Before we get started, I have two quick announcements

1.     I’ve been hearing a strong interest in how to support beginning teachers. I went into some key practices last year in episodes 214 and 215, so if you are in the mode to think about how to support your BTs (and ECTs), give a listen to episodes 214 and 215

2.     The July 22 episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast we feature a panel discussion with myself and five assistant principals. Some are national/state AP of the Year awardees and others are just wrapping up their first year as assist principals. The focus of our discussion is being a first year AP! We would love to hear from you. If you have questions, topics, advice, or stories, please consider sharing. Please email them to me at [email protected]. I would love to be able to name contributors but will only do so if you explicitly give permission for us to include your name and affiliation. We are recording on July 15, so don’t wait.

Okay, now onto the episode…

Show Notes, Episode 34: Persistent Growth with Emily Parks

About this show:

We are all teachers here, right? So, I can be honest, Right? We love all children equally and we have no favorites. That said, there are always those students who give us energy. They bring a passion for learning that inspires us to be at our best. I had those kinds of learners when I was a middle school teacher, when I was a professor at Clemson University, and I have them now as I work with APs in the APEx program. In fact, today’s guest is one of those special “students” because she is passionate about her learning, always brings her A game, and inspires me to be better.

Notable Quotes

Emily Parks:

“If I want my teachers to grow and learn and be better, and I want my students to learn and grow and be better, then I have to learn and grow and be better”

“Professional learning has to be a priority”

“[5 minute coaching] gets them to be reflective without me trying to push them into being reflective”

“One thing that I really liked about my APEx experience is that it exposed me to areas of leadership that I may have not realized on my own that I did need”

“Keep on learning and keep on growing… the world is changing and education is growing and if we aren’t changing, we are going to get left behind”

Frederick:

“It isn’t about fixing stuff, it isn’t about making the world perfect, it’s just about making things a little bit better”

“One of the things we can do better is to make our own learning and our own growth goals more transparent to teachers”

“We can’t manage time; we have to manage priorities”

“5 minute coaching:

Start with a positive affirmation

3 questions and then BE QUIET and that is the hardest part

1.     What else is going well?

2.     Were there any surprises?

3.     Would you do anything differently?”

“APEx is a community without professional development, not professional development with a community”

Links:

John Maxwell: https://www.johnmaxwell.com/start-your-journey/

Brian Mendler:https://www.tlc-sems.com/Brian-Mendler/ 

My email: [email protected] 

The Assistant Principal Podcast website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/appodcast.html 

Sign up for the daily leadership email: https://mailchi.mp/c15c68e6df32/specialedition 

Website: www.frederickbuskey.com

Blog: www.frederickbuskey.com/blog (reposts of the daily email)