The first day of school! In the past thirty-seven years and through the last thirty-seven first days, nothing has proved more rewarding than my annual tour of the district. By 1:45, I’ve been to seventeen of the schools, and as I take a moment to breathe in the lobby of my next stop, I’m struck once again by everything I’ve seen: smiling faces, shining uniforms, and teachers teaching by the CORE matrix.
 
This is the last year of our Race to the Top grant, and I can see real, tangible proof that the results of our work with Education Elements, our partner in personalizing education, really are far exceeding our expectations. This new plan for personalized learning is being piloted in five schools and is well on its way to becoming a permanent fixture throughout the district.
 
Which means that we’re on our way, too.
 
One of the teachers I visit writes to me, and her note sets the stage perfectly for the coming year. During my visit, I had reminded her students that they were so smart that I could feel them absorbing my brainpower - this, of course, drew out smiles from all around the room. Imagine my smile when I receive this in my inbox:
 
"I have this fabulous class of very curious 2nd graders this year. They were so intrigued by your visit. They wanted to know what I meant by 'big boss' and asked if you were another new principal for our building. I told them you were a superintendent and they gasped, 'So she's a super hero.' I laughed and said that you were a superhero in our Township. They had a hundred more questions, so we talked about what a superintendent was. It was such a fun conversation that we decided to do a superhero project about you just like the ones they were doing for themselves. We will send it to you as a thank you gift for visiting us. Each child contributed something to the project, and we worked as a group to come up with the ideas for the boxes. I wish you could have been a fly on the wall when they were discussing all the strengths they felt you would have as a SUPERintendent, and the powers you would have as a super hero. Priceless!
 
They were also very fascinated by the idea that you felt the power in our room. They asked me if that was true. I told them that learning is one of the most powerful things in the world and that since they are learners, there is a lot of power in the room. I think that 'mind power' be our reoccurring theme for the year. Thank you for that! 
 
Please feel free to stop by and visit the Room 7 Superheroes anytime!! They will love it. I have attached pictures of their projects and I will send yours in the pony. Enjoy!!"

And I’ll be sure to take her up on that - the Room 7 Superheroes, like the superheroes in every room in every school in this district, are the reason it’s going to be so difficult to face retirement at the end of the year.
 
But why focus on that now? The year’s got a long, long way to go, and even after the summer’s come and gone, all those smiles and that teacher’s email will stand proud in my memory like trophies in a display case.
 
Because it’s the students that really matter.
 
And that’s where CORE comes in.   
 
Next Up: What CORE Means to Us and Could Mean to You 

A superintendent’s annual calendar is filled with graduation ceremonies; board meetings; school visits; professional conferences; time for lobbying state and city officials; days of participating in community-sponsored partnerships; and many evenings spent attending athletic events, musicals, and art shows. The year is cramped and hectic, and superintendents have to reach not only their own expectations, but also the expectations of fellow administrators, faculty, parents, and, most importantly, students.  

This blog will attempt to show how my fellow administrators, faculty leaders, and I have moved our urban Indianapolis school district from the traditional teacher-directed classrooms of the past to a truly twenty-first century learning environment. We are personalizing learning and cultivating in students the instinct and desire to be self-directed, independent, deep thinkers learning real important stuff beyond what is taught in a traditional curriculum. And beyond even that, personalizing learning is how we might ultimately provide equitable opportunities for all students to learn at higher levels. My playbook to accomplish this transformation is as thick as any NFL quarterback’s, and the school calendar is like the four quarters of the game.

One of the most important days of the year is the opening day of school and the address to my 1750+ staff members that comes with it. And unlike most male superintendents, one question my folks are wondering is, “What will she wear?”

My husband I often go shopping together to find the perfect dress for the year’s opening ceremony.  This year, Leonard and I found a red jacket and matching red dress to go with my new favorite ladybug pin for the collar. I later reported to him that the “folks raved” about the dress. Perfect.

But more importantly, my message that day in July, the weekend before school started on our nine-week calendar, was to re-affirm our purpose as a school district and to reassert our Civility, Order, Respect, and Excellence (CORE) framework as the means by which we can best serve all children equitably and make sure teachers and principals lead a balanced life. After all, our administrators need the time to unwind with their families because leadership is hard work—you have to work at it daily to meet our high expectations for student success.

And that comment about time to unwind, by the way, earned me a second rave review from the staff.
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Next Up: The First Day of School