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Season 3, Episode 11 - Angie Brown
103 Plays2 years ago
This week, Angie Brown shows why she is a valued member of Tyrone Thompson Elementary School and her positivity comes through her words. She discusses her viewpoint on "Rock Your School" and being happy at work. Talking about how she combats bad days with positive vibes, as well as what her life's "purpose" is, Angie provides great insight to her job and why she loves to "get" to go to work.
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Transcript
Introduction & Background
00:00:11
Speaker
Welcome back. It's another episode of It's All About Perspective. I am, of course, your host, Robert Hinchliffe. Sometimes in life, you get people sent to you that just help you out. And today, my guest is one of those people. I've been blessed to have many people in my life like that, but she has been so wonderful helping Tyrone Thompson become who they are. So Angie Brown, thank you for being here today.
00:00:38
Speaker
Yes, thank you so much for having me. This is exciting. How was that introduction? I want to meet the person you're talking about. Yeah, right. You know you do times for the school. I mean, I do, but it's just what I do, so.
00:00:56
Speaker
Okay, so leading into that, like, okay, so many people may not know, although they should, last year you were nominated to be specialist of the year in Clark County.
Passion for Teaching & Career Path
00:01:06
Speaker
And you told Dr. Jara something when he gave you your award about work. What did you say?
00:01:14
Speaker
I told him that it was hard to accept that award because when I come to work, it doesn't feel like work. I just love what I do. I love the people I get to work with. I love the events that we get to plan. I love what we do for kids. And so for me, I think when people think of going to work, it's like that dreadful feeling. But for me, I just, I love waking up and going there and getting to be a part of all the fun stuff that we do at Thompson. So it just honestly doesn't feel like work for me.
00:01:43
Speaker
Well, I mean, I appreciate that about you, of course. And I wish everybody felt like that. But why do you, I mean, why do you feel that way though? I mean, have you always felt that way? Like, did you feel that way at your last school? You don't have to say what it was, but I mean, have you, you're just a positive person. You're positive 98% of the time, if not 99. So, you know, is it just Thompson or is it just the way you are?
00:02:08
Speaker
Um, you know, part of it a little bit, it kind of goes back. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Um, but then my mom kind of skewed me onto a different path when I was a teenager and she was like, you know, teachers don't make a lot of money, try to find something to do that's going to make you more money. So like any teenager, I listened to my mom and I tried marketing. Wait, not every teenager listens to her mom. I was a good teenager though. I was, I was. You're the good kid. That's right. That's right.
00:02:36
Speaker
Um, so I tried different things and I just honestly kept coming back to teaching. And for me, I just had that moment where I was like, I'd rather wake up and be happy going to work every day and doing what I want to do that makes me happy than be able to say that I'm at a job where I might not be as happy, but have a lot
Love for Kids & Positive Work Environment
00:02:55
Speaker
of money. So I went into teaching and even at my previous school, I loved what I did. I just, I love working with kids. I love being able to be silly and happy and, um,
00:03:06
Speaker
I taught primary grades. That's where my experience is in because those kids will compliment you all day long. You could be having a rough day and they just always know what to say and they're just authentic. So that's always made me happy. I was at my previous school for 11 years and I think after a while you kind of get an itch for something new and something different and boy was Thompson new and different. So I think it's just,
00:03:34
Speaker
I felt joy, but I feel like a different kind of joy at Thompson. I just feel like it's a whole different kind of energy. It's a different type of, how do I word it?
00:03:47
Speaker
Well, I mean, we talk about it's an experience. Experiences, exactly. That's exactly what I was going to say. It's just experiences that I've never been exposed to in my career. And I think that that's just what makes it fun, because it's new. And even now, I mean, I'm three years into this, and it's still it's not like the honeymoon phase is over, okay, now it feels like work, like it's, we're constantly, you know, all right, what are we going to do that's bigger and better? How are we going to top this? And so, um,
00:04:13
Speaker
It's just honestly the people that I get to work with and where I get to be that I just feel makes me positive and happy to do what I do.
Impact of Environment & Leadership
00:04:20
Speaker
Why do you believe in Clark County or at Thompson or anywhere? Do you believe it's just who you are or why are so many educators, I don't know if miserable is the right word, struggling. Is it just, I mean, again, is it just how you wake up and like you text me or you'll be like, you know, we get to go to work today.
00:04:42
Speaker
That's who you are. So why do you feel like so many educators don't feel like they get to go to work today? They have to go to work today. Honestly, it comes down to your environment, I think, and where you work and how supportive you feel and how
00:04:59
Speaker
invested your admin or your leaders are into you. And that's a big thing. And at Thompson, I think that you and Shauna do a great job of taking care of your staff. And I mean, our lounge is top notch, we're constantly doing things for teachers to help them know like, Hey, you know, the district might not be treating you well right now. But here are ways that, you know, we can't control what they do. But these are the ways that
00:05:22
Speaker
we can make you feel appreciated.
Coping with Challenges & Positivity
00:05:25
Speaker
And so I honestly think that your leadership team can make or break your experience at a school and in any workplace, honestly. Yeah, I mean, that's probably true. We are always thinking, and I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing, because we just sit and think stuff up. But you know, we're always trying to think of something. But even then, I don't know if we can make, well, I always say the quickest way to fail is to try to make everybody happy. Yep. But
00:05:50
Speaker
We tried. I don't understand, I think you're like me, I don't understand how some people can't be happy. There's things, there's always days. But goodness gracious, how, I don't know, it's just a struggle.
00:06:06
Speaker
One thing that I always try to do, it's in those days where I'm having a bad day. I try to combat negative bad days with something good, like doing something good for somebody else. Because there's never been a time that I've done something out of my way for somebody that I've regretted afterwards. And so that feeling just kind of becomes contagious. And so I know for me, that's my go-to. If I'm having a bad day or a bad moment, then
00:06:31
Speaker
You know what? And go write a sticky note for somebody and put it on their desk because you never know when somebody needs it or if it's going to help somebody. But honestly, I do those things because it helps me more than it helps them. And so if it helps them at the same time, then it's a win-win.
Becoming a Read by Grade 3 Strategist
00:06:46
Speaker
Well, I mean, that's kind of why you miss, there's a lot of reasons, but one of the reasons that I wanted you to be read by grade three is because you just sprinkle confetti everywhere. And I think that's important for a lot of educators. They need that person who can just go talk to them and they need that person who's gonna write them a sticky note or you're the person that puts the elves in every window or you just do random stuff.
00:07:14
Speaker
And so I think that's important for, I think a strategist has to be someone that can kind of do all the things, but is very approachable and will work hard to help the teachers. Have you found that to be valuable as the strategist?
00:07:33
Speaker
Oh, 100%. I still remember when it was so random how it came about that I was going to be the strategist. I think you had offered me a position in fourth grade, and I was like, well, I'd rather be a strategist at this point. And then you were like, hmm, well, that is actually a possibility right now. And so it just got wheels turning. But I just remember one of the first thoughts I had when we had that conversation was,
00:07:55
Speaker
I want to be for people what I wish I had in the classroom. As a classroom teacher, there are so many times where you have a question to ask, but you don't feel comfortable, or you have a behavior issue with a kid, and it might not be as severe as having to call the admin in, but maybe you just need that one person to get an idea from.
00:08:15
Speaker
You just need a new strategy for something that's not working. And I feel like, you know, nobody wants to fail. Nobody wants to show weaknesses with things. And so I just saw the strategist position is my way of trying to be for people what I always knew I needed when I was teaching. You're not wrong. I've had strategist before that.
00:08:37
Speaker
were unapproachable or I inherited, I should say. Unapproachable or just mean or could not see a different perspective on how to do things. And you, I think you agree with that, but I'm not sure how many people out there that listen to this would agree that their strategists are like you, are approachable, are basically therapists or counselors or resource people that get resources.
Learning from Peers & Embracing Change
00:09:08
Speaker
I don't understand that. I don't know if you want to talk about that, but I think sometimes your eyes are opened at meetings that you have with other people who are strategists.
00:09:18
Speaker
Yes. So the process of becoming a Read by Grade 3 strategist is, it's tough. It was, I mean, it was a rigorous, there were so many different things I had to submit. I had to do like a live lesson presentation. So you have to jump through some hoops to become a Read by Grade 3 strategist. And there are times, and again, we all show up and do the best that we can. We all obviously, you know, nobody comes to work to suck and not do well.
00:09:45
Speaker
But man, sometimes you sit in rooms with people and you just wonder like, you know, what experiences have you had that have led you to be the way that you are or, you know, and we're all lifelong learners. Like I go to trainings and I try to have an open mind, like, you know, just because I've been doing it this way doesn't mean that this is the right way. Or in fact, like in my position now, I learn just as much from helping teachers as they learn when they come asking me for help.
Effective Leadership & Teacher Support
00:10:12
Speaker
So,
00:10:13
Speaker
You know, sometimes when I sit in these meetings, I just think like, you know, it's just one of those feelings you get when you just look around the room and you just realize like how so many different people come from so many different experiences. And I think that you're just doing what Angie does. You're just being positive about people. Well, I mean, it's a challenge because, you know, like you don't want to be mean. You don't want to put people down. But, you know, like deep down, there's also that reality of like,
00:10:42
Speaker
Wow, how did we both get through the process? I was just thinking, I mean, through the process is a good point. I was just thinking that maybe their strategy is because the principal had to get them out of the classroom and had nowhere else to put them.
00:10:55
Speaker
True. And that's what I'm saying. You don't know what they're coming from. Some of these people, and again, when you sit in a training and you're very limited on what you know, like you said, you have no idea if the principal pushed them there. You have no idea if they were there against their own will, or if this is legitimately what they wanted. But I do think it takes a certain personality to be a strategist. Because again, you're kind of the go-to person for your school. And so if you're going to have a lot of staff that have to depend on you, you have to be somebody that's
00:11:24
Speaker
approachable and personable and you know willing to help at any given time and You know and we all have our days obviously you sure I've had moments Where it's not always that way but you know I try to just keep it in the forefront of my mind that my job is to support and so I just Do the best I can with that.
Thompson's Unique Environment & Leadership
00:11:45
Speaker
So I don't know if you'll I don't know if you'll be detail oriented on this answer or not, but is
00:11:54
Speaker
I ask this all the time, but now that you're out of the classroom and you have a picture, a top down big picture view of the school and how everything works, first thought, what do you think was the biggest eye opener once you started to be that person?
00:12:15
Speaker
Oh, man, you know, it's funny because I had this moment where I did like the agreement thumbs with Maddie when she was on your show a couple of weeks ago and you asked her a question like this when she was a because she was a specialist and she's back in the classroom now and it goes back to like, wow,
00:12:33
Speaker
Why do you do that that way? Or why are you choosing this route? Or is this the easiest way you think you can get this done? Or do you think that this is efficient? It's just eye opening to see. And that's in both good and bad ways. Like I said, I'm a lifelong learner. I love going into classrooms and seeing how teachers do things. Because I think when you're a teacher, you're just so in your own little box. You just do what you think is best for kids. You just do what you think is right.
00:13:02
Speaker
And you don't know what the teacher next door to you is is doing to teach the exact same lesson You don't know what it looks like down the hallway from you That's why I think there's so much power in like our classroom walkthroughs And I think that our teachers love doing those because you get to actually see and get ideas from other people and so I think for me that was really a
00:13:22
Speaker
kind of eye opening, like I said, in both the positive and the negative in ways. But again, my job is to just come along and support. And some of these people whose classrooms I've seen doing something that I might not agree with or something I might not do ends up working out for them. And so it's just one of those moments where it's like, again, I'm also reflective enough to know just because I wouldn't do it this way doesn't mean it's not working or it doesn't work. At what point in time
00:13:53
Speaker
What point in time did you, I think I've asked people this before too, and Christy, my wife gets mad because she says I asked the same questions of everybody, but again, it's a different perspective or potentially one.
Creating Transformative Student Experiences
00:14:06
Speaker
At what point in time did you think that I am a little bit different or a little bit crazy or, I don't know, I don't know what the right word is, but I think I asked Shawna that.
00:14:21
Speaker
Is there anything that sticks out in your mind where you're like, I remember that. And I was like, wow. So here's the thing. When I left my previous school, it wasn't like a do or die I had to get out. It was my youngest just finished fifth grade. It was just kind of like the end of the Brown chapter at the school I was at. And so I was like, he's going to middle school. I want to go somewhere. But I wanted to be selective in where I went. It wasn't like, just get me out of here. I'll go anywhere.
00:14:51
Speaker
And when I started at my school, my school was brand new. And I went there because I heard good things about the principal. And to me, I just feel like,
00:15:01
Speaker
If you are specifically chosen to be the principal of a brand new elementary school, you have some kind of innovative ideas. You've got something that is wowing this panel of people that they chose you. Or I just had three really good interviews maybe. Well, right. I mean, that could have been it too. And there were a couple of teachers from my previous school that are at our school now that went before me because I came during Thompson's second year.
00:15:29
Speaker
And you know, it was after I had conversations with them and they told me all about the house system and they told me all about You know the way that you take care of your teachers and I followed your social media The school social media and I saw all the fun things you guys were doing and the fun videos and the logo was really cute and so I was like, this is That was the deciding factor
00:15:52
Speaker
It was exactly when I was sold. Sarah did a great job. But honestly, like, again, that's just in the forefront of my mind. Like I didn't know you. I didn't know anything about you. I just knew this is a school, a brand new elementary school that's opening up five minutes from my house. And it just the timing of it just felt right. And again, I think that being here now three years,
00:16:18
Speaker
And being a part of all these crazy cool projects and ideas you have has just shown me that they picked the right person for the job.
00:16:26
Speaker
That's debatable. That's debatable. You never know. I mean, again, it depends on who you ask and when. But like I said at the beginning, some people are just put there to be a part of it. And that's just, I think you just were meant to be. I look at the staff and I try to think, OK, where can we maximize people's talent?
00:16:50
Speaker
And that's why you're where you're at, or Shana's where she's at, or people are in certain grade levels. You're trying to get the most out of people. And for me, it was like, okay, this is a person who just does all these things. She can't just stay in second grade. And that's why it was like, okay, let's go to fourth grade, more kids, more pressure.
00:17:12
Speaker
all that stuff, and then everything just worked out. But you would have been great in fourth grade too. You don't know how to, I mean, you do that, but you don't know how to be bad, I don't think. I don't think you know how to, I don't think you know how to suck, so to speak.
Investing in Student Experiences
00:17:26
Speaker
Well, I mean, I don't know, intermediate, like I said, primary has my heart. And even like sitting through intermediate meetings, sometimes I'm like, Oh, man, like that's
00:17:35
Speaker
that's some like real deal stuff. Like I can't make a song and dance to, you know, theme and some of the topics that they have to teach. I don't think the kids will think it's cute if I start like singing and dancing like I could in a primary grade. Maybe, maybe. Well, I mean like, so moving into that last week, we did rock your school day.
00:17:56
Speaker
And it was amazing. If you haven't seen it, go on Angie's Facebook page, if you're private probably, nevermind. Go on Thompson's page and check it out. It was amazing. It was all about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And then of course everybody does their things. Comment on Rock Your School Day. But then also I wanna talk about why do we think other schools don't do this? And if they do it,
00:18:26
Speaker
How many of them do it really well or it's just like a few? Does that make sense what I'm saying? Yeah. Again, I think it just comes down to your leadership and your admin team and the people that you have.
00:18:42
Speaker
For you, I know we've talked about this a lot. Your interviews are pretty consistent with people. You lay out on the line exactly what they're coming here for. You're not just coming to teach kids reading, writing, math, science. You are coming to be a part of a community. You are coming to build these relationships. You're going to be in a house. You are going to
00:19:02
Speaker
Have kids from all over the school that are a part of your house. You're going to be part of these big crazy events and you do a really good job of just being explicit and laying that out for people and so I think that obviously that helps for people to know what they're getting into and I just I mean
00:19:21
Speaker
I don't know if it's a case of other principals just don't know what they don't know. Like they haven't tried something like this. So they don't know what the result of it would be. I don't know that other people have as crazy big of ideas as we have. Like I think it's just, you know, there's you with your ideas and then you add Shauna in with her connections and all of her crazy, you know, bigger is better. Let's go.
00:19:45
Speaker
And then you add me in and I just, I try to keep it real, but then you guys pull me into all these big things and then just keep them executed and they work. And so. But even then though, like you said, I mean, once, you know, again, you and Shawn are, everybody's my people for the most part of time. So, but you two are my people. Cause I come up with an idea and rarely do you say no. Usually, I mean, every now and then Shawn would be like, yeah.
00:20:12
Speaker
with no enthusiasm. But I think it's because you see the overall vision of being an experience. So then you and Shana will take it to a whole new level. Or I guess my question is, why do you think that people don't do
00:20:31
Speaker
things like this, like Rock Your School Day is fairly nationally known. Why do people not take these on? Why are they not willing to change the environment for kids for one day? For me, I just think, I mean, I'll be the first to say there's a lot of time and prep work that has to go into something like Rock Your School Day. And I think
00:20:55
Speaker
in today's day and age with all these new programs and things we have going on, not to say that people don't prioritize experiences for kids, but I just think not everybody sees the value in transforming and doing all these things for just one day. I think there's just a lot of work that has to go into it. And so maybe the ROI on it isn't as high, and it takes money. And I think it also, you also have to have the right people on your staff
00:21:23
Speaker
to make it successful. Like it's not enough for us to just do Willy Wonka and then the teachers in the classroom don't do anything at all. It has to be I think you have to have your whole staff bought into it for it to be successful. Yeah, I mean, like we've we have
00:21:41
Speaker
we have improved year by year by year. I think because the first year people were like, you know, when you're putting a school together the year before you got there, I mean, it was COVID. I was still a sunny bono, but it was weird. But then like the first year there when I was kissed on the roof, I think that's where people really saw like the full
00:22:01
Speaker
the full thing and then they buy into it and then last year when we were the National Mile School for Rockford School Day they kind of had to because it was a big deal and then they really saw what it's about so then this year pretty much everybody was bought in and that made a huge difference you have to start slow but
00:22:23
Speaker
I just wish people knew that the money and the time and the effort that you put into rocker school day and transforming your environment is worth way more than any program you could buy or implement or mandate. And I don't I don't understand. I guess maybe it's a control thing or they think it's non-academic. True.
00:22:49
Speaker
And I mean, the non-academic part, you know, we walked around so many classrooms on Friday and there were so many teachers that had great activities taking place in their classroom. And I think for these kids, like, you know, they're just so pumped to walk through the doors and they see Willy Wonka and each of our hallways were themed differently. And then within those hallways, the classrooms were themed differently. And so when these teachers put these
00:23:12
Speaker
fun activities together. I don't even think the kids realize that they're learning that like what they're learning our actual standards and skills. Like I think to them, they're just like, Oh, this is great. You know, there was a kindergarten class we walked into and our kindergarten team did all of Super Mario and
00:23:28
Speaker
the one classroom that I remember walking into, the teacher had them stomping on Goombas and they were just paper plates, but then she would stop the music and they would have to pick up their plate and they'd have to tell her what number it was and there were 10 frames and there were base 10 blocks and there were digits and kids are just shouting numbers out. And again, in their head, we're stomping Goombas, we're in Super Mario Land, this is the best day ever. And for that teacher, she's like, check, check, this is this standard, this is this standard. And it's just about
00:23:58
Speaker
creating activities that are meaningful for kids, but you know also Rigorous at the same time. Yeah, I mean it takes it takes work for sure
00:24:09
Speaker
But again, there's so much ROI on it. We're out in front every day of the school. We didn't hear one horn that Friday morning, the parents were completely okay with traffic taking forever because they saw that the effort we put into making school fun. And then the ROI on our side is that the parents see all of the great things that we're doing and
00:24:34
Speaker
They value that. They value when their kids come home and they say, I love school. Today was the best day ever. There's so much more to it that I think that people just don't see. Absolutely. And I think if you were to take a handful of our Thompson kids and years from now and just ask them, think back on your elementary school experience and what stands out to you? What is something that you remember?
00:24:59
Speaker
I guarantee that they would definitely name Rock Your School Day, one of the Rock Your School days that they've experienced at school, at least one moment from it, one person from it, one experience from it, because, I mean, it just, like you said, it just tops any curriculum or any, you know,
Robert's Impactful Moments & Aspirations
00:25:18
Speaker
100%. I mean, I was blessed. You talked to Cayman and her family to coming to Thompson. And Cayman was my favorite memory, or one of my favorites. Because last year, once she saw the Elvis signs as they were pulling up to the school, she was telling her, mom, mom, they did it again. And then this year, I'm like, Cayman, did you know? And she's like, no. But when you saw the lollipops,
00:25:43
Speaker
She goes, yeah, then I knew you did it again. And it's like, those are the things that make school, I don't remember learning four plus four. I'm sure you don't. But I remember certain things. And I don't understand why we educators get stuck in this universe of we have to make school just procedural, boring. Some teachers have no desire to not be boring. That's all they know. Right.
00:26:12
Speaker
Well, and I think that's what also just drew me to Thompson. I loved your motto of we are going to be the model of what a public school can and should be. And I mean, even this weekend, I shared the one video that you took. It was the reel that just kind of panned the front of the school and the main hallway. And that was it. I mean, you know, these people didn't even see all the other stuff that we did.
00:26:37
Speaker
I had, I think, 60-some comments on my own personal Facebook page of people like, wow, this is amazing. I can't believe what you guys do for kids. And somebody put, this is a person who doesn't even know what our motto is, but you guys are the most amazing role models for other schools and other teachers. And it's just one of those feelings I know when I was showing
00:26:59
Speaker
I was showing Adam the videos from rock your school day, all the little clips I had on the TV the other day and Aiden, my youngest son was in the kitchen and he's just watching these and he's like, wow, why couldn't I go to a school like that? Why didn't our school do fun things like that? And you know, I mean, you just, you do what you think is best, but
00:27:17
Speaker
I mean, nobody does it like Thompson does. That's all I can say. I mean, again, second sucks. But again, I think it's just a mindset. People would say, oh, well, you got to pick your staff at Thompson when you open it. Kind of. I mean, we're online. It was like this, where we're just talking basically at a Google Meet. Kind of.
00:27:36
Speaker
I couldn't go watch anybody teach and you can you can tell them all day long about what we're doing right until you get there and you see it and then now I mean there's 23 of the original people left because once they get into it they're like I want nothing to do with this I also think we have a hard time recruiting teachers believe it or not even though we're in you know we're a melting pot in the suburbs because they see all the social media posts which you do which is amazing and they think I don't want to get involved in that that's too much work
00:28:06
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, that's a good point, too. And that's OK. It's better to have, there's a school and a place for everybody that wants to be in education. I mean, if you don't want to work with kids and do what's best for kids, and obviously you probably shouldn't be in education, but there are plenty of schools out there, too, that are, again, they do what they think is best for kids in their own way. And if what we do at Thompson isn't your jam, then, you know,
00:28:33
Speaker
good luck wherever else you want to be. But I mean, as far as what we do, I don't know that it can be topped. Well, I mean, that's that's the goal, right? I mean, well, right, right. I mean, I'm sure it can be. I mean, we're going to do it next year somehow make it better. But I really think
00:28:56
Speaker
I don't know what the mindset is of why you, you know, I try to set up this place where people would want to be. And it kind of makes makes, I mean, if you don't want to be there to be a part of it, that's great. Don't apply. Because it's a lot of work. I mean, it's hard. And the teachers, God love them. They put up with me and I do the best to take care of them. But things like rocker school or houses or, you know, we have House Current Day on Wednesday.
00:29:22
Speaker
There's a lot going on. I tell people in interviews, your calendar is not normal. There's always something going on. And I don't think a lot of teachers like that. I think they want routines, procedures, or they want to do what they want to do, which we come up against as well. Yeah. And I think that you do a good job of laying all of that out during the interview.
00:29:45
Speaker
you let them know ahead of time. You have to be a team player. You have to be all in because that's just what we do here. This is how this works. This is how this happens. And if you're in, great. If you're not, then good luck to you. Yeah, no hard feelings. It's not for everyone. So it just, yeah, we do all this stuff. But now our mindset is how are we going to beat this year?
00:30:14
Speaker
Got any ideas? That is a great question. What are we gonna do?
00:30:20
Speaker
I know, well, so my neighbor who actually gave us the inspiration for Willy Wonka, he goes like big and all out with the way he decorates for Halloween. So I was just on a walk this morning and I saw he worked on whatever it is that his theme is gonna be this year. He added some more stuff to the front of his house. So I'm excited to see what he's gonna do. So maybe that'll inspire us. Yeah, we'll just steal that. We have the problem now.
00:30:48
Speaker
Well, we've created this problem. So when I was, when I was kissed on the roof, I had the kiss sign. And then last year with Elvis, we had the welcome to Las Vegas sign. And now this year we essentially had all this stuff out front. So we have to find a way to expand out front again. Right. And next year, of course, Cayman's in fifth grade. So we got to make sure we've got something by the stream. Yeah. I don't know what we're going to do, but we'll figure it out. We'll figure it out.
00:31:17
Speaker
And it also has to be something that's an experience for kids. Like it's not, you know, like with Kiss and Vegas, it was great, but a lot of it was, you know, the decor was cool and all of us in costume was cool. But I feel what made Wonka so fun was that not only were we in character, but we had experiences for kids. So like, you know, pushing around the candy cart.
00:31:41
Speaker
Candy and trying to figure out tickets golden ticket. Yes, and then having the golden ticket drawing for teachers after school Like I think the experience of it is what made it Really over the top for me got our work cut out for us next year. So yeah, luckily we have time Okay, so moving ahead moving forward. Um
00:32:03
Speaker
Well, I want to ask you a question. I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to script a little bit here. Do it. I'm sure, I'm sure the listeners will be glad to have someone ask me the questions for once.
Robert's Career Aspirations & Personal Journey
00:32:15
Speaker
Yes. Okay. Oh boy. Now I'm nervous. Like I might, we might lose all our listeners with these answers. Okay. So I know that you've been, this is your, what, 20
00:32:29
Speaker
It's my 24th year in the district and it's my 18th as admin. Okay, so you've obviously had several years of experiences at different schools and with staff. So my question is, what was the most impactful moment that you've had as a principal? Like what's a moment that sticks out to you?
00:32:51
Speaker
I don't know if I have a certain moment, but for me, the most impactful, I love when a plan comes together and the kids get to experience an experience. I also love when teachers try something new and they say, oh, now I get it. When we came back from COVID, this is just the one that popped in my head. We came back from COVID and I was trying to get the houses in your first year at Thompson.
00:33:16
Speaker
And there was a lot going on and we put off the fathead ceremonies and we put off all that stuff. And finally I was like, no, we're doing it. And I had to just push them through. And then once I think most of them were like, oh, now I get it. That is what I think is the most impactful thing for me is when I see the whole school do something that's amazing for kids.
00:33:42
Speaker
Okay, and I do remember that year. I remember there was some pushback. And it was, that was the year we did fat heads in the hallways. Yes. Yes. And that was hard. It was hard. And I think people were like, you know, people were like, well, we can't do this because of COVID. Like, no, no, no, no, like, we're gonna do it. So it's just like, like, again, I get passionate. Like, you can see me, my hands start moving. But you know, I can't,
00:34:12
Speaker
I think when you get a new school, like I remember the night I found out that I was going to open Thompson and you have all these visions of everything and then COVID hits and you come back and it's just a weird world. But I felt in many ways when we came back the first year,
00:34:30
Speaker
didn't count and then it's like okay now I'm a year behind and so I had to be the guy that like pushed people like I call it like I'm holding you out over the cliff how far can I hold you until I got it pulling you back and houses was one of those things because people didn't do them at their last school and if they didn't they certainly didn't do them like we did and I think you went on one of the first field trips for the house winners when you guys walked to the park yeah because that's all we could really do and it was like
00:34:59
Speaker
Again, it was just teachers inherently, I mean, this is the nicest way, but we have to push you out of your comfort zone. And that's my job. I always say my job is to get you to think. And sometimes that thinking is hard on you as teachers. But I have a reason for it. Like I have a reason for everything for all the madness. But when I can get you to think and I can get the whole group to say, Oh, now I get it.
00:35:29
Speaker
and it comes together, there's nothing better for me. Yeah. And that's true. And I watched that whole thing happen. And there are times where I think I'm only going to speak for myself, or I doubt you. The one that comes to mind is Rock Your School Day. And you wanted to build this chocolate water fountain. And I'm thinking to myself, there is no way we're going to have running water. And you started telling the story about a siphon pump.
00:35:56
Speaker
with your dad growing up. And I was like, this guy thinks that gravity is going to carry this water up this thing and rotate it and spin it. But you and Shauna are really good at like, nope, we're going to make it happen. We're going to make it happen. And I stood back. I'm not going to lie. I'm going to tell you right now, I did throw some fairy lights. Twinkling fairy lights into the order is back up just in case it didn't work. No face. No face.
00:36:27
Speaker
It was just, so it's, I know exactly what you mean. Like you have this vision and you just are going to stop it. Nothing to execute it. And it's cool. Cause then when you're on the other end of it, like if you were one of the people that doubted or pushed back a little bit, you see the effects and you can't help but say, today, I mean, you did a great job. People will see it. Um, you made a video of rocker school day.
00:36:52
Speaker
And today is Staff Development Day, we played that first. And it was fun for me to get to watch all the people see what happens out front, because they don't get to see that they're busy in their rooms or in the courtyard, actually. So again, that was another moment where I could see them like, aha.
00:37:08
Speaker
And there's just nothing better when you see the school as a whole doing things for kids and the teachers just getting it. Like, oh, it's just nothing better. Yeah. Well, I will disagree. I think the better part of it is being a part of that whole process. Because that's the part I love the most. Yeah. I mean, but you know, like, one of the sayings, I mean, I got so many sayings, but a lot of people want to be a part of the end result, not the part of the process. And that's just not
00:37:35
Speaker
possible. I don't think at Thompson you, I mean, people try to find ways to cut corners if you're out there listening, you know, you do, but you know, it's a process. It's a team game. For sure. Um, okay. If you weren't a principal, what other job do you see yourself doing? Like what else would you want to do?
00:37:57
Speaker
now. So in education, like, you know, because you're, again, you're, you're the editor and help me with everything. You know, with Brad Johnson and I doing the book, when we met him, I said, man, you have a life, you get to fly around, drop some nuggets of wisdom on staff, and then go home. That would be that would be cool. I would love to like wake up
00:38:24
Speaker
fly to somewhere, do a presentation, inspire some people, take some pictures, sign some books, and then head home and see the kids. That would be number one. Educationally, back when I was young, I either wanted to do, I always wanted to be a principal, that was number one. But I thought about being a shoulder surgeon or a dentist. Wait, okay, I need to hear more about a shoulder surgeon?
00:38:51
Speaker
Yeah. Well, cause I played football and baseball on my shoulders. Okay. It's shot now. And so I thought, well, I'm too short to play. So I, well, maybe I'll be like a surgeon. I thought that could be cool or a dentist, but I chose the right
Work, Personal Growth & Continuous Learning
00:39:05
Speaker
one. I was just, I'm doing what I was meant to do. Interesting. I never knew that about a shoulder surgeon or a dentist. Those are like different paths than I would have thought. Well, it was too much school also. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. That's a lot.
00:39:20
Speaker
Okay, my last question. How do you think of these questions? Well, because they're just things I just wonder. Is it just stuff you think of when you listen to the podcast? Sometimes, yes. Yeah, like sometimes I just wonder these things, but we're always just so busy that I don't have time to ask you like, hey, what would you be doing if you aren't doing this?
00:39:39
Speaker
Um, so I love, I love listening to podcasts or reading books and learning about the people who wrote them, like connecting with people. Like there's just something about personal connection. So for you, I know that your dad and you have five girls. And I remember when I first learned that I was like, Oh my gosh, that is a lot of girls. I only have two boys and I'm the only girl in my family. And I don't know that we can handle another female in here and you have five girls.
00:40:09
Speaker
and your wife, and you run a school with primarily women and other kids, so how does being a dad of five girls help you in your job as a principal of a school?
00:40:27
Speaker
I don't know. My first thought was being a principal helps me with the girls because I've been a part of so many kids' lives at school and I've learned to
00:40:44
Speaker
I know work with so many different types of kids that I think that's helped me be a dad. Now, it doesn't mean I've done a great job. There's certainly times you mess up. And I think too, I mean, it all depends on perspective. Of course, you know, there's when you're co-parenting or when you have, you know, like where Christie's approach is different than mine, that's a challenge.
00:41:10
Speaker
But I think school has helped me be a dad more than being a dad has helped me with school. Although, I think when parents come in mad,
00:41:20
Speaker
I always tell them, and they say, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm like, no, you're just advocating for your kid. And that's all they're doing. They might be completely misinformed, but what they're saying, they think is the right thing for their kid. And being a dad, I understand that. It's not to say that the people who aren't parents yet or aren't parents don't get it, but honestly, you don't get it. And I mean that in the nicest way, the complete nicest way.
00:41:47
Speaker
you know, when you're a parent, hopefully, you will do anything for your kid. And if that means going to the school and yelling at the principal, because you think you're right. Again, you're advocating for your kid. So I see both sides. And I think, you know, I'm not perfect by any stretch, the girls will definitely tell you that. But I think both have helped me to do both, if that makes sense.
00:42:13
Speaker
No, and I agree. I remember having like challenging students and there's those days where it's just, you know, like they push and they push and they push. And I always try to keep at the forefront of my mind, like, Angie, this child is somebody's entire world and put like picture your kid's face in theirs. How would you want them treated right now? How would you want somebody to speak to them?
00:42:38
Speaker
how would you want your kid to feel when somebody is speaking to them? And I feel like that oftentimes, you know, snaps me back to, okay, you know, I've gotta have a little bit of grace, I've gotta, you know, maybe just step away, have the kid go, but it's, I feel, I can relate to what you're saying, that being a teacher helps me be a better parent. And I can say that because I started teaching when my kids were, I mean, Aiden was,
00:43:07
Speaker
six months old when I took my first teaching job and AJ was two. And I just, sometimes I look back now and I wish I had a do-over. Like I wish I could have more teaching experience before I had my kids, because I think I would have been a better, more patient toddler mom. It was just hard to be a new teacher and a new mom all at the same time. But I think you can make that argument for anything. I struggle with people who say, I don't have any regrets in life.
00:43:34
Speaker
I don't believe that personally, because like when I feel bad for the kids that I taught my first or second or third year, because I've been blessed to watch you teach or Tracy or many others. And they're so much better than I was as a teacher or you were. And I feel bad genuinely for the poor kids that had to endure me. Now, I mean, I
00:43:56
Speaker
you know, I know that, again, I didn't have any parents like Matt, I mean, I know I had relationships with the kids, but I think, you know, like, you learn as you go. And if you if you aren't, you know, if you aren't,
00:44:11
Speaker
Honest and say I wish I would have done better and like nobody was great great their first year some people might have been really good, but You make an interesting point and looking back and saying okay. Could we be better sure? But yeah, I think I think overall both have helped me be better at both. I Love that and I think it's important it is. I mean, I don't know I
00:44:37
Speaker
It's a hard job. You know what's been, I guess you could relate, like how has, we might have to add this part out. How has working in a school full of mostly women helped me be a husband? Or how has a husband? But then you don't, I don't know, like upon reflection, I'm gonna get in trouble for this, but.
00:45:07
Speaker
Upon reflection, I think you're an Enneagram too. I'm a too. We're feelers. We feel these things.
00:45:17
Speaker
I think you have to look at everybody for who they are and just, I think it's helped me look at people as different humans. When you treat everybody equally, that's never gonna work. So going back in education, it drives me crazy that the district or so many admin treat everybody equally because they're not. You can have equal rules and all that stuff.
00:45:42
Speaker
But when you're trying to say everybody's going to do HMH in this room at this day on this page, it's never going to work because every classroom is different. Every teacher is different. And so that's I think that's what I wish people would learn. I'm going all over the place, but I have learned that you have to treat everybody equally. We always talk about meeting kids at the area that they're needed.
00:46:08
Speaker
But rarely, rarely do admin or upper admin meet schools or principals or teachers where they're needed. Right. Yeah. It was all over the place. It's okay. I mean, that happens. It does. What do you, I'm going to bring it back to you. What is your biggest joy at school?
00:46:34
Speaker
Oh, man. Well, there's a lot of things, like I said, I love that I get to work at Thompson. One of my most favorite things
00:46:47
Speaker
is 8 40 a.m. every day when we get to go stand outside and we get to greet the kids and you know I have these like certain few kids that I know from lunch duty or so the kids that I taught in second grade are now in fourth grade and so you know when you're in fourth grade you're sometimes too cool for school and it's not cool to come run and hug your second grade teacher so I get that we have like a you know a head nod
00:47:12
Speaker
or a wave that we'll do, but it just makes my day every morning. I have like the same three kids that will no matter what, seek me out in a crowd and they'll come and you get the whole Mrs. Brown and they run and give you a hug. And it's just the best start to the day. And it just kind of all goes back to relationships, just building relationships with kids. And I think that we just do such a good job of that at Thompson.
00:47:40
Speaker
where, you know, like our kids, it wasn't just in that video of Willy Wonka day of the kids tearing down the gates. Like any given day you will find kids lined up at the door waiting to get in. And I just think, you know, that's cool because I think the stigma of school is more, you know, parents dragging their kids out of the car. My kid doesn't want to go to school or I can't get them to go or you know, and so it's just
00:48:05
Speaker
It's just so refreshing and nice to see kids standing at the door eager to go in. I also think we do a great job of raising good humans. So I know we work on stay warm, acknowledging and saying good morning and just being respectful in that way.
00:48:23
Speaker
I just, I love to see kids being good humans. And when that involves hugs for me, it's always a win-win. It's funny. I mean, I love seeing the kids in the morning, but probably the most anxiety I get is during drop-off. I just hate it. Yeah. There's so many cars out there.
00:48:41
Speaker
our setup is terrible because of the way the school is designed. It's all a maritime till someone honks or someone parks in the through lane. And then I got I just but again, like I mean, I have one one friend, one mom and those little girl have been telling me jokes for two years now every day. So I get that every time I'm out there, but it gives me like the EBGBs. I don't I don't like because in the end,
00:49:07
Speaker
It is all about perspective. That's right. See, so I go out there excited to see the kids and I look for like the positive good and you go out there with that like dread. You make a good, a good point. It's all about how I look at it. And so I tomorrow morning, not tomorrow morning.
00:49:26
Speaker
Well, the next time we have traffic duty, I will go out there with a positive mindset and give it a shot. Thank you for that. I appreciate that. Yeah. See, it's all about your perspective. It is. It is. Hey, so if you have to go, let me know. But our theme this year is live your purpose.
00:49:49
Speaker
My purpose, one of my, there's three. So at the beginning of the year, we had this activity and you'd write down basically three areas that you feel your purpose is. Mine is to basically make sure Thompson is on the map.
00:50:04
Speaker
educationally, nationally. And I'm trying to do that, because I want us to create positive change for kids across the country or the world, however you want to put it. Because we do some amazing things, not to brag. But like, I mean, we have some amazing people doing amazing things. What is your purpose?
00:50:27
Speaker
That sounds so formal. What's your purpose, Angie? You know, I remember sitting in the lunchroom working and I knew what was coming. I knew the activity we were going to have the first day and I knew the theme, I knew the shirts, I knew the logo, I knew all of it. But it was still one of those things where you just sit and you really have to ask yourself, like,
00:50:48
Speaker
Why am I here? It's not just because I love kids. It's not just because, you know, I work with some really cool people that make me laugh all day long. To me, it comes down to,
00:51:02
Speaker
I hope to be memorable to people in some way, somehow to leave some kind of an impact, whether it's a teacher that says, you know, I was having a bad day and a simple sticky note from Angie just turned it all around or a kid that, you know, can say I failed an AR book quiz, but Mrs. Brown talked to me and she talked me through it and gave me some tips. And then, you know, I passed and now I'm in million word club and whatever it might be, I just
00:51:28
Speaker
I hope to leave a memorable mark on the people that I'm surrounded by.
00:51:37
Speaker
that shows up in lots of different ways for me, because I do all sorts of different things and maybe it's through something I post on social media. It just looks different in different ways and that's why I kind of stop at nothing to learn new things and try new things because I just feel like that's all part of my purpose, just to be meaningful and impactful in some way, somewhere, somehow. So let me just take a moment probably to say that you've made an impact because without you,
00:52:07
Speaker
I honestly don't have, it's all about perspective, the book on Amazon. Once you found out about that, you would not let me not do it.
00:52:18
Speaker
You know, I mean, that's who you are. You find ways to make people do amazing things. And your impact, it can't be felt by everybody. I mean, now people know that you are kind enough to edit the podcast or things of that nature. But you make an impact. You should know that. And if you don't know that, I don't know how to get through to you because you do. But I know I appreciate it.
00:52:47
Speaker
You're living your purpose. Yeah, I am, you know, and I just it's just one of those like I don't wake up in the morning like, OK, I'm going to live my purpose today. I'm going to make an impact. You know, it's just it's just who I am. Like if there's a need, I'll jump in and do it. If I don't know how to do it, then I'll try to figure it out. And so it's just I don't know. I just feel like I'm lucky enough that I get to live this purpose every day.
Future Considerations & Gratitude
00:53:12
Speaker
And I'm surrounded by people who
00:53:14
Speaker
believe in me and continue to give me tasks that challenge me and keep me learning. Okay so final question then I'll let you go because I take up enough of your time just with school stuff. Again you just you know and you're like going back to your impact think about it you you just you I basically had no choice you took on the website you took on social media for those who default Thompson this is the lady that makes it happen. So your impact is felt
00:53:44
Speaker
a long way away. So take that with you. Final question. Okay, ready? What's next for Angie Brown? Oh man, you know, that's a good one. If you would have asked me this question five years ago, I would have thought I'd still be at the exact same school I was at in the same classroom, teaching the same thing.
00:54:07
Speaker
maybe using HMH, depending on who was in there, whatever. So it's, you know, it's funny, even coming to Thompson, I had zero aspirations or dreams of doing anything besides being a classroom teacher. And I remember a conversation we had, it was halfway through second grade and you were like, why don't you ever, have you ever thought about a testing grade? And I was like, Oh my gosh, no. But you know, the more I thought about it, the more I was like, well, you know, I do love the kids I'm teaching right now. You don't,
00:54:35
Speaker
grow when you're comfortable. I know that. And I thought, I mean, why not? Let's try it. So that was my goal for a few weeks. I remember I committed to teaching third grade, and then the whole fumble of a strategist conversation came up. And then I thought, let's try to do that. And
00:54:54
Speaker
You know, there's days where I work on stuff with you and Shauna, and I think like, you know, Atman would be kind of fun. But then there's days I work with you and Shauna, and I'm like, I'm so glad I don't do that stuff. Because, you know, when you guys have
00:55:09
Speaker
parents that you have to call in for different kinds of investigations and looking up cameras and keep these parents separate from these because these kids are in conflict and there's all sorts of stuff going on. And I get to just turn off my computer and walk out and go home. Those days, those are the days that I'm like, oh, I don't want admin life. And I go back and forth on it.
00:55:33
Speaker
I think it would have to be the right fit of a position. I wouldn't mind being an admin if it was at Thompson doing what we do. If I'm going to be honest, I just don't know that I have a desire yet because I have this growth mindset. I don't have a desire yet to go and take this and build it on my own somewhere else.
00:55:56
Speaker
So I don't know. I don't know if that's ever going to change. You made it. So I was going to let you go, but you made a provocative statement there. You said, I don't know if I want to go somewhere else and build this. But that's how you make a huge impact. I mean, so but at the same point in time, so you like in thinking hypothetically, I hope that you and John stay in your offices for the rest of my however many years left. But
00:56:23
Speaker
If Shawna ever wanted to go to a different school and build it, then I would support that, of course. But you, I think you said, I don't want to go somewhere and build it. What scares you about going somewhere else and building it? You've seen it done. You've been a part of it.
00:56:40
Speaker
Yeah, well, aside from the student loan debt, that's a big one. I have a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees that I'm still trying to pay off. Aside from that, and again, it could just be, I don't know what I don't know. In my head, I just feel like, oh my gosh, running a school. I feel like I'd be great with students, obviously. Parents, I don't mind.
00:57:10
Speaker
I think it's managing teachers. I think that that, especially women, I feel like women are very different with other women and women are even different with men. I just feel like teachers are just so unique. And I think that that's the part that scares me. And also because I'm an Enneagram too. And so I'm just weak and I know that I'm
00:57:31
Speaker
be assertive and stick with my guns and I think I would just crumble under any kind of pressure and obviously that doesn't make for a successfully run school. I don't think you'd crumble, but I think you'd lay up at night and you would think, oh, I wish I wouldn't have said that to that person or, oh, I hope they're sleeping tonight. I hope I didn't hurt their feelings too much. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. That's 100% would be me.
00:57:55
Speaker
But like I said, I mean, I'm saying yet because I just, I don't know, maybe one day I'll wake up and get an itch for, you know, like, let's, let's do this. This is what I was meant to do.
00:58:06
Speaker
Until then, I'm happy just kind of, you know, being able to weave in and out of the desirable situations that take place in school and supporting as needed. I mean, you know, like I'll jump in and help wherever. To me, it's not, you know, I'm never defined by like a checkbox of what is in my job responsibilities and what isn't. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. We'll see. We'll see what happens.
00:58:30
Speaker
I appreciate your time and all you do for Thompson and for kids. We have one follower that the mom from, I think she lives in Chicago, I could be wrong, who tells their schools in Russia about what
00:58:46
Speaker
what we do, but that's largely based off of your social media and what you put out there from Thompson. So you are making an impact and I know, I am extremely grateful. I know everybody at school is grateful. So, and if not, well that's on them because in the end, it's all about perspective. Thank you Angie, I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you so much.