Photo by CDC on Pexels.com Years ago, I was a science teacher. One weekend I was with my wife at one of our local shopping malls, walking between stores in the main concourse. I'm not a big fan of malls, big box stores, or other places with lots of people so I was carefully scanning … Continue reading Saints and Demons: Teaching in the Age of COVID
Author: azjd
Junior high principal by day, aspiring difference maker, and Jedi in my own mind. Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
What are Your Metrics for Success?
Not Normal It has been an eventful week. On Wednesday, our students returned to school via Google Classroom and distance learning. On Wednesday evening our district Governing Board made the difficult decision to continue virtual learning for the entire first quarter of the school year. As you can know, based upon the national dialogue, the … Continue reading What are Your Metrics for Success?
School Re-Opening: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
[Note: the thoughts and ideas in this blog post are my own and are not intended -- in any way -- to represent my employer. This post represents my thoughts as an individual and I do not have any personal insight into what July will bring -- yes, our students return to school in July] … Continue reading School Re-Opening: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Community is the Answer
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. - Coretta Scott King Yesterday morning, I did a quick check of my school email and noticed a message from the owner of a local pizza place, Fire and Brimstone. "Hi Jeff, today we’re going to be donating all … Continue reading Community is the Answer
As We Plan for a Return to School – Don’t Forget the Teachers
Recently, I've been thinking, reading, and writing A LOT about the new school year and what it might look like. This is because our school year starts on July 22 -- which feels a lot like tomorrow. I've seen many plans that get points for effort, but are essentially the equivalent of shoving a square … Continue reading As We Plan for a Return to School – Don’t Forget the Teachers
Thoughts on a New School Year, Part 2
[Note: the thoughts and ideas in this blog post are my own and are not intended -- in any way -- to represent my employer. This post represents my thoughts as an individual and I do not have any personal insight into what July will bring -- yes, our students return to school in July] … Continue reading Thoughts on a New School Year, Part 2
Moving Forward: Thoughts on a New School Year
[Note: the thoughts and ideas in this blog post are my own and are not intended -- in any way -- to be representative of my employer.] As an educator, the past few months have been challenging, but certainly manageable. The adjustment to distance learning has not been easy -- I miss being around the … Continue reading Moving Forward: Thoughts on a New School Year
The Long Road to What Matters Most
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. - Goethe While I often refer to this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as one of my favorites, it is also personally convicting. For me, the struggle doesn't necessarily lie in doing things that matter, but in determining … Continue reading The Long Road to What Matters Most
What Will Next School Year Look Like?
This week I delivered a number of Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots to students in our school community. I was surprised by the mixed emotions I felt as I stopped at trailers, houses, and apartments to drop-off the devices. It was great to see my students and register their excitement at the prospect of being able … Continue reading What Will Next School Year Look Like?
We Belong to Each Other
It would be a gross understatement to say that the last month has been a challenging time in our country and our world. We can be grateful if the only impact the virus has had on us is a disruption to our daily routines. So many people have suffered through illness, job loss, and the … Continue reading We Belong to Each Other
