Friday Feedback - May 21, 2021

I had a conversation with a student recently that really reminded me of the impact and opportunity we have daily to positively influence students, but only when we take the time to truly listen and really connect with their situation and their life challenges. This particular student is currently taking on more than any student should have to shoulder, and he flat out told "nobody here cares about me". During that moment, I was reminded of the impact we can have daily on their lives. Our ability as adults to listen and model empathy is simply invaluable. I have never been through what this student is currently going through in life and I took this opportunity to really listen, remind him that we truly do care and that we are here if/when he needs us.

Words matter. Relationships matter. The opportunities we have daily to make connections with our kids really matters. Understanding their story matters. Listening to their struggles matters.

This conversation was an example of a real, fierce conversation that needed to happen and most of this particular conversation was spent simply listening. Fierce does not mean a confrontational or negative conversation. It simply means a "real" conversation where we are fully immersed and invested in what is being said.

I was reminded of the following PD on Fierce Conversations:

Fierce was defined in this course as "A fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves, into the conversation, and make it REAL".

The 4 Objectives of Fierce are -

1. Interrogate Reality

2. Provoke Learning

3. Tackle Tough Challenges

4. Enrich Relationships.

The keystone of my Fierce class is/was that the conversations we are able to have, or not have, really define our relationship with that person - C=R (Conversation is the Relationship). When I think of the relationships in our building, I think of the potential strength of our a) Professional Learning Teams and b) those relationships with our students. I also think of my weaknesses as a leader, husband, father that I know I have and focusing on my listening skills.

The reason I bring up my Fierce course is because one of the greatest strengths a leader must possess (and I remind you that we are all leaders in this profession) is the ability to build relationships. We build relationships through our conversations and through active listening skills. I challenge all of us, especially myself, to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses as leaders and really use active listening to strengthen our relationships.

Fierce Conversations in our lives, both personally and professionally, enrich all of our relationships because "the conversation is the relationship".

"The most valuable thing any of us can do is find a way to say the things that can't be said" - Fierce

"While no conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship, or a life - any single conversation can" - Fierce

Monday 5/24 - 2 Hour Delay; 5th/6th Grade Pool Day - bus leaves at 10:30AM

Tuesday 5/25 - Elementary Relay Day

Wednesday 5/26 - 8th Grade Award Ceremony ONLY - 1PM MS Gym

Thursday 5/27 - 7th/8th Pool Day - bus leaves at 10:30AM

Friday 5/28 - 12:30 Dismissal - Last Student Day

"-that which everyone knows and no one speaks of. The Papuans of New Guinea judge the health of any community by the number of "mokitas" that exist within it" - Fierce

"There is something within us that responds to people that level with us" - Fierce

"A careful conversation is a failed conversation because it merely postpones the conversation that wants and needs to take place" - Fierce

"We may succeed in hearing every word yet miss the message altogether" - Fierce

"When the conversation is real (and fierce), change occurs before the conversation has ended" - Fierce