A Coach's Mission

I miss my coaching days. I took it very seriously because I knew my mission was important.  I stepped away from coaching for a couple of reasons. My kid doesn’t need a dad coach. She needs to be inspired and motivated by others so she can find her own passions.  Also, with growing family needs and professional demands I didn't want to try to give from an empty cup.  I treasure those days.  I met some of the greatest people I know on the field and on the court.  I learned some of the hardest lessons too.  Coaching made me a better teacher and administrator.  I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given to impact others.

Now I spend a lot of time supervising and problem solving for kids and coaches alike.  I can watch a game objectively and evaluate what is going on.  It is not hard to see who the coaches are showing up for.  I always felt that I showed up for my players. I planned and worked for the kids because I knew they depended on me. If I didn't know how to teach something, I went a and learned it.  I took that relationship and dynamic very seriously.   I’m no expert, but that was my approach. I knew who I was there for and often I can spot this in other coaches. It shows up in their behaviors and their outcomes.

Not every coach is going to be a good one. Some are player centered without a clue how to work the Xs and Os. Some have the mechanics of winning down, but have no clue how to teach it. My hope for coaches that is they know who they work for. If you show up for kids, it shows. If you are only showing up for you. It shows. A coach’s mission has nothing to do with the coach. Their mission stands in front of them at every practice and every game.

When your kids are your mission, the following is obvious to everyone:

• EVERY kid has a strong foundation in basic skills. You are embarrassing them if they show up and don’t know how to play.
• A team culture is present by the unspoken habits of the players.  What they do without being told is a reflection of you and not them.
• Every player has a growth mindset. That is not built in. It is taught and nurtured by the adults in their lives.
• The kids want to win more than you do. They value their own success. Your job is to get them there. Your job is not to use them as a vehicle to your success.

I know this isn't enough to write a best selling book on, but it is a start.  I don't claim to be an expert, but after watching many successful and unsuccessful teams compete I can say its a good starter kit for a new coach.  Dare I say it might be a start to an effective evaluation tool?  Coaches, the kids are your mission.  They will respond positively and productively to you if they can see this in action.  The result is better team chemistry, learning more and of course it leads to a winning mentality.  When the kids are not your mission, they can see right through it and you will struggle to find success.  Please know what your mission is.

Danielson Thinks You're Proficient

If I could go back in the classroom, I would be a hall of famer.  Really, I think I would totally rock. I'm not thinking of going back into the classroom, but I am totally confident that I am way better prepared to teach now then I was back them.  I have one specific group to thank for this.  Every teacher I have ever worked with deserves credit for my love of classroom practice.

I heave learned more from my teachers in 13 years than I could ever know on my own.  Not just from the interactions, but also the evaluation and observation process that takes place every year.  I know what you are thinking and your wrong.  Evaluating teachers is not that bad.  Yes, the paperwork and formality of the process is not fun.  The act of seeing what your students see and the chance to help a teacher grow is a great thing to be a part of.  The mindset you carry into evaluation, sets the tone for your staff.  They will either be afraid of the result or better yet, not afraid to take healthy instructional risks.

The evaluation season is wrapping up for me, but as I complete all the rating paperwork and prepare for summative rating meetings all I can think about is the positive takeaways I get from the process.  I honestly feel that I have been blessed with great teachers, but that is who this process is really about.  If you use the evaluation process to control or intimidate your staff, shame on you.  I know a lot of awesome principals, but there are always those few horror stories that we have to learn from.  You have to use your process for growing people.  I often tell people that simply saying "Good Job" is not feedback.  Citing specific evidence for the purposes of teaching or improving is.  Principals, what kind of feedback are you giving?

Teachers, I know getting a "Proficient" feels a little icky.  I know a lot of good teachers that bust their tails for kids everyday and are always working on their craft that have been rated Proficient.  One thing I have realized is that we are all teachers and love to get good grades.  When we are not "Excellent" is feels like we got a B or heaven forbid, our first C.  That rating does not indicate your value to the school building.  It reflects how well you fit into the Danielson Framework.  Think about it, you have students in your classrooms that are far more competent than their grade in your class.  The next time your colleague feels down, cheer them up with this meme.

As we wrap up the evaluation season know that, just like your students, you are worth more than your rating.  I know that there are a lot of strings attached and it feels stressful.  Just because Danielson thinks you are proficient, doesn't mean that I do.  Good school leaders see what you bring to the students each day.  If they are lucky, they get to learn from the best like I have over the years.

I am Now a Critical Star Wars Fan

Caution: Potential spoilers might be found in this post.

Being a Star Wars fan is tough these days. Especially if you are one of the old timers.  I think our perspective is wildly different that those that got started with the prequels.  I started out when I was seven and have been a huge fan ever since.  While I eye roll and scroll past all the criticisms of the films on social media, I am now guilty of being a critical fan.  I did not like the story line for The Rise of Skywalker. 

I really feel like us old timers understand the Skywalker saga better than newer and younger fans.  Some of the critique flying around is that The Rise of Skywalker is fanservice and not true to the spirit of the story.  If it is fanservice, then what fans are they catering to?  If I were writing the last chapter in the Skywalker story it would look very different that what we were given.

It sounds like we will never know what the original script looked like so I may be in line with the what might have been, but I doubt it.  I am offering up a more radical approach to what the Rise of Skywalker should have been.  To me, the creators of this film were way off base.

The first six movies did well to show that the story of Anakin Skywalker is a story of redemption.  As we follow the character, we are taken on the journey that Obiwan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker had to take to be his catalyst for change.  A change from the dark side back to the light.  We are convinced that this is how we bring balance to the force and save everyone.  From Episode IV we are made very aware that Obiwan brings Luke to Vader to help facilitate this change.

Our hero in the new trilogy is Rey.  Her past is a mystery at first and it seemed that the episodes competed with each other to tell her origin story.  The new trilogy is focused around her being the heir apparent to Luke Skywalker.  You can see lots of parallel characters from old to new to keep the same dynamic.  My question is, why do we have to keep the same dynamic?  How many times now have we hidden vital information in a droid?  How many planet destroying space stations do we have to have?  I thought it was time to let old things die, to quote Kylo Ren.  To end the Skywalker story, you need to do the unexpected to give it a proper ending.

In my mind, the Rise of Skywalker would have ended like this.  Ben Solo would have become Ben Skywalker by taking the name, not Rey.  When Anakin found redemption, he did not live to see it out or use his life to make amends.  He died in Luke's arms shifting the burden to resurrect the Jedi to his unprepared son.  Rey would serve a legendary purpose in returning the last of the Skywalker bloodline to the light side and could have died an honorable death in pursuit of this.  How symbolic and fulfilling would it be for Ben Solo to defeat the emperor who had imprisoned his grandfather for so long?  That is a fight I want to see.  Why do I want to see a predictable movie ending when I could see the actual fulfillment of a legacy?  I guess I have to ask JJ Abrams that question.