I made it to Harvard!

Harvard, July 2015



That's right friends and colleagues- I made it to Harvard!  When I was an AP, my principal went to Harvard through Raise Your Hand Texas and brought back so many ideas, but most importantly came back a strong leader.  I learned so much from her, it was my goal to go to Harvard to the Principal Leadership Program.  I never let go of this goal and during my first year as Principal, I applied to the program through Raise Your Hand Texas and made it!  I was so excited.  I could not wait for my week of the Urban School Leadership Principal Training Program to arrive.  My district did a news story on two of us that were going before we left and here is a quote about my expectations:

"Smith hopes to share her experience with other principals in Dallas ISD and use what she’s gained to support her teachers’ instructional strategies’ growth. She believes growing her teachers’ instructional strategies is instrumental in the success of the students she refers to as “at-hope” versus “at-risk,” citing the population of students who are expectant mothers and special needs students receiving career skills and support to help them transition into the adult world."

So here are my top 10 learnings from a week at Harvard:

10.  Meeting other Urban School leaders and understanding that our gaps and challenges are all the same. As a collective group we must pivot our learning and thinking to meet the challenges our students face.
9.  It really is about the climate and culture in a school.  Strong schools have strong climate and culture in their schools.
8.  It is also about the mindset of adults in your school.  Do they really all believe that all children can learn? What you do as a principal to change that mindset is critical to the success of your students.
7.  A small group of Educators- my small learning group from Harvard- can change the world!  We talk everyday through GroupMe and are better leaders for it.
6.  Dinners with Raise Your Hand Texas colleagues are important as you learn best from those around you that are dealing with something just like you are.
5. Reshaping culture is hard work.  I left with 10 excellent strategies to begin this work.
4. Through the consultancy model, I was able to present a challenge to my small group and leave with over 25 strategies to solve the issue I am facing at my school.
3. A huge AH HA moment was when I realized the impact of change ( how ever small I think it is) on my staff.  You see I thought they were right up with me and as I have had time to reflect and learn about organizational change, I now realize they are a few miles behind me.  I have the skills now to implement change that will work!
2.  To Quote Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, the leader of our institute, "Democracy Isn't Destiny, Leadership Matters.  Our students are counting in us!
1.  Finally, we began with a song each morning.  An Apartheid song, "Something Inside Me So Stong."  To quote some of the song:

The higher you build your barriers the taller I become

The farther you take my rights away the faster I will run

You can deny me, you can decide to turn your face away

No matter 'cause there's

Something inside so strong

I know that I can make it

Though you're doing me wrong so wrong

You thought that my pride was gone

Oh, no, something inside so stro.o.ong

there's something inside so strong

Labi Siffre - Something Inside So Strong

I learned that I can do this work successfully because there is "something inside me so strong".

I have to thank Raise Your Hand Texas and the wonderful gift in this opportunity to attend Harvard. The organization did it right!  The accommodations were wonderful, The travel agents were easy to work with.  The Raise Your Hand Staff is excellent in every sense of the word. I now have an organization behind me as I continue this work.  I also have Harvard behind me.  This Urban Leadership is hard work and it takes support to be successful.  I would be remiss if I did not thank my parents and husband for helping me get to Harvard!  Yes I got them the shirts- Harvard Mom and Harvard Dad! My husband got a Harvard shirt as well.  I am proud to represent My District and Raise Your Hand Texas as a participant in the Harvard National Institute For Urban School Leaders.

Dr Mary Grassa O'Neill and Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman with Lynn Smith at Harvard

I am one lucky girl! Count Your Blessing, Bella

Lady A and Friends

It is so very important to spend time with friends and enjoy each other as a couple.  We have a few couples we meet for dinner each week.  We really enjoy out time together with our friends and treasure the moments and memories.  We just went to Lady Antebellum with Dana and Mark, Greg and Debbie, and Lori and Blake.  We had a great time and heard some awesome music.  Kirk and I had forgotten how much we enjoyed the old starplex at Fair Park.  I think there will definitely be more concerts in our future!

To quote Kirk's favorite Lady Antebellum Song:

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without.
I just need you now.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Easter 2015 and Hudson's 4th Birthday

Much of Easter was spent in College Station.  We did get back in time to see the Dallas grandkids and Brooke came in with her kiddos.  We went to Ross and Debbie's for a lovely spread.  We then had my family over for an Easter cookout.  The next day we went to the zoo and celebrated Hudson's 4th birthday!  He got to spend it with the Dallas  cousins and Ross and Debbie's kids.  Lot's of family in three days, but you know that is how I roll!!!

Always Fun - Confetti Eggs

More Confetti Eggs

Happy Birthday Hudson!  Your Bella and Pops Love you!

Lots of kiddos at the table.

Grandsons

A few posts back, I write about my granddaughters.  Now I am going to tell you about my four incredible grandsons.

Carter Mark

Hudson Alan

Caleb August

Wyatt Darin

They are all within two years of each other and my hope is they will always be friends. We are off to a good start.  They love to play together especially at the ranch.  They are all sleeping in the bunkroom now and it is so fun to watch them play.  I love to cook for them and read to them.  I have tried to get to know each one and do activities with them that they enjoy.  Here are a few picks from the past few months.  They are growing so much and I will always be there for them no matter what!

Grandsons:

"A Grandmother's Prayer"

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,
Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.
Just give me a little hand to hold,
And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,
A life that's free from tears and sighs.
Just give me a little face to kiss,
And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much
As little hands that reach and touch,
As little eyes that search and see
Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise
By looking at life through their wide eyes.
For through these little ones, you have given
This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.

 Author: Barbara Burrows

Count Your Blessings, Bella

God Bless Connor Wesley

My sweet Connor was confirmed into the Catholic Church at the Great Easter Vigil.
He has been working all year to become Catholic. Kirk and I are so proud of his Christian journey and the strength of his faith.  We all met at Texas A and M ( Woop) to support his confirmation into the Catholic church.  Paige's parents and brother came in as well to support Connor. It was a beautiful service. The music was absolutely stunning.  They even had a Korean choir.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Cute Couple

Loving my grandbabies

Kirk, Brooke, and Annabelle

The Martin Family

So proud of Connor!

The babies were so good in church

There is my boy

The laying of hands

So proud of Connor

Psalm 37:5-6 

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this: 

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Spring Break 2015

What a whirlwind Spring Break 2105 was!

Kirk and I took a little couple trip to Salado.  We went to the Wineries and enjoyed a lovely dinner. We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast and just relaxed. I highly recommend Salado- it is a sleepy little town on Mondays- but we enjoyed ourselves!!

We then went to Brooke and Travis' house in San Antonio.  We took the kids to Seaworld and I am not sure we will do it again.  I had seen the documentary "Blackfish." The documentary really bothered me, but I also love Sea World and like to see it through kids eyes.  Well of course the kids loved it- but when I saw that dorsal fin (see picture below) on that beautiful killer whale, well it just brought tears to my eyes.  In captivity the fin collapses and is a sign of distress for these whales. I most likely will not go back again.  We did have a great time and Brooke's boys loved everything about Sea World.

The Last part of Spring break was spent with Luci and the Dallas kids.  We went to Grapevine Mills Mall and went to Legoland and ate at the Rainforest Cafe.  They have really updated Legoland with a slpash pad and this great Lego car ride. We had a lot of fun. It was a great Spring Break and I got to spend it with my husband, kids, and grandkids. Who could ask for any thing more.  Such a blessing.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Snow

We had Snow in the early spring in Dallas and lost two days of school.  We are feeling it now as we have to work on Saturday June 6th.  We sure did play a lot though and loved watching our puppies play in the snow.

Sure do love my snow days!!!

Count your Blessings, Bella