"Adulthood"

Today my "little girl" is 18 years old and I am left wondering where time went!! I remember some of my students visiting the house to see her and hoping that she grew up to "be" like some of them. Well, my wish certainly came true- she is a very good student, involved in activities and athletics, is well behaved most of the time, and is someone we are very proud of. I spent last Thursday with Rachel touring Eastern Illinois University where she has been accepted and plans on attending. As a 1984 EIU grad, I walked proudly around campus showing her where I had classes and emphasizing how much time I spent in the library (she didn't really believe me) and our friend Jess did an outstanding job of guiding our tour through dorm rooms, dining halls, and athletic facilities. Having another official "adult" in the house is a different feeling!!

Adulthood brings with it the responsibilities of planning for the future, creating your own opportunities, handling change, and "leaving your mark"! I asked Rachel at one point if she could "see herself" at EIU- could she see herself walking 15 minutes from Carmen Hall to class in the middle of winter, or cheering on the Panthers at a basketball game, or making the 2 1/2 hour drive to Charleston by herself. I didn't elaborate on what I meant by "see herself" but I sensed she understood- she quickly responded YES- and that moment convinced me she was ready for college. Ready for the experiences that will shape her as a young adult.

Adulthood brings with it the reality that change is inevitable and not always easy. It brings the pressures of providing leadership and guidance through the process and working with people at whatever "level" of acceptance or non-acceptance they may be. A "change" for me has been living with the reality of missing my parents and the joy they would have experienced from watching our children grow. I always listened as my elders would say "enjoy those kids as they grow up- it happens too fast"- but I never really heard them or understood. Now I am the one in the new teacher meeting providing insight and history on our organization, the one in the stands doing much more watching and clapping than "coaching" like I used to. The one people ask questions and opinions of as if my answer makes a difference.

I guess this is adulthood is like- so Rachel- I wish you the best in your journey and know that Namna and Papa would be proud of you!!

"Acknowledge-Honor-Connect"

For the first time ever, each school district in our community gathered for an opening in-service! It is one more example of our recent efforts to share curriculum improvement efforts, resources, and energy to make sure we are continually improving. Our speaker, Mr. Mark Schaerenbroich, challenged each of us to make positive connections with students, staff, and parents in an effort to improve student achievement. He is an excellent presenter with a background in comedy that kept his message humorous and alive! He shared examples of teachers that inspired him and that exemplified the concepts of "acknowledge-honor-and connect". It made me reflect on those people and opportunities that are important to me and the reasons I chose education as my life's work.

The power of a positive attitude and importance of building positive relationships was a family value instilled quietly at home growing up. I had excellent role models in my parents, sister Jane, and brothers Tom and Tim- but it was a teacher that quantified things for me and caused me to look at life in a different way. Gary Swartz was my math teacher and basketball coach- but more importantly- the person that "acknowledged" my positive attitude and provided me with the tools needed to overcome adversity and be a leader. I have told Coach Swartz on several occasions that he is the reason I became a teacher, coach, and leader.

I "honor" those people in my life that have made a difference- whether it be my past teachers, siblings, parents, family members, or close friends- past and present. I asked our faculty to take time to honor the hard work of our support staff- from the custodians to the secretaries to the cooks- the people that make MCHS a great place to work and a welcoming learning environment.

The idea that making positive "connections" can have a positive influence on student achievement really got me fired up and validated much of what I believe in! I always tried to connect with students as a teacher and had the tremendous opportunity to teach a 9 week class called "I Can" while I was a social studies teacher at Coal City High School. I still will occasionally have a "30 something" former student shout across the check-out line at the grocery store; "Hey Coach Hal- I still have that I Can stuff we studied when I was a sophomore. I always say when someone asks how I'm doing 'Super-great, but I'll get better.'" The ability to connect with people and establish lasting relationships is important. Our staff needs to keep this in mind as we work through another school year- the old saying "kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care about them" rings true!

As we work on improving Morris High School, the message from our opening day speaker should be on our minds. Principal Hussey challenged everyone to "Do Better Today" because it is with sustained effort that we will better prepare students for life after high school. We all realize we can do better- we also know we have developed the plans and framework to improve- now it is time to work those plans, measure the results, make the adjustments needed, and continue the momentum toward becoming the best we can be.

Take time to let those you care about know how important they are to you while you can!

"Nice Bike"

"Spring is in the Air"

I love the sounds of robins singing happily, perched on the rooftops seeming to preside over the transition from winter to spring! Spring is also a time in the school business to plan for the upcoming year and reflect on the current year's improvement efforts. I enjoyed the parent meeting Wednesday March 24th for several reasons. I thought the feedback and ideas we received were helpful and will assist us as we move forward in improving our school programing. It was also exciting for me to watch our vision for school improvement evolve and take shape- now the real work begins as we implement a process for using student achievement data to improve instruction- which will lead to increased student performance. We are looking for improved performance not just on the PSAE, but performance as it relates to our mission as a school. Be sure and check out more information about this process at www.morrishs.org

Spring Break is upon us and has taken on a different look at the Halloran household this year. We have been able to take a couple of family trips the last few years, until school baseball and softball took over! This year, our youngest was invited to go to Florida with his friend- so our 6th grader "jetted" off to 80 degrees and fun in the sun while we stayed back to enjoy Illinois!! Matt and I were fortunate to make a one day jaunt to Newton Lake southeast of Effingham on Sunday for a full day of bass fishing. We love this lake for its' big bass potential and scenic time on the water. It is nice to have a fishing partner that is as much of a "die-hard" as I am- and it is especially great to spend time with my 16 year old son. We each caught a nice fish- Matt a 3 1/2 pounder and me the 4 1/2 pound beauty you see above (each fish measured, admired, and released). Sunday's like yesterday help keep things in balance- and balance seems to be the key many things!!

Leadership Coaching

I was invited to participate in a pilot Leadership Coaching certification program through the Illinois Association of School Administrators Institute for Advanced Leadership- I must admit that I was apprehensive at first- but trusted the person extending the offer- so I said "yes"! I wasn't prepared for the level of commitment required, but I was aware of the potential benefits for not only myself, but for the entire organization. So far, it has been a worthwhile journey!!

The premise of leadership coaching is different from mentoring. In mentoring, you often relate your past experience to the "mentee" and then tell them how to handle a situation. In coaching, the skill is in allowing the "coachee" to concisely identify the problem or issue, then help them discover potential solutions through meaningful questioning and listening techniques. Many top business executives utilize "coaches" to help them become more productive both professionally and personally. Our master coach is Sandye Brown from Vancouver, WA. She created a company called Wide Awake Inc and provides us with direct instruction in the "art" of effective coaching. Dr. Nancy Blair from Cardinal Stritch University co-facilitates and provides expertise in the elements of change, leadership, and organizational improvement. We are required to read several texts throughout the course of the program, including Leading in a culture of Change by Fullan and Leadership on the Line by Heifetz and Linskey. We also conduct six "coaching calls" with Sandye Brown to discuss our skills and concerns as we work with our participating "coachee"(my victim is Mr. Hussey). We have met as a class 4 times with 4 more meetings scheduled between now and May.

I am very excited and optimistic that this experience will be of great value to MCHS and help us improve as an organization. I was fortunate to participate in leadership training through Motorola in the mid 1990's, the Gates project at Illinois State University in the early 2000's, and now Leadership coach training. I believe these experiences have all contributed to my development as an educational leader and also my quest to be a better person. I hope that the IASA leadership institute is able to hit the ground running and that school leaders see the value in improving their skills- for the sake of organizational improvement and increased student achievement. As Superintendent's, we are often expected to have the answers to every problem- this training has increased my awareness in the need to be a better listener, ask more meaningful questions, and help employees discover the leadership potential that may be "locked" inside!!! Continuous improvement is the key!!

"No Grades-No Homework; How Dare You"

On Monday, January 4th, we were privileged to hear author/speaker Alfie Kohn challenge several long standing basic assumptions: Grades and Homework. It was a pleasure to work with three neighboring school districts to make this staff development opportunity a reality. Special thanks to Dr. Matt Swick from Wilmington for organizing and Reed-Custer for hosting this event. Go to http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php to check out Mr. Kohn's website.

His basic message is that the use of grades is harmful to the learning process and that rewards, whether mundane or elaborate, have no lasting impact on motivation or achievement. Mr. Kohn has taken a serious look at available research literature and has concluded that grades and rewards actually have a negative impact on overall learning and he advocates that everyone- from the White House to the classroom- take a critical look at both topics.

I knew it was risky to require the entire staff to attend this session on the first day back after Winter Break- a day typically spent finishing "grades"(how ironic) and preparing for the upcoming term. The goals were to challenge our comfort zone- our conventional practices- and provoke "thought" and potential "action". My early assumptions are that the goals of provoking thought and discussion were accomplished. As far as action, only time will tell.

As administrators, we often act as a buffer for teachers. Sometimes from the public, the Board, the State, etc. Making the changes he suggests would require tremendous communication with parents, the community, higher education institutions, etc. But many of the suggestions he provided can be implemented at the classroom level in "small doses". I am interested in the feedback Principal Hussey will receive from his e-mail this morning.

I found myself agreeing with nearly all of his comments on the premise of homework- particularly at the lower levels. The drill and kill mentality of the past should be re-examined since research suggests there is little evidence of improved academic performance with or without homework. I anticipate that department discussions around this topic will be quite interesting.

His reference to Ted Sizer and his essential schools work was also important and is worth further study. You can go to http://books.google.com/books?id=9pNaEiVkKF4C&dq=ted+sizer&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=xl1DS_7xFYiINPK_-aEP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=18&ved=0CEQQ6AEwEQ#v=onepage&q=ted%20sizer&f=false and read a preview of the book mentioned yesterday.

The other thing that hit me hard was from a parent perspective. I certainly squirmed a bit when he mentioned the impact of the "highly competitive" parent- mainly "Dad"- on a child. The use of rewards to motivate, how big of a deal is "report card day", and the compassion level of the kids we raise. All good thoughts to ponder. Another lesson in the importance of balance!!

The main reason to bring in Alfie Kohn was to challenge our thinking- make us take time to evaluate- reflect- and have discussions we may have never had before. Time will tell if that mission was accomplished or not. Time well spent- a good energizer as we head into the new year!!

"Turkey Talk"

I hope everyone is enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend and took time time to reflect on all the blessings in their life. On Wednesday, November 25th, I held what I like to call "Turkey Talk"- a day devoted to providing staff a chance to visit with me and me a chance to review some of the major topics facing MCHS. Over 40 people stopped by and I really enjoyed the day. Curriculum director Kathleen Wilkey stopped by and provided helpful insights into our curriculum improvement efforts.

The topics covered included:
School Improvement Cycle-
Tax Levy
Financial Projections
Highlight power-point


I invite you to visit the Superintendent section of the Morris Community High School website to view information about the above topics. We are working on a district newsletter in an effort to provide the community with information on a variety of topics.

Response to Intervention

There has been a great deal of "angst" and "anxiety" surrounding the implementation of a Response to Intervention (RTI) program at the high school level. The development of the plan in December of 2008 was a real shot in the dark as everyone scrambled to understand this new requirement. The idea is to provide academic and behavioral interventions to students in an effort to improve achievement for all students. A by-product of successful implementation is also intended to decrease the number of students requiring special education services. All great goals!

The challenge is to create a "systems" approach to your RTI program so that your activities are aligned and working toward common goals.

I had the pleasure of listening to presenters from Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, Illinois at the State Superintendents conference in Springfield this week. Listening to their presentation was a great equalizer to the gloom and doom budget presentations we all endured. Rolling Meadows High School has successfully implemented an RTI program that is helping produce measurable results and positive gains in student achievement.

I was encouraged as I reflected on where MCHS is in this process because I recognized elements of our plan inside the presenters model. I was also frustrated because we have a "ton to do" in a short period of time. We need to build the support of our entire learning community to implement and sustain this systems approach- but we can do it!!

I really enjoyed their presentation because it validated my own vision and belief in the intent of RTI- that is- improved student achievement. I think this requirement is really forcing schools to develop systems and structures that promote continuous improvement- a structure that our leadership team believes strongly in!!

I have included the link to Rolling Meadows High School- go check it out- they certainly seem to be on the cutting edge!!
http://rmhs.d214.org/rmhsmodel

All the school improvement plans, Federal grant requirements, RTI requirements, and quest for making data driven decisions seem to be coming together in an aligned systems approach- what could be better??