3. What Matters Most

4. Success in life is judged by the lives you touch. by the lives you touch. Garcia & Cottrell

5. Teaching is the greatest act of optimism. Colleen Wilcox

6. For every student with a spark of brilliance, there are about ten with ignition trouble. Milton Berle

7. When you become a teacher, you choose one of the greatest and most important professions on the planet, more important than rocket science, greater than running a corporation, more noble than the Peace Corps or military service.

8. And, you made a good choice. You now have the spectacular privilege of spending time with children and young people who are eager to learn today

9. Okay, most of them.

10. Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them. Lady Bird Johnson

11. If we treat an individual as he is, he will remain as he is.

12. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be,

13. He will become what he ought to be and could be. Goethe

14. We hope our achievements in life shall be these ► We will have fought for what is right and fair ► We will have risked for that which mattered ► We will have given help to those who were in need… ► We will have left the earth a better place for what we have done and who we have been

15. Change

16. The excitement of starting a new school year provides opportunities to reestablish expectations and introduce changes. The excitement of starting a new school year provides opportunities to reestablish expectations and introduce changes.

17. The process of changing the culture of any organization begins by changing the way in which the people of that organization behave. The process of changing the culture of any organization begins by changing the way in which the people of that organization behave. Bossidy & Charan, 2002

18. There are three kinds of people in the world: There are three kinds of people in the world:

19. Those who make change happen

20. Those who watch change happen

21. And those who do not know what hit them!

22. Change begins with me! We’re all “me’s,” and we all share responsibility for bringing organizational values to life. Change begins with me! We’re all “me’s,” and we all share responsibility for bringing organizational values to life. Maslow Maslow

23. I find the important thing in life is not where we are, but in what direction we are moving. I find the important thing in life is not where we are, but in what direction we are moving. Oliver Wendell Holmes

24. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead Margaret Mead

25. If not you, who? If not now, when? If not you, who? If not now, when?Maslow

26. Shared Vision

27. Living according to our beliefs and those of our organizations takes conscious effort, persistence, some courage, a good-size helping of commitment, and a ton of self- discipline. Living according to our beliefs and those of our organizations takes conscious effort, persistence, some courage, a good-size helping of commitment, and a ton of self- discipline.

28. If it was easy, we wouldn’t need those attributes to succeed

29. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be a challenge

30. If it was easy, everybody would do it all the time

31. Teachers who are part of a building or system with a clear vision for learning give energy to each other and continually transform goals to match their vision for children. Graves, 2001

32. The most important resource in every school will continue to be the professionals within it.

33. Teachers and students go hand and hand as learners…or they don’t go at all. Barth

34. Let’s dare to think some bold, new thoughts, trust life a little more, unlearn some things that we have been taught. Let’s spread our wings and soar.

35. Expectations

36. High Performing Middle Schools ► Establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory towards excellence. ► Have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making.

37. We must keep our attention on the issues that matter, not divert our effort and energy to trivial annoyances. We must keep our attention on the issues that matter, not divert our effort and energy to trivial annoyances.

38. The real challenge is to treat everyone with respect every day. The real challenge is to treat everyone with respect every day. Whitaker, 2005

39. Great teachers and principals do what is right no matter what else is going on. Whitaker, 2005

40. Stay positive in tough times

41. Complaining is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.

42. By consistently filtering out the negatives that don’t matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful school.

43. Consciously or unconsciously, we decide the tone of our school.

44. To make a difference in the world, you must first dare to be different. When the truth needs to be said, when the work needs to be done, when the help needs to be given… you can make a difference.

45. Collegiality

46. It should be evident that schools will never realize the fundamental purpose of helping all students achieve at high levels if the educators within them work in isolation.

47. Building a school’s capacity to learn is a collective rather than an individual task.

48. Meaningful collaboration arises out of genuine interests or purposes held in common.

49. Two large sources of energy in teachers’ lives: the students, and a sense of collegiality with one another. Graves, 2001

50. Educators cannot help students learn at high levels unless they work together collaboratively. Educators cannot help students learn at high levels unless they work together collaboratively. DuFour, 2005 DuFour, 2005

51. The best thing to invest in right now is collegiality. The number one skill that teachers will need is to be team-based, collegial, sharing their knowledge and wisdom. Alan November

52. REFLECTION

53. School improvement is when purpose and effort unite.

54. I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I was somebody. Lily Tomlin

55. What matters most to you? Will you be hit by change, or make it happen? Will your vision be shared and aligned with organizational values and goals? Will you be persistent and make every effort to make a difference? How will you collaborate? Share your practice?

56. As your lead learners, we challenge you to grow as an organization and continue to strive for excellence. We have the potential and capacity to be the best! Why not act on it? Please join us on this journey. Mike, Gus, Tracey