Thomas Harskamp

Husband, Father, Educator, Coach, and Leader

[IAbaseball @iabaseball1]

BLEEKER BRINGIN’ THE JUICE 🧃

#IAbaseball X #iahsbsb⚾️

[Dr. Jared Smith @JaredSmithPhD]

Check it out!! New renderings of the proposed Waterloo High School😍😍

*85,000 Foot Academic Wing Addition
*2,200 Seat Competition Gymnasium
*850 Seat Performing Arts Auditorium
*250 Seat Small-Group Performance Theatre
*Enhanced Music Practice Rooms
*State-Of-The-Art Classrooms and Science Labs
*Waterloo "Hall of Pride" Memorial Hall
*Weight Room, Cardio Room, 200m Indoor Track
*Artificial Turf Soccer/Practice Field
*Student Academic Courtyard
*Multicultural/ELL Support Center
*Expanded Commons, Kitchen, Student Center
*Student Hub and Cafe/Bistro

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Now how about putting these habits in brains and lives of our youth!
Yes Please!
Thanks @LeaderValley @TheLeaderinMe #LeaderInMe

[Vala Afshar @ValaAfshar]

8 habits of highly effective people, by Stephen Covey:

1 be proactive
2 begin with end in mind
3 put first things first
4 think win-win
5 seek first to understand, then be understood
6 synergize
7 sharpen the saw
8 inner self growth and development

1 be proactive: proactive people carry their own weather with them - their honor, values, principles, commitment and dedication are much greater than their moods.

2 begin with the end in mind; do things by design, not by accident - execute every spoken word with an “end result” in mind.

3 put first things first: do the important things first –because where you are headed as well as the clear direction that you are taking is far more important than how fast you are going and when will you get there.

4 think win-win: win-win is a belief in the “third alternative” - it is not your way or my way; it is a better way. We need not only do the right thing, but rather what is right for business, locally and globally.

5 first understand, then be understood: the key to clear understanding is listening well, listening with our eyes, our mind, our soul and our heart (this is the hardest habit to develop)

6 synergize: one plus one equals three or more - synergize your life and business so you can be a multiplier for all.

7 sharpen the saw: renew, develop, evaluate, assess, energize, polish, refine and enhance the greatest asset you have – you.

8 inner self growth and development: the importance of finding your voice and inspiring others to find theirs to be effective is not everything, you have to move from effectiveness to greatness to be the best

The biggest influence in life is habit. To get better results, develop better habits.

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Excited to have Danielle join our Hoover Family!

[Waterloo Schools @WaterlooSchools]

🌟 Big congratulations to Danielle Hakeman for her appointment as Hoover Middle School's Associate Principal in the Waterloo Community School District (WCSD), effective July 1, 2024, pending board approval! 🎉
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Joining the district from Central Rivers Area Education Agency, Danielle Hakeman brings a wealth of experience to her new role as Hoover Middle School’s Associate Principal. Since 2020, Hakeman has served as a literacy consultant and dyslexia specialist, uniquely holding a K-12 dyslexia specialist endorsement, a distinction unmatched by any other administrator in Iowa.
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Hakeman's return to WCSD marks a homecoming, having previously spent seven years at Lou Henry Elementary as a literacy coach and lead teacher. Expressing her excitement about joining Hoover Middle School, Hakeman stated, “Hoover felt like home from the moment I walked in the door, and I am thrilled to begin working with students, staff, and families.”
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Before her tenure with Lou Henry, Hakeman served as a middle school reading teacher with Davenport Community Schools from 2010 to 2013, and an elementary school teacher for Oelwein Community Schools from 2007 to 2010. She began her career in education in 2005 as an elementary teacher at Mediapolis Community Schools.
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Hakeman holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
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Let's give a warm welcome to Danielle as she steps into this new role! 👏 #Congratulations #NewLeadership #WCSD #WaterlooProud 🏫

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

@T_Hamilton_U @girlsflock Nice! I think you spelled “track” wrong on her “when I get big list”!

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Super proud of this young man! Keep leading Terence!

[Waterloo Schools @WaterlooSchools]

"I wanted a fresh start and to make a positive impact on my life. So, I started coming to school a lot more. Attendance was sort of a problem for me last year. Look, I’m a student-athlete, and as an 8th grader, I need to set a good example for the younger kids. That’s when I realized I needed to be at school to set a good example, improve my grades, and be able to participate in sports.
’m really glad I did because I’ve learned that I like coming to school. I want to be proactive and make a positive difference here at Hoover." - Terence, Hoover 8th Grade #YourSeatYourSuccess #AttendanceMatters #WaterlooProud

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

@RobLuther8 @iahsfb Sioux Center…HS teammate of Rozeboom

[Shantelle Bleeker @ShantelleBleek1]

Let’s go @BleekerJaron !

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Congrats @BleekerJaron ! Go Hawks!

[Jaron Bleeker @BleekerJaron]

I’m blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Iowa. Thank you to all my coaches, friends, and family that have gotten me here.
Go hawks! 🐥

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

@cnpelz Congrats Casey!

[Brian Kight @BrianKight]

Whether you coach kids from poverty or from privilege, they need high empathy AND high expectations:

1. Don't lower your expectations just because you have high empathy. Lowering the bar of standards and responsibility is not an act of love. It's an act of fear.

2. Don't lower your empathy just because you have high expectations. Withholding emotional understanding is not an act of leadership. It's an act of rejection.

3. The best coaches and leaders combine high empathy and high expectations, never sacrificing one for the other.

4. Raise your expectations when you raise your empathy. If you truly care, recognize their challenges and help them rise to meet them with courage, discipline, and resilience.

5. Raise your empathy when you raise your expectations. If you truly want them meet your standards and their potential, connect with them, understand them, and appreciate the unique challenges of their situation while equipping them with the tools they need.

Empathy and expectations are not at odds. They are partners, each containing the capacity to enhance and accelerate the other.

But to tap into this leadership superpower, you have to think this way before you lead this way.

If you believe high expectations are a threat to people feeling your empathy, you're withhold necessary expectations.

If you believe giving empathy is a threat to your expectations, you're going to withhold necessary empathy.

The best coaches are great leaders. Great leaders combine high empathy and high expectations to develop higher performance in athletes (not only in the sport, but in the rest of their lives too).

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Amazing educator who shows up for kids! Thanks for serving at a high level JoEllen!

[Waterloo Schools @WaterlooSchools]

We are so proud of our 2023 Gold Star Teachers!!!
Our last amazing Gold 🌟teacher is Hoover 6th grade math teacher JoEllen Pruis! We are PROUD of you! 🤩
We'd like to thank R.J. McElroy Trust and committee for honoring our wonderful teachers!
#BeBold #goldstar #RockstarTeachers

[Waterloo Schools @WaterlooSchools]

Congratulations Hoover Middle School on achieving Lighthouse recertification status! 🙌🙌
Hoover achieved Lighthouse status in 2016 and was only the second middle school in the world to achieve that accomplishment and the first in the state of Iowa. We are proud of you!
#BeBold

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

@coachvh4dordt Great crew! When does the VH train head to NE Iowa?

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

Pretty great space and great people doing amazing things for students! #BeBold

[Waterloo Schools @WaterlooSchools]

“The FLEX room is a positive place for me to go when I get upset & use my breathing techniques. I like this because once I’m calm, I return to class. It’s a win-win! Having this room makes me know Hoover has my back. They actually care about students.”-Zayne, Hoover 8th Grade

[Dordt Men’s Basketball @DordtHoops]

Congratulations to our leader Coach Van Haaften on 500 career wins! Amazing to see all the lives he has impacted along the way! #DefenderWay

[Thomas Harskamp @Harskamp_Thomas]

@atlasgroup @gobucs Officially a Bucs fan!

[CCStrength&Conditioning @CometTuff]

After strength & conditioning this morning, all high school athletes present listened to a talk on nutrition with Registered Dietitian Julie Mayhew as our speaker.
Remember, buy Hy-Vee brand chocolate milk in June. Every gallon = $1.00 for our S&C Program. Thanks @HyVee.

[CCStrength&Conditioning @CometTuff]

IT STARTS TOMORROW!!! We will see you there!