Winter Sun Haiku

 The bright winter sun

Warmth on a snow covered world

Brings the hope of spring

A Tale of Two Principals

 My career, while far from over, has been bookended by two intelligent, hardworking, and remarkable women who have helped me to become the teacher that I am today. Eileen, my first principal, taught me so much about teaching that sometimes I can't remember what I knew before I met her. When I entered her school I was a baby teacher without a clue. Liz, on the other hand, entered my life just in time for Act Two of my career. When I rejoined the teaching profession full time, she welcomed me back with warmth and enthusiasm, and fought to give be a solid place and a new school to call home.

Eileen was, and I'm sure still is, strong, smart, polished, and at times, formidable. My twenty-something self felt equal parts love, respect, and awe for her. She was named the Massachusetts Elementary School Principal of the Year during my first year at her school, and I knew, even then, how fortunate I was to work for someone who was literally the best in the state. Eileen ran a forward-thinking, exciting, high-achieving school. She chose her teachers carefully, and I was proud to be in the mix. When complimented on her work as principal, she would always say, "It's not me, I'm just the bus driver. It's all about who you get on your bus!" That wasn't true, of course. She did so much more than that. She created a school culture. She had high standards for herself and high expectations for us. Another Eileen-ism, which I believe came from her Irish mother, was, "Never ever stop, and never ever rest 'till your good is your better and your better is your best!" She wanted us to create lifelong learners by being lifelong learners, and she set the example.  I often still hear her voice in my head, even twenty years later. Always call every family by the end of September. Your relationship and reputation with parents can be your most valuable asset or your downfall in a district, so treat it carefully. Never let parents (or principals) be surprised by bad news. Over-plan, then scale back. Eat lunch in the teachers' room. Be a part of the community. Participate. Share your gifts. Be reflective. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Be collegial. Don't forget to go home and have a life outside school.

Eileen was a great communicator. Every Friday, each teacher received a copy of The Golden Thread (affectionately called "The Thread"). It contained everything we needed to know for the following week, shout-outs and "be-sure-to"s, and always her favorite part: personal announcements. When a life event happened to anyone on her staff, Eileen took great joy in being the person to share the news, and this was usually done in the first paragraph of The Golden Thread. I remember rushing to her office the morning after I got engaged, before anyone else could see my ring, so that Eileen could be the first to know, then waiting eagerly for the Friday announcement, full of love and excitement, that I knew would come.

During my years at South, Eileen was my my boss, my mentor, my friend, and sometimes, when I really needed it, my school mom. She encouraged and supported me, and pushed me to move beyond my comfort zone when I was ready, whether it was a grade change or taking on leadership roles with other teachers. She took care of her teachers, and she trusted us. She gave me the absolute best beginning that a teacher could have, and when she retired it felt like a huge personal loss. The following year I made the decision to take time off to become a stay-at-home mom. I didn't leave because Eileen retired, but if she hadn't left I don't think I would have left her. Or if I had, it would have been a whole lot harder. 

About nine years later, my girls were going to middle school and I was itching to move past subbing and get back to my own classroom. I wondered if I would ever find a school that felt as much like home as South had. As I searched Schoolspring for jobs, I came across a school with an interesting name that had an opening. I checked out the Dr. Leroy E. Mayo website and Facebook page and got what I can only describe as a warm feeling. When I looked at the pictures and posts from the school I felt that I could be at home here. And then I saw something that strengthened that feeling. The principal had posted bedtime stories that she read to her students from her own home. The intimacy and joy of that struck me and I wanted to know: Who is this principal?

Enter Liz Garden. Liz is a different kind of principal. As smart, hardworking and driven as Eileen, Liz brings a whole new level of joy and energy to a building. She is open, emotional and vulnerable. She has her own kind of strength... and she's FUN. Liz came to my first staff meeting in a full pilot's costume and a complete airline theme as we "took flight" into a new year. She started the first day of school in the gym, with the entire school joining in a New Years Eve style countdown that even included confetti cannons. And at the end of that first week she held a dance party in the foyer to celebrate. I was enchanted. Liz wears funky earrings, cool t-shirts about books, kindness, and learning, and even sports the occasional tutu or costume. She has locked herself into a display case to celebrate books, which she loves more than anyone I have ever met. She even personally gives one to each child on their birthday. She never hesitates to get down on the floor to read or play with a child, and is always looking for ways to let children play, explore, celebrate, and be kids.

While I was lucky enough to start my career with a Principal of the Year, through Liz I have learned the term "Edu-rockstar". She is a bit famous among principals around the country. She presents at conferences, contributes to books and studies, meets with governors and secretaries of education, promotes literacy, serves on an anti-racist task force, and teaches principals how to be better principals, all while continuing to learn, leading a school, fighting for her people - students and teachers, and raising two small children. To be honest, I'm not sure she actually sleeps.

Liz has high expectations for her teachers and high standards for herself, but she values us as people first. She reminds us to take time for ourselves and our families. She prioritizes connection and communication, and works to ensure that everyone in her school - teacher and student alike - feels profoundly seen and heard. Every week we receive a blog post with inspiring thoughts, everything we need to know to get through the week, book recommendations, shout-outs, and yes, personal announcements. She tackles tough topics and isn't afraid to fight for what is best for her school, her teachers, and her students. She expects the best from her teachers and trusts us to get it done in the way that best suits our strengths.

In the spring of my first year at Mayo, Liz took on a new role, one none of us wanted her to have: pandemic principal. As we faced school and a world like none of us had ever known, her personal, emotional, and empathetic nature became even more important. While struggling with her own challenges, she became our rock, absorbing the stress, frustration, and sadness of an entire staff and school. It was an impossible job, yet she did it, still smiling, though occasionally through tears. In the two and a half years that I have worked for her, I have already learned a tremendous amount, and more importantly, have been re-inspired to keep learning, keep reading, keep improving, and keep expanding my horizons. I know that no matter what the future holds or how long our paths overlap, I will continue to learn from Liz for years to come. 

So why am I writing this now? I'm not sure, (well, I have an idea) but I have recently been thinking of how fortunate I have been in my career. I believe that people enter our lives at the right time, and that we are all here to teach each other something, whether it be professional or personal. These two incredible women entered my life at the perfect times. Each of them has added to my life in numerous ways and given me more than they have known. For that I will be forever grateful.