Dr. Mr. President, I am growing tired hearing everyone debate the issue of whether or not your administration acted quickly enough to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Whether that is a belief held by any of us or all of us, now is not the time to debate that issue. As such, please do …
Author: impassionED Living
I am an educator, photographer and writer. Thank you for visiting.
20 Seconds of Courage
20 Seconds of Courage A number of years ago, I watched the movie We Bought a Zoo. It was really quite good--I found myself laughing and tearing up at the same time. The biggest takeaway for me, however, was during a poignant moment where Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, offered advice to his on-screen …
Who do you want to be?
The memory of the first time that I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is vague. I know that I was very young. But the impact of that question, as well as my experiences for several years following, have had a profound effect on what I considered was my …
What now?
In my last post, I wrote about the disruption the pandemic has created for education, ways we could make use of the additional time we have in the weeks/months ahead, and how seat time and location will likely fall behind as conditions of the learning environment. Today, I want to dig a little deeper into …
Let’s go!
Big things often happen as a result of a disruption. The pandemic is a disruption. It’s the kind of disruption that will force some people and organizations to press the pause button until it is over. It is also triggering others to retool, realign, shift focus, or all of the above. Last week, in a …
The “Perfect” School
Years ago, when I was participating in an aspiring superintendent program, I read The Perfect School. While the specific content is a little fuzzy for me today, the title has stuck with me. In fact, it has remained at the center of my thoughts ever since. The dialogue in my head--whether it be about …
Continuum
There’s been a movement in education over the last two or three decades that shifts the paradigm about student and teacher roles. In the 80s, when I was in school, the shift hadn’t begun, or at least I didn't recognize it. What I do remember recognizing throughout my school years was an emphasis on compliance. …
Commitments
Driving a vehicle on the road requires a commitment--several commitments, actually. One commitment is to follow the rules. Another commitment is to work with other motorists as they merge into our path or seek to exit. Still other commitments, perhaps more subtle, include not tailgating, not texting while we’re driving and not allowing our emotions …
You. Now. Purpose.
I was recently asked to talk to a group of 7th grade students as a part of our area “Leadership Academy.” The invitation was specifically to share my thoughts on “happiness,” which is understandable because “happiness” has been my “schtick” at work for the past few years. At work, I basically have a bully pulpit …
Tongue Fu!
In the summer of 1997 I was Recreation Director at a well-known music camp in Michigan’s north woods. I was also a young band director with my eyes set on becoming a principal when my camp boss and soon-to-become mentor, Larry Pye, gave me a book titled Tongue Fu!. Larry was a former band director …
