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Season 3, Episode 9 - Shawna Quenneville
114 Plays2 years ago
Tyrone Thompson ES Assistant Principal Shawna Quenneville entered the podcast to share her perspective! She is a true servant leader who will help anyone at anytime, but what she loves most is helping teachers get better instructionally within the classroom. Listen as she shares her journey as she transitioned from a strategist into administration and the new challenges that come with the position.
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Transcript
Introduction and Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety
00:00:13
Speaker
Good afternoon, and welcome back to another episode of It's All About Perspective. I am your host, Robert Hichliffe, and my guest today is someone who puts up with me every day, and she knows she does, and I am very grateful for her, Shauna Quinniville, the AP at Tyrone Thompson. How are you? I'm great. Thanks for having me on. I'm excited for this. It's my favorite thing. Talking to people. It's not live, so, you know, at least you're not talking. Like, could you imagine
00:00:41
Speaker
If the news came out and you had to be on the news, how would you feel about that? I don't know. It's just not my thing. I process a lot of what I want to say because I'm always worried about how it's going to come across and I just want it to be perceived the way that I intend. I don't know. Are you afraid of offending people? Not necessarily offending people because I don't feel like
00:01:07
Speaker
I mean, I don't feel like I'm a mean person. I'm just afraid of them taking it a different way than what I intend, I guess.
Journey into Administration
00:01:15
Speaker
And then you have to like fix it. Right. Cause I have the best of intentions, like, you know, to help people or do well. I'm not trying to bring anybody down. I'm always trying to make things better. So. Right. Okay. So when the news comes out, you're up. You know, you don't like that. You don't like that at all.
00:01:36
Speaker
Well, all right, why did you, you're the first AP I've had on. Why did you want to go into admin? You had a long road, so you persevered and I will fully admit I'm, you know. You're part of that. Yes, I am part of that. So why admin? Why did you persevere to be an AP? Okay, so basically I've always wanted to be in education, like just from,
00:02:03
Speaker
since I was a kid, since I could always remember. And then once I started my career in elementary, I had a few people around me who encouraged me to go into admin.
Interview Insights and School Impressions
00:02:16
Speaker
And I was like, sure, because I really got into education because of my elementary school principal. He was fun. And it was always neat to be around him and see how he interacted with everybody. And so I was like, that's cool. I want to be like that.
00:02:33
Speaker
And so I went into leadership and well first I got my master's of course and then I went into leadership and And then I interviewed for a long time But I always wanted to make sure I was at a place where I wanted to be I didn't want to just take any job because I Didn't want it to be just that I didn't want it to be a job I wanted to be somewhere where I enjoyed going every morning and I
00:02:59
Speaker
I didn't wake up and I was like, oh my god, I have to go back there again. And so I had done a few interviews. I always ask people, do you know about this principle? What's it like at the school? And so I had interviewed at a few of those schools that came recommended, and I just didn't feel it
Perceptions and Misunderstandings in Leadership
00:03:19
Speaker
either. And when you're in there interviewing, you can tell, I guess.
00:03:23
Speaker
And then I have been told great things about you. So I interviewed with you someone lied a couple times Someone lied. They just wanted you to get a job Everything happens, you know when it's supposed to happen and I couldn't be happier where I'm at now So well you you claim you couldn't be happier, but I mean there's there's days There's days that things stink what like off the top of your head. What what's been your worst day so far? No
00:03:53
Speaker
I don't know. See, I don't do off the top of my head kind of things. I don't know. I guess my biggest, I don't know, the things that I don't like the most is when I feel like, again, when I get perceived
00:04:10
Speaker
the way that I don't feel that I am. So like if people are upset with me and I'm okay with people being upset with me, if it's like honest and it's a true reason, but if they're upset with me for something that I don't feel like happened or I didn't say that or I didn't mean for it to be that way, then that's, it's just, it eats at me. It's frustrating because I don't like that unsettled feeling, I guess.
Confidence and Impact in Instructional Leadership
00:04:33
Speaker
Yeah, that makes sense. Like that's one of the things that comes with our job is like you, you, I mean, you were the read by gray three before. So you would be in meetings and I literally can say, or we can say this guy is blue and someone's going to point out the gray cloud and say, well, no, it's gray and be offended or upset by that. So it's like a constant. I understand what you're saying where you're much more calculated than I am. And I am much more impromptu. And that gets me in trouble sometimes cause I'll say stuff and then
00:05:02
Speaker
Then I'm doing like cleanup like, no, I didn't mean that. So I appreciate your, your calculated analysis, everything. It can be good, but it's also, it's frustrating too, because like, sometimes I don't know. It's just like, just say what you think, you know, and who cares what people, how they take it, but wouldn't it be nice if you didn't care? Like those people that don't care out there, like where they just say whatever and someone's upset. Well, that's the way it goes.
00:05:30
Speaker
Yeah, but then it makes things hard. Like if I was to do that, it would make everything else harder afterwards. I feel like that's our personality though, because we, we don't like having that hanging over our head. What's your favorite part of the job though? Um, the people I work with and the kids, like I love, okay, I don't like lunch duty per se, but I do like going in the lunch room when I'm not on duty and I can just stop and talk to the kids and ask them how they're doing and hear all their cool stories and
00:06:00
Speaker
quirky, quirky things that they have to say. I think that's the best part is just getting to know the kids. Yeah. So you're, you're in your second year
Maximizing Teachers' Strengths for Educational Change
00:06:10
Speaker
now. What's the difference between your first year and your second year? Okay. That's a good question. So the first year, I have a few. I mean, I, the first year, I feel like I was just kinda like feeling it out and trying to figure out, uh,
00:06:26
Speaker
I don't know, just trying to figure out my place and how to approach things. This year I feel more confident in that area and like now it's like now I'm getting to work. Like I feel like I'm getting into classrooms and I can make more of an impact as far as like instructionally. And so that's a cool part about it too.
00:06:47
Speaker
Which going back to your first question, which I don't even know that I really answered, but why do why admin to get in the classrooms and make a difference on a grander scale than just, you know, being a teacher? Yeah, like, I mean, that's our thing is you just make it a bigger impact. I think part of our job is to
00:07:05
Speaker
I mean, if you look at people we have placed in certain spots, they have the ability to make a larger impact. So why not give them that opportunity to do that? It's like finding ways to use people to make the maximum amount of good change that you can.
Transitioning Roles in Education
00:07:25
Speaker
So much of what our job is is putting people where they can be the most successful. Right.
00:07:31
Speaker
And that's why I feel like as a strategist, you kind of have that same role, but...
00:07:36
Speaker
to me, and I don't know if it's my upbringing or what, but I still felt like I was on a level ground with everybody. And so I was like, you can suggest things and you can talk to people, but I don't know, just juggling that. But the difference of being an administrator and doing that, and this year getting in the classrooms, and I just feel like people react differently.
00:08:04
Speaker
It's neat to be able to work with them and have them try things that you're suggesting, and then them coming back and saying, yeah, I tried that, it worked great, I love it. Or sometimes they come back and like, that didn't really work for me, but I liked this part of it, so I'm gonna try this. And that's neat, because now it's like, now the teachers are our students, where before we worked with the kids, now we're working with the teachers.
Patience and Self-Discovery in Professional Growth
00:08:27
Speaker
So it's just a different side of education, but it's neat to see too.
00:08:32
Speaker
Yeah, you enjoy, I mean, I sit and watch and I pay attention. You enjoy when people listen to you instructionally and then they try it and they get success. Going along that way, I don't know if you'll admit this, but you want people to be good and great and maximize their potential.
00:08:56
Speaker
So is it a true statement to saying that one of your challenges is being patient as people find their own way to that greatness? Yes, it's always patient. I think even as a teacher, like, you know, you see your students and, you know, they all have potential too. Nobody wants to be bad. And like some, sometimes people, you don't know until you know. And so,
00:09:19
Speaker
being patient is really hard because you're like, you know, they can do it. And you're like, if you would just do this, like it would be amazing. But then again, like people have to find their way. And you know, especially when you're dealing with adults, like you can't always just tell them what to do and then they're going to do it. Like they have reasons for the way they do things. And I think they just have to find their place. And so little pieces of like, you know, input,
00:09:47
Speaker
you know, they take and they try them or whatever, but it doesn't always happen as fast as you want it to happen. But I guess that's just the hardest part about it. Yeah, it's a challenge, you know, because you, you really want people to be great. And I think, um, you know, like when we were doing walkthroughs today, we're very similar humans, but we see way different things. And I don't know if, um,
00:10:15
Speaker
If it's just the fact that I've been doing this a long time and this is your second year to where I think more, um, step by step and you think more end game. I don't know if that's a fair analysis, but, um, you really want people to get to the maximum level. And sometimes it's just hard going step
Unexpected Challenges in Administration
00:10:33
Speaker
by step. Yeah. What, uh, thank you. Thank you. Do you want an agreement? You know, accountable talk, active listening. Would you like to expand on why you agree with that?
00:10:48
Speaker
No, I'm good now. What? What are some things that make you just think? What the heck? I would use a different word if it was like, this wasn't public. But there's just things where I think I look at your face and you're just like, what are you thinking? Yeah, and that's the hard part too. Because, you know, I've been in
00:11:13
Speaker
education for a while. And so like, you have years of experience, you know, we talk about experiences, you know, being in the classroom for so many years, and then being a strategist, so then you get to see a different side of it. And it's just like, yeah, I don't know, sometimes you just don't get it. Or it's like, you see some, you know, people and they just seems like they're doing the same thing over and over.
00:11:39
Speaker
and expecting different results. That quote's there for a reason. Yeah. But it's like they don't.
00:11:47
Speaker
Some people don't ask for help or some people ask for help all the time. And I guess it's just juggling and it's personalities and you have to deal with everybody differently and it's interesting. So you're saying, so coming from a strategist and you get a more global perspective of everything.
00:12:11
Speaker
Is there anything that you didn't realize this job came with? You sit back and you watch or you watch me or your last admin and you think, oh, I can do that.
Innovative Leadership Styles
00:12:20
Speaker
But then you get there. Could you think of anything you're like, I didn't sign up for this or I didn't know that was coming.
00:12:28
Speaker
probably a lot. I mean, we're all humans, we work with humans. So when everybody's different, everybody has, you know, things going on in their personal lives. And then when those things trickle over into, you know, the school, and it's just like,
00:12:50
Speaker
I don't know. It's crazy. But did you realize, you know, speaking like if anybody's listening, they want to be an AP, did you realize all of the behind the scenes stuff? I feel like, you know, when you transitioned into being AP last summer or the summer before last, you know, you wanted to be involved, but you also had things going on during the summer. And did you did you realize all of the stuff behind the scenes to make a school year happen? I mean, I feel like I do. I did because I
00:13:20
Speaker
feel like I had prepared myself. When I was a strategist at my old school and a teacher, I would always seek out those opportunities to like, you know, help with the school performance plan or, you know, sit in, I would sit in during coaching sessions, like with the admin, like conferences, I guess. And then
00:13:43
Speaker
I did actually get opportunities to deal with parents and behaviors and things like that, just not officially. So I knew that all of these things happened and went on. But I guess basically the detailed part of it, the paperwork and
00:14:05
Speaker
all the things that are required to go with it. Which your face, judging by your face, you, you hate, you hate all the paperwork like I do. Yeah. Do you, with the paperwork, is it because you see limited ROI in it or it's just time consuming and you have other things to do? Like what, what bugs you about it? Cause I hate it. Like there's no, there's so limited ROI is so much of the paperwork for me, but I don't know if you feel the same.
00:14:35
Speaker
Yeah, and I know that those things are there for a reason or because somewhere along the way, somebody didn't do what they were supposed to do. I understand that part of it. But yes, the limited ROI on it, if you have all this paperwork you have to do to say that you already did this, that's the part. It's like, I did it, but now I just have to check a box and that proves to you that I did it. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't know.
00:15:01
Speaker
I trust me. I understand. So it puts you on the spot here and you're, you're not going to offend me. Um, I'm different. You know, I'm different. I think differently. Uh, just today I was thinking of a whole new schedule to really just change pretty much everybody's lives. Is there any point in the past, uh, four years where you, where you were like, this dude's not okay. Or this guy's just has all kinds of random weird stuff.
00:15:31
Speaker
Like, I don't know. I've never asked you that. But you know, at what point in time do you think that I might be a little different?
Self-Reflection in AP Meetings and Root Issues
00:15:38
Speaker
Do you? Or just the way No, I mean, but that's why I'm here. I mean, that's why, you know, interview with you several times. And that's why I wanted to come here, like when you were opening the school. And I reached out to you and you're like, Yeah, but I think I already have my person. And then you're like, would you mind coming over as a reading strategist? And I'm like,
00:15:59
Speaker
Okay, I'm a math person, but you know what, I'll do whatever it takes. You passed the interview though. Yeah, I'll do whatever it takes to get over there and see what you do because regardless of whether I ended up here or not, I wanted to see what Robert was all about so I could, you know, no. Define that. Now you put yourself on the spot. Define working as the AP for Robert, or just define Robert if you can.
00:16:27
Speaker
Um, I mean, just out of the box and always looking to do something different and something new. And you're just constantly thinking and how to make something better. And you know, is this really working the way that it is? How can we do it different? And that's just, I mean, that's amazing. And I think that's why I like working here so much because I just think of other places. And when I go to like my,
00:16:53
Speaker
new AP trainings and things like that. And you hear these other APs talk and they're just like complaining and they're miserable and they're like, and it's just like, I hear the things that they're doing and I'm like, you know, is that effective? Like, how do you feel about that? And they're just like, they don't even know how to answer me. They're like, well, no, but it's like, they've never even thought of like thinking outside the box or just like in this little, you know. Well, why do you think that? Because I mean,
00:17:24
Speaker
Why do you think they are going to the AP meetings and they're struggling or is it, I mean, in your opinion, I have my own thoughts, but what do you think you're new to the admin game? What do you think? Hmm. That's a good question. I, I don't know, because like I said, I was very like calculated on where I did apply. Like I didn't, and I waited, I, I didn't want this position just to have it. Like I want to be happy where I'm at.
00:17:54
Speaker
And so I waited. And I don't know that everybody does that. I think they apply to wherever's open. And if they get their job, then they're there. They got the job and that's what they wanted. And now they're having to deal with maybe your personality issue or there's no relationship built there. And so the expectations, I don't know if they're not clear or they're being told, OK, this is what you have to do. And they're just doing it. They're not having conversations about it.
00:18:24
Speaker
Um, they're not working with, you know, their admin team. Um, they're all just doing their
Instructional Challenges and Behavioral Solutions
00:18:33
Speaker
pieces. I don't know how to say it because we have things that we have to do, which I get and we do them, but at the same time, it's like, can you do other things to make your job easier?
00:18:46
Speaker
because a lot of things that they're talking about too is like their instruction. They're low performing schools, you know, and they're like, well, if I didn't have to deal with all these behaviors, I could be in there helping instructionally. And I'm like, well, maybe if you, your instruction was better, you wouldn't have all these behaviors. And they're just, again, they just look at me like,
00:19:06
Speaker
they don't even know what to say. Yeah, I've been there many times. I think, again, you and I get along very well, we think very similarly in the fact that we just look at things from a different perspective. You know, like, what is the problem? Well, the problem is the behaviors. No,
00:19:29
Speaker
What is the problem? Well, the problem is I don't have resources. No. You're like, we just try to get down to the bottom. And I'm not entirely sure a lot of people think like that. They think the other way around that, you know, the kids are the problem, which is the wrong wrong perspective at all times. A fast story. When before you were actually AP.
00:19:54
Speaker
I was in a room and a person, I don't know how to say this without giving away too much, a person didn't go to the bathroom, right? And, you know, this is my way. And so my way is like, you jump in and you help and it does not matter what it is. You have to do it. That's what leaders do. And so I was like, Hey, and I got on the radio and like, Shawna, can you come to this room? It's training day.
00:20:25
Speaker
Then you walked in and you saw what we were dealing with. Yes. Did you have any reservations about admin at that time? I didn't. Again, that's another thing people don't understand. The first time you see
00:20:38
Speaker
something you like I don't know how many teachers realize that there's students in your building that that don't go to the bathroom the right way or that have this or have that because we just take care of it and they just do their thing so that was really like I think your first time you're like what whoa this stuff goes on here too mm-hmm and so that would probably fall under that question of like
00:20:59
Speaker
you did things you didn't know you signed up for. But I'm always been like, just a person to just jump in and do what needs very true. So like, I was like, Oh, okay, this really happens. But then you just you know, you handle it and you move on. But
00:21:18
Speaker
Yeah, that was a shocker for sure. That's, that's very true though. One thing I do, I mean, I appreciate many things, but you never say no, ever. And I appreciate that. You might not know what you're getting into. Yeah. The STAR program too. Like I never had any experience with that until I came here. So we never had that program over at my last school.
00:21:37
Speaker
Yeah, and we're blessed with Miss Doner because she does a great job. So that alleviates a lot. But it goes back to what you're saying where, do you have relationships with the kids? Are you meeting their needs instructionally? And if you are, that eliminates a lot of behaviors. I think not all by any stretch. But I think if you teach kids at their level and you make it personal and relevant, you can eliminate a lot of behaviors.
Adapting Methods to Modern Educational Needs
00:22:05
Speaker
which also all these conversations made me think about too, because you're like, you know, when I'm talking with these other people, it's like, is there self reflection? Because yeah, everybody, you know, you blame the person below you, and then they end up blaming the kids, it's the kids, they have all these behaviors. But is there any self reflection? Because I know, like, if I'm having a breakdown, or like, there's
00:22:28
Speaker
a lack of communication or I feel tense with somebody or something like that. I'm always like, what am I doing? Like I try to have self-reflection because, you know, if they don't feel comfortable with me, then what can I do to make it better? It's not always the other person. It's a relationship, right? So, but all sides of the relationship have to work together to make it work. And so I think self-reflection is something that's become a lost
00:22:58
Speaker
topic in a lot of ways. Like last year when we had staff development day and I went and got all the mirrors in the school and put them in the lunchroom and like, here's the mirrors, you got to look in it, stuff like that. That's just how I'm different. When I say the phrase, what's important to us is not important to them, or what's important to them is not important to us. What do you think of?
00:23:24
Speaker
trying to get me in trouble. No, I mean, just like, again, you hear me say these things. And I just, you know, I think it's important for people to get a different perspective or the same one. Yeah. And again, every I think every stakeholder has a different idea of what's important to them. Right. And even when it comes to education, and again, I think that goes back to your upbringing, like what's important to one family isn't going to be
00:23:53
Speaker
the same thing that's important to another. And so it's really hard when we're dealing with all these different families and different teachers and then the district is an aspect too. And then you have, you know, the community perception and what's put in the news and everybody can't have the same thing that's important to them. Everybody can't be on the same page. And so I think
Aligning Diverse Educational Priorities
00:24:20
Speaker
that's
00:24:20
Speaker
one of the most difficult parts of this job is, you know, what is important? Like, what is the school here for? And I think personally for me, what I feel is important is growing these kids to be, you know, happy, productive citizens of our community and what that looks like.
00:24:43
Speaker
can be all different types of things. And I think it's different for every kid, because some kids, you know, they're going to excel academically. And some kids, you're just worried about getting them to be happy humans that can manage their, you know, themselves emotionally, behaviorally, whatever it is. And so everything, there's different importance for different types of people.
00:25:06
Speaker
So you kind of hit a thing, like I know you were listening to the star rating podcast. How do you feel about star ratings with what you just said? Um, gosh, there's so much, there's a few things that I would, I hope would change. Um, and you know, talking about growth.
00:25:26
Speaker
I think that should be a part of it because I agree with you that every part of town is different, right? And so just because all your kids are proficient doesn't mean that you're doing anything to have those kids progress. Like those kids came into you proficient. So what did you do with them? You know, and I feel like we all have a job and our job is to grow these kids, you know, and
00:25:55
Speaker
in the way that they need. And I know I have my own kids and each one of my kids needs something different. One needs, you know, emotional support and he needs to learn how to manage his emotions. And my other kids, they're more academic. And we have all these different types of kids coming to us and I think that we need to deal with them and give them what they need. And so as far as the star rating goes,
00:26:22
Speaker
I think they should make it to reflect that in a better way. It's obviously, I don't think it can be perfect, but I think there's room for improvement with the star rating for sure. Why do you think people don't go into Abbott now? When you look at our staff, we have a lot of people that could do it, but they don't want to. So why, why do you think they don't want to now? I don't know. A lot of the.
00:26:48
Speaker
When we talk to kids or talk to teachers, kids, God, I just made myself old. When we talked to teachers, they were like, hey, do you want to go in admin? You know, what do you think about admin or whatever? And they're just like, oh, God, no, you know, I don't want to have to deal with the parents and I don't want to have to deal with this and that. And I think it just comes down to dealing with other adults. Like they're OK in their classroom and with their kids, but it seems to always come back to dealing with other adults.
Fears and Responsibilities in School Safety
00:27:18
Speaker
you never know what you're going to get either. Like that day to day. That's one part I love about the job is like every day is different. And yeah, I have a list, but rarely do I get to it. And then I just go home and work. Do you someday still hope to be a principal? Yeah, I mean, that's, that's the goal. And when I thought about coming into admin, I wasn't even, I'm,
00:27:46
Speaker
more like step by step kind of thing. I wasn't thinking principle. I wanted to be an admin and I was like, okay, I want to go be an AP. I want to help support. I want to influence on a bigger scale. And now that I'm here and I feel like I'm figuring it all out, because I don't
00:28:06
Speaker
want to suck at what I'm doing. Thank you. I'm glad you don't. I appreciate that. I don't want to do a disservice to others, but now that I'm an AP and I feel like I'm figuring it all out and seeing how it all works, then yes, definitely that's a goal of mine in the future.
00:28:26
Speaker
Do you have a fear or like, do you have anything where you're like, Oh, I really hope this never happens. Or, you know, you'll do anything, but is there anything that you just don't want to ever encounter? Oh man.
00:28:44
Speaker
Yes, I don't want to get too dark, but just, I don't know, just something bad happening at the school, either like medically with a, you know, a student or a staff member or something like that. It's just, I don't know. That responsibility is in your hands, you know, and how you handle that. And so we, you know, we do all we can to prepare for that, but you just, you never know.
00:29:09
Speaker
Yeah, it's a fear. You know, I mean, I love my worst day is when a teacher died in the main office. No doubt about it. And probably my second worst day was when a student got hit by a car, which you were, you were there. Um, picture that terrible.
00:29:25
Speaker
Yeah, those are the worst days. And so, um, I think, uh, it's understandable that you have those fears because you care and you want things to be well. And, you know, we look at it as there are 825 of our kids and when they're at school, we are responsible
Innovative Changes and Balance in Education
00:29:42
Speaker
for them. So I think that's a logistical, uh, fear for sure. If you could change one thing, just one thing about your job, what would you change?
00:29:55
Speaker
Oh man. Um, or maybe you've got many. I don't know. I mean, I don't know that I would want to change it, but I'd be curious to see like, I don't know. I don't know. I'm curious to see maybe like a different schedule.
00:30:19
Speaker
But I haven't really thought about it too deep, so I don't know. Let's keep going this, because now I'm thinking of ideas. I feel like, I don't know, we are kind of similar. I feel like I'm always trying to figure out how to make things better. And so I know a couple of states are trying the four-day, eight-hour week, eight-hour-a-day week. But I don't know. I'd have to see more research on that.
00:30:48
Speaker
Yeah. So again, you're, we are similar because, um, someone once told me in my personal life, I will try nothing. I am not going on a roller coaster. I am not doing X, Y and Z. I'm not eating this food. I will do nothing, but at school, if someone has an idea of like, let's do it, let's try it. You're kind of like that. Like, you know, like let's try something out, but yet do you agree?
00:31:16
Speaker
that so many schools or people are afraid or just stuck in their ways. I do. I, I, and that part makes me sad because obviously there's room for improvement in education. Like whatever we're doing, it's not working. And so for us to sit here and keep doing the same thing, like times have changed. The kids have access to different stuff. They have technology and I feel like,
00:31:46
Speaker
I don't know that we've fully grown in that area with the times. And I mean, we have Chromebooks and we have technology, but is there support? And we have the things, but do we really have it? Have we gone all in in that area to keep up with everything that's going on and with the kids? So if you have the kids,
00:32:14
Speaker
have these TikToks and video and social media and it's changing quickly. And that's just what they're used to at home. And then they come to school and then they have to sit there for extended periods of time. And I don't know that that's how they get their information anymore. I don't know that it works. So yeah, like that's the struggle is where, you know, we're always.
00:32:35
Speaker
trying to keep up or to do something revolutionary or innovative to keep up with the kids. Um, and that makes a challenge because we're tired. I mean, it's September 25th and we're tired and we've got rock your school day coming up and house nights on Wednesdays. Um, which is part of trying to keep up with things. But you know, like if I think if you and I like just talking about the schedule today, like the thought of changing anything on them scares, not scares them, but
00:33:05
Speaker
It's especially like with this year, but I think the challenge you and I have going forward is how can we be innovative and creative and do these fun things without losing the staff? Right. And that's what I don't know. Cause that's another one of those things that I think about all the time too. Cause like we, you know, we're always trying to think of these different things and I don't know that everybody's like that. Well, I know everybody's not like that. Um, they're just trying to.
00:33:35
Speaker
I feel like a lot of people are like, how can I teach that same lesson the same way better?
Maintaining Positivity in Education
00:33:41
Speaker
Like, you know, and not like, how can I totally like do it differently? They're just they're doing the same thing, but they're trying to do it better. But I mean, how much of that comes down to a control and a comfort? Yeah. You know, because if you if you let go of control,
00:33:58
Speaker
That takes courage and your insecurities could come out or vulnerabilities. And it's hard for people to be insecure and vulnerable, especially if we're in the room or we know what's going on. Yeah.
00:34:14
Speaker
So you have last thing and I'll let you go. I do a thing called the 100 positives, but you kind of took it and you change it to glimmers, which I never heard of. You're the first person. Talk about that and talk about why you posted glimmers. Okay, so let me step back just a little bit. So you did the 100 positive. So I started doing 100 positive. Well, I think I did 25.
00:34:41
Speaker
Yeah. But I did a personal 25 and a professional 25 just because that helps. I don't know. I'm always trying to find those glimmers. And that's what I actually saw somebody post a little quote thing or whatever. And it talked about you need to notice the glimmers. There's so many positive things that happen around us all the time. And I feel like we tend to
Conclusion and Gratitude
00:35:10
Speaker
take in and focus on the negative that's so much easier for people to do and I think especially as educators because we are always trying to fix things so you naturally find the things that are wrong or the things that are negative because you want to fix them and so I think it's important to
00:35:29
Speaker
to see those glimmers so that your mindset isn't like totally depressed and negative and you know just focus on those things because then when you're focused on the negative I feel like you just kind of live in that world.
00:35:46
Speaker
And I can't live like that. So yeah. So I thank you. You are a glimmer as my AP. I appreciate it greatly because you, one, you deal with me, but two, you also make me focus and reflect and learn. So I appreciate that. And I appreciate you coming on here. And as you know, in the end, it's all about perspective.
00:36:34
Speaker
Thank you very much. I'll see you tomorrow.