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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Top Ten Resolutions for 2011

I have never been very good at developing—never mind sharing—New Year’s resolutions. I like to think that if I want to or need to change something I won’t wait until the turn of the December calendar. This time, however, I decided to give it a try. Here we go:

1. Participate in more professional development opportunities that will strengthen my leadership skills and deepen my understanding of high achieving schools.
2. Increase my interactions and relationships with town and community departments and organizations that will support increased student learning and growth.
3. Consider ways we can encourage additional student feedback and input to improve school and instructional programs.
4. Visit more classrooms.
5. Build support for a reasonable and prudent 2011-12 budget plan that sustains our work in the schools.
6. Ensure the upcoming repairs and the relocation of students at the Newman Elementary School are completed safely, efficiently, and under budget.
7. Review special education programming within the Needham Schools to learn how we can a) increase student learning and achievement, and b) use our resources more efficiently.
8. Speak out about senseless legislative and administrative “reforms” that only burden educators and do little, if anything, to improve learning or assist teachers. (The recently adopted Massachusetts Ethics Commission disclosure guidelines for teacher gifts come to mind, for example.)
9. Attend as many of my high school daughter’s track meets as possible this winter and spring; Skype frequently with my two other daughters; and share even more goofy stories and jokes with them.
10. Take my wife out to dinner more regularly and lengthen our walks around the neighborhood.

And, finally, don’t do all of these things in order; be more flexible. Happy New Year!

4 comments:

  1. I thought the point of New Year's Resolutions was that you were supposed to be fully prepared to jettison them by mid-January.

    I know you won't jettison these. And I will do my best to be sure you keep 9 and 10!

    ReplyDelete
  2. David Loeser 7:05 PM, 1/11/11January 11, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    Here is a suggested resolution number 11.

    11. Announce school closings as soon as it becomes apparent that weather conditions will make it dangerous/impossible to drive on the streets of Needham during school hours.

    Your announcement is too late when:

    The kids are planning to sled down Tower Ave.

    Most of the surrounding towns have closed their schools.

    The weathermen say we are going to have a blizzard and to stay off the streets.

    You cannot get out of your driveway because either your plow guy has not shown up or the town has plowed you in.

    David Loeser

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the suggestion and feedback!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Resolution #12

    Never, EVER, call 4,000 people at 5:30 in the morning just to tell them to drive safely.

    ReplyDelete