Heart Check

As I sat today in our leadership academy and we discussed our various topics I didn't think much of them until now at 3 in the morning as I write this. One topic we discussed was, “What characteristics do leaders portray?” As I sit here and think about the list we came up with my mind is racing and going through a million different thoughts.

As this year has gone by with teaching, taking part in our mentor-ship program and the Leadership Academy, being pregnant, and being a Senior Class sponsor. Let's just say it's been a little busy especially these last few weeks. I say all this because I know each of us has tasks and commitments that give us all this crazy to do list with time constraints that seem unconquerable at times.

As I have been preparing these last few weeks to go on maternity leave, my to do list has seemed longer and longer. One of those major tasks to check off is my commitment to the senior class and the team I leave behind to finish the job. It's kind of like a group project that most students hate. I didn't want to be that dead weight in the group. So I have submitted every PR for the remainder of the year, collected all permission slips that will be needed, helped plan out prom and senior week activities and everything else I could think of to make sure I didn't leave a burden behind.  At times I asked myself, why am I doing all this? Is it for the acknowledgment, fun, torture, frustration, or a paycheck? As I answer my own question, all I can say is heart. My lists have been crazy and I have been pushing my classes to get where I want them to be before I leave. Checking off tasks like a mad women. So focused on what needs to get done that I forgot why I do what I do. It’s about the kids. Lists will always be there but the time we have with a class of kids is limited. We need to stop and have a heart check. My 5th period and today's discussions at training did that for me.

I came back to campus today to a baby shower from my 5th period kiddos. They brought food and drinks. Gave me gifts, a card, and a bouquet of flowers. They care enough to do all of these things for me. Wow, we teach them but when we stop and think they teach us even more. We need to stop focusing on the check off lists and have a heart check where we remember it’s all about them. They need to be our heart and at the center of our decisions. Kids are why we do what we do. They are listening and care about us just as much as we care about.  

Spinning Plates

Seven years ago I started a new adventure. I moved away from everything I had known and began a career I knew little about. Teaching. My first day, month, year in the classroom was intense. I hadn’t gone to school for this, what was I thinking???

Now after all this time I am started on a new path. I have been selected to be a part of a Leadership Academy and get insight from those that lead those in this career path I have chosen. Just like every new adventure or change in life comes a learning curve. As the days and months have gone by and I have been able to observe and shadow my current Principal and Assistant Principals. I have seen some behind the scene things that remind me of that first year teaching. You are a plate spinner at the circus. You have 15 plates spinning and just as you get them all up and going you are pulled in another direction and have to keep running in circles making sure everything is going. At first you are filled with many emotions and are just flat out tired (Or maybe that’s the pregnancy). Then as you start having more and more exposure to this new world you start to see maybe you can spin all 15 plates. No one is perfect or does everything right, but the more and more you get to work at something, the better you become.

'Having it all' is such an intimidating concept. Just when you think you have all those plates spinning perfectly... something changes. It is a constant balancing act.

Leigh-Allyn Baker