Kathleen - Hi, any school administrators present?
CJ - I'm an administrator of technology and student affairs. I also "feel" like I'm the principal's sounding board most of the time.
kd - This seems to be a rather small group. The evening must be much to nice to spend sitting at our computer chatting! This is my first time on in this chat room. I am working on my administrative certification this summer and found myself on the computer looking for a study break.
CJ - Kathleen are you an administrator? KD?
Kathleen - CJ, what initiatives is your admin advancing for the next year? No, I'm not an administrator, I'm here to get the conversation started.
CJ - kd, how many years have you been teaching? I started an administration program but quit when I found out I was pregnant.
Kathleen - Welcome to those who are here for the first time, and to those reading along. I hope some of you will log on to join the group for relaxed networking chat.
Kathleen - My husband is a school administrator, semi-retired
CJ - We are working on improving discipline and respect. As a faculty, we decided at the end of the year evaluation that we were our worst enemies sometimes.
kd - My current position was Activities Coordinator and Technology Facilator at our middle school. I was just hired this week as an administrative facilitator in our building. I have been teaching for 20 years. Went back and got my masters in 92 and now am doing my certification.
CJ - I think all retired teachers are in the "semi" state!
CJ - kd, sounds familiar.
Kathleen - In our area school admins are in short supply, so there are many opportunities for retired admins to fill interim positions
CJ - I think about going back for my administration degree but really aren't sure whether I want to deal with that end of things. I like dealing with the kids "in the trenches".
CJ - Kathleen and kd, where are you located? I'm in the Memphis, TN area and teach at a small parochial school.
CJ - kd, what does an "adminstrative faciliator" do?
kd - My current program is unique and fits my needs quite well. I am Cedar Rapids, Iowa taking my course work through the University of Northern Iowa. It is being delivered by ICN.
Kathleen - I'm in Connecticut
CJ - BC, how are you this evening?
Kathleen - ICN?
BC - Hello-this is my first time in this chat room. I am an elementary adm. in NH.
CJ - What is ICN?
Kathleen - Hi BC, welcome.
CJ - BC...my first time too. Tech Coordinator and Student Affairs Administrator
Kathleen - I'm very happy to have you here for the first of many visits.
Kathleen - I'm moderator, and married to a school admin.
BC - That's great-I love tech. and have often said that if I wasn't a Principal, I would enjoy coordinating tech.!
kd - CJ: This is a wonderful title that puts me into a career path as an administrator in training with out the financial rewards put all the headaches! Actually I will be responsible for attendance issues, special services, and some discipline dealings.
BC - Kathleen-are you the famous Kathleen of teachers.net fame?
Kathleen - Is technology a major focus in your schools?
CJ - Question: My principal is in her 4th year of "principaling". She is timid about confronting teachers who don't follow policy...i.e. school behavior expectations. I'm trying to give her words of encouragement. What to do?
Kathleen - LOL, famous? Teachers.Net, yes.
BC - We met today with the Leadership Team and our tech people. We just hired a full time technician to handle the network, fix machines, etc. We are a small district, K-12 about 1000 kids.
CJ - kd, how many other principals working with you?
BC - Confrontation is diffiicult, but gets easier the more you have to do it. My rule is not to put it off but always do it with caring and respect.
Kathleen - CJ, perhaps goal setting first, then placing those goals out to the group
CJ - I am the technology janitor and teacher. Fix this, clean this up, etc. I'm expected to do it all.
CJ - I love my job though!
Kathleen - Ask the group, how do *we* accomplish these goals?
Kathleen - CJ, be sure to read Rob Reilly's articles about tech coordinating in the Teachers.Net Gazettes
CJ - I think that with the year we just finished and with some positive encouragement that it is okay to let me know that I need to improve and that I expect it, it will become easier with her.
kd - Kathleen: My job as a technology facilator was to maintain our building network, support teachers and work on class projects that involve technolgy with students, maintain student accounts, and as CJ said "Fix it, clean up, and do a lot of hand holding of those staff members who are still fearful of this teaching tool.
CJ - Kathleen, "WE" did a lot of that at the end-of-the-year meetings...it will soon be time to walk the talk, as they say.
CJ - Thanks for the teachers.net gazettes...how do I access them?
BC - Question: is email part of everyone's culture in the building? Do teachers check email everyday and truly utilize it?
kd - CJ: I will be working with a building principal and an assoc. principal. Our building has approx. 700 students 6-8th grade.
Kathleen - CJ, promise not to leave now, but you can access the Gazette from the homepage http://teachers.net or http://teachers.net/gazette for the current issue and http://teachers.net/gazette/backissues for the, well, back issues
Kathleen - BC, not in the districts I'm most familiar with, not at primary-elem. level
CJ - BC. we have internet/email capabilites. Most check theirs. We have some who are scared to do so....that's part of my job this next year...relieving the fear and anxiety. Since we have our own domain name with email, all teachers will be getting a new email address...no more hotmail.com
CJ - kd, since we are usually all small schools, our parochial schools have one principal who is suppose to do it all.
BC - CJ-yes, there is still quite a bit of fear that the machine will "blow up". You have quite a challenge!
CJ - kd, sounds like you'll be having tons of fun! I actually enjoy the older elementary/middle school kids.
kd - BC: E-mail is our building. Nearly all communication is done by e-mail. This also is a big part of how teacher stay in contact with many of our parents. I am in a building where teachers turn their computers on in the morning and the e-mail program is started and left on all day long.
CJ - BC...first...how do you turn this contraption on!
CJ - We emailed our school's weekly newsletter to parents who requested it. We received favorable comments. Sending the lunch menu and having it posted on the school website was the greatest hit I think!
BC - The Leadership Team had a beginning discussion on the accountability aspect of email, e.g. if you are working on a sped issue with a sped parent and you are utilizing email, should you print hard copies and file, like you might with phone conversations, etc.?
BC - CJ-yes, I started our Email List that goes out once or twice a week. In our community it has become a very effective means of communication. I suggest it for all schools.
CJ - Yes, document, document, document....hard copy...keep notes of telephone conversations, parent notes.etc.
Kathleen - yes, I would print hard copies
Kathleen - I teach...using my digital camera to send photos taken of child during the day is a hit with parents
CJ - BC, how many in your school/building?
CJ - Kathleen, that is a great idea! That would be great especially for special events.
BC - I guess the question is, what do you print out and save, what do you store in an online mailbox, and what do you print out-if you print everything it sorta' diminishes the purpose of email----CJ-there are 280 kiddos in my building.
BC - Gotta' put my three kiddos to bed-I'll log out and then be back. Thanks!
kd - We have used an internet based program this past year. It is at www.virtualed.org. We did a pilot with our teachers. Some where very excited and others looked at it as just another thing to do. What is exciting about this program is it can serve as an electronic assignment notebook in which parents can receive a copy of what the teacher is doing each day in a particular classroom. Teachers are also beginning to view it as keeping their lesson planbook on the internet.
CJ - Save what you wrote and any response. Start a folder for each student if teaches need.
Kathleen - BC, you mentioned e-mail discussions related to sped questions and info, that's what I would print out, anything related to having informed a parent about needs
CJ - kd, any cost ot virtualed?
CJ - Ok, Kathleen and kd...what does your administrator expect in regards to teacher lesson plans/planning?
Kathleen - CJ, just an expectation that plans are available for a sub...I've worked for admins who required us to turn them in weekly. In fact, when I worked for my husband, he required that!
Kathleen - he wasn't my husband then
CJ - Kathleen, you must have impressed him with your plans!
kd - CJ: No cost currently for this internet based program. The popularity may change that down the road. Regarding lesson plans, my building principal expects plan to be available and up to date. Teachers that he might be doing intervention work with have been required to turn them in weekly.
Kathleen - LOL! I guess that was it, CJ!
CJ - Okay re: lesson plans...I've done it both ways. Previously worked for someone who collected them every week. Now, the honor system is followed.
CJ - Kd, I'd like to check that out.
Kathleen - I'll check it out after this hour
CJ - Kathleen, my friend married her principal too. THe kids thought it was "weird"...teachers don't leave the schoolhouse you know.
Kathleen - right, and they sure don't have first names!
kd - http://www.virtualed.org Here is the link
CJ - Thanks kd. I appreciate it.
CJ - kd, what made you want to be an administrator?
Kathleen - keep talking, I'll be back in a couple of minutes>>>>>>>>
kd - Interesting question
kd - I have to chuckle however, This summer I am taking Special Ed. Law. WOW! This makes my head spin!
CJ - But, what is it about the JOB itself that makes it different from being a teacher...in your heart and mind...your gut feeling, I guess.
CJ - I bet that is a piece of work!
CJ - I went to virtualed.org. How to you get your school onboard?
CJ - Never mind,,, teacher didn't read the directions!
kd - My gut tells me that I am a born leader. In the role as an adminstrator I would have the opportunity to impact students, staff and community in a very positive way. I see this opportunity as a way to make more of a contribution and use my skills and talents in ways that sometimes become covered up by just being in a classroom.
CJ - I'm sure that you will be of great benefit. I'm especially impressed to see that you add the community in the list of those of whom you will impact. I guess I'm more of a behind the scenes mover and shaker.
Kathleen - Hi again. Back to technology-do your schools still set up schedules by hand,or do you use computer programs?
CJ - BRB, Kathleen...both
kd - CJ: There is nothing wrong with that at all. I too acknowledge there are times when behind the scenes is very appropriate given the situation and how it needs to work.
kd - Kathleen: We do it both ways as well
Kathleen - every school needs both the behind the scenes and on stage people
Kathleen - do you know the title of the software used for schedules?
Kathleen - not on stage, but out front
kd - No I am not familar with it.
CJ - kd, I see that we all have our roles in order to accomplish our goals...team players. Each is important and relevant. Shoot...I admire the school secretary...wouldn't want to have her job!
CJ - Kathleen, not sure about the title.
Kathleen - kd, why do you think few school administrators participate in live chats such as this? The most active group is early childhood-primary grade teachers. Can't get secondary ed teachers out, can't figure out why.
Kathleen - agreed about school secretary. as important as any good teacher or admin
Kathleen - the question about participation is for CJ too
CJ - Kathleen, I know my principal is so busy with other things...many evenings she isn't at home. I think secondary teachers may be involved in other extracurricular areas. Maybe it has to do with the ages of their children and their involvement in their activities.
kd - Chuckle, chuckle! How I know that. I volunteer to sit behind our front desk this spring when both of our secretaries were out of the building one day. Whoa! Eye opening and a knew appreciation for both of them. I knew they were worth their weight in gold, however that experience really allowed me to be their spokesperson and advocate.
CJ - Could it be that EC teachers are female for the most part and administrators are male, for the most part?
Kathleen - by the way, most chat meeting transcripts are archived (link in left frame) http://teachers.net/archive
Kathleen - CJ, could be, but why would males be less likely to participate? hmmmm
CJ - Gotta booted off!
Kathleen - I wouldn't be a bus driver for twice my teaching salary either
CJ - Kathleen, I know my husband would find it difficult because it involves so much typing!
kd - Kathleen, I would have to agree with CJ. I will, however, share this info. with my cohort group that is with me this summer in my administrative program. The rest of my group might have a great deal of fun with this. There are 19 of us.
Kathleen - true, the typing/keyboarding is a problem for the males I know, esp those over 40
Kathleen - hi janny, welcome to a meeting of school administrators. Are you of that group?
CJ - My dh uses the three finger typing method.
CJ - Hi janny!
Kathleen - 3 finger?
kd - Hi Janny!
Kathleen - dh= darling husband?
janny - Hi Kathleen and all. I am an administrator want-to-be! I finished my degree 2 summers ago.
CJ - Two fingers on one hand and one finger of the other are all he uses for typing...Mavis Beacon drives him nuts...a sure torture device!!!
janny - Another summer of interviews!
CJ - Yes.. darling husband.
Kathleen - janny, be sure to watch the schedule for next month's admin collab meeting
CJ - What kind of interviews janny?
Kathleen - janny, not many positions available?
kd - My Assoc. Principal will only read e-mails. It would take him approx. 10 minutes to get a couple of lines typed.
janny - job interviews!
Kathleen - It seems there is a great need for prof dev for keyboarding skills, that's a simple but major roadblock
CJ - My husband usually calls me in to be his secretary when he has something longer that a 3-sentence paragraph to type.
janny - It seems that there are more politics as you move up the ladder. It's who you know or being in the right place at the right time!
CJ - Where are you located janny?
CJ - Kathleen,,,it's so hard to break bad habits!
Kathleen - me too! and I can't read his handwriting, feel sorry for his secretaries
janny - A suburb of Chicago.
CJ - janny, which one?
Kathleen - janny, are you applying out of your geographic area?
CJ - I went to school in River Forest.
janny - I work in South Berwyn and live in Wood Dale.
CJ - I did a social services internship in Cicero.
janny - I am applying all over the Chicago area.
kd - Speaking of interviews. I am in a district were there will be approximately 35 administrative positions that will have retirements in the next three years. This is from central office on down.
janny - Wow CJ.
janny - Wow kd!
Kathleen - janny, you need to go to kd's district
CJ - Janny, move closer to kd!
janny - definitely!
CJ - janny, my BA is in both elementary ed and social services...Masters in counseling. The Lord sure knew what he was doing with me.
janny - Where the heck are you kd?
janny - He did!
janny - Where are you working now CJ?
Kathleen - I have to leave, I hope you'll stay and chat for as long as you wish, and come back each month for our School Administrators' Collaborative Chats. Read past chat transcripts at http://teachers.net/archive
kd - I am only about four hours from Chicago. I'm sure you could do the weekly commute. I am located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is on the eastern end of the state.
janny - See you Kathleen.
CJ - I'm a computer teacher/tech director/student affairs administrator in a small parochial school in Memphis, TN.
CJ - Night Kathleen.
kd - Bye Kathleen! I will make sure and share this info. with friends.
janny - What took you to Tennessee?
janny - What do you do kd?
Kathleen -
kd - CJ: I look at teaching jobs in Chatanooga (sp) about 6 years ago.
CJ - After I finished my degree at Concordia in River Forest, I spent 3 years in Atlanta, 13 in the St. Louis area, and now this is my third in Memphis. Actually, prayer brought me here. I knew it was time for a move....hubby and I prayed for an opening somewhere and this position came up.
CJ - Chattanooga is a pretty part of Tennessee.
janny - I received my master's from Concordia.
CJ - Hubby up and moved. He got a job about 6 months later working for the same company as my brother who is in B'ham, AL.
CJ - janny! What a small world!!! I know campus has changed since I graduated from there in the early 80's.
kd - Janny: I was an Activites Coordinator and Technology Facilitator at a Middle School. I was hired just this week as an Administrative Facilitator and Activities Coor. in my building.
janny - Wow. You just felt like a change, huh?
janny - kd-congrats on your new title!
CJ - Yes, we knew a change for me was needed. And the way the Lutheran schools are networked nationally, it makes it really easy to get let people know that you are available.
janny - The campus has and is changing! They have multi-level parking!!!
CJ - kd, does your school have a student council, student leadership, or peer mediation?
kd - It is strickly a horizontal career move, however very important in the scheme of things when it comes to advancing in an administrative career in our district.
CJ - janny...multi-level parking!!! Where is that? Next to David Jonathan or by the cafeteria/student center?
CJ - kd, play the game as long as you are in control.
janny - By the caf/student center. They tore down some houses to make room for it.
CJ - Oh, how sad! I remember those beautiful houses! Parking was a bear for commuters and visitors.
kd - My middle school has student council. We do not use peer mediation. Our student leadership is a program that is actually offered as a summer program for students who have been recommended for particiaption.
CJ - janny, any ideas about student leadership programs or peer mediation.
CJ - what is the difference between student council and student leadership?
janny - My last job was in a k-4 building. I started a school spirit committee. We met once a month to come up with ideas for activties for school spirit. I had one rep from each 3rd and 4th grade room.
CJ - We found that our student council was a popularity contest that resulted in having kids who were unwilling to work. Student leadership council will be similar yet will be nominated by students and faculty. I want them to have some "power" and "input"...be a resource rather than simply a work horse.
janny - I just took a training seminar on peer mediation with our school social worker. We didn't get a chance to start any program this year.
CJ - janny, what kind of things did you do with your spirit group?
CJ - who provided your mediation training?
janny - We had school spirit days...sports day, career day, dress like a teacher day! Ha!
kd - Well need to go. Enjoy my chat and will look forward to more opportunities. Thank you CJ and Janny
janny - We had school spirit assemblies every other month.
CJ - janny...sounds like fun.
janny - One fun activity was The Great Pumpkin Estimation!
CJ - I guess I'll go to. I'll say a prayer for you and your job search.
janny - It was. I miss it.
janny - Thanks!! Good night.
