Brett Erenberg

Dad, Brother, Son, Social Studies Teacher. Piano Man and ukulele enthusiast. Life has been very good to me. @valhallaschools

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

The Spring Edition of the VMS Chronicle is here! Our student journalists cover school happenings, trends, sports, news, opinions, and a few “interesting” items that you’ll just have to see for yourself. Enjoy! https://t.co/wDqfvgutKs
@ValhallaSchools

[Zack D. Films @zackdfilms1]

How The Ring And Chain Trick Works 😮

[Tammi Minoski 🟦 @TammiMinoski]

President #AbrahamLincoln's grandfather was born #OTD: 1744. Capt. Abraham Lincoln a Revolutionary War veteran, was killed in 1786 during an ambush near his farm in Kentucky. His young son Thomas survived. You can visit the grave at Long Run Baptist Church Cemetery. #USHistory

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

Debate Club attendence awards! Congratulations, especially to our graduating seniors!
@ValhallaSchools

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

7th grade back on the trail. It rarely ends well. @ValhallaSchools

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

@WarrenHart @ValhallaSchools Thank you. I enjoyed those collaborations so much! I hope you are doing well, Warren. Your students were always working on incredible things!

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

The Spring Edition of the VMS Chronicle is here! Our student journalists cover school happenings, trends, sports, news, opinions, and a few “interesting” items that you’ll just have to see for yourself. Enjoy! https://t.co/wDqfvgutKs
@ValhallaSchools

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

The students’ revolutionary newspaper projects are in! Momentous headlines, spicy opinions, clever political cartoons and old-timey ads. History has never been this entertaining! @ValhallaSchools

[Danny Steele @SteeleThoughts]

One of the most talented and dedicated educators I’ve ever worked with was Barbara Gajewski. I had the privilege of calling her a colleague for several years when she served as the college counselor at our high school.

She was exceptional at her job—so exceptional, in fact, that everyone wanted her time.
Parents lined up to talk with her about scholarships. Students depended on her for letters of recommendation. College admissions officers called constantly. I know she spent hours on weekends crafting those letters, carefully telling each student’s story. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone work harder or care more.

One day, I was sitting in her office, and she shared something that has stayed with me ever since. She wasn’t trying to give me advice. She was simply reflecting on her own growth. But because of the respect I had for her, I took those words to heart.

She said,
“Danny, I used to get so frustrated. The constant interruptions drove me crazy—students stopping by, teachers popping in, phones ringing nonstop. I had so much to do, and it felt like these distractions were keeping me from doing my job.

And then one day, I realized something important. Those interruptions… were my job. That person on the phone or standing at my door is important. They deserve my attention and my energy.”

I remember sitting there, struck by the power of that insight. And I’ve thought about it many times over the years.
Because let’s be honest—you’re busy. Your to-do list is long. Your calendar is full. And it’s easy to become frustrated by the constant interruptions that pull you away from what you planned to do.

But what if those interruptions aren’t distractions at all?

What if they are the work?

Never underestimate your ability to make someone’s day in a brief, unplanned moment. The student who lingers in your doorway. The teacher who needs just five minutes. The parent who calls with a concern. These small moments can become big memories. You never know which interaction will stay with someone for years.
You never know when a few minutes of your attention will change the course of a day—or even a life.

So embrace the interruptions.
Lean into the unscheduled conversations. Make the most of the moments you didn’t plan. Because those just might end up being the most important moments of your day.

Cheers,

Danny

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

I felt a weight lifting just reading this.

[Zach Groshell @MrZachG]

Simplifying is actually a solution to "teacher workload", a concept that people often associate with prioritizing adult needs over student learning and performance.

Not so:

https://t.co/rcNPHBiGDX

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

The 7th graders will say of course I’m old enough to have signed it.

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

@AndyMasley Knowing your stuff is always > knowing your pedagogy.

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Reading and math matter.
They are important tools.
But they are still tools, not education itself.
Those tools matter because they make deeper learning possible, not because they are the totality of learning.
Research is clear:
academic skills don’t operate on their own.
Students don’t succeed in life just because they can read and calculate.
They succeed because they can regulate, reason, persist, and work with others.
Education is learning how to:
stay regulated when something feels unfair
hear feedback without shutting down
speak up without being aggressive
handle uncomfortable moments without melting down
recover after embarrassment
own a mistake and keep going
work with others when it’s hard
Because if a student can read but can’t regulate,
if they can calculate but can’t cope,
if they can pass tests but can’t handle failure,
we didn’t educate them.
That’s how we end up with adults who can read and write
but can’t manage frustration, failure, or responsibility.
That’s why science, social studies, PE, the arts, and even recess, movement, & play aren’t extras.
They’re where judgment is formed.
They’re where regulation is learned.
They’re where thinking transfers to real life.

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

@waygroundai The lesson plans aren’t done.

[Valhalla Vikings @ValhallaSchools]

Armed with chocolate, sprinkles, candy, marshmallows and icing in a piping bag, Valhalla Middle School students in the Partners Program gathered for holiday gingerbread-decorating festivities. Read more here: https://t.co/Vo64kMf0Xc

[Valhalla Vikings @ValhallaSchools]

Congratulations to our inspiring Valhalla Middle School musicians, who wowed audiences with their skills at the annual Winter Concert. Thank you to our wonderful music teachers for their guidance!

[Valhalla Vikings @ValhallaSchools]

CONGRATULATIONS: We are so proud of this team for the hard work they put into creating their newest issue of The Chronicle! Read the Valhalla Middle School newspaper here: https://t.co/XxfdHkjTFc

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

Sharing the first issue of the VMS Chronicle this school year. Just love seeing our students’ voices on the page. Enjoy!!
@ValhallaSchools
https://t.co/4BZoVvp2FW

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

@LundukeJournal Thank you so much. I almost fell for that.

[Brett Erenberg @BrettErenberg]

7th grade students did such clever work on their “haunted history houses”. #HappyHalloween @ValhallaSchools