBOOK GROUP if you are looking to collaborate more around creating a win on your campus!

Student Data Trackers that Develop Ownership and Motivation

2021-09-16T05:10:00.002-05:00

Empower your students in their learning, step back, and watch them thrive.

Student Data Trackers help students develop ownership, motivation, and a growth mindset. After all, how does a student know where they are and where they need to be unless we give them the tools to engage in their data.

Research confirms that educators in schools with a focus on learning promote a strong sense of self-efficacy in students. It also shows that one of the greatest factors of student motivation and engagement is data tracking.

WIN Time Student Success Tracker™ is a tool that will empower students in self-tracking, goal setting, and reflection.

DATA Success Trackers

1. Data Success Trackers help students self-analyze data and set growth goals. #embracelearningforall
2. Data Success Trackers help teachers select the appropriate resources, instruction, and assessments for each student.
3. Data Success Trackers are the perfect tool for student led conferences.
4. Data Success Trackers provide evidence of student learning. #focusonresults

About the Trackers

Each individual student has their own data tracker book. It comes printed to save you the time of copying and organizing all the pages. Since the books are bound just like a book or magazine, pages will not never be misplaced. Printed on 8x11; 38 pages; book printed format

The goal is to have students take accountability for their mastery of the standards.

Student data folders are a wonderful way to keep students involved in their learning and to encourage them to be responsible for understanding their own strengths and weaknesses.

Students truly benefit from data tracking because they have a voice in their learning and can understand and work toward success. Parents also benefit from the use of this tool as well and become more engaged in their child's education as they hear their child share their goals and academic progress during student led conferences.

Data folders are more than just a collection of charts and graphs. They are perfect vehicles for students to truly own their learning.

HOW TO ORDER A CLASS SET

The Student Success Trackers can be ordered on #Amazon. They will be shipped to your doorsteps and ready to implement immediately.

PRINTED AND SHIPPED

Order Here (Printed and Full-filled shipped directly to you)

PRINT ON YOUR OWN

Download Here (Self Printing)

Create Engaging Graphics and Reports in Minutes

2021-08-24T06:06:00.000-05:00

Create stunning graphics to make your reports, slide deck, social media, and your dashboards come alive with real-time data.

The process couldn't be any easier either. Simply sign up for INFOGRAM and connect your data to begin building charts and graphs. For me, I connected our Google Spreadsheet to it, and my charts will automatically auto-populate with the data. As we update the Google Spreadsheet my charts will also update.

Take a look.

1. I started with Google Sheets which we update throughout the day.

2. Within a few minutes of creating my account in INFOGRAM I had my first chart created. You can brand all graphs, charts, and slide decks with your logo.

3. When the charts were complete, I added the infographic to our district's website. You can simply do a link or embed the code. (NOTE: If you need the data to automatically update, this requires the paid version.)

HOW TO EMBED ON YOUR WEBSITE:

Interactive charts and maps can add depth and intrigue to any article, presentation, or website.

Simply publish your project, copy the HTML code provided, and paste it into the text editor of your CMS or the space provided by the tool you’re using. Here is how I shared my interactive charts online.

HOW TO EMBED ON YOUR SLIDE DECK:

Slides is a place for creating, presenting and sharing slide decks – built perfectly for online interactivity. Begin by creating a new slide deck. Click to add an ‘iframe’ element from the editing menu. Then copy and paste Infogram’s fixed embed code into the box on the top left. Your Infogram chart will appear right in front of you.

FOR EDUCATORS:

We all know teaching maps, charts, and graphs is essential for all subjects. Students struggle to interpret and accurately read charts across all subject areas. Creating an account in INFOGRAM would allow teachers to create data for students to excel in this skill. Infogram lets students and educators easily create charts, maps, and infographics for free.

START YOUR FIRST PROJECT

The Fire Within You

2021-07-08T15:42:00.004-05:00

Recently, I traveled to 5 National Parks in the United States for our 2021 summer vacation. We absolutely love visiting National Parks.

This picture was taken at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. This week of travel helped me to detach from school life and the business of running Principal Principles. The hubs and I had great conversations. One of which is the inspiration behind this blog post.

As we traveled through a forest area we noticed that a fire had taken place many years earlier. The land was beginning to show life of new pine trees. This is when the hubs reminded me of the story of pine cones. The leader that I am immediately connected the pine cone story to us as school leaders.

Fires are important to vegetation. Some pine trees produce what scientists call a serotinous pine cone. Resins hold the scales of the cones tightly closed with the seeds inside, and they can remain in the crowns of the trees for 30 to 50 years. Without fire, the seeds would likely never be released.

Once fire burns through the resin the cone opens up and the seeds are released. The seeds then produce new trees.

LEADERSHIP

As leaders, we are faced with many hard times that put "heat" on us to perform. We have to be willing to go through fires. Just like pine cones, without the fire, the seeds will never be released. The fire adds value to us.

It seems all too easy to fall victim to the circumstances and fail to lead during these times. It is at these very instances that we show what we are made of. Anyone can lead when the sky is clear and when there is no smoke on the horizon. Great leadership is not required when things go well, and conditions are perfect. Great leadership is required when challenges appear, difficult situations arise, and the team needs support and direction.

As leaders, we, too, need heat to grow. Sometimes this happens while absorbing the feel-good warmth of the sun, but more often than not, we expand and grow through difficult and painful times. The challenge is that our nature is to run from a fire because we fear the pain. We often see the pain as a problem and not a necessity or even a gift.

On Facebook and Instagram, I recently shared this favorite quote,

"Your greatest struggle often produces the sweetest fruit."- Principal Principles

Sometimes we need to stop and remind ourselves that the things we feel are holding us back are the things that challenge us and help us to grow.

Great leaders not only survive a difficult and heated situation, but they too are able to bring growth when a situation seems hopeless. The best leaders I know expand and grow during difficult times.

So leaders, the next time a painful situation comes your way, and you feel the urge to turn and run, think about this- Every encounter has an outcome. It's your choice if you make that a positive experience.

When you are put to the test, stay strong and keep going. That’s how you will succeed. Tough times will never last. Tough people do.

Let the fire within you burn brighter than the the fire around you.

Other Related Resources

Principal Principles Leadership Course

Monday Morning Inspiration

Morale Magic

Work Smarter Not Harder: Create a Google Calendar Agenda

2021-05-12T06:08:00.006-05:00

There aren't enough hours in the day. I find myself sleeping less and eating more meals in my car than around the dinner table. Often I feel the day flying by, and by the end of the day- I can't really tell you what was accomplished. That isn't great for me or my health.

Recently, I stumbled upon some new tech features that allow me to eliminate some unnecessary tasks. So today, I thought I would take the time and share one with you. I hope you find a blessing in this as I did!

So a little of my thought process in moving to this next tech feature...

I had multiple chats with other leaders, and I said many times these very words..."why does Google have Google Keep but there's not a Google Agenda? You all know how much I use Google Keep, but I need a Google Agenda. I'm not referring to a calendar. I need an actual meeting agenda. You know the agenda that lists all the items for your meetings? That's what I need.

Currently, I use a Google Doc to create all the agendas. Now, I have stumbled upon SoapBox! SoapBox takes my Google Calendar and creates an agenda that can be seen by all of the people invited to the meeting. This is an add-on feature through Chrome.

Let me show you how it works.

1. Go to Chrome Web Store and Search for SoapBox

2. Install SoapBox to your Chrome Browser.

3. Create a meeting on using your Google Calendar.

4. Click on the Add Soapbox to this meeting blue button to create an agenda.

5. The agenda will now appear and all invitees will see the agenda prior to the meeting.

Is that pretty amazing or what? Hopefully by shifting my focus from creating a separate document for an agenda to creating built-in calendar agendas I can spend quality time on other things. Automating some tasks will allow me to get more done.

I read this quote recently and it reminded me of this simple agenda feature that I have been using for a few weeks now.

"The counterintuitive secret to getting things done is to make them more automatic, so they require less energy."

Let me know if you love this Google Add-on and if it was a huge timesaver for you too.

Become a Leader Others Want to Follow

2021-03-13T09:04:00.000-06:00

Today I reflect on Principal Principles and leadership.

It's been eight years since I started this blog. I reflect on how I never realized how sharing a day in a school leader's life would help me become better as a leader. As a result of me getting better, those around me are stronger educators too. I also never dreamed of how a hobby of blogging transformed into a business and a brand. Even writing the words - business and brand- are still hard to acknowledge many years later.

This week, I sat in a conference room with some new friends who will join the Principal Principles team and help me fulfill my dreams as a leader. I finally had the courage to seek some help with my business. As you all know, I am a current school leader working a full-time job in an East Texas school district. I wake very early in the mornings to take care of the business and jump back on after school hours. It is tough to manage. So I stepped out and removed the lid I have placed on myself to seek some extra hands.

Many of you have been with me since day one. I still remember creating the Principal Principles Facebook Page in 2013 with just my family and friends as followers. A year later, Principal Principles Leadership Group was opened. The group now has over 47,000 friends networking, collaborating, and sharing everything from morale boosters, school events, and how to land an interview in leadership. It continues to grow at a rapid pace, and I love collaborating with friends all over the world.

A little push in your leadership can have a ripple effect with others all around the world. That is my why I do what I do.

No one ever achieved greatness by playing it safe.

As a leader what does it take to become a leader others want to follow?

1. CHANGE THE THINGS YOU DO AND THINK

Step one is realizing that you are a leader and then change the things you do and how you think. The same things that we have always done will not work forever and ever. Think like a leader. When things are going well, and student success is rising, look up to see who you can praise and reward. When things aren't going so well, determine how to communicate more clearly and ask yourself what we could do better next time which will result in a more favorable outcome.

We must first focus on change within ourselves to create the possibility of change in others.

2. INVEST IN YOURSELF

Your school will move in the direction of your leadership. Think about that for a minute. Strong leaders invest in themselves. The greatest gift you can give yourself is also the wisest investment you could ever make. Growing as a leader is a process. It is so well worth it because then you can influence others to lead too.

3. BE INSPIRING

Be the leader that inspires others to take action. You are accountable for the influence you have in the school's culture. As leaders we must look at ourselves first and reflect on the contributions we make to the school. To inspire others you must first believe in yourself. People follow leaders with a heart faster than leaders simply because of their title.

4. BE CONSISTENT

Nothing irritates your campus/district staff more than constant change. When I say change, I am referring to your behavior, your schedules, your systems, etc... What we do consistently inspires those to follow you. Why? Because when things are are consistent you know what's expected and what's ahead. Surprises aren't always a good thing.

BUILD A STRONG LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

If this post has made you a better leader, you can help share it on social media. Thank you for sharing! If you needing some training in leadership, I have an online course that thousands of other principals and school leaders have taken. Join the Principal Principles Leadership Course today and get 24 hour access.

Create a Google Dashboard for Administrators using Google Sheets

2021-02-28T08:34:00.001-06:00

Here is a true story. Every day, I have about 50 tabs open on my computer, and I use two search engines. Don't ask me why I use Google and Safari. I think 100 tabs is better than 50...I guess. As you can see how anyone with OCD would just go nuts. That chaotic mess is me on any given day. I started making a google hub or dashboard early in the school year, and I didn't keep that project going. I have made it my life goal to keep this system of organization going for the remainder of the year. I need some simplicity.

So let me get you started on creating a dashboard for your own documents.

HOW TO CREATE A GOOGLE DASHBOARD

1. GOOGLE DASHBOARD TEMPLATE

Feel free to use my own template in Google Sheets: Google Dashboard for School Administrators. The icons are generic, so your titles can be easily renamed. Every part of this file can be edited to fit your own school. If you love the idea, please create one for your staff too. This particular document is for all the admin in the district to access, but you can create one for teachers too.

The Google Dashboard for School Administrators link will ask you to make a copy. This will protect my own file and protect you from sharing your files with the rest of the world to see if you accidentally start to fill my document with your own links.

2. ADD YOUR OWN LINKS TO THE CELLS

WEBSITE LINKING

Enter the website text you wish to have quick access to.

For example, District Calendar.

Select the words to hyperlink. "District Calendar" is selected. Now click the hyperlink symbol.

DOCUMENT LINKING FROM GOOGLE DRIVE

Open another tab and find your file in Google Drive. Copy and paste the website url link or the google drive file url link in the link field and click apply.

I hope you have found this very helpful. If you have questions, please let me know. I can do a quick Live tutorial on Instagram or Facebook.

Google Dashboard for School Administrators

Technology Tips and Tricks for School Leaders

2021-02-19T07:23:00.003-06:00

Currently, I am snowed in enduring the massive snow storm here in Texas. This time has given me a jumpstart on my to-do list at work and time to share items with you too.

Texas Snow (10-12 inches)

I feel like I live in Colorado, because we have real snow not just ice and sleet.

If you aren't signed up for my newsletter, you may have missed some Technology Tips and Tricks in your inbox. My newsletter subscription is 1x a month. I try not to ever send more than that because I certainly don't have much time for that and people tend to not enjoy a lot of emails filling up their inbox.

Let's take a look at my recent creations.

RECORD USING CANVA

If you struggle making a professional powerpoint and presentation, CANVA has some amazing templates. In addition, it can be used to record! The steps are listed above and extremely easy.

CREATE A PERSONALIZED AND PROFESSIONAL SIGNATURE

Creating your email signature doesn't have to be difficult. I created a document that will give you step-by-step directions on how to build your designs in CANVA and Google. The directions work best if you add your new signature in CHROME.

Creating a Professional and Customized Email Signature

VOICE TYPING IN GOOGLE DOCS

Did you know that Google Docs has a new feature for Voice Typing? Well...it might be new for me? I saw this feature a few weeks ago, and thought I would never use it. I brainstormed over and over again about why this might be needed. I feel like I am a very fast typer. I think blogging has increased that over the years, so why would I need it? But the more I looked into this feature, I noticed more people using it for note taking. They could listen to the presenter while the computer scripted the presentation. It might be good to use in meetings for documenting conversations or scripting during teacher observations.

Something to note: It will not stop and form new paragraphs or end sentences unless commanded verbally to begin a new sentence or paragraph. For more formal writing, I wouldn't recommend this. However, I can find some use from using it and maybe you can too.

Let me know if you have enjoyed these new tech tips and tricks. If you do, I will continue to share some each month.

Time Saving Tips and Tricks for School Leaders: Part 2

2021-01-24T13:06:00.000-06:00

Do you find yourself sending the same email often or replying the same response often? If so, here is a very quick shortcut that can generate your email in just a few seconds.

Create an Email Template

Enable Templates

1. Open Gmail

2. At the top right, click Settings > See all Settings

3. At the top, click Advanced.

4. In the Templates section, select Enable.

5. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

You can create up to 50 templates.

Create Templates

1. Open Gmail and Click Compose.

2. In the compose window, enter your template text.

3. Click More > Templates.

4. Choose an option

To create a new template, click Save draft as template > Save as new template.

To change a previously saved template, click Save draft as template and under Overwrite Template, choose a template and click Save overwrite it.

5. To send an email, compose your message and click Send.

Insert Templates

1. Open Gmail and click Compose

2. Click More > Templates

3. Insert a template, under Insert Template, choose your saved template to insert in your email.

Here is an example for a meeting request. Recently, I shared how to create a calendar for viewing and scheduling. In the email generated below, I shared a link over to my email for them to sign up for a meeting.

I hope you find these shortcuts fun and helpful!

Time Saving Tips and Tricks for School Administrators: Part 1

2021-01-23T11:49:00.000-06:00

Every minute of the day counts. Managing can seem overwhelming. Time management and shortcuts are essential. Over the next few weeks, I plan on sharing several resources that help you make the most of your time and focus on what truly most important rather than what is most urgent. Here is Part 1.

Have you started using Calendly?

Calendly can really be your best friend. It can be used to schedule any appointment with ease. When teachers need to sign up for an evaluation, pre-conference, post conference, etc... Having a calendar link keeps scheduling a hassle free situation.

Let me show you how to use it and then you determine how it best fits your job position.

Here is a look at some current appointments on my calendar.

1. First build common weekly/daily appointments that always reoccur or need to be scheduled.

Such as student meetings (ARD's) or teacher evaluations, or parent appointments. Name them very generic so you aren't finding yourself renaming them over and over again.

2. Integrate Calendly.

This is an important step. Integrate your calendly account to your platform. For me, this is Google Calendar. This helps the appointments not to overlap. No one will see what is on your calendar. They will only see open/available appointment slots. You can also connect to GoToMeeting, Google Meet, Zoom etc...

When you connect it, you can pin it to the top of your calendar.

3. Share the link.

You can share the link in multiple ways.

1. Copy Link and paste in an email.

2. Embed available times directly into an email.

This is the view that will be viewable. They pick the time that doesn't overlap any scheduled appointments on your calendar. Click Confirm and it goes directly to your calendar.

For this to really save you time, set up all of your regular occurring appointments and keep the link handy.

For more advanced features, it requires purchasing these add-ons.

I do have some added features, but I have been using Calendly for years and just decided to purchase the extra features.

For example, Notifications and Workflows have been added to my account. I have set up email confirmations, email reminders, and text reminders.

I hope you have found this tutorial helpful. Stay tuned for another tip and trick for saving your a lot of time.

Happy New Year Printables for Your Staff and CoWorkers

2020-12-29T14:12:00.000-06:00

As you end this year and begin the 2021 year, it's a great time to look back on the moments of triumphs and appreciate those who made them all possible. I absolutely have the most amazing school family. My workplace feels like a second home. I hope you have the same feeling at your school or workplace.

Check out the printables below and celebrate the new year with your amazing school family.

If you are at a loss for ideas to celebrate the new year, let me share a couple of ideas here. The scratch off tickets are messy-free and really just Print and Go.

Print all of these items on cardstock for the perfect handout.

SCRATCH OFF CARDS

Scratch off cards are not hard at all! They do not require any messy paints. All you need are the scratch off labels which are easily ordered on Amazon! I always order the GOLD Round Labels simply because I love the color. However, they also come in Silver. I just recently discovered them in Glitter design too.

PRIZES FOR SCRATCH OFFS

1. Door Prizes- Purchase several door prizes and number them. Type the number on the scratch off.

2. Jean Passes

3. Try Again (not every card is a winner)

4. Gift cards- Label your scratch offs to indicate a gift card- Sonic, Chick-fil-a, Target, etc...

5. Late or Early Pass- Leave early or Come in Late to work

New Year Scratch Off Download

MY ONE WORD BULLETIN BOARD

Create a One Word Bulletin board with your staff or students. This is a Retro/Vintage design.

Find focus and direction in the new year. This one word will encompass how each staff member wants to approach the new year. For example, Fearless, Relax, Focused, Giving, Purpose, Hope, etc...

Selecting the right word and keeping it at the forefront of the year is a step in the right direction. Make this year meaningful!

What's included:

Letters (8x11) ONE WORD

Numbers 2021 (4x5)

Individual cards- My One Word (White background, and Multi-colored)

My One Word Bulletin Board Download

I wish all of you a very happy new year for 2021!

Turn Data Tables into Interactive Dashboards

2020-11-16T06:05:00.006-06:00

Visuals are important when you need a quick glance at the data. Your staff and community stay engaged longer when information is easily retained and accessible.

Let me share with you how I went from a plain chart to a dashboard that updates in real time!

It is easy to take a simple google spreadsheet and transform it into an interactive chart that updates in real time.

Step 1: Open any existing Google Spreadsheet.

We are currently tracking COVID19 cases in the district. However, you can use any spreadsheet that you currently have in your google account.

2. Open Data Studios

Click Choose Create Report (top left of the screen/dashboard)

3. Choose Add Data

4. A selection of GOOGLE CONNECTORS will appear. Click Google Sheets (if applicable to your data source)

5. Locate your spreadsheet from the list.

For me, I chose School ISD COVID Tracker.

6. Use the text fields to draw text boxes and select fonts and color options.

7. Select Your Data to Place in your Chart.

Here is the part that can be a bit tricky to figure out. From the Available Fields section, drag your data into the type of graph you previously selected. For example, I wanted to graph Active Student Cases and Active Staff Cases. Therefore, I selected these two and dragged them onto the dashboard and right into the bar graph I selected. If the graph does not satisfy your needs, simply delete it and pick another type of chart or remove some of the metrics/dimensions.

8. Share Your Report

I wanted my report to be a "live" document on the district's website, so I used the link option to share it. Please note that if you download it in a PDF the document is not live. However, if that is not a problem for you, PDF is a great choice.

I am also thinking about the Schedule Email Delivery option for the future. For some projects, it would be great to see the data either at the beginning or end of each week to see how it changes.

I hope you have enjoyed this short tutorial.

Checklists to Guide School Leaders: COVID-19

2020-09-05T08:29:00.006-05:00

We have been in school for 3 weeks, and it has been a very good start to our non-traditional method of teaching. We have students both in remote and on-campus. Parents get to choose their pathway. Even though some students are designated remote and some on-campus, we have students flowing from remote back into the classroom and vice versa depending on their home situation. For the most part, students will stay in remote for the grading period. However, if a face-to-face student is quarantined, they will then become a temporary remote learner.

This process can be very difficult to keep organized.

Even though we have so much already in place to keep the lines of communication flowing, tracking students and staff for days in quarantine, and following all the checkboxes in our heads, we knew we needed a solid protocol in place so no task is left unchecked.

After several Google searches and trying out a few other methods, we discovered Monday.com

STUDENT CHECKLIST

We have protocols in place if students/parents report off campus symptoms and a checklist if they report symptoms while on-campus.

How this works:

We created a Student Protocol template. As students are added into our system via a self-reporting form, we simply copy the template and rename it for each student in the process.

1. Assign a team member or members to complete the tasks. They oversee that all of their tasks are completed for each student.

2. One of the best features of Monday.com is that you can add text and files for each student you are tracking. We added links to our Google Drive to access the exact letter aligned to the task. We can also attach files. You can attach the letter directly or you can upload a file. This comes in handy to keep the student's documentation of lab results or parent communication.

This section below shows the image of the checklist for a student moving into quarantine or testing positive. As you can see we have color-coded all the levels/sections of the template.

STAFF CHECKLIST

The staff checklist functions in the same fashion as student's checklist except there are a few changes for returning to work and Human Resource needs.

I highly recommend some system if you do not have a tracking protocol in place. We realized this helps us with accountability to be sure all areas were completed. We certainly don't want to have an oversight in releasing a student or staff member back on campus without the procedures in place.

FINAL STEPS

Create an active and nonactive folders to house all of your checklists. This is a huge time saver! Close out those cases/checklists that are no longer active, so they are not taking up space in your list.

There are a lot of templates available on Monday.com. We couldn't find one for our needs, but there are a lot of ways to utilize this platform at your school.

OTHER FEATURES

I know this system can become highly automated and send emails for you. We aren't there yet in our setup. If our needs change, we can always learn how to use this feature. Everything can also be downloaded into a spreadsheet (shown below). The possibilities are endless.

I hope you found this helpful. If so, please let me know!

VIEW THE CHECKLISTS:

Mentoring Action Guide for New Teachers

2020-08-08T07:07:00.004-05:00

After receiving many requests, I'm excited to share my school's Mentoring Guidebook with you! You can, of course, download it for free and edit it for your school.

The goal of the guide is to enhance new employee performance and retain early career teachers in the profession or new to the district.

Here are just a few things that the program contains:

Program overview and purpose
Roles and responsibilities for the mentor, principal, and coordinator
Confidentiality Agreement
Monthly Mentor/Mentee checklists
Pre and Post-Observation questions

MENTORING GUIDEBOOK DOWNLOAD

MENTOR/MENTEE ORIENTATION

At the beginning of the year, I conduct an orientation with the mentors and mentees where they learn about the school's vision. If your school doesn't have a vision or if it is in need of an update, I've got you covered. My school uses the strategic plan outlined in the Transform Your School course. In a nutshell, the course is where you can learn the process our district implemented to excel our student and teacher growth from being low performing to achieving a Blue Ribbon Award.

MONTHLY COFFEE CHATS

Additionally, each month we have "Coffee Chats" which is when we discuss Learning by Doing. I highly recommend this book!

WANT MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES?

I recently wrapped up a week of sharing back-to-school resources in response to COVID-19. Each day I posted my school's resources and other helpful content. If you are looking for something in particular, you can probably find it in one of these posts:

Day 1: My school's Return-to-School Plan and 14 other documents that you can edit by downloading

Day 2: Staff appreciation and morale-boosting ideas

Day 3: A deep dive into my school's plan for a successful Meet-the-Teacher night

Day 4: How my school is conducting professional development for teachers and a link to download my school's asynchronous instructional plan

Day 5: Back-to-school teacher gift ideas, free templates, and FAQs

Back-to-School Teacher Gifts, Templates, and FAQs

2020-07-24T16:06:00.000-05:00

It's the last day of the Back-to-School Resources Week!

Today, I'm sharing back-to-school gift ideas for teachers, a Meet-The-Teacher template that's free to download, and FAQs! ✨

This school year will be much different than previous years due to COVID-19. We have to adjust our learning structure, educate teachers in the remote learning tools, ensure health and safety standards are met, and so many other things. It can be a very stressful time, which is why it is so important to recognize your staff in a meaningful, thoughtful way.

Here are some ways you can do this:

OPTION 1: HOME OFFICE FAVORITES

I've created a list on Amazon containing many things teachers would like when working remotely. These are helpful items that range from $6-$23.

OPTION 2: BEST TEACHER GIFTS FOR 2020-2021

Here is a link to some of my personal favorites! 💡 For the socks, you can add a gift tag with something cute about 6 feet for social distancing. Also, I've been loving all the clear coffee mugs that have been out lately and I found a teacher version! I have the grey shirt and it is super comfy.

OPTION 3: PRE-ASSEMBLED KITS

Gift packages are a great way to show appreciation and care for your staff but many of us don't have the bandwidth to put one together. In order to help with that, I've found a few favorites of pre-assembled gift options that can be directly mailed to teachers.

Stress Relief Kit

Hangry Kit with Assorted Snacks

Get Well Soon Kit in case a Teacher Gets Sick

FREE DOWNLOAD

Click here to download a Meet-The-Teacher template that includes your favorite at-home activity, Google Classroom link, and your picture in a computer graphic!

FAQS:

Q: How will you boost employee morale from a distance this year?

A: Go here to read a post with several ideas to help you get started!

Q: How can I make my school higher-performing?

A: My Superintendent (Morris Lyon) and I wrote a book on how we achieved high-performing results that led to winning the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2019. We also have an online course and an online book study that has been a huge hit.

Q: What books do you recommend for school leaders?

A: Go here to find my favorite books on leadership.

Q: What is your must-have item for staying organized?

A: I highly recommend the Simplified Planner by Emily Ley. I love how minimal it is and it keeps me super organized.

Have more questions? Post them in the comments section below!✨

Thank you all for following along the Back-to-School Resources Week! I hope you found the information helpful!

Staff Professional Development & Student Learning Model

2020-07-23T18:02:00.002-05:00

With many school closures due to COVID-19, e-learning is on the rise and has affected many students, teachers, and school leaders. For most of us, virtual teaching has not been our full-time occupation which brings the concern of how can we effectively educate our teachers and staff so they can help students achieve success?

Impactful learning can be expanded beyond the walls of your school with the right resources and leadership. 🏆

Let's talk first about how you can prepare your teachers to be superstars in your online learning management systems.

EXTENDING YOUR REACH

In order to give your teachers opportunities to demonstrate leadership capabilities and provide yourself with bandwidth for support, it's important to extend your reach when it comes to training your teachers and parents in the various sites for online student learning.

Here is how my school is doing this:

TEACHERS:

We reached out to teachers who are experienced/skilled in Google Classroom, Promethean Boards, etc., to see if they would be interested in leading online technology courses (they would become a teacher for the teachers).

The experienced/skilled teachers who volunteered created courses for other teachers to complete so they can also become skilled in the e-learning tools! Each course takes about a half-day (or 3 hours) to complete.

I then built a Google Site and stored all the courses in one place to streamline learning and simplify the course sign-up process.

PARENTS:

The volunteering teachers will also present during Lunch-and-Learn sessions for parents who are seeking information on how to use the systems. These meetings will take place virtually and will be recorded.

What's in it for the volunteering teachers?

This is a big ask of your teachers, which is why it's important to share what are the benefits for them if they choose to volunteer. These can include:

Establishing themselves as a leader and trustworthy contact for support
Demonstrating and showcasing their leadership presence
Building their professional relevance
Helping the school reach its goals

HELPFUL RESOURCES TO GET STARTED

Here are a few books I highly recommend for learning how to use technology in the classroom.

If you are interested in books for current and future school leaders, check out my favorites on my Amazon reading list!

STUDENT LEARNING

Everyone loves free downloads and since we are chatting about online learning, I thought I'd share my school's pathway to remote learning. Click the link below and DOWNLOAD to your computer to edit (no need to request access).

MY ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN

We will provide asynchronous instruction for students in PK-12. Students participating in virtual instruction (asynchronous) will be required to engage in learning activities on their own time during the school day, interacting daily with the teacher(s) via computer or other electronic devices, or over the phone. Teachers will post an assignment/activity each day and give guided support under this model of instruction.

FOUND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL?

Stay tuned for more content tomorrow where I will share bonus content and answer FAQs! To be notified when this content is launched, sign up for the Principal Principles Newsletter. Don't forget to visit the Principal Principles Leadership Group to share/find more back-to-school content from other school leaders!

Planning for Back-to-School Meet-the-Teacher in 2020

2020-07-22T19:02:00.001-05:00

It's Day 3 of the Back-to-School Resources Week! Today's topic is all about how to successfully plan for Meet-the-Teacher upon returning to school.

Meet-the-Teacher Night will be very different from previous years for many schools due to COVID-19. With capacity limits, health and safety guidelines, and multiple other concerns, it has been a challenge to plan.

However, I believe we can help each other create a great experience for our teachers, parents, and students by sharing recommendations and ideas into the Meet-the-Teacher process. ✨

LET'S GET STARTED

Here is a deep dive into my school's Meet-the-Teacher night:

To reduce the number of individuals on campus at one time, Meet-the-Teacher night will be restructured to a full day of rotating supports for families. We have taken the student population and divided them out by last name (A-D, E-H, I-L, M-O, P-S, T-V, W-Z).

During the day, families will be invited to the school in phases and small groups to check out devices, meet the teachers, and attend small group stations to learn how to best support and guide their student’s daily learning.

Before the families visit each station, they will have to pass through a checkpoint where they will be asked questions related to COVID-19, have their temperature taken, and will be asked to wear their masks throughout the stations. They will also receive a sticker to wear which lets us know that they completed the checkpoint and are cleared to enter the building.

Once they have completed this step, they will then begin the station rotation process. The stations are as follows:

Station 1: Demonstration of Google Classroom, SeeSaw

Teachers who are well-versed in Google Classroom will conduct the demonstration of the tool. This gives the teacher(s) critical leadership responsibilities and an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of others!
During the demonstration, the teacher will show parents how to log in, submit assignments, check grades, etc.
This presentation will be recorded so parents can reference it later.

Station 2: Deploy Student Devices

At this station, parents will pick up a Chrome book and a hot spot (if needed). They will also sign a technology agreement.

Station 3: Meet the Principal - Discussion of Safety Protocols

This station will take place in the cafeteria and is where the parents will learn about safety protocols that are outlined in the Return-to-School plan.
If you don't have a Return-to-School plan yet, don't worry. I've got you covered. Go here to download my school's plan and multiple other documents related to back-to-school/COVID-19 for free. There is no need to request access (you can just download the file to get started).

Station 4: Meet the Teacher

This station will take place in the classroom. The structure of this station won't be too different from previous years other than it is on a much smaller scale.

WHAT IF A PARENT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE ATTENDING IN-PERSON?

If a parent is not able to or isn't comfortable attending Meet-the-Teacher in-person I recommend:

Creating teacher introductory videos and posting them on your Google Classroom or emailing them to parents
Utilizing a scheduling tool like SignUp Genius for parents to schedule a video chat with their teacher
Recording a classroom tour so students can see where they will be learning once school resumes. Feel free to also record other spaces like the library, cafeteria, playground, and other spaces!

FOUND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL?

Stay tuned for more content tomorrow where I will share online student learning and professional development resources! To be notified when this content is launched, sign up for the Principal Principles Newsletter. Don't forget to visit the Principal Principles Leadership Group to share/find more back-to-school content from other school leaders!

Staff Appreciation and Morale Ideas

2020-07-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

It's day two of the Back-to-School Resources Week! Today, I will be sharing tips and ideas on how to engage staff and boost employee morale virtually. I encourage you to also share your ideas/resources by posting a comment in the Principal Principles Leadership Group, which is where you can find more back-to-school content from other school leaders!

Even though we have school closures due to COVID-19, we can still express appreciation for staff/employees.

We just need to get creative! ✨

STAFF APPRECIATION IDEAS

In my recent post, Remote Staff Appreciation Ideas for 2020, I share six ideas that are budget-friendly. I've also created editable downloads for you and an Amazon cart to easily find all the supplies you need to get started!

MORE GREAT IDEAS

Earlier this year I purchased a couple of fun items on Amazon that were a huge hit!

"You're Awesome" Pop-Open Cards - Simple, no prep, and budget-friendly!
Pick Your Nose Cups - Funny and budget-friendly. We had so many laughs!

Go here to read more about these two fun/creative morale boosters.

BOOST EMPLOYEE MORALE

If you are a follower of Principal Principles, then you know that Morale Magic™ is our #1 seller for boosting employee morale. New to Principal Principles? No worries! Here is a quick overview:

Morale Magic™ is an ebook that includes over 500 pages of content
It includes both book content pages for reading and printables for each month
A digital copy is sent to you via email after purchase so you have instant access

If you've already purchased Morale Magic™ or would like something on a smaller scale, I recommend the Morale Magic™ Mini. It is a smaller scale than our first book (contains over 100 pages) and is all NEW content than the full Morale Magic™ ebook.

FOUND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL?Stay tuned for more content tomorrow where I will share how my school is approaching Meet the Teacher! To be notified when this content is launch, sign up for the Principal Principles Newsletter. Don't forget to visit the Principal Principles Leadership Group to share/find more back-to-school content from other school leaders! 

Return To School Plan in Response to COVID-19

2020-07-20T10:28:00.001-05:00

With the COVID-19 outbreak, the importance of business preparedness and contingency planning, as we are learning, has never been more valuable than now. School leaders are now facing the new challenge of continuing educational efforts while maintaining required health safety standards and ensuring that we are prepared before the 1st day of school.

In order for us to successfully begin a new school year safely and responsibly together, each day this week I will be posting my school's resources and other helpful content to the blog and the Principal Principles Leadership Group. I encourage you to follow along each day to share/find materials, tips, links, ideas, etc., for back-to-school in response to COVID-19.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THIS WEEK:

Today, I want to share with you my school's Return to School Plan along with links to multiple other documents. Feel free to use the documents as a guide for your campus!

A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CREATING YOUR RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN:

1. The top priority is ensuring the safety of the staff and students.

2. Leverage the WHO and CDC sites, as well as local government agencies for critical health information.

3. Health protocols and safety regulations are changing frequently while new information is being discovered about COVID-19. With this, ensure that your RTS plan is a "living" guide for staff and students to reference frequently for any updates.

The Return to School Guide is broken down into three main sections.

SECTION I: Safety of Students, Staff, and Visitors
SECTION II. Academics and Home-Based Learning
SECTION III. Extracurricular and District-Wide Planning

The guide is posted on my school's site, Hawkins ISD Strong Start. The site is created in Google Sites and has been helpful for staff and parents to find information for this school year all in one location. The site includes printables you may find helpful including:

WANT A COPY OF THE FILES?

Follow the directions below to access a copy of the editable files.

1. Click on the linked documents above

2. Download the file to YOUR computer (no need to request access). This will allow you to edit the Word Document.

FOUND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL?

Stay tuned for more content tomorrow where I will share virtual staff morale ideas. Don't forget to visit the Principal Principles Leadership Group to share/find more back-to-school content from other school leaders!

Remote Staff Appreciation Ideas for 2020

2020-04-18T09:17:00.001-05:00

During our school closure for COVID 19, I have had to be creative about planning ways to show my appreciation to my staff. I have to admit I have stressed over this for weeks. It is a little harder than the typical "on-campus" morale boosters and appreciation ideas.

I hope you love the ideas for Remote Staff Appreciation. I also hope my own staff enjoys some of these ideas too. I don't have a big budget, so I definitely can't do all of these ideas. I will either have to scale down my shopping plans or be very intentional searching some great sales.

I made a shopping cart on Amazon for items if you need a quick shopping list.

This is a Google Docs file. You will be prompted to create a copy in your own drive. This will give you the editable features to add your own text to areas that are editable.

1. We Are In This Together-

5x7 card to be mailed (6 color options)

Envelopes

2. Create a Game Night and Pizza Pick Up curbside.

Shop small businesses to help you create a pizza to be picked up. Send out invitations via email or mail to your staff inviting them to pick up their meal. If funds are available, include a deck of cards or board game for family game night at home. Another option is to create a virtual game for the staff to enjoy together.

3. Jimmy Fallon's Classroom Instrument Happy Hour!

Share a video of Jimmy Fallon and his classroom instrument from YouTube. Invite your staff to find something around the house to use as their instrument. In advance, ask one of your musically talented staff members to be the vocalist. Set up a virtual call with your staff and have everyone play along. No talent required. Just fun!

4. Hello Sunshine-

Create a bag with yellow treats such as lemon drops or butterscotch candy.

Fill bag ideas here

5. Lockdown Survival Kit-

As teachers are prepping for summer and coming up to clean their classrooms, have a survival kit ready for pickup. Fill a bag with a magazine, a gift card, or treats to enjoy at home.

6. Wash Your Hands-

Create a gift tag to attach to a bottle of soap or a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Wash Hand Soap Paper

Download Remote Staff Appreciation Here

Amazon List of Staff Appreciation

Home-Based Learning Resources During COVID-19

2020-03-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

In response to school closures due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), I would like to share with you what my school is doing for instructional continuity despite this disruption.

We felt it was necessary to keep all information in one location for parents. After sharing this with the world, our site seemed to be a hit with everyone. I wanted to make sure you have all the information you need to build a similar site.

My District Webpage

Google Sites

Google makes it very easy to build a site. It literally took me a couple of hours to build it, but then a little longer to link everything up. Since this pandemic situation is new to us all, we are spending hours creating documents, communicating plans, and studying the spread of the virus so we are steadily informed. I thought I would share the template with you so you can get started making it for you too. Hopefully this will save you a ton of time.

The template is ready to go. All you have to do is add your own documents and school information.

Do not forget to make a copy to protect your work!

CLICK BELOW

PUBLISHED WEBPAGE

Watch a quick tutorial!

1. Use the three dots and click DUPLICATE site.
2. Change the Google Site location to be YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE. If you fail to do that step, you will get an error message.
3. Rename your file so you know it is your copy and not my template.

TROUBLE OR NEED ASSISTANCE

I have created Step by Step Directions for Google Sites here. Download the PDF and get started on your website.

CANVA

I used canvas to create the labeled buttons that say COVID Info, Zoom Schedules, etc...

You can use this template as well to modify any of the buttons for your own customization.

CANVA TEMPLATE- BRIGHT COLORED

CANVA TEMPLATE- HAWKINS DESIGN

PAGES INCLUDED

About Covid
Distance Learning
Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Communication
Schedules
Student and Family Assistance
Special Programs
Digital Backpack
Grading
Select Grade Level

Principal Principles

TOOLS EVERY LEADER SHOULD BE USING TO STAY ORGANIZED

HOW TO GROUP YOUR TABS

STEPS to CREATE TABS

HOW TO SCHEDULE INSTANT MEETINGS IN GMAIL

INSTANT AGENDAS AND MEETING NOTES

CLOSING

Academic Showcase (Parent Open House Night)

THE ACADEMIC SHOWCASE NIGHT

BOOTH SIGNAGE

WELCOME SIGNAGE

THE WHY

Take a look at our video!

The School Leader Gift Guide

CAMPUS GIFT

INDIVIDUAL GIFTS

GIFTS UNDER $15

$20 and Up Specialty Gifts

OFFICE GIFT ITEMS

Inspiring Leaders Spotlight: WIN Time

CRYSTAL MAYES, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, TEXAS

How do you collect data?

How do you track data?

How do you group students using data?

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes)

SUSAN HANKINS, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, MICHIGAN

How do you collect data?

How do you track data?

How do you group students using data?

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes

Check out the results prior to WIN and after WIN was implemented!

JOHN WEAVER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, FLORIDA

How do you collect data?

How do you track data?

How do you group students using data?

Tell me all about your WIN Time implementation (struggles, how you started, your successes

John Weaver's Campus Presentation

IN CLOSING

Ready to learn more about how to implement WIN Time too?

What is WIN Time

What is WIN Time?

WHAT are the benefits of WIN Time?

HOW to start WIN Time?

STUDENT DATA TRACKING

WIN TIME SOFTWARE

EVALUATE YOUR WIN TIME

Student Data Trackers that Develop Ownership and Motivation

DATA Success Trackers

About the Trackers

HOW TO ORDER A CLASS SET

PRINTED AND SHIPPED

PRINT ON YOUR OWN

Create Engaging Graphics and Reports in Minutes

Take a look.

HOW TO EMBED ON YOUR WEBSITE:

HOW TO EMBED ON YOUR SLIDE DECK:

FOR EDUCATORS:

The Fire Within You

LEADERSHIP

Work Smarter Not Harder: Create a Google Calendar Agenda

1. Go to Chrome Web Store and Search for SoapBox

2. Install SoapBox to your Chrome Browser.

3. Create a meeting on using your Google Calendar.

4. Click on the Add Soapbox to this meeting blue button to create an agenda.

5. The agenda will now appear and all invitees will see the agenda prior to the meeting.

Become a Leader Others Want to Follow

As a leader what does it take to become a leader others want to follow?

1. CHANGE THE THINGS YOU DO AND THINK

2. INVEST IN YOURSELF

3. BE INSPIRING

4. BE CONSISTENT

Create a Google Dashboard for Administrators using Google Sheets

HOW TO CREATE A GOOGLE DASHBOARD

1. GOOGLE DASHBOARD TEMPLATE

2. ADD YOUR OWN LINKS TO THE CELLS

WEBSITE LINKING

DOCUMENT LINKING FROM GOOGLE DRIVE

Technology Tips and Tricks for School Leaders

RECORD USING CANVA

CREATE A PERSONALIZED AND PROFESSIONAL SIGNATURE