schools | Welcome To My World

Self Reflection

While working on schedules for Hybrid model for the upcoming new academic school year, I get a WhatsApp message from my principal asking “Would you mind doing a reflection for the bulletin this week?” Here I was a little bit confused and thought we had to write what we usually write and asked if that’s what she meant. Clearly I was wrong and she replied back with “ Not your usual. A reflection of your year. What did you enjoy about virtual school and what did you learn about yourself as a leader?” I quickly replied back with absolutely NOT and I got a thank you back. I lost all concentration on schedules and my mind started wondering about her two questions. I let it sink and thought about it a lot. I didn’t write anything down till the next day. I remember thinking about it before I fell asleep.

Next morning I got to the office and started typing away…

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Virtual School – Week 2!

Week 2… I was thankful for Kuwait implementing a curfew in which we had to be home by 4pm. In the mornings, I would go to the office till 3, I did all my work and meetings at school then came home. At 4pm, I started to help my kids with their work. It was so much better for me as it gave us a routine and the kids adapted to it quickly. It went a lot better than week 1.

As for my staff and meetings, I could not do what I did during week 1 and that was being in every single meeting every single day with ALL the teams. As my principal said, “You will kill yourself before you know it.” She was correct! During week 1, I barely slept and could not fall asleep. So instead, we agreed for the Grade Level Leaders to invite us to one meeting weekly. I did the beginning of the week check-ins with each team and my principal did the end of the week check-ins with all the teams. This way they got the best of both worlds. They asked their questions to begin their week with me and they asked our principal their end of the week questions they had that came during the week.

Week 2 was still a roller coaster ride for me. Between our ministry of education changing things and us coming up with a new plan according to the new rules and regulations for virtual school. We always had to plan how we would tell our staff yet another new decision that had been made. This means that what we had previously planned, no longer applied. It was tough BUT we managed. Yes, many staff had a lot of questions and many felt frustrated and annoyed. But we listened to their concerns, we answered as best we could and then we moved forward. Being in front of the screen through tough times was even harder because we couldn’t really read our staff’s reaction nor knew how they really felt. We did know that when it was silent and no one spoke or had any questions that it wasn’t a good sign nor felt right. When we asked, “is everyone ok?” they would reply with a “yes” and we took it as they were digesting what we just told them.

The minute I felt some staff needing extra support during meetings, I would message them privately and ask if they were ok and if they wanted to talk without anyone around. Gladly they did and I would answer all their questions and assured them that we were in this together and that they were doing an amazing job. Once, I sensed they were truly ok, we would end our chat or call.

Week 3 to 8….

Phones: An addiction or a must?

Recently I was sitting with my principal and KG AP. We were having lunch before Parent conferences in my principal’s office. I had left my phone in my office. It was the last 45 minutes of the day. What could possibly go wrong? What emergency could take place?!

We were chit chatting about the days event and catching up. I looked at both ladies and said, “I feel naked without my phone.” My principal looked at me in shock and couldn’t believe the words that just came out of my mouth and that I really didn’t have my phone on me. She finally replied “WHAT? You don’t? You’re addicted to that phone!” I replied back and said “It’s the 21^st century, everyone is addicted to their phones, don’t just say it is me. I need it in school because there are so many staff members messaging me asking for me to come really quickly to their class or to tell me something that has happened with a parent.” My staff know they can count on me.

Two days ago, I went to the bathroom and got stopped 3 times and didn’t get back to my office till 30 minutes later and I had 3 missed calls and 10 messages. This time round I purposefully left it because I needed a 15-minute break. She replied back, “You are addicted. I know I can message you at any given time of day when you are awake, and you will answer within a few minutes.” I paused and knew she was right. But does that mean I am addicted? Is it only me? There are so many weekends especially on a Friday I do disconnect and do not answer my phone messages or emails. A 15-minute break turned out to be a 30-minute break. I went back to my office and I kid you not, I had 3 missed calls and 20 messages. Only 1 was an emergency and the rest could wait. Yes, I might be on my phone BUT it’s definitely not for fun or chit chatting with my friends. It is all work related and being there for my staff and helping them out. Is that wrong?

In today’s world I have yet to see someone that is not on their phones nor not answering back. We do need time to switch off and disconnect. Otherwise work will eat us up alive. After this Inclusive and Wellness conference I attended, I am definitely switching off more during the weekends and taking a 20-minute break from my phone during the school day. As they said, self-care and wellbeing is very important. I need to take care of MYSELF and wellbeing before being able to take care of my staff.

Staff Appreciation

While sitting on the balcony enjoying the beautiful weather and working, I suddenly came up with an idea. I wanted to do something different. I didn’t do this last summer nor the summer before. I decided that I wanted to send a message to every staff member to check in on them and their families and to wish them a great rest of the break before starting a new year in August. I mean there is no harm to wish them well and to show them that I am thinking about them. I wish I had a camera to see their reaction as I was very curious!

I started sending my messages a few nights ago. Each night I would send the same message to at least 10 staff members of mine but of course changed their names. The message was as simple as this: “Hi (name) How are you? Just wanted to check in. Hope you are enjoying your last stretch of your vacation and your family are all well. See you soon.” It was as simple as that. There was nothing to it right? As for my Arabic and Religion staff, I sent them each a voice note in Arabic saying the exact same thing I wrote in English. I had informed my principal that this is what I was doing and showed her the message and she loved it.

The reactions and messages I got were so worth it. They thanked me. Some were shocked and surprised and thought, Uh-oh my AP is messaging, whats up? Some thought that it was such a sweet gesture. Some replied, “Wow I never got this, thank you.” Their responses surely put a smile on my face.

If you know me, you know that my staff comes first. Their well being and happiness is what I truly care about. It is important for me that they know that I am always there to support them. I am so happy this idea popped into my head and I followed through with it. I have now sent out my message out to all my staff. I made sure to have a checklist to ensure that I left NO ONE out!

It’s the small things a leader can do to show their staff how much they are appreciated!

As a leader what have you done over the summer to show you appreciate your staff?

Yearly Surveys

Every year a survey goes out to all staff to fill out for each admin. Last year was my first time reading the surveys about myself. Reading the mean comments for the first time didn’t go well obviously. However, I read them several times, I let them sink in, reflected on them and then shredded the papers. As my second year in the role as AP I promised myself that I wouldn’t let these surveys get to me like they did last year. I knew that I was a lot stronger.

This is an opportunity for staff to write whatever they wish, whether it’s positive or negative feedback. I know myself and I know what areas I need to improve in. I really do not need a survey to tell me that. An educator knows their weaknesses and strengths and it’s up to the individual if they choose to work on those areas or to ignore them. Out of 13 comments, I felt that 3 were pretty unfair as I felt that those comments didn’t even describe me as a person. The other 10 comments were great and positive as they knew me inside and out. Last year there were a lot more negative comments than this year. For me, I feel like that’s a HUGE improvement. I felt that those 3 comments didn’t describe me as an administrator, but I read their feedback and will continue to reflect on it.

I know for next year what I need to work on and having my principal pushing me to be a better leader will get me there. There is always room for improvement. No one is perfect. I am already eager to read next year’s feedback in order to see what is said and where I can improve. Until then, I shall continue growing and improving in a few areas that is needed.

Behavior Support Plan (BSP)

One of the very first questions my principal asked me was, “What does ES need after being an AP for a year?” So many things started running through my head and I didn’t know where to begin or what to say. I listed four or five things and then she asked, “Which one is the most important one you think that needs immediate action?” I immediately responded with, “a behavior plan.”

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A Decision

This year I followed through with a decision I had in mind last year. Admin decided, that we would take soccer away as a consequence since it was causing so many problems. Once I got the green light, I went ahead and sent out the email to all the duty teachers letting them know that there will be NO soccer for 1 week for grades 3 and 4.

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Change

As many of you know and read in my June blog posts, my old principal left and a new one came. When it comes to international schools and education there is always a turn over with either staff or admin/leadership. With that being said there are always changes when someone new enters admin.

My question is, why is it a fight or really hard for some to accept a simple change? Why are people hesitant to give chances and trust the process? I feel that the ones who always have barriers are the ones who do not want to improve professionally or be risk takers and try something that they are NOT used to.

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New Staff Check-in

The first week of the school year has passed. My new staff completed their first week with their students and had the opportunity to meet the parents. I usually meet with the new staff at the end of the first week for 15 minutes to check in and ask a few questions. However, after reading John Wink’s article on “5 Alternatives to Asking New Teachers How They’re Doing” I was excited to try a different approach. While reading this article, I realized how much I related to it. He described what I normally ask my staff, whether they are old or new. “Hi how are you? Or “Hi how’s it going?” He stated that when we ask those types of questions, it does not give us any indication on how they are truly doing. So instead, he states to ask specific questions.

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Guest Speaker

A month and a half ago Kimberly from University of Washington found me on Twitter. She reached out to me asking if I would be a guest speaker to talk about about Kuwait’s education, the everyday life in Kuwait and about my personal life. I gasped when I read her email and automatically replied back saying that I would love to. I was very nervous but knew that this would be a great opportunity.

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