It’s summer holidays and as one lazy day rolls into the next I find myself having much more time to scroll through facebook than I do during the school year. Like most, my newsfeed consists of three things: vacation photos, Olympic updates and stories or videos of Donald Trump.

I am not a very political person and yet the current presidential election in the United States interests me. It interests me because this particular leadership race has less to do with politics and more to do with moral character. While I don’t care too much about politics, I do care about leadership, citizenship and finding good in people.

I am fascinated by the comments that are emerging about education during this political race. News headlines blame a broken education system for the spread of ignorance, racism, and intolerance. Canadian headlines urge our politicians to invest in our schools now so this does not happen here. The public wants schools to produce graduates with a strong moral compass. There is a demand for schools to educate both the heart and the mind. In generations past, schools were a place of academic development focusing on reading, writing and arithmetic while the family and / or church took the primary responsibility of character development. A shift has occurred and the expectation of schools to participate in character development has become more and more prevalent.

This expectation of schools to create good citizens and critical thinkers mirrors the shift in the BC Curriculum. In September, we launch a renewed curriculum based in core competencies: communication, creative thinking, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility. These skills are woven into the curriculum from grades K-12 so that we in BC, can help students become academically ready and personally and socially ready to thrive in society. We want students to graduate with the skills they need to care for themselves, care for others and care for the world we live in. It appears that Donald Trump would struggle to graduate in BC with our new focus.

As I scroll through facebook, the bombardment of Trump’s outlandish behaviour takes me back to my days as a high school marketing teacher and the well known lesson “there is no such thing as bad advertising”. And I wonder, are millions of Americans actually contributing to this campaign by sharing stories through their outrage? I am also a big believer that we control where energy goes based on our conscious attention. Does our focus on the ridiculousness of Trump’s behavioiur actually build momentum for the campaign? I believe it does – and although I cannot vote (as I am Canadian), I intentionally will not share stories of Donald Trump, regardless of how shocking they may be. Instead, I will share stories that inspire, stories of great leadership, and stories where I hope energy follows.

As you spend your summer days scrolling through facebook, think of where you want to put your attention. Whether it’s with family, friends, community or a national issue, find the good in our world, put your energy on stories that spread hope and joy, and remind one another that there are wonderful examples of human character all around us – we just have to look for them and decide what we share. Have faith, focus on good and love will win – it always does.

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go…

We are all connected.  The bonds we form with friends, family and colleagues give us our identity, a purpose, a reason to love and a sense of belonging in this world.  And yet, despite these connections, there are times we need to travel alone.  Times to move forward, times to try something new and times to say goodbye.

In the past week, I have witnessed the love and pain that comes from turning points of life.

• An educator, saying an emotional goodbye after teaching for 37 years
• A brave six year old boy saying goodbye as he leaves our school, knowing he will finally be adopted and have a forever family next week
• My father, after fighting death the past few months, succumbing to his illness and leaving this world early this morning

These moments are different than one another, and yet there is something similar amongst them.  Despite the connections we have made, and relationships we form, there still comes a time when we all walk alone and say goodbye to life as we know it and hello to something new.

So make the best of this test
And don’t ask why
It’s not a question
But a lesson learned in time

The strength of our connections give us the courage to walk alone.  The possibility of what is to come gives us hope for what may follow next.  And yet, as right as a turning point may be, goodbye is always hard.  Good and bad memories flood our minds and cause us doubt – we often wish we had just one more day.

So take the photographs
And still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time

As I watched Keith retire, I saw a community come together honouring a career that inspired children for almost four decades.  Staff, students, parents and family told stories of how an educator had changed the lives of children.  His vivacious two year old granddaughter with a bright smile beamed at her grandpa, only slightly aware how much more time she would have with her favourite person.  Keith, knowing his decision was right, fought the tears and reminded us, his head was ready but his heart wasn’t.  A career well served was hard to walk away from, and yet it was time for him to leave.

One of my favourite students, whose name I will avoid for anonymity looked up at me with brave big eyes “Ms. Blakeway – I’m getting a new family!  Do you know if they collect rocks?”  “Yes, they love rocks!” I assured him as I made a mental note to email the adoptive family and suggest they have some rocks ready. At such a young age, he has lived through neglect, removal from his home and five years of foster care.  I know with certainty that his forever home is the turning point that he needs.  But saying goodbye to my favourite little man was hard.  I admire his courage, his optimism and his endless curiosity.  In one week, he will make that step alone from one home to another.

Tattoos of memories
And dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth
It was worth all the while

Last night, and for the third time this year, we received a call from the hospital that my dad would not likely survive much longer.  My brother sat with him, as did his fourth wife, and later in the evening I took over and sat beside his bed.  When I got there he was still responsive and mumbled a little, squeezed my hand and showed understanding through his eyes.   When the others left and I sat in the chair beside him, in a stark hospital room, I realized how alone he was.  A man with few connections in this world, most of them strained, was dying with few at his side.  The hospital had suggested a hospice to provide more comfort and dignity but the hospice was full so the typical room in the trauma unit made do. After a few hours I said all that I wanted to say, touching on some of the good and bad experiences with my father, and asked him to try to forgive himself.  My dad never found peace in this world and my hope for him is that peace is just around the corner.  When I left, his body was no longer mobile, his hand felt heavy but as I spoke one tear fell from his eye.  I said goodbye and left.   He passed away alone at the hospital at 3 AM this morning.

It’s something unpredictable
But in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life

For all of us, there are moments we will face alone.  But if we live life right, the connections and love we build with one another will give us the courage we need at each turning point. Even when life is unpredictable, in the end it’s right.

It’s that time of year. April 1st…a day when we play practical jokes on friends and family. For educators, it’s also about this time of year that our minds start to play tricks asking us if we are where we are meant to be. As spring arrives, districts begin to prepare for the following school year and teachers and support staff have the opportunity to ask themselves  “Is it time to stay, or time to go?”.

As a young teacher, I remember the excitement of my first full time position. I loved my job, loved teaching new classes, experimenting with ideas and  getting involved with the school community. Changing schools wasn’t really on my radar. I will never forget a conversation I had with my vice principal after my fifth year of teaching. It was near the end of the year, and he had learned he was leaving for a new opportunity. He asked if we could talk for a minute. I thought he was was saying a nice goodbye but instead he asked me if I had taught at any other schools. Besides my practicum, I had not, so I told him no. He told me it was time for me go. At the time I was surprised… why leave? I loved my job! He nicely explained the professional growth potential that he saw in me and suggested that a variety of school experiences may be something worth exploring. He also explained to me that each school has a very unique culture – and sometimes you don’t realize its time to go until after you leave. At the time I was surprised. Looking back, I am so grateful for his words of wisdom. His words left me with curiosity to explore and shifted my direction. Since that conversation I have changed paths a few times moving from teaching to counselling, counselling to vp, from one district to another, from vp to principal and from secondary to elementary. With each shift I have realized that change isn’t as scary as I once imagined. Change keeps our ideas fresh, allows us to make new connections, renews our practice and gives us the opportunity to take the best from each school. It’s also an opportunity to escape routine. Schools have a habit of expecting the same person to take on the same responsibilities year after year. (When I came to elementary I was told quite clearly who was responsible for the laminator. This is great as long as that person wants the responsibility but it’s also funny how little things like this can become a burden over time if it’s not a role you want to have). Change allows educators to re-invent themselves and become who they want to be rather than who they have always been.

So… how do you know if it’s the right time to go? Of course, this is an individual choice. Some people thrive on change and like to move every year or two. Others complete their entire career at one school. One of my good friends has been in the exact same classroom for 22 years. She is an excellent teacher, happy with her assignment and has no interest in moving.  She has made great connections with the staff and students and is part of a dynamic team. She can feel renewed and energized without changing grades or schools. I have another friend who due to layoffs has worked at seven schools in the last seven years. Unlike most, this process doesn’t bother her as she has met great people and loved the breadth of experience she has gained in a short time.

So – Is it Time to Stay or Time to Go?

Throughout my career I have heard some traditional wisdom that may help:

• The five year rule.  There is an unwritten rule that five years is about the right amount of time to spend at a school and make a difference but also short enough to stay current and rejuvenated.  For some, this works.
• The perfect posting.  Perhaps you didn’t plan to leave but you happen to see a posting that screams “This is YOU!”  It’s never a bad idea to keep your eyes open.
• The Pro / Con List.  Many people would advise you to create a pro / con list.  Personally this is my least favourite tool for making decisions.  Perhaps because it cost me $50 000 + when I made the wrong decision.  A few years ago my husband and I wrestled with the idea of moving to a new community.  We made list after list and eventually decided that the list to move was longer than the list that said stay.  We moved.  We hated it.  Despite the practical reasons, our hearts were not in the other community.  Three months in we asked our kids and each other if we should move back.  It took about six seconds to decide we should so six months after purchasing a house we sold it.  Our realtor did the happy dance and went on another vacation while we sucked it up and paid all the expenses associated with moving for a second time in a year.

Here is my random list of unconventional wisdom that you may want to consider:

• Create your own job.  What would be your ideal teaching assignment?  What need exists in your school or your district?  Maybe this is the time to suggest something new for next year.  (team teaching, a new program, multi-grade classrooms, etc)
• What do your colleagues think? See whether they feel you are ready for a new role.  A superintendent once gave me this advice.  He said “If you think you are ready for admin, go ask a friend on staff to start staff room conversation asking who would make a great administrator.  If you don’t hear your name, you are not ready”.  I shared this with a  teacher once who was considering admin and she shook her head and said “but no one here would see me as a leader”.  We sat in awkward silence as the reality set in.
• When you walk in the front door of your school how do you feel?  Do you feel like running for the hills or do you feel at home?  If you feel like your school is an extension of you then you are in the right place.  If it feels like a burden, it’s time to go.
• Do your colleagues drive you crazy?  Do you see them for their strengths or have their weaknesses become your focus.  It’s easy to blame someone for being ‘hard to work with’.  It takes much more effort to see what you can do differently to be collaborative.
• Does your school get the best of you?  Are you a professional continuing to learn or have you become so comfortable that you act like a crazy relative?
• What is your gut feeling?  If you are still not sure,try this.  Pretend you have accepted a new job. Drive to your ‘new school’ and park in the parking lot.  Trust your gut – if it feels right, it is.
• Follow your heart.  As I told one of our teachers last year, I would rather ask a teacher to follow their heart than ask them to stay if it didn’t feel right.

Whatever you choose, I hope you find the assignment that pushes you slightly beyond your comfort zone and gives you the opportunity to shine.   Happy April.