Whoa! Just found this post that I apparently had ready to submit back in May. Sorry for the tardy posting, but I may as well share it now.
Ok, so how many of you thought this was going to be a techie post about using Adobe? Yeah, it said PFD not pdf. A Personal Flotation Device. It's that time of year. No, not boating season. It's that time of year when educators feel like they are drowning. Assessments, grades, deadlines, field trips, planning for next year, summative evaluations, IEP meetings, creating class lists, summer school, poor behaviors on the rise and cleaning out classrooms. There is just a myriad of activities taking place in May. All this flurry of activity can create a lot of stress.
As a matter of fact I don't usually blog in May. I worry that I will let emotions take over and instead of sharing something useful or something that is a worthwhile reflection for myself,that it would most likely just end up being a venting session or rant. Not many people want to read about someone else's rant (especially in May) and I am not sure that I grow that much as an educator by just venting my frustrations. So, as I started to reflect on those feelings and how my staff may feel in May as well, I started to ask myself, "How can I be a servant leader and help my staff through these tough days at the end of a school year?"
Teachers need something or someone to keep their spirits up. To keep the mood light and buoyant. To help them stay positive and supportive toward their students during this stressful time of year. While the building leader has plenty to do at the end of the year as well, it may be most important for that leader to help keep spirits up and the culture positive as things wind down and deadlines loom. Leaders, I say to you, be the model in May and find a way to keep the spirit of your school positive and filled with joy. Find a way to make these last weeks fun and light, or at least as light as you can, so that people can face the coming summer break with a smile and not just a sprint to their cars on their last day.
