“Popular” opinion: Working for @AmstiUAH is “Wicked” awesome! @jenzyjohnson and I had a little too much fun at the Geometry and Measurement PLC. Some might even say it was “magical.”
“Here’s how I’m going to beat you:
I’m going to outwork you.
That’s it. That’s all there is to it. You just learned my most valuable secret. It’s not that exciting.
There’s no great intangible quality to success. It’s a matter of putting your back into it.”
— Pat Summitt
.@i3academy_ math teacher Briana Oliver's seventh graders made impressive gains on the ACAP last spring. Those gains are important, because if you only look at which kids are proficient, you won’t get the whole story.
“The goal is always growth.” https://t.co/wltoxHzSWc
In 1990, Shannon Sharpe was a 7th-round pick by the Denver Broncos.
After an average training camp, he was about to be cut.
His coach told him, "Shannon, your name is on the board to get cut...What you should do is go out there and bust your ass."
That night, he played on every special teams unit and said he was "fighting for his life."
He said, "I blocked, tackled, did everything I could to save my career before it even started. After that game, the coaches had their final meeting and I was taken off the cut list. But it could have been over right then."
He made the team, but he wasn't an instant star. He was on the scout team and rarely got playing time so he made the best of his opportunity.
As the scout team TE, he tried to beat the defense every chance he got. His enthusiasm, passion, and skill stood out. He was winning versus the starters every day in practice with his play.
He stood out so much that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips told Dan Reeves that he had to start playing Shannon on offense.
And that's where it all started. Shannon would build off that success. He grew over the next few years because he would:
🔹Work hard during practice
🔹Make the tough catches to earn John Elway's trust
🔹Sit next to John Elway during pre-game meetings to game plan and strategize
He wasn't an instant success, but he developed and grew each day and each game. By his fourth year, he made his first pro bowl and started to stand out as an elite receiving tight end.
Takeaway 1:
You create opportunities and luck through your diligence and hard work. Creating your own luck isn't about waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap, but your ability to actively seek them out.
Shannon Sharpe's journey demonstrates the power of taking advantage of opportunities. When faced with adversity, he relied on his work ethic and controlled what he could control that night: his special teams play. His opportunities after that moment only came because he took advantage of making the team. It highlights the importance of tenacity and determination in working for what you want.
Takeaway 2:
Success doesn't happen overnight, it happens when you commit to mastery and then show up and do the work every day.
Shannon Sharpe's journey started as a scout team tight end. Not everyone would embrace that role because it isn't the star of the team. But in those moments, people notice your persistence, perseverance, and work ethic. From there, he worked hard to learn the offense, learn from John Elway, and study the best in the game. Shannon succeeded in the NFL because he continually invested in improving his skills and knowledge.
"Don't hope someone gives you an opportunity. Create one for yourself." - Shannon Sharpe
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I loved being at HBMS with Leslie Evan’s. They are an A+ college ready cohort. I saw kids working in groups today perfectly! They were checking each others work and supporting each member of their group. I love seeing mathematicians at work!
I love seeing a school that makes data easy for teachers to value and use. HBMS gives teachers a great picture of where the students are as a grade and the progress they have made individually.
Grade 6 -12 math teachers participated in AMSTI Number Talks and Number Strings PD. A great day focusing on student engagement and math strategies to support all ECS learners! Thank you to Rachel Ford and Leah Gann for facilitating our PD! #TeamECBOE