Reflection

Gratitude: Top 5 in 2020

During my runs – which, are getting a little longer as the days get longer – I actively listen to podcasts. I intentionally select podcasts that are not education, as a way to engage a different part of my brain. In some cases, I select entertainment to provide a much-needed brain break. My podcast list is filled with an eclectic variety of voices, providing lots of growth, entertainment, and opportunities for reflection during my runs!

Earlier this week, I listened to Rachel Hollis’s It’s Time for Rachel’s Five Favorite Things (Episode 177) where she unpacks her five favorite moments in 2020.

In reflecting on 2020, I realized that I have so much gratitude. What a great blogpost this would make!

Without further adieu, here are my five favorite moments from 2020:

(in no particular order…)

Celebrating BIG things

This year, our family celebrated lots of BIG things: Our oldest daughter graduated (on the same day) from high school and the community college, as a student in our district’s dual enrollment program. She earned four academic scholarships from the university and two local scholarships, as well as graduation honors at both virtual ceremonies. She started college as as a junior in the Honors Program where she is also a Varsity Swimmer and Margaritaville University Ambassador. Our youngest finished the year 2nd in her class, and she started the same community college program in the fall while working and playing two varsity sports (simultaneously). Both girls had excellent Fall college semesters, earning Dean’s List and exempting exams. The uncertainty of the pandemic did not disrupt their academic achievement, and we celebrated each and every milestone with cake. {Note: This probably explains my current nutrition goals!}

Celebrating the everyday

We soaked up every moment of every day with NetFlix family nights in the outdoor theatre, remodeling projects, vivid sunsets, outdoor restaurants, and bike rides. The slower pace allowed us to pay more attention to the world around us, so we took full advantage of a slower pace.

Charcuterie Boards

We certainly enjoyed serving EVERYthing on a board. EVERYthing.

Life on a Sandbar

Bike rides to the sunset. Outdoor seafood dining. Fishing. Surfing. Skimboarding. Turtle watching. Seal watching. Sea glass hunting.

Puppies

Our puppies certainly adjusted positively to our extra time at home! And, we added a new member to the family – my nephew Fezzik. Life is better with puppies!

So, tell me.

What are your Top 5?

Spilled Milk

As a former high school teacher {turned Instructional Technology Facilitator}, I have a confession. Teenagers are my absolutely favorite age of student with which to interact. They want to talk and share their opinions. They yearn for independence yet struggle when life isn’t easy. Their personalities are developing at a rapid speed which is evident in their wit, humor, and interactions of peers. They take risks and appear fearless. They are making memories that last a lifetime. They are making choices that impact the next chapter of their lives. I love it.

Yet. This path can be rocky. As a parent of two teenagers, I must constantly remind myself that there is a learning curve for teenagers. With increased independence comes responsibility, and teenagers will not always make the most sound decisions. Our response, as the adult mentors in their lives, matters.

Which reminds me of a story shared with me by a wise parenting mentor when my girls were toddlers. She reminded me, “Don’t fret the spilled milk. Teach them to carry the container.” She laughed that this would become increasingly important as the girls got older. {The story is here}

In this story, a child – in helping his mother – spills the entire container of milk on the kitchen floor. While the mother could have scolded the child for his carelessness, her approach was different. She used the opportunity to teach the child how to clean up the mess and how to effectively carry the delicate bottle to prevent it from happening again. After all, the milk was already on the floor. She couldn’t return it to the bottle. Yelling and screaming would change that, nor would it prevent it from happening again.

Teachable moment.

Empowering others.

With love and leadership, this mom took a minor disaster and turned it into a teachable moment and empowered her son with additional skills and confidence for future events.

Lessons learned:

The child practiced carrying the container – outside and filled with water, so that a spill did not matter as much – building skills and confidence that he would use the next time he helps her in the kitchen.
The child faced consequences – restorative consequences. In helping her properly clean the kitchen, he not only learned the importance of cleaning up his own messes, but he restored the kitchen to the way that it was before (maybe even cleaner). The consequences aligned with his error.
Love. This parent’s approach fosters a relationship that encourages the son to come to her with problems – guiding him on the proper way to clean up his messes and learn to prevent the same error in the future.

Parenting is a tough gig. Teaching is, too. How can we apply this lesson to our everyday interactions with our students and children?

Teaching example: A student miserably fails a test.

Restorative: Brainstorm ways that the student can restore his average by demonstrating mastery of the content.
Building skills: Does the student know how to study the content? Does the student have the materials necessary to prepare? Dig deeply into this – as this build skill sets and confidence that extend far beyond your class.

Parenting example: Your child gets a speeding ticket.

Restorative: Brainstorm that your child can restore the additional financial responsibility put on the family.
Building skills: Is your child giving himself enough time to arrive or cutting it too close, encouraging speeding? Does your child know how to identify places where the speed limit might change? Is your child paying attention while driving? This is a golden opportunity to encourage ownership and responsibility, as managing your driving speed is completely within the driver’s control. Powerful.

I see so many benefits to this approach – whether we are parenting in touch situations or teaching in our classrooms.

Adults are positive, loving resources for help.
Consequences should be restorative and aligned.
Effective change comes from the lesson learned.

Admittedly, this approach is tough – especially in the heat of the moment. However, remember the Story of the Spilled Milk.

Pause.

Be thankful that it happened under your watch, while you still have the opportunity to positively influence the outcome.

Stack of Towels

A stack of towels. Simple.

An item that every single one of us has in our home.

But, this stack of towels is more.

This is last gift that my mother gave to me… six months and one day after her death.

How did this happen?

The year before, I had remodeled my bathroom, and I requested new bath linens in a particular color as the perfect Christmas gift. Unbeknownst to me, both my sister and my mother purchased bath linens for me. When my mother learned that my sister had purchased the item, my mother – never one to dull our excitement over wrapping *the perfect gift* – tucked hers away, never to be mentioned again.

11 months later, in going through things hidden in closets and under beds, my father found this treasure.
Though tears, I opened this gift on Christmas Day.
A gift from an angel in heaven.
A gift so unexpected that it took my breath.

My Mother

My mother was a beautiful soul who loved nothing more than to create surprises. She would pick my girls up from school and surprise them with a quick ice cream celebration. She would show up at my house with fun surprises for my girls that she had picked up in her travels. She would spend hours creating Halloween candies, handmade Easter Eggs, or Holiday floral arrangements and deliver them to all of the ladies in our neighborhood – visiting for hours with each and every one. You can comb through her social media pages, and you will never find a post where she mentions these moments. She loved to make other people smile – and did not want public validation for her beautiful deeds. She cherished the smiles, laughs, notes, and personal visits … and she needed nothing more than her full heart.

I want to live more like my mother.

In my work, with students and adults, what warms my heart and fills my soul? What can I take away from each encounter to personally validate my work and fuel future steps … while intentionally skipping publicity/social media? What can I tuck away in the closet, forgetting completely, so that others can shine in the moment?

In short, what would my Mom do?

Physical Therapy: Long Term Gains

During a routine flip turn, she felt it slip out of place – like there was a void in the middle of her knee. After a few laps, she felt it pop back into place – accompanied by significant pain. This time, rest and relaxation, therapeutic swims, ice, and elevation did not help the pain subside. With fear and anxiety, we headed to the orthopedic surgeon, praying that we did not need his full range of services.

Diagnosis

Patellar Subluxation: The official medical term for dislocation of the kneecap (patella). Kneecap instability.

You see, your kneecap (patella) attaches near the bottom of your femur. As you bend and straighten your need, your kneecap moves up and down in a groove at the bottom of the thigh. Several muscles and ligaments hold the kneecap in place, and if these are injured, the kneecap can move out of its groove. This is exactly what happened to my daughter. The weakness of the muscles that hold her patella in place allowed her kneecap to slip to the outside of the knee, stretching the medial-patella-femoral-ligament.

Good news: No surgery!

Tough news: Rest and ice are not enough for a full recovery.

For a month, she invested in intensive physical therapy – that was specific to her injury, scaffolded to her response to therapy, and graduated to measure growth – all geared to increasing the strength of the muscles that stabilize her patella. Within days, there was measurable growth. That small growth encouraged her to diligently complete her home exercises, which fed the growth of her sessions. Slowly, the pain subsided. The weight bearing exercises increased. Range of mobility expanded.

Today, five weeks later, she was released to return to full participation in the pool: kicks, flip turns, dives. But, the physical therapy continues.

So, what is Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy: Care that helps you function, move, and live better.

In thinking about my new role as an instructional technology facilitator, I have been wondering why people are resistant to try new initiatives, reflect deeply about current practices, and embrace change. And, more importantly, how do we move past this self-imposed barrier? I believe that the answer might be in Physical Therapy!

We often look at Physical Therapy as a regimen that follows a major surgery. But, our experience has been different. In my daughter’s case, physical therapy was a response to develop stability to prevent future injury. My daughter took two hours out of her week to meet with a professional who guided her through intense exercises and who prescribed her with work to do on her own between visits. Let’s use this strategy with instructional growth…

PT appointments = PLC meetings led by educational leaders/coaches, during which we dive deeply into instructional methods, practice, model, plan, and develop.
PT at home = Independently complete or practice tasks started in PLC. Prepare for next meeting by collecting data, penning questions, and reflecting on what is or is not working with your current regimen.
Repeat

While the PT (PLCs) are more frequent in the beginning, you quickly recognize the value of these appointments – in time, productivity, and results. Over time, you may scale back on the scheduled PLCs with experts, however you find yourself creating more organic opportunities for this instructional conversation with other passionate educators. Before long, you recognize that you no longer *need* the coach as a coach, but you long for the coach as a collaborative partner who brings ideas, passion, and energy to a rich discussion.

You are invigorated with lessons who have received an overdue face-lift, developed a relationship with a collaborative partner, and created a sustainable method to revitalizing your educational environment.

You prevented the educational injury commonly referred to as “burn out”.

With this knowledge, who wouldn’t invest in educational PT?

#OneWord2020

#OneWord2020. By this point, I’m sure you have seen the social media posts. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and everyone’s blog are filled with people ringing in the New Year (Decade) with their #OneWord202o carefully selected to frame their year.

Many years ago, I, too, embraced the #OneWord challenge. In fact, I traded lists of New Years Resolutions for #OneWord to drive my decisions and focus my reflection for the entire year. I’ve created artwork, designed screensavers for my phone, and placed my word on a Post-It note on my desk — all deliberate reminders to use it daily.

Previous #OneWord selections: Previous #OneWords include Fearless (2014), Move (2015), Simplify (2016), Intentional (2017), Cultivate (2018), and Embrace (2019).

Last year’s selection, EMBRACE, was particularly important. 2019 was a “Year of Lasts” and the beginning of a “Year of Firsts”. Going in the year, our family suspected that our time with my beloved mother was short. We embraced that knowledge – as well as every moment that we had – with all of the love that we had to give, right up until her last breath on the afternoon of May 24. In that moment, we transitioned from a “Year of Lasts” – with my mom – to the “Year of First” – without my mom.
Although I continued to intentionally embrace every emotion as it happened, 2019 may forever be the most challenging year of my life.

Just as our “Year of Firsts” began, so did our “Year of Lasts” – as my daughter began her senior year of high school. The fall filled itself with dual-enrollment courses, senior events, college applications and official visits, athletic seasons, and Homecoming formals… and, despite my excitement for her as she embraces her next chapter, I long for the days of ponytails, ribbons, and sandcastles.

Embrace.

These moments were important.

These moments deserved my attention.

The happy tears. The sad tears. The “I miss you so much it hurts” tears.

The smiles filled with pride. The smiles that are hiding pain.

The big accomplishments. The small victories. The losses.

EMBRACE was the perfect word to carry me through 2019.

2020 is different.

Each year, I wait patiently for the word to find me – in a quote, in a song, or in a book that I am reading, or in a conversation. I reach for a word that is different… not from a list. With only hours before this year’s chapter closes, I had started to worry that my word had not emerged.

I pondered. I researched. I thought. I reflected.

And, finally, with the help of my dear friend Erin, it happened.

My #OneWord2020 will be FOCUS.

Last year gifted me with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but, through it all, I embraced the journey. This year, I want to focus more on what is most important: My faith, my health, my family, my friendships, my personal passions, and my professional growth. While I will continue to embrace challenges and adventures, I want a clear FOCUS with my time and my attention.

In 2020, I vow to FOCUS on what is most important by

Challenging myself personally and professionally
Celebrating the journey and small accomplishments towards big goals
Making productive shifts in how I invest my time
Embracing opportunities to be imperfectly human
Being more present
Investing in my health with nutrition and activity
Finding joy in less
Saying goodbye so that I can say hello
Starting all over again…and again…and again…

#OneWord2020 Focus

Cheers to your New Year,

Holly

#OneWord2019

#OneWord2019. I’m sure that you have seen the social media posts swirling over the past few days. Many years ago, I embraced the #OneWord challenge. I traded lists of New Years Resolutions for a word that would serve as a lens through which to make decisions: how I spend my daily hours, set personal and professional long-term goals, and interact with those that I love the most.

Previous #OneWords include Fearless (2014), Move (2015), Simplify (2016), Intentional (2017), and Cultivate (2018). As I reflect, I realize that – each year – my word made a significant impact on my personal growth during that trip around the sun.

Each year, I wait patiently for the word to find me – in a quote, in a song, or in a book that I am reading, or in a conversation. With only hours before this year’s chapter closes, I had started to worry that my word had not emerged. Friends were sharing their incredible #OneWord choices: Relentless (Laura), Present (Erin), Dissonance (Don), Grow (Kristi), Relationships (Kimberly), Impact (Debbie), Metanoia (Jessica), and Speak (Heather). Aren’t these amazing selections?

I pondered. I researched. I thought. I reflected.

And, finally, it hit me.

My #OneWord2019 will be EMBRACE.

You see, life is a journey. Over the past year, it would have been impossible for me to imagine, on January 1, what the rest of 2018 would reveal.
2018 was a year of change. Our family survived parenting two high school teenagers with driver’s licenses, athletic schedules, jobs, and a myriad of college-level courses. My job continued to provide opportunities to grow as an educator and instructional coach. Personally and professionally, my faith was tested. In each adventure, I faced challenges, took risks, enjoyed successes and failures, and grew… oh my goodness, I grew.

Yet, throughout the year, I was so focused on the goal, the deadline, or the due date for the assignment, that I frequently missed the beauty of the journey. This year, I vow to change that: to embrace the journey.

Life is messy. Life is chaotic. Life is unpredictable.

Life is challenging. Life is unfair. Life is hard.

Life is beautiful.

Life is uncertain.

In 2019, I will embrace that uncertainty.
I will embrace the challenges as opportunities to grow.
I will embrace the changes as opportunities to learn new things.
I will embrace the journey for it may not happen again.
I will embrace every ounce of beauty along the way.

And, many years from now, I will name this chapter of my life.

#OneWord2019 Embrace

Netflix and Reflection

Happy *almost* New Year, friends.

Despite being a techie teacher, I have thoroughly enjoyed selectively unplugging for the past week. Between preparing for family birthdays and holiday events, I dusted off several books that have patiently waited for my return and enjoyed some of my Netflix favorites. Speaking of Netflix, I absolutely love the television show Blue Bloods. Although I appreciate a good cop drama, my favorite aspect of this show is the wisdom and wit of the characters, particularly Frank Reagan. In every single episode, I find myself writing down a quote or two that strike me as brilliant….and inspiring this post.

As I reflect on 2018 and create my vision board for 2019, I recognize that it has been a year of change – changes in our family, in our professions, and in the world that surrounds us. I have experienced the highest of highs – earning my National Board Certification and seeing our Dare to Innovate Virtual Professional Development formally published. I’ve also seen my share of challenges – challenges that tug at heartstrings and result in me leaning in more so than ever before.

As I binge-watched Blue Bloods this week, Police Commissioner Frank Reagan so eloquently stated,

” Situations like these don’t build character. They reveal it.”

Let that sink in.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Life isn’t fair.” Perhaps, life really isn’t fair. But, we, as humans, are created for challenges. We are resilient. The greatest of highs and the deepest of lows provide the best opportunities for us to show the universe the threads of the fabric that defines our character.

As I reflect on my role as a parent, educator, and colleague, I realize how it is more important than ever to embrace challenges rather than fear them. It is through life’s challenges that we reveal our character – and, perhaps, even test it – so that we emerge with more wisdom and resiliency that we entered, better prepared for life’s next mountain.

In the wisdom of Frank Reagan,

Life should be a series of daring adventures, launched from a secure base.

What better gift can we provide for the next generation that a space that is safe to daring take risks without fear of failure?

As I enter 2019, one of my goals is to intentionally create a learning space that is a secure base – in my home and in my classroom – that celebrates the pathway more than the success, that discusses strategies to overcome barriers to challenges rather than quiver in fear of failure, and reflect on the learning opportunities that accompanied the journey.

Here’s to 2019 – a year of adventure!

What I Learned from Hurricane Florence

Because I live on the Barrier Islands of North Carolina, I am no stranger to hurricanes. In fact, we typically face one or two each year, some closer calls than others. In the last 25 years, I have experienced the power outages of Hurricane Fran and Hurricane Isabel, flooding of Hurricane Floyd, the double whammy of Hurricane Dennis, the sound side devastation of Hurricane Irene, and our downstairs river due to Hurricane Matthew. I’ve also felt the eye of Hurricane Arthur pass over our little town – a sight and feeling that still, to this day, takes my breath away.

In 25 years, I have never felt the overwhelming anxiety that I experienced as Hurricane Florence inched closer to the NC shore. With wind speeds classifying her as a Category 4 (almost 5) and no cold water, wind shear, or fronts to slow her down, we braced for complete destruction. By nothing short of a miracle, our coastline was spared the devastation that a category 4 hurricane would have brought. However, our neighboring communities continue to face significant flooding that follows 30″ of rain in such a short period of time. The idea that a slight change in the hurricane’s course saved my town while crippling another weighs heavy on my heart.

In spite of it all, I learned several things.

1: Take your time.

Clearly in the red cone of possibility for the direct impact of a Category 4 hurricane, we needed to secure our house and pack necessary belongings to heed to a mandatory evacuation. But, we also needed to remind ourselves that we had time to make level-headed, mindful decisions. What needed immediate attention? What gets packed with us? What stays behind? Where are we going? With the hurricane still days away, we had time to truly think through as many scenarios as possible, allowing us to evacuate with a feeling of clarity and preparation. Although the future was uncertain, I knew that I had prepared as much as possible – and I needed to trust that the universe would take care of the next steps for me.

2. Over prepare

Our list was long: Pack. Clean. Video. Lift. Sandbag. Cover. Secure. Move. Check the list. Check it again. We spent hours preparing our home, our schools, and helping our neighbors. While we had a “Hurricane List” to use, nothing prepares you for the moment when you put it into action. Ultimately, our efforts were not needed, however, we did not know that at the time. One positive: We now have a real “Hurricane List”, tailored for our family, home, and neighborhood.

3. Aim high

When you think that you cannot possibly stack your freezer on an 8″ block to elevate it just a little bit more from flood water, you actually can. I did. What if that last push is what keeps it from flooding? Push. You can do it. You can, and you will.

4. Make Data-Informed Decisions

Every three hours, we closely watched the National Hurricane Center’s projected path (and storm surge) and the vlogs posted by local meteorologists. All information – mandatory evacuation, 8-10′ storm surge, 125mph winds, 20″ of rain – informed us to leave. This was not a decision that we made easily nor one that we took lightly. I cried as I drove away from my home – unsure if (or when) I would see it again.

5. Be flexible, free to change your mind

12 hours after evacuating, Hurricane Florence took a significant turn south, entirely removing my area from the possibility of a direct hit. While I dreaded what this forecasted for my southern neighbors, I also knew that I could safely return home. And, I did.

6. Experts advise, but they are not in the room with you

Although I earnestly listened to the hurricane coverage and heeded the advice of experts in the field, I also recognized that they were not in the room with me. Just as I used their advice to evacuate, I also used information that they provided to make the decision to return – despite a mandatory evacuation. Sometimes, your knowledge of a situation coupled with expert advice leads you to shift gears immediately. Trust your intuition.

How often do these same truths surface in our learning environments?

As teachers, we can benefit by taking our time to build relationships with our students, over-preparing for our classroom learning experiences, and always aiming high in our preparation for and expectation of our scholars. In our decision making, we commit to using all data – not just numerical data – to make informed decisions for our learners. However, we recognize the need to be flexible and unafraid to switch gears in the middle of a journey, for we are the experts in our classrooms.

Dr. Seuss: Still Inspiring

This summer, my mind has swirled with new instructional strategies, collaborative activities, innovative laboratory experiences, and protocols to use in my classroom. With a list of ideas to learn/try/do spanning many pages, it is easy to feel overwhelmed – especially during a week of teacher in-service training that was jam-packed with important meetings and critical information. My biggest barrier is always time. Can I get an amen?

Then, Thursday, this blog post landed in my inbox. Having followed James Clear for some time, I knew that his words would inspire me…and, as expected, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was so moved by his message that I shared it with my school leadership team, as I believe his message speaks to all educators and how we approach barriers.

The Wierd Strategy Dr. Seuss used to Create his Greatest Work (James Clear)

Two professional colleagues. A friendly $50 wager. 50 words. Bestseller.

In his blog, James Clear highlights “The Power of Constraints”: They inspire creativity and force us to get the job done.

Let that marinate for a second.

In educational conversations, we talk extensively about barriers. We talk about our limited instructional time, limited collaborative planning time, fragmented community support, students who enter our classrooms with significant gaps in knowledge, lack of transparency on standardized tests, limited instructional resources, unreliable technology, …

How many of these barriers are within our control? Not many. Yet, these barriers occupy our minds, our conversations, and our time.

What if, instead, we “Dr. Seuss” this? What if we view these parameters as opportunities: Opportunities to create within the specific confines and with a sense of urgency. Insurmountable barriers become creative opportunities.

We all have constraints in our lives. The limitations just determine the size of the canvas you have to work with. What you paint on it is up to you. ~James Clear

It is up to you if your mindset is your canvas or your paintbrush.

Teaching: Compared to Other Professions

Comparison: On Sharing

Recently, our district-level, content/age specific team was charged with revising our pacing guide and unit plans. We turned to districts in our state for inspiration, however quickly found that most were unavailable as they were protected by district permissions. I even reached out to two districts to establish collaborative partnerships, and I was swiftly told, “No, thank you.”. I raised this issue in my #4OCFPLN voxer group – Why are these resources not openly shared?

At the same time, I thought about how other professions work compared to education. In medicine, I see parallels to the field of education – yet, simultaneously, I see many areas where educational leaders could learn a lot from the organization, strategies, and frameworks that exist in the other sectors. In our #4OCFPLN voxer conversation, I mentioned the field of medicine. A surgeon, for example, hones his technique by training under the very best surgeons for many years. He practices. He sees a variety of conditions. He places himself in challenging environments with brilliant practitioners to learn, grow, and better serve his patients. When he finds success, he shares – publishing in journals, presenting at conferences, and encouraging others in his network to adopt new, more effective practices to ultimately reach more patients.

Is it ego? Elizabeth Merce suggested, perhaps, that surgeons have big egos so that publishing their work feeds that character trait. Are educators, as a whole, more humble community? Do we not publish our work for fear that we are being boastful? Does my state – who issues a report card grade to individual schools based heavily on student achievement and growth on standardized tests – encourage competition between districts and, simultaneously, discourage the collaboration that authentically happens when we share resources?

Laura Steinbrink explores some reasons why educators are reluctant to share in her newest post “Sharing What I do: Am I An Educational Narcissist?” She includes great questions for self-reflection.

I’ve heard many educators say that they feel that what they write would not speak to others. Yet, we all have thoughts, strategies, and innovative implementation of techniques that are novel. There is always someone who will grow from our words.

Comparison: Urgency

In medicine, there is a sense of urgency. Physicians see a new practice and push to implement that practice as soon as possible as they have the lives of their patients in their hands – sometimes, literally.

Shouldn’t we have the same sense of urgency in education?

What if improvements in the fields of medicine and business moved as slowly as changes in education? In many cases, we have one year (or, one semester, gasp!) in the life of a student. Shouldn’t we feel the same sense of urgency to create a learning environment that will positively impact the student the most? That, alone, is enough to encourage me to network, learn, grow, and change. My students need this right now.

Comparison: Specialization

In medicine, physicians highly specialize their practice. Although there are general practitioners that serve a variety of conditions, if you present a unique scenario, it is likely that you are referred to an expert in that field. Recently, I supported a friend through surgery. Given the specialization of the surgery, her already specialized physician referred her to a specific surgeon in this field who is not only a nationally renowned surgeon, but he uses the most advanced techniques and equipment available in the country. In her consultation with him, she later shared that he was brilliant but did not have all of the answers. She laughed because he was able to tell her in acute detail about her surgery, but he could not answer where her family should park to visit her in the hospital. WOW! Here is a nationally known surgeon at Duke University Hospital who has no idea where to tell his patients to park! Yet, he beautifully owned his lack of skill set in this area. In fact, he did not even skip a beat. He said, “I am confident that I can remove your tumor. However, Jeff will have to walk you through the logistics about getting here and finding your way to the surgical center.” In our classrooms, we are often expected to wear hundreds of hats in a day – each requiring a different skill set, some of which are more finely honed than others. Professionally, I believe that we are as confident as this surgeon in our strongest skill sets. However, are we equally willing to reach out for help in areas where we are weak? A recent business article that I read suggested that we should not spend an enormous amount of time worrying about our weaknesses. Instead, delegate those. Focus your attention on strengthening your strengths, sharing our knowledge, and creating a “signature style” {Hone Strengths, Delegate Weaknesses by Wendy Tomlinson of MorningBusinessChat.com} With this approach in mind, PLCs could have an entirely new purpose.

Perhaps we can grow by looking outside of the field of education. What would happen if our sense of urgency fueled us to share our strengths in intense collaboration with an intentionally selected group of educators who balance our weaknesses? Teamwork.

Sarah Fromheld explores more similarities between surgeons and educators in her recent blog “It’s a great day to save lives.“