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Calm, Alert and Ready for a New Year
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Calm, Alert and Ready for a New Year

The first day for students is still one week away, but excitement is building at Harry Hooge Elementary in Maple Ridge, BC as our teachers prepare for a new year.  As a principal, I am so excited to see the changes our teachers are making as we continue working towards our two school goals: one focussed on inquiry and the other on self regulation.  These two topics blend seamlessly, as we are working to create learning centred spaces where students have all the tools they need to engage in meaningful exploration. As we teach students how to respond to stress, we help them understand their own emotions and Continue reading →

Beginning our Journey: Self Regulation at School
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Beginning our Journey: Self Regulation at School

I’m a big believer that kids come to school prepared to do the best they can.  I don’t think anyone wakes up with the intention of having a really bad day.  And yet, school days are not always seamless.  As an elementary principal I often have the opportunity to meet with students in those moments right after their day has taken a turn for the worse.  Perhaps they are not willing to work in class, perhaps Continue reading →

Embrace the Zig Zag of Life
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Embrace the Zig Zag of Life

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I know I’m a bit early to be looking back on a year, but it is December, and I think it’s important to look backwards before we figure out where we are headed.  January is often about resolutions and goals, and not as much about reflection on what has or has not happened.

The funny thing is, I remember roughly a year ago, taking time to look back at 2013.  in our family, 2013 was a busy time.  We moved houses.  I started working in a new school district.  My husband Shawn started a new coaching job. I remember taking time to pause last year in December, wondering what 2014 would bring.  One thing we knew for sure was that it would not bring about as much change…. or so we thought.

In January of 2014, I asked my husband an honest question.  I asked him if he liked our new house and new neighbourhood as much has we had expected.  With a sense of relief, he confided that he did not.  The house was smaller than we were used to and our boys had turned our master bedroom into a dodgeball court so the kitchen lights would swing from the vibration when we tried to have evening conversations. The road was busier than our previous street and the boys did not play outside as much. There did not seem to be any kids their age nearby. Local grocery store parking lots were overcrowded and hectic and our commutes were longer.  At the time of our discussion, we had yet to move our kids from their original school as we were waiting for the natural break in the school year to transition them. My husband asked if I thought we had made the right decision.  I said no.  Yet reality set in – we had spent a lot of money moving, paid realtor fees, property transfer tax, etc….  We ended the conversation thinking that perhaps in a couple years we would revisit it and move back to our old community.

And then a funny thing happened…. early in February I stumbled across a Facebook post from a friend of mine, Dan Pontefract.  I admire Dan and his wife Denise as they have modelled what it means to be authentic.  They work hard and play hard and support one another in their dreams.  When I stumbled upon Dan’s blog post, it described their decision to move their family from Victoria back to Vancouver so he could be closer to work and take on some new challenges.  Denise quit her job.  They listed their house for sale.  They withdrew their kids from private school.  And yet a funny thing happened… as Denise searched for a new job that she would love just as much as her current one – Dan stumbled upon a job posting that seemed perfect.  It sounded just like her.   He realized he was reading the ad for someone to replace her.  In a moment of clarity, he realized that his family of 5 was relocating to support the dream of 1.  The dream of 4 was to stay in Victoria.  A couple of phone calls later they were able to rip the for sale sign down, Denise was able to get her job back, and the kids were re-enrolled at their school.

I read the post with admiration.  How amazing to follow your heart, recognize when you are on the wrong path, and have the courage to say you made a mistake.  It was what I needed to see at that moment.  It had taken us years of practical conversations and pro / con lists to decide to move.  It took us two minutes to decide to move back.

And so, 2014 began, much different than we expected.  Six months to the day from when we had moved in, we moved out, and moved to a new home in our original community.  Our realtor packed her bags and went on a vacation… a couple of times.

While many people around us thought we were rather crazy, we knew it was right.  The day we moved in our new house, we knew we were home.  And you know what I love just as much as finding the right home for our family?  The feeling I have knowing we were not afraid to follow our hearts and do what felt right.  We embraced change and followed the zig zag of life rather than wrestling with the straight line that didn’t fit.

We settled in, knowing that changes were over for a while…. that is until July 2014 when the phone rang offering me my first principalship at a new school…. or September 2014 when the phone rang again offering Shawn the opportunity to move to Saskatchewan for six months to train for the  RCMP.  But this time, we didn’t need to write the pro / con lists.  We jumped in, followed our hearts, and embraced the zig zag of life.

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Feeling Stressed? Me Too!
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Feeling Stressed? Me Too!

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There’s something about this time of year that makes life a little more stressful in high schools. Maybe it’s the end of the year approaching and the rush to have students meet deadlines and demonstrate learning. Maybe it’s the growing pile of marking, the approaching provincial exams and the extra support needed to help struggling learners achieve. Maybe it’s the positive stress that comes with a busy schedule of milestone events: school leaving ceremonies, awards nights, graduation dinners, after grad parties, scholarship offers and college / university acceptance letters. Maybe it’s the change that comes each spring with layoffs, retirements, budget cuts, re-deployments and opportunities to post on new jobs. Maybe it’s the rising temperature, lack of air conditioning or the increasing desire to be outside rather than in a classroom. Maybe it’s the current job action and stress placed upon teachers, support workers, administrators and trustees. Regardless of the cause, May is definitely the time of year when stress levels seem to rise in schools.
As a counsellor and administrator, it’s easy to be a ‘solution person’, trying to find ways to help others endure. What’s not so easy is to take time to manage our own stress levels. It’s easy to see that “everyone else is stressed” but harder to stop and think – “hmmm… I’m a little bit stressed and need to take care of that first.”

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Last fall I offered a workshop to Education Assistants on Happiness at Work, teaching strategies from the science of happiness. I went through the latest research findings and led the participants through activities that improve happiness levels: healthy living, exercise, reflection, setting goals, finding gratitude, solitude or meditation, random acts of kindness and focusing on strengths rather than problems. The workshop was well received, and I believe we all had a good time practicing habits of happiness. However, one of the questions from the audience stuck with me. One lady raised her hand and asked, “You seem quite happy – do you actually use these strategies?”. Almost a year later, this question sticks with me. I recognize that I am much better at practicing the habits of happiness when I am less stressed. For example, during spring break, it was easy to reflect and blog, to exercise, sleep well, show gratitude, take time for myself, etc.

Driving home today, I realized that the more stress I feel, the more necessary these strategies are. On days like to day, or perhaps in May, when it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done,  my natural tendency is to work longer, bring more work home, sleep less, wish I had more time, wake up and repeat the process. As I drove home I thought about how stressed out other people seem. Apparently it was an ‘everyone else’ problem. It was after I fed my kids McDonalds and stole half their fries that I realized it might – just maybe – be me that is a bit more stressed than usual.   If I am not managing my own stress in a healthy way, why would I expect others to do so?

So – tonight – next year’s timetable and the unanswered emails can wait. The extra Starbucks I crave is replaced with a glass of water. I’m taking time to blog (which always helps clear my head), and I just got back from a quick run with my 9 year old and our 100 pound goofy dog. As I fall asleep, I will intentionally take note of what was great about today.

To all my colleagues in education, may we find ways to celebrate the positives that exist despite rising stresses in education. Remember to take care of yourself first, so that we can take care of others.


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How You Can Help The Homeless: 7 Holiday Tips

In keeping with Christmas tradition, friends and I got together last weekend and headed downtown to celebrate the season.  The temperature was near freezing, so we bundled up in toques, scarves and gloves and braved the crisp air, full of anticipation for a great winter day.  As we arrived to one of my favourite spots in Vancouver, it seemed others had the same idea.  School buses and tour buses lined the streets, parking was scarce, and children hollered with joy as their parents followed with cameras flashing and video cameras rolling.  The main attractions grew such crowds that pedestrians spilled out into the streets.   But here’s the thing.  I wasn’t at a popular holiday venue.  I was standing at the corner of Main and Hastings on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

We live in a remarkable city, overflowing with caring compassionate people who want to make a difference at Christmas.  We often think of those with less than us, and on first thought, it seems like a great idea to head to Vancouver’s poorest neighbourhood and offer food and clothing.  And I know from first hand conversations that the residents of this neighbourhood do appreciate items they receive.  In no way to I want to criticize the good intention of Vancouverites.  However I feel a bit compelled to offer some advice on how to help.  This Christmas marks our fifth year working in the Downtown Eastside helping the homeless send cards to family or friends they have lost touch with.  Throughout this journey, I have learned a few things about the community that I hope to share.  If you would like to help the residents of the Downtown Eastside, I applaud you.  It is a neighbourhood rich in story, hardship and heartbreak.  It is also a neighbourhood full of courage, resiliency and glimmers of hope.  If you choose to visit, with good intention, please take the following tips into consideration:

1. Give appropriate gifts using the same logic you use when you gift the ones you love.  Your mother is probably not looking for a size XL man’s jacket.  Your brother is not likely searching for a pink polk-a-dotted lady’s scarf. It is very common to collect warm clothing and distribute it on Hastings Street.  However, if the gift is not suitable, it will likely be sold.  Take the time to pull a fitting item out of the bag and make eye contact when you offer it to the person on the street.  They are much more likely to use it when it is suitable and received with love.

2. Take time.  Take the time to give items out one by one.  Last weekend I watched a group of do-gooders pull up in a bakery style truck.  Rather than displaying their items or handing them out to suitable recipients, they stood in the truck bed and threw items in the air.  As they did this, a crowd surrounded the truck.  With each toss, the homeless scrambled with their arms in the air hoping to catch the item.  It reminded me of a scene from the zoo where the trainer feeds the animals.  Unfortunately the image is burned in my brain – and the only thing that makes it worse was the large video camera filming the episode to capture the act of kindness on film.

3. Respect the neighbourhood. Remember that you are a guest in another community.  Respect the space.  Don’t overcrowd the sidewalks.  Do not take photos of anyone without first asking permission.  Be polite. Be respectful. Make eye contact and say hello.  Park on side streets rather than unloading buses on Hastings.  Walk in groups of 4-6 rather than groups of 40.   Treat the residents like you would want to be treated in your neighbourhood.

4. Use your judgement.  The Downtown Eastside is a diverse neighbourhood – and not everyone on the street is homeless.  Some are employees of the local businesses, others live in trendy lofts popping up in the area yet many are homeless or live in low income housing.  For the most part, if you take the time, you can see the difference.  Take time to see people before handing out goods.  Unfortunately there is a new disturbing trend emerging as the streets clutter with donations.  A few of the local merchants from Chinatown walk the streets with shopping buggies and gather as many items as they can to sell at their shops around the corner on Keefer Street. They will often ask for the full 12 packs of socks, or multiple quantities of what you are providing. Today, I witnessed this with my own eyes.  As I tried to drop off toiletries at the women’s centre, a group of women from Chinatown came in with bags and literally stole dozens of boxes of toothpaste and shampoo and ran. The shelter employees explained this is increasingly common.  Some run to their shops to resell the product, while others use a storage locker in the community to store their collections.  As San Francisco recently coined a similar problem – there seems to be a battle between the needy and the greedy.    If they appear well dressed, well fed, and they are looking for items to re-sell, perhaps you may want to identify someone with greater need.

5. Consider Another Time of Year.  Christmas is a wonderful time to give, and there are many ways to help in our community.  However, if you would like to help the homeless by distributing food, blankets or clothing, I would suggests you choose November, January of February instead.  It is just as cold, and the residents do not receive as much during these months.

6.Volunteer Your Time.  Many shelters or associations need volunteers to help serve meals or prepare dinners.  Contact associations directly to see how you can help.

7. Find out what people need.  Remember the last time you received a gift you would never use?  It was most likely given to you by someone with good intention.  The same thing happens on the DTES.  For example, group after group provide hot chocolate or coffee assuming people are cold and would love this.  What I often hear is that they are dehydrated and would love to have clean drinking water.  Take the time to ask people what they need but don’t usually receive.  When I have asked this question I have received the following suggestions: bananas, meat or any type of protein, water and towels.  However, many have told me that what they really crave but seldom receive is the simple art of conversation.   Engage in heartfelt dialogue.  Be sincere.  From one human to another, wish them a very Merry Christmas.

Thank you for making a difference. Happy Holidays!

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It’s Time to Disrupt Education

This past week I had the pleasure of traveling with ten staff members from Thomas Haney Secondary to attend the Canadian Coalition of Self Directed Learning (CCSDL) Conference.

This year, the conference was held in Edmonton, Alberta and hosted by St. Joseph’s High School.   Over four hundred educators across Canada gathered together to share best practices in self-directed learning and flex schooling (Alberta).  It was one of the best education conferences I have attended as it offered a rich line up of presentations, a school tour showcasing self directed learning in action and a well thought out agenda that balanced professional development with time to socialize and network with others.  The staff at St. Joseph’s did a phenomenal job organizing a first class conference with great attention to detail.

Thomas Haney has been a part of the Canadian Coalition of Self Directed Learning since the coalition’s inception in 1996.  The CCSDL was built with the idea that we are stronger when we work together and share ideas.  Thomas Haney School is now in it’s 22nd year of self-directed learning.  Attending the CCSDL conference each year allows our teachers to network with like-minded educators who are continually finding progressive ways to teach in a self directed system.  This forward thinking model allows for personalization, creativity, and innovation.

The three keynote speakers left us with ideas and inspired us to ask great questions. Lee Crocket, author of the 21st Century Fluency Project, introduced his Fluency 21 Unit Planner cloud-app where educators can collaborate and share unit plans.  He spoke to the importance of a gradual responsibility shift so that graduates can finish high school well able to manage their lifelong learning.    Garfield Gini-Newman, senior Lecturer at the University of Toronto and a senior national consultant with The Critical Thinking Consortium shared ideas on how to nurture self regulated critical thinkers.  One idea that stuck for me was the notion of starting each unit with a question of inquiry instead of teaching and then asking questions.  When students begin with a sense of wonder, their learning becomes more relevant.  This helps our students develop a lifelong inquiry mindset.  He also suggested students keep a thought book where they right down their initial thoughts and change their thoughts as they learn about a topic.  This book then allows the teacher to offer ongoing feedback and to recognize the learning journey for each student.  He suggested that teachers should move away from the stand and deliver instruction model, and even move away from the ‘guide on the side’ approach.  To fully engage students, teachers should see themselves as choreographers helping all of their students in their own learning journeys.  Maureen Suhendra, from the Khan Academy, spoke to how teachers can use the Khan Academy’s free educational resources in the classroom.  The Khan Academy now offers over 4300 videos in their free online education platform.  The Khan Academy is a great example of how education is changing, and how schools will need to meet the needs of a digital generation.

While the keynotes were all wonderful, perhaps the richest experience occurred naturally over the four days as the nine teachers and two administrators from our school strengthened our connections with one another.  With 11 of us travelling together, we represented ten teaching areas within our school and had a range of experience in self directed learning – some with over 20 years at Thomas Haney and others in their first year.  A natural synergy occurred, where conversation flowed easily and we were constantly able to ask ‘what if? questions.  We left the conference energized, inspired, and proud of where we are at as a school, but even more excited about where we are headed.  With enthusiasm, we accepted the invitation to be the host school for the 2014 CCSDL Conference.

Although we are in the initial planning stages, we know that we want to build on momentum and share educational practices that are engaging, creative and powerful.  We want to hear from both students and teachers, whose names you may not know, but whose stories you will not forget.   At next year’s conference we will showcase self directed learning but we will also extend our reach beyond the CCSDL, opening the invitation to any educator who is searching for ways to rejuvenate their teaching practice.  We will showcase educators who dare to be different:  the thinkers, the creators and the innovators who find ways for students to follow their passion while engaging in relevant learning experiences.

We have decided to align the conference with the BC Provincial Pro-D Day. On October 23, 24, and 25th, 2014, we will welcome educators from across the country to come together to ask questions, and celebrate innovative practices that are re-shaping education.  We are committed to our vision of hosting an amazing conference where educators can learn and grow together to help transform our schools to meet the needs of Canadian students.

We hope to see you there! More information will follow as we unfold our plans for the Vancouver CCSDL Conference – 2014!

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This is Education: A Shift in Direction

This is Education.

We face the impossible.

And I refuse to accept that

We can continually improve education.

Funding must guide decisions.

No longer can we say

Every child can thrive.

I believe this –

Educators face an impossible challenge.

I do not concede that

Sufficient resources exist, as

It takes a community to raise a child.

Teachers do not have all the answers

And we embrace the fact that

Students have unanswered questions –

There is not enough time to evoke passion.

It is unfair to think that

Teachers will find time to learn together.

Learning takes places within four walls.

We cannot always say

Students create.  Teachers Inspire.

Schools care most about results.

And it is a fallacy that

Teachers can prepare students for the future.

A letter grade

Is more valuable than

A conversation.

I tell you this –

Parents do not play a key role in schools.

No longer can it be said that

Relationships come first.

With students – teachers know

The same model must work for all.

It is unreasonable to expect

Schools can educate the heart and mind.

Educators know

Technology has kids checked out

It’s naïve to believe

Our future is bright.

Limits constrain potential.

No longer can I trust that

Every child can succeed.

I recognize that

This is Education.

And this could be true – unless we shift our direction and recognize the beauty in education.  (read from bottom up or below)

This is Education.

I recognize that

Every child can succeed.

No longer can I trust that

Limits constrain potential.

Our future is bright.

It’s naïve to believe that

Technology has kids checked out.

Educators know

Schools can educate the heart and the mind.

It is unreasonable to expect

The same model must work for all.

With students – teachers know

Relationships come first.

No longer can it be said that

Parents do not play a key role in schools.

I tell you this –

A conversation

Is more valuable

Than a letter grade.

Teachers can prepare students for the future.

And it is a fallacy that

Schools care most about results.

Students create.  Teachers Inspire.

We cannot always say

Learning takes places within four walls.

Teachers will find time to learn together.

It is unfair to think that

There is not enough time to evoke passion.

Students have unanswered questions –

And we embrace the fact that

Teachers do not have all the answers

It takes a community to raise a child.

Sufficient resources exist, as

I do not concede that

Educators face an impossible challenge.

I believe this –

Every child can thrive.

No longer can we say

Funding must guide decisions.

We can continually improve education

And I refuse to accept that

We face the impossible.

This is Education.

Extreme statements are not meant to offend – rather to demonstrate that how we choose to view education shifts our reality.  As we head into Thanksgiving Weekend, I am thankful that I get to work as an educator in Canada – a system that is ranked by PISA as the third best education system in the world.  I am thankful for the amazing students, staff, parents and community members who make our schools such wonderful places to learn.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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We Are All Lost Souls: Lunch with Garth

Finding time to meet friends for lunch can be hard.  We get busy.  We go about our routines and somehow manage to over fill our days running from one commitment to the next.  We have great intentions, yet finding time to sit and truly enjoy one another’s company is a luxury we do not often grant ourselves.  Daily conversations with co-workers and the Starbucks baristas become routine and repetitive.    I am no different.  No matter how many resolutions I set to live with purpose, act with intention and be present I still gravitate to the somewhat meaningless to-do lists, Facebook updates, Tweets, emails and texts.  I blur what matters with what doesn’t.  Yet I recognize that there is nothing I enjoy more than deep, genuine conversation.

Perhaps that’s why I am so drawn to the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.  On Hastings Street, the sense of urgency disappears.  Technology is scarce, to do lists do not exist and there is no one to impress.  There are no false pretences, no fancy brand names, and no $4 lattes.  People are everywhere.   People have time for genuine conversation and they long to connect.  Yet, in a cruel twist of reality, these are the people we ignore.  We drive by.  We lock our doors.  We think of addiction as a choice and we somehow justify that we are different than ‘them’.  We label them.  Homeless.  Addicts.  Bums.  Crack-heads.  After-all, they are not ‘us’.  We could not end up there.  Not only are we different from them, we know better.  We credit our own success with the choices we have made.

But what if none of that is true? What if each person on Hastings Street is our equal?  What if each of ‘them’ demonstrate an admirable amount of resiliency simply for surviving the painful circumstances of their lives – circumstances we would not wish upon our worst enemy? What if each person wandering the streets deserves to be treated with empathy, love and compassion?  What if every one of ‘them’ has a story worth hearing, a heart worth healing and a soul deserving true human connection?  What if they need more than just  food and shelter?  What if they are just as human as you and I and deserve the respect and dignity that we grant our closest friends?  What if they are actually worthy of our time – time to meet for lunch?

This is how ‘Beyond HELLO’ began.  In the short conversations my students and I have had with the homeless over the past five years with Project HELLO (giving people on the streets the opportunity to write greeting cards to long lost loved ones) we have witnessed pure beauty.  We have experienced many tender moments where faces have softened, eyes have sparkled and glimmers of hope have resurfaced. In our short five minute conversations we have heard the headlines to deeper stories.  Stories worth our time, and stories worth sharing.   With ‘Beyond HELLO’, alumni from Project HELLO and I have set a goal of meeting once a month to take someone from Hastings Street out for lunch.  In exchange for a warm meal, we will empower them to tell their story.  And we will listen, offering a commitment to share their story with others, in the hopes that doing so will soften the hard edges society has developed separating ‘us’ from ‘them’.

Here is an account of last Wednesday’s lunch.  Lunch with Garth.photo

Armin (grad 2011) and I met in Coquitlam and drove to the Downtown Eastside.  Like the first month, we had no idea how we would choose someone to to take for lunch.  We know from our work on Hastings that many people stick to the same city block for weeks on end.  Since we have chosen Save-On Meats as our restaurant of choice (based on their awesome environment where everyone is welcome and their commitment to the neighbourhood), we decided that we should pick someone within one block of the restaurant.

In a somewhat awkward style we walked the first block observing the neighbourhood.  Like always, we tried to be unobtrusive, yet just by the way we dressed we stood out as strangers.  With a pang of guilt knowing we could not help everyone, we scanned hundreds of faces wondering whom to approach.  A tiny older lady in a yellow sweatsuit and messy ponytail caught our attention.  Despite many missing teeth, her smile is radiant and her eyes are alive.  We approached and said hello.  We explained who we are and asked if she would like to join us for lunch.  She smiled her big, wide smile but explained she could not join us because she had already eaten and because she was busy working.  We asked what she was doing.  She told us she was selling drugs so she could get enough money to bake cupcakes.  To the streets, she is known as ‘Fudge’.  She loves to bake, and if she sells enough drugs in a day she uses her extra money to bake cupcakes which she then hands out on the streets.  She beamed with pride as she explained how much people love her cupcakes.   Fudge couldn’t join us, but she was eager to spread our goodwill.  She pointed to a friend of hers who was approaching us, hunched over a walker.  She introduced us to a quiet, humble man named Garth.  I have to admit, I may have looked past Garth as he didn’t stand out in the crowd.  She explained our offer, and Garth told us he would need a second to take it all in.  He was stunned.  He turned to us and said “I don’t know if I am the best person – I might not like the lunch they are serving today.”  We told him that he could order from the menu and he could pick his own lunch.  With bewilderment, he told us he could not believe his luck as no one had taken him to a restaurant in fifteen years.  In seconds, Garth started to share his story, often at a rapid pace, describing his own journey woven in with historical facts about Vancouver.  His only concern was that lunch may not be enough time for him to tell his story.

We entered Save on Meats and asked for a table for three.  We waited a couple minutes for a table to clear.  Some restaurant patrons glanced inquisitively as Garth’s appearance is toughened from the drugs and street life.   We made our way to a booth and glanced at the menu.  With childlike enthusiasm Garth asked if it would be ok to order french fries and a milkshake.  We agreed and placed our orders.

I took some time to explain Project HELLO and Beyond HELLO and ask Garth’s permission to tell his story.  Not only did he agree, he was proud of this new role, all of a sudden feeling a sense a purpose.  Something he hasn’t felt since his days at an mail sorter with Canada Post.  Despite the circumstances and battles he faced outside of work, he always felt a great sense of purpose once he got to work.  His face brightened as he told us eagerly about the places he has worked:  an extra on Beachcombers and 21 JumpStreet, a security guard at Expo 86 and a 20 year graveyard employee with Canada Post.  Garth described himself by saying “I’m a simple guy.  I’m a passive person – just don’t piss me off.  All I ask from others is that they don’t lie and don’t steal.”  We agreed to those terms and began to get to know one another.

Garth grew up in poverty, living in one of Vancouver’s first Co-op housing units with a single mother and three siblings.  His father worked on the tugboats but was not around much.  Garth wonders if his father is still alive.  His mother worked hard to raise their family but she was not the warm and affectionate type.  Garth reflects on his childhood and how much his mom’s hugs would mean to him.  As he got older his mom was not the ‘huggy’ type but she would often say to him “let me put on the kettle and make us some tea.” To Garth, his mom’s tea and shortbread cookies meant the same as a hug.  This is something he misses dearly since his mom past away many years ago.  Around the time of his mother’s death a falling out occurred between Garth and his siblings.  Battles over the will and the distribution of mom’s limited possessions left the family fighting with one another.  This was the last time Garth saw family.

Shortly after his mom’s death, Garth was in a major car accident.  He was hit head on.  The impact caused his tools from the back seat to fly forward and hit him from the back.  It took emergency personnel hours to rescue him from the vehicle.  Garth endured a sixteen hour surgery to overcome the impact.  Miraculously he survived.  He now walks with a walker and has a metal chest plate to help with stability.  He also contacted Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion.  As he told us this he chuckled at the irony – that he is now an addict on the Downtown Eastside yet his Hepatitis is from a blood transfusion.

Wondering why he was still alive after his mom’s death and his car accident, his life lacked meaning.  That feeling lasted until the day he was at Metrotown Mall and he met his soul mate Sylvia.  Like his mother’s hugs, Sylvia provided comfort to his life.  The two married and lived together in the Eastside of Vancouver supporting one another.  In 2001, Syliva became quite sick needing Kidney dialysis.  Garth supported her around the clock helping with her medical care.  One evening he asked a friend to help so he could go out for a couple of hours.  He returned to discover his wife dead.  His friend had decided it was best to end Sylvia’s suffering by holding a pillow over her face.  In an absolute rage, he walked the streets for 72 hours not knowing how to move forward.  He turned to drugs for comfort.  As described by Dr. Gabor Mate, heroin often provides the same feeling as a warm, soft hug – the exact feeling that Garth was missing from his life.

Garth has continued to have his own medical struggles. He described one incident when his lungs filled with liquid and he was essentially drowning.  He was again hospitalized but once again lived to tell about it.  He credits his pain management skills to his training in judo and karate as a child.  He is proud of his ability to control his mind enough to separate it from the physical pain.  He is also proud that he dreams in colour.   Through conversation, Garth asked if we could try to find his sister Lisa.  She is fifteen years younger than him and he essentially raised her when their mom was sick.  She called him ‘Uncle Garth’.  He let us know that just recently he has been wanting to re-connect with her.  He tried asking the RCMP to help but they were unable to help without a valid reason.  He is hopeful that we can help.  So far, despite our searches, we have not found Lisa LaBrash (born in 1976).  We will continue to try.

As we reminisced, Garth stopped to thank us, as it has been a long time since someone has listened to his story.  He is aware enough to know he is psychologically stuck.   With clear articulation, he admitted “I am my own worst enemy.  You haven’t seen anything until you have seen the worst in yourself. I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror for a long long time.  But I am ready.  I want to find my sister again.”

We thanked Garth for taking the time to tell us his story.  I decided to apologize openly to Garth for the judgement and lack of understanding given to their neighbourhood.  He understood and agreed that more is needed.  Yet then he smiled and said, “you know we judge you too right?” I ask him what he meant.  He told me that from my clothing and the way I held my notebook he had determined I was a cross between a social worker and a cop.  I corrected him and let him know I am a Vice Principal at a high school.  His face lit up and he chuckled – “see – exactly – a cross between a social worker and a cop!”  I smiled at his wisdom.

I asked him three final questions.  First – what does he wants people to understand about the Downtown Eastside?  His answer was simple.  “We are all lost souls.  This is rock bottom.  This is the bowels of hell.”  I asked him where he sees himself in five years.  It is something he hasn’t thought about in a long time.  The question intrigued him and you could see a glimmer of hope as he pondered where he could be.  He let us know it’s a good question to leave him with.  Finally I asked him if there is anything positive about the Downtown Eastside.  With his shoulders relaxed and a more peaceful expression than when we first met him, he reminded us “Every day you open your eyes is a beautiful day.”

We exchanged contact information and agreed to be in touch.  We thanked Garth for sharing his story. He thanked us, still amazed that someone had taken the time to buy him a meal and listen to him for a couple of hours.  We left with a handshake and a smile, grateful that we had taken the time to go ‘Beyond HELLO’, genuinely connecting with friends over lunch.

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A Glimpse Into Administration: Why I Love this Journey

My best friend Jen would make an excellent administrator. Why? She is a natural leader, excellent educator, committed to professional development and loves working with students and teachers.  She is creative, fun and inspiring.  There’s just one problem. She is not interested.  Like many others, she doesn’t feel it is the job for her.  Like others, she fears that a career in administration would reduce the amount of time she gets to spend with kids, and fill her days with problems to deal with.   And I get it.  If I rewind four years, when I first started thinking about administration I was in the same place.   In fact, when I was offered an ‘acting admin’ position a couple years ago I accepted for one reason:  I wanted to shake away the silly notion of applying that seemed to bubble inside me every time the posting appeared. The temporary ‘acting admin’ position would be enough to convince me it was not the job for me. Five months in, when I found out the acting admin position would be extended for the entire school year, my principal approached me and asked if I was going to apply to be an administrator.  I said no.  She then asked if I would like her find someone else to do the acting admin position for the second semester so I could return to my counselling position.  I heard myself say no.  She asked why.  It was a fair question. In that moment I realized I had no explanation, and it was time to adjust my own belief, and recognize that I love the role of administration.   She then asked if that meant I would put my name in for the admin pool.  I said I would definitely think about it.  She told me to think fast – the posting was to come out the next day.  So here we are – three years later, and reflecting on my vice principal roles in two schools in two different districts, I have to say I love my job.
Being an administrator is so much more than handling conflicts, managing diminishing budgets, listening to complaints and responding to student discipline. Fortunately I have had the opportunity to work with two outstanding principals, Mary O’Neill and Sean Nosek who both embrace the notion that school is not just about learning curriculum, but also about learning lessons in life.  As an administrator, we get to experience so many positive and unique moments, where students and staff learn together.  Yet, I wonder if we share these positive moments enough.  By the number of people who have said “I would never want your job”, I’m thinking we do not.  Statistically, when people are happy about something they tell 2-3 people and when they are unhappy they tell 10-15.  What a different world we would live in if we could flip that statistic.
The last few weeks have been full of amazing experiences.  Here’s a quick glimpse at some of my favourite moments.  They shed light on what administration is really like and why I love my job.
  • Grade 8 Inquiry Project– a team of our grade 8 teachers dedicated the month of April to Inquiry Based Learning.  For one month, they put curriculum aside and helped students develop their own questions for inquiry.  The month long event culminated in a morning exhibition where students showcased their incredible projects ranging from the creation of video games, new all weather recycled clothing, and a violin performance by a student who had taught herself how to play. IMG_0410 As a vice principal walking through the exhibition I was inspired by the excitement and passion that surfaced with these purposeful assignments.  Students studied what mattered to them, and in doing so embraced their curiosity and sense of wonder.  Many students were so engaged in their learning, they continued to study their topic after the project was over.
  • Me to We Night – I was lucky enough to find myself on the invite list to an evening of conversation with ladies from Kenya who were visiting North America for the first time. Mama Monica and Mama Leah shared the stories of their lives, growing up in poverty with no education.  Now, in coordination with Me to We, they teach others to make beautiful jewelry that is sold around the world.  They now have 600 women working with them, and their lives have changed dramatically as they are able to send their children to school, provide for their families and feel an incredible sense of hope for the future.  As we conversed in a waterfront condo at New Westmnister Quay I could not help but wonder if they felt resentment for all that we have.  Instead, they spoke genuinely from the heart, finding similarities between us rather than differences.  Together, as a group of educators we sang, laughed and celebrated the power that comes from working together.
  • Miranda meets Robin.  Miranda is a grade 11 student at Thomas Haney.  She has already completed two Me to We Trips (to Ghana and Kenya) so I thought I would ask her some questions before visiting the ladies from Kenya.  I mentioned that some lady named Robin would be there.  Miranda’s face lit up as she asked if I meant Robin Wiszowaty, author or My Maasai Life.  I said yes.  It turns out Robin had played a key role in Miranda’s life.  Miranda experienced many health issues as a child and had to undergo numerous surgeries.  In an effort to mentally escape from the hospital, Miranda read Robin’s book.  Miranda credits this book as her escape from reality, as she was able to experience Robin’s journey through Kenya and imagine herself there.  Knowing Robin was going to to be at Me to We night, I made a few phone calls and we were able to invite Miranda to join us for the evening.  She was able to spend time with Robin, bonding over their experiences.  After the evening ended, Miranda tagged a photo of the event on Facebook, labelling it ‘one of the best nights of my life’.
  • Heart Mind Conference.  Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend an amazing conference at UBC focussed on mindfulness, the science behind happiness, and understanding how children thrive.  Some of my favour presenters included Goldie Hawn, Paul Tough and Shawn Achor.  I encourage Twitter users to happiness-slidesearch the hashtag #heartmind2013 to gain a glimpse into the conference take-aways on social-emotional learning.  Personally, I love the science behind happiness and the discovery that only 10% of our happiness is impacted by external factors beyond our control.  When we help students train their minds to experience happiness, we help them excel in school and life.  One of my favourite take away suggestions was Shawn Achor’s telephone etiquette tip….. When you are on the phone and someone asks how you are doing, make sure the first three things you say are positive.  Rather than whining about busy lifestyles, stress or negative moments, we can reshape our conversations and our own happiness if we focus on the positives.  Happiness has a ripple effect…. Wouldn’t you look forward to phone calls if everyone you called shared their happiness before their concerns?
  • Project HELLO – I am so grateful that the students and staff at Thomas Haney have allowed me the opportunity to bring Project HELLO with me to Maple Ridge.  I am also grateful that the staff and students in Coquitlam have shown an interest to continue the project.  Now we have two district working together where elementary students make Christmas and Mothers’ Day cards and high school students invite the homeless to send cards reconnecting with family.  This Mothers’ Day students and staff from Charles Best and Thomas Haney spent the day together on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver helping 42 people send cards to their moms.  The students then made calls to search the country for mailing addresses, and IMG_0419successfully connected many families including a lady who had not heard from her sister in over twelve years.   This year we spent part of the day with Save on Meats and Linwood House, learning how these wonderful organizations provide hope to people in this impoverished community.   As an administrator, I love finding time to work with students on projects, committees and events.  Sometimes our days get busy, but making time for these meaningful connections bring so much joy to the work we do.
  • Professional learning community.  As an administrator I am so grateful for the professional learning community that I am part of.  Last Friday we hosted a team of student teachers just finishing their practicums.   On  Tuesday I spent the lunch hour with teachers sharing technology tips with one another.  Over the past few weeks, we have welcomed educators to Thomas Haney from BC, the Yukon, and New Zealand.  Next week we will welcome guests from Iceland.  While these teams have travelled to Thomas Haney to learn about our self directed model, I find we gain just as much as we learn about education around the world.  Who knew that Yukon follows the BC curriculum while also implementing a grade seven buffalo hunt?  They described the challenges as grade sevens each have their own knives in the school gym for the buffalo skinning.  Now that’s classroom management!
  • IHIT Team –  OK – perhaps what I love best about administration is the unpredictable nature of our jobs.  It is a mix of social work, counselling, management, leadership, event planning, and police work all rolled into one.  So – last week when two gentlemen appeared in my office dressed in business suits and identified themselves as members of the IHIT team, I have to admit I was intrigued.   They wanted our help in their attempt to notify next of kin of a homicide victim. Luckily the tragedy didn’t impact our school community but temporarily helping the IHIT team search for a family was pretty exciting  (ok – maybe it’s a bit morbid… maybe I should have been a cop :))
  • Property Brothers – photoForming positive relationships with school alumni always builds culture, but when Drew and Jonathan Scott from the Property Brothers (alumni from Thomas Haney) happened to swing by for a visit it was pretty exciting.  Especially when they mentioned they want to find ways to give back and connect with the school community inspiring others to follow their dreams.
  • Yoga – With encouragement from some of our students, I decided to try one of our school’s yoga classes.  Taught by Michelle Szakos, the class was challenging yet relaxing.  What I loved best was the role the students played learning to teach yoga.  Ms. Szakos combined her skills as an English teacher and yoga instructor to guide students through a rejuvenating visualization exercise.  What a great way to start a day!  I love that our kids have so many unique course offerings!
  • Selin Jessa – Selin Jessa is a grade 12 student at Charles Best who has recently won close to $300 000 in scholarship offers for her fantastic work in the sciences and leadership.  She visited Thomas Haney to share her passion with science students, inspiring others with stories of her trip to Antartica, and her work with graduate students on HIV.  What I loved best was the way she ended her presentation.  She compared science to politics and coined science as one of the few peaceful global projects where countries share and work together for positive change. Her message applied to all disciplines encouraging others to work together with peaceful intentions.
  • Staplefest – You may wonder what this is…. Really, it’s one of those ‘seeing is believing’ type of things….   It took place in Maple Ridge on Friday where students from multiple schools join together to celebrate the stapler.  From staple relays, choreographed stapler dances and stapler inspired music, students celebrate together finding the ‘significance in insignificant things’.    I will never look at a stapler the same way.
Sometimes I feel that I am drawn away from the daily routine to attend to moments such as these, yet I am beginning to recognize that these experiences are not distractions but rather education itself.   Despite the variety in these experiences, they have a common theme.  They recognize the potential we have when we connect and work together.  They demonstrate how rich learning can be when we extend beyond our classroom walls. They recognize that the well being of our students should always be our priority, as education is so much more than curriculum.     Tom Huffman defines education as every activity that broadens and enhances life.  As a vice principal, I am loving my education.  (And yes Jen, .. you should apply!)