We’ve got reason to celebrate!!!!!!!
If you know me, you know I don’t operate in a perfect world – in fact I actually prefer to get down and dirty with our clients and deal with what IS, not what ISN’T!
Sometimes it’s hard to have perspective on what makes schools successful…especially when the scores aren’t popping and bursting forth as fast as we’d all like them to.
But every once in awhile I get a surprise…and this one actually made me tear up a bit, I was absolutely thrilled and proud!
I was working with a client a week ago and while I was there, their scores on their state standardized test were released. Some were good and some were not so great and some were, well, A SURPRISE!
My principal client got her scores and immediately saw a high number (higher than they’ve performed ever before) and thought, “Oh dang, these must be from another school…” – they were too high to be from HER school after all!
Then she looked closer.
Nope. They were from HER SCHOOL!
(Warning, here’s the part where I teared up)
So during our break that day she gathered her staff and whispered to them at the lunch table: “Y’all…we did it.” Yep, four simple words that summed it up: Y’all. We. Did. It.
What did they do?
- They followed their teacher’s manuals everyday
- They worked together to make some significant and small change to their management
- They taught more content because they used their time more efficiently
- They stayed the course on the grade level material even when it got tough
- They didn’t freak out when observers came in
- They incorporated advice and ideas from their principal, coach and supporters
- They ditched practices that didn’t get results and replaced them with those that did
- They were open
- They put their heads down and worked hard
And here’s the awesome thing: while they were putting their heads down and getting it done, the students learned. Their confidence grew. They were open. And they did it.
Now let me say this: THEY ARE NOT PERFECT. There is room to grow, decisions yet to be made, adjustments to the current system to drive the scores even higher.
The even awesomer (not a word I know, but SO fitting!) thing: In spite of the fact that they aren’t perfect, they STILL GOT IT DONE.
What are the encouragements in it all?
- You don’t have to be “perfect” to get results…so don’t wait on perfection
- Even the most stubborn students (and teachers!) can change the course
- You CAN teach old dogs new tricks (ha!)
- Anything is possible
“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.”
Samuel Johnson