SMS Principal Blog

"Change is the end result of all true learning." -Leo Buscaglia One might think that in a post about our upcoming MAP testing, I would use an analogy about using a map to find our way through a dense, impenetrable landscape, but being a clever man, I used that one last week, so I'll have to come up with something new and fresh this week.  Listen, I know that having students take standardized tests isn't why any of us became teachers. It just isn't. In my mind, every teacher goes into this profession because of the opportunity to make an impact on students, to change their lives for the better, to see that "AHA!" moment in their eyes when they finally grasp a concept and knowing that because of your efforts, they have new insight into the world around them. None of that will happen this week while your students are taking MAP tests. However, the data produced by these tests is important because we are interested in student learning in the big p...

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. -Ralph Waldo Emerson As we embark on our second week of school, our committees will begin their work for the year. I know that to some, this may seem like a tedious "extra duty as assigned", but from a building leaderships standpoint, these opportunities to sit down and strategize with my teacher leaders is critical to our overall success. It is by design that I scheduled the first meeting to be with the Faculty Leadership Team. I look forward to sitting down with this group of teachers to discuss our direction of travel for this school year.  As I've said before, I tend to relate most things to either the military or sports. In this case, I'm going military. When conducting land navigation exercises, there are times when you need to look backward to determine your location, but from there, the only objective is to keep moving forward. In dense and rugged ...

" It is today that your best work can be done and not some future day or future year" - Author Unknown The first days of school are a little bit different for everyone. Parents, depending on the age of their children, may experience anything from unrivaled joy at having peace and quiet return to their house for at least part of the day to overwhelming anxiety at dropping their pre-schooler off for the first time. Students are often excited about reuniting with friends that haven't been as present over the summer months while also being a little bummed that the carefree summer season is over. As an educator, I don't think there is any other day on the calendar that has me more excited about what I do. For me, the first day of school is what keeps me going. 1. Anything is possible- On the first day of school, everyone has a clean slate. Every student has the opportunity to have the best year ever. Every teacher has the opportunity to have the best year ever. The...