Reflections on Leadership and Learning

I wrote 57 posts in 2015. Here are some of my personal favorites from the past year.

1. A Year of Mindfulness – It was nice to end the year with a reminder of how I focused on mindfulness throughout the year, and all the posts I wrote about my word.
2. Writing in Books (or Marginalia!) – I love tracking my thinking by writing in the margins of books. It is still fascinating to me to discover the ways people track their thinking and whether or not people feel comfortable writing in their own books.
3. Strength-Based Coaching – I am incredibly passionate about the value of coaching for all educators. Finding and highlighting the strengths of our colleagues is important, especially during a time when educators have been beaten up across the country, the media, and within negative sanctions and mandates. People work harder when they feel appreciated!
4. Introverts are People Too! – I continue to notice the difference between introverts and extroverts in a variety of situations. The older I get, the more comfortable I am in my own introverted ways, and the more willing I am to make choices that keep me mentally and physically sane!
5. Mindfulness Breakthrough! – After five months trying to build some mindful habits, it was wonderful to have a breakthrough! I appreciate when hard work and efforts pay off.
6. The Art of Teaching – I wrote this post during Teacher Appreciation Week, as a celebration of the incredible profession of teaching. Because my writing is often a way for me to reflect, the post helped remind me of my favorite childhood school memories, why I became a teacher, and what I love about this amazing work I am blessed to do on behalf of students.
7. Memories – This was a personal, special post for me to write on the fourth anniversary of my mother’s passing. I still miss my mom every day, but I appreciate the love, lessons, and memories she left with me.
8. Reflecting on the Here and Now – I had forgotten about this post until I went back to decide which posts to include today. What I appreciate about this particular slice of my life is my honest reflection during a stressful time. It is important to make time for the one-on-one, face-to-face conversations; these are what matters most. People work hard when they are surrounded by respect and trust and appreciate and support.
9. The Doctoral Journey Round-Up – I remember writing this post and being surprised by how many posts I wrote about my doctoral journey. I am so proud of my doctorate degree, and my three years of study while working full-time. My mental and physical health are SO happy that the journey is over and I’ve finally had some time to heal.
10. A Day in the Life of a District Administrator – After borrowing this idea from other bloggers, I really loved capturing a typical day in my life as a Director of Educational Services. I still wish I had done this as a principal, and I plan to write a post about my new job soon.
11. I love coaching! – Just seeing the title of this post makes me smile. I truly do love coaching. I wish that every educator at every level in our system was able to have his or her own personal professional coach. In a learning system, we must recognize that we are always on a journey to grow and expand our knowledge in order to better support the students we impact every day.
12. The Reader in Me – I captured 48 facts about my life as a reader. It was my goal to reach 100 and I never returned to that idea. Maybe 2016 will bring new reading habits.

I write for my own reflection and my own enjoyment. My writing became a blog as I began to connect with colleagues near and far. I do love writing and being able to look back over the years to see how I’ve grown as a leader and a writer. Thank you for reading!