Meghan E Gildea

K-5 Principal @ Orange Ulster BOCES 🐆 Liberty Elementary Program 🐆 We focus on teaching students to be Safe Polite and On Task @ouboces

[Emily Paschall @EmilyAPaschall]

Sometimes it’s important to reflect on the past so we can have more gratitude in the present and continue to do better in the future. Schools are essential. For so many reasons.

Tomorrow marks 5 years.

🔺Kids need teachers.
🔹Kids need classrooms.
🔺Kids need kids.
🔹Kids need playgrounds.
🔺Kids need SCHOOLS.

[James A. Furey @JamesAFurey]

Not every kid deserves to stay in the classroom. Some students have earned their way out of it.

It is not cruel to admit this. What's cruel is forcing 25 other students to sit in the room while one kid makes learning impossible.

And every teacher knows what kid I mean!

Some are experts in low-level disruption, but others constantly talk, make noises, refuse to do work, roam the room or hallways, etc.

Worse, there are kids in school who regularly pick fights, bully others, and make threats to the safety of students and staff. Yet, we keep them in.

In these situations, schools are held hostage by their worst students. When that happens, we're no longer in an instructional environment; we're in the business of crisis management, with the kids who actually want to learn getting ignored while teachers put out a thousand little fires.

This results, de facto, in the removal of kids from education, just not the ones who deserve it. We essentially force the good kids out of the education they deserve by making them to sit in chaotic classrooms, wasting day after day.

It also results in teacher burnout because they are tasked with tolerating failure instead of being supported to fix it. We're forcing good people out of the profession, people who may, under different circumstances, raise reading and math scores and help prepare our students for a useful and fulfilling citizenship.

"Every child has a right to an education"?

Yes. But no child has a right to steal one out from under everyone else. Maybe it's time we consider what it takes to lose that right.

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

Great teams don't always agree. They have the difficult conversations in order to get better, to uphold the standard, to fight for each other rather than against each other.

Avoiding conflict prevents growth, undermines trust and fractures culture.

Lean in. Do the work.

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

You won’t always be motivated.
You won’t always be inspired.
You won’t always be excited.
You won’t always feel like it.

But you can still choose to be committed, to be disciplined, to live the standard, to do the work.

Own the way you show up.

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

Check out Tiffy Claire's video! #TikTok https://t.co/Sudp3CC1s5

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

The best leaders:

Are self-aware
Lead with humility
Balance support and challenge
Fight for the highest good in the lives of those they lead
Are intentional, not accidental
Are secure, confident, humble
Call people up, not out

Be worth following.

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

Good reminder and yes, we are very tired!!!

[Emily Paschall @EmilyAPaschall]

As we approach the end of the school year…

💥 Be patient
…because let’s be real. We tired!
💥Celebrate teacher growth
…goodness they have worked hard.
💥Celebrate student growth
…they need reminding of how far they’ve come!
💥Be patient
…did I mention we are tired?
💥Make IEP mtgs meaningful
…these parents deserve it.
💥Give yourself grace
…lots of it. Take care of you.

Schools make the world go round. In this busy season, pause and reflect on how far you’ve carried this generation of kids.

Educators are amazing!

#multiplyexcellence

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

The best leaders fight for the highest good of those they lead.

Paige Bueckers is that kind of leader (in addition to being a world class player).

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

#ParaprofessionalAppreciationDay

Grateful for the para’s everyday!

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

You are not entitled to the blind commitment or trust of your team. Your title may give you power and authority, but true influence is earned through character.

Lead with integrity and selflessness daily. Be worth following.

Less entitlement, more humility.

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

It will take longer than you think. Keep going.
It will be more difficult than you think. Keep going.

If you truly want it, keep going. Embrace the journey.

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

“We carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness.”

Kindness month was a SUCCESS so the kids earned 🍕 #pbis #BeKind #KindnessMatters

[Jon Beck @CoachJonBeck]

You won’t like it sometimes, but you find out that the people in your life who don’t allow you to take shortcuts or make excuses & hold you accountable, are the people who care for you the most. It’s not personal. It’s all about teaching you, preparing you & helping you improve!

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

If we are changing the standards to get teachers in the classroom because of the massive shortages, then there is NO reason we can't do away with the draconian teacher evaluations.

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

Leaders: your team won’t remember you for your speeches, grand ideas or innovative strategies.

They’ll remember you for your availability, humility, encouragement, for making them better.

Influence is built by being intentional in the everyday moments.

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

I remember their names, the stories about them, how their families and their community suffered with their loss. I mourn all that they could have been.
#sandyhookpromise 💚

[Meghan E Gildea @MeghanGildea27]

December in an elementary school can be rough on staff ! Trying to make it a little better. Hot cocoa bar was a success!

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

Leaders: you aren't called to make the easy decision, the popular decision, the comfortable decision.

You are called to make what, in your judgment, is the right, best decision.

Popular may win the day. The standard wins in the long run.