Finding Focus

Image Credit: Carl Richards / Behavior Gap Over the years, I have become pretty good at giving sound advice to people who are worried. Ironically, it isn't because I have it "figured out" it is because I am an expert worrier -- routinely haunted by anxiety. If you want help turning a molehill into a … Continue reading Finding Focus →

Our Kids Will Be Okay

Sunset Through Creosote - cc photo by J. Delp We all know that relationships matter in education. Wait. We all know they matter, right? I mean they really make a difference. As in, almost anything you do can be a success with a meaningful relationship, or a miserable failure without one. Relationships are the conduit … Continue reading Our Kids Will Be Okay →

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 →

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 →

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? →

My Plan to Deal With Overwhelm

This past week I stopped to visit with a colleague who has been absent from work due to a health issue. Our conversation began with college football but eventually drifted to work. "I'm just trying to get caught up," he lamented (as he stared at his computer screen and what I imagined was an overflowing … Continue reading My Plan to Deal With Overwhelm →

Go Ahead and Take a Break

This week I took a break. I packed up some of my gear and headed into the mountains near Payson, Arizona for a two-night camping trip. October in the mountains in Arizona is true fall weather -- something I don't often experience in Phoenix. It was beautiful, with highs in the low seventies and lows … Continue reading Go Ahead and Take a Break →

You are More Than Your Profession

A long time ago, I worked in the correspondence department of a mutual fund transfer company in Kansas City. It was a satisfying job. Each day I would boot up my computer and a list of projects (letters to write) would pop into my queue. One letter at a time, I would work my way … Continue reading You are More Than Your Profession →