The Teacher Dad : Parenting for Change

I'm a 37 year old white father of twin bi-racial 4 year old boys. I couldn't be any more proud of that fact. They are 2 of my 5 kids all of whom I love dearly. Our mixed race family turns heads everywhere we go, mostly because we are super cute! But also because we are clearly a loving family.

When my wife and I decided to add to our family through adoption we knew the responsibility we would have in raising our soon to be diverse family. We talked about the challenges that our boys could face as Black Americans, but then again we also discussed the challenges our daughters will face, and the overall hurdles we as parents will face in raising all of kids. Being a parent is challenging work regardless of family make-up. 

Our goal is to raise strong independent thinkers that can show empathy and compassion for all types of people. Kids that can follow rules, but also know when a rule needs to be reevaluated and challenged. We encourage our kids to feel, think, and question.

So, as I sift through the recent events surrounding the death of Freddie Grey in Baltimore, I'm asking myself what I would be saying to my boys if they were older. How would I try to explain to them what happened, and what has been a pattern of "happenings" in recent years towards black males?

And it's super hard. Because I'll have to explain to my suburban American kids that life isn't "fair" to everyone in our country. That there are some kids born into homes that don't have the same support and love that they do.There are kids born into families that live in places where opportunity is different, where schools are not like the ones they go to. That there isn't a choir class, or iPads, or arts & theater, or a library with new books every year. It's hard for me to have to explain that there are people that don't think it's fair to help these kids and families because they feel by helping we are only furthering a problem. That help equals dependency, and it's not okay to help people that will just then rely on that help.

I know that when I say these things the response will be, "why?" "Why are kids not being treated fairly?" "Why are there schools that don't have the same things my school does?" "Why do their families not have the same opportunity?" "Why do people feel that way about kids and families in that community?"

They are going to ask all of the right questions.  And I'll have to explain to them that it's history. That there has been a history of segregating the have nots from the haves. That while our country was founded on the idea of all men being created equal, it hasn't been practiced by everyone. I see that I'll have to look into the eyes of my kids and explain that because 4 of them fall into a "minority" subclass, that they might find a tougher road. And that's simply because of skin color or gender. That our country has a history of stereotyping people just on looks alone.

I think of all of this, and I struggle with the idea that in 8 years when my boys are 12, that all of this could still be going on. That 8 years later we could still see areas of extreme poverty in our country. That we could still hear the same "just work harder" banter. That when my kids finally do ask "why" I'll have no better answers than I do today.

A colleague recently asked me about our decision to move to this community. A community that is noticeably less diverse than our previous Fairbanks, AK home. Did it play into consideration? Sure. It was a worry to know that our boys could be even more of a minority in this town. But, I also explained that since moving here we've connected with other families like ours, and that while we are not the norm, we are cared for. Does that mean things will be easy when our boys are bigger? No. No it doesn't. Their mom and I will have to put a strong emphasis on the importance of first impressions. On how to be mindful of surroundings and the situations they put themselves in. We'll have to talk about tone and the power it has in positive communication. The truth is we'll have to do this with all of our kids, because it's true for each of them. 

In the end, I know that they won't be totally alone in that they will always have the love from each other, their siblings, extended family, their friends, and of course their mom and me. We're so proud of the little men they're becoming and regardless of the life struggles put in front of them, this loving support team will always be there. 

The Teacher Dad : Teacher Appreciation Week

My last bite from day 2 leftovers! 

The other day our student council decided to get the staff a Chinese food lunch for teacher appreciation week. How awesome is that, right?! The funny thing is that when you get things catered and people have specific lunch schedules things have to be timed correctly. Well, it turned out that the food didn't get to school soon enough, and the teachers with the first lunch period missed out on the food completely. Not a big deal, because the amazing admins, students, and staff made sure to get plates of food to those that missed out.

But the entire issue got me thinking, and I realized that what happened in our building is a good picture of how things work for teachers across the US. Ultimately, what some teachers have available to them depends greatly on where their lunch falls (or where they teach). There are some schools out there with unlimited resources at their disposal, including parent volunteers, booster moneys, P/D funds, and technology devices. While others work in places that require them to spend out of pocket for nearly everything they need in the classrooms. There are schools where parents are begged to help on field trips, and all extra-curricular activities are funded at bare-bones unless they are strictly academically focused (i.e. you won't find a bowling team at these schools). These are the schools where the teachers weren't even offered a lunch!

I happen to work at the school with the best lunch schedule. You name we've got it, and if not.. we can write a quality grant and get it. We are super supported by an amazing community, and everyone around knows it. And, what amazes me is that I run into teachers that don't realize the great lunch schedule we have. "Lunch wasn't warm enough" (class size), "wanted chicken fried rice not pork" (kids not doing homework), "the seats aren't massaging" (teacher pay). And while those are all solid issues in the world of academics, there are teachers in the other lunch that don't even have a microwave to heat up the food brought from home! It is so easy to take things for granted, and educators are no different.

There are days that I wish all teachers would have to teach in a variety of different environments, so that we can all have a taste of what it's like some place else. I've had the privilege of teaching in 3 different schools in two different districts. I've seen a lot of things that have helped me shape my views on public education, and have helped me to appreciate a great thing when I've found it. I see the need to advocate for educational change and equality. But without a common voice, its hard to fight for change. Especially, when we do try and all it sounds like it teachers wanting more money or other negative headlines take over.

So, if you're reading this, and you haven't yet, please contact your kiddo's teachers and thank them for doing what they do. Sure, some of them might not be the best teacher your kiddo could have. You may not even like them. But the truth is, you don't know which lunch they might have at school or in life. And while, a quality teacher can leave all that aside to be the best they can be for the students, some just might need a pick me up that a "thanks, you're appreciated" message could bring to their day. So to my fellow teachers out there fighting the good fight.. I appreciate you!

The Teacher Dad - Creating Memories

When I think back to my childhood, I think of specific memories. I remember big family vacations to Disney World, Sea World, Dude Ranches (yes that happened), and also little things like my sisters and I laughing at local Chicagoland commercials, and coming up with our own "van" dances to particular songs on the radio. There are playground memories, school friend memories and crazy memories.. like the time our neighbor lady walked out naked in front of all the neighbor boys.. to her defense, her kids shouldn't have let us all in her bedroom to play video games while she showered! Yikes!

Being the parents of 5 kiddos, my wife and I are always looking for ways to create these positive memories (sans the nudity) for our kids and their grandparents, and all of our extended family. As a photographer (Machc Photography), my wife has done an amazing job capturing it all for us to display in our house, and further encouraging our families to help in creating these memories. 

So, over our recent spring break my parents, while visiting from Chicago, made sure to create as many memories as possible with our kids during the time they were here. From trips to the Oregon Zoo and Children's Museum down to hotel sleep overs, and Fro-Yo at Menchie's, the kids are still talking about the wonderful things there were able to do with their Granny and Gramps. It was an amazing trip, and I can't thank them enough!

A quick pic at the Oregon Zoo

The best part about it is that I've learned something from thinking about my memories and talking over with my kids what they thought the high points of the visit were, and it ultimately isn't about the big stuff. The number one thing they liked was being in the pool with the Granny and Gramps. A close second was the hotel continental breakfast the mornings after the sleep over!  What they remember from it all, and what I truly feel when I think back to my memories are the feelings of happiness, love, and togetherness. It's those feelings we, as parents, have to recognize and encourage even through the taking to school, picking up from school, taking to practice, doing frustrating homework, cleaning up spills, and all the other chaos. We have to remember to keep those feelings front and center for our kiddos, so they can look back and feel those moments with us. So that funny song we sang on the way to practice in the car was a moment we let ourselves enjoy too. 

So go.. enjoy the moments with the kiddos to create memories you all will be able to look back on later down the line.

Thanks again for reading my blog, and sharing it with your friends! I'd love to hear some of your funny/silly memories, so please share in the comments below! 

The Teacher Dad - More Thoughts on Common Core

I've been seeing a lot of posts in my Facebook feed like this:

Commenters then argue back and forth over the answer with many complaining about the "new" math common core has the kids learning. Some of the parents are irate going so far as to placing blame on the liberal media or our own President. Calm down already! 

The truth is that math hasn't changed. There is no "new" math. The common core is just a set of math and English standards, or more clearly, grade level expectations. The point of the common core is to set national learning expectations for all grade levels. That means all 2nd graders will be expected to know the same level of math all across the nation. Regardless of socio-economic conditions, budgets, or local culture. These expectations may be unreasonable or over done (I touch on this here). But the fact is the common core is here for a little while, and it might mean you parents have to brush up on things. Especially those of you that are seeing your kids come home with more homework in the early elementary grades where as young as 3rd grade they need to understand fractions...Oh no!! Fractions! 

For now, the answer to the above problem is 100. Parentheses first. Then multiplication or division which ever comes first from left to right. In this case... Divide first multiply last. 

I never did like Aunt Sally... Smelled of cats and cabbage.. And that hair lip.. No excuse for any of that! Yuck! 

The Teacher Dad ebook!

It's true! I wrote an ebook! It has always been a life goal of mine to write a book... I was a few credits away from a minor in English if you really want to know. :)

I wrote this Teacher Dad ebook to help parents better approach teachers regarding classroom concerns by acting as the kiddo's advocate and expert. Be it with an IEP, 504, or a general learning hurdle, this book will be able to give some ideas on how to build a partnership between parents and the teacher. It also fills you in on what you should be expecting of a high quality teacher regarding how your student's struggle should be handled, and when a teacher has crossed the line.

I couldn't be more excited to have this out there as a resource to help parents navigate the often difficult process of talking with a teacher about how to best help a student. You can find the book by following this link (here).

Thanks for supporting the Teacher Dad!

End of week blues

The end of another week is quickly approaching. You would think that as a father of 5, I look forward to the weekends. And for the most part I do. As soon as we hit Saturday afternoon, things start getting much better. It's just that Friday night to Saturday morning time that is ruthless.  The exhaustion from school each week wrecks my kids, and truly sets in after school on Friday. It hits us all like a ton of bricks, to the point where my wife and I seem to be scrambling each Thursday to come up with a way to help smooth out our Friday afternoon.

Don't get me wrong, my kids are amazing kids. It's just by the end of each school week they are simply spent. They put a lot into being the best they can at school. They hold on through the boredom, social anxieties, academic anxieties, and the overall need for staying out the trouble only to fall across the finish line after a long week.

The hard part about this is that they demonstrate how tired they are by acting out. They lose all filters and impulse control. They are all naturally active kids, so the activeness stays, but most control of themselves vanishes. Sudden breakdowns are common. Combine the breakdown with a super tantrum and I just try to hold on through the perfect storm. It's quite remarkable.. really... when you look at it from a distance. 

As we've watched this exhaustion lead to tough behavior each week, we've gained a couple insightful options that could help families in similar breakdown/exhaustion cycles.

1) Keep to a routine. After a long week, it breaks kids further to go home and learn of an unplanned event on a Friday. Keep after school on Friday to a know schedule with plenty of relax time or decompress time. Maybe that's with an electronic device, but that's okay. Just keep it low key and routine focused. We have pizza Fridays to keep that steady, so they know what's coming.

2) Playdates are good distractions. We found this little nugget a few weeks ago. Our oldest was invited to a friend's house and our 2nd in line had a friend over. It was glorious to have sibling separation, and the distraction of a friend. The kids had a great time, and by the time all play dates ended. We had dinner, a book and bed. A few break downs along the way, but not an entire afternoon full of them!

3) I've seen other families keep Friday for game night, movie night, or some other family focused activity. I know my crew would love art night Friday's.... That just piped in my head!! Gonna have to further think that one through! 

I'd love to hear your ideas or best/craziest end of week break down story in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

What I've Learned in Leaving the FNSBSD

Prior to this school year, I spent 9 years as a teacher in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. A district that in recent weeks is again (2 years running) in the local paper with stories about budget shortfalls, HR problems, and more teacher pink slips (no more music or arts classes is what I hear). I left the district in what is now clear to me as the lowest point in the district's history. And I now find myself in a district that is thriving. A district that shows no budgetary concerns, is hiring teachers, and has a history of student success through graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, and state test scores. Everyday, I look around in awe at the complete shift in experiences, and ask myself, "How can there be such a drastic difference between these 2 districts?"

I've spent a lot of time reflecting on this question, trying to find meaning to all of it. I've listed what I see as the primary reasons behind how FNSBSD is falling behind compared to my new district.

1) Money: I'm not going to lie. My new district has it. A decent amount of it. We live in a community with a higher median income, and one that isn't afraid to share with the school district. Most of the families that move here do so because of the schools and our reputation. The people have money and they are more then willing to put that toward the education of their kids.

The truth, however, is that there is money in the state of Alaska. I believe the budget short falls have been created by the decisions of state officials to defund education. As I see it, there is a lack of trust in what the districts are doing with the money, how it's being spent, and the overall educational results. And to a certain degree, I agree with them. 

In Fairbanks, there is quite a bit of money spent on "things." When I was at North Pole high school, there were 4 complete sets of TI-Navigator systems that were simply purchased. Most just sat there, and my guess is that they still mostly just sit there. Much like the many classroom sets of iPads, iPods, SmartBoards, and other fun technology. Now, these items are not the reason for the budget shortfalls, but more a picture of the spending that happens. 

In my new district, all purchases for classroom learning items (like the ones listed above) are gained through grants. Teachers write for district grant funds by explaining how the technology they would like will be used to enhance learning. These are then read and approved by the board. The money is spent with a direct intention. Teachers and administration communicate to make purchases based on student need. The teachers are trusted to help make those decisions, and the board and admin team proudly support those needs. For a new teacher like me, it means that I don't immediately have the access to the items I had in Fairbanks, but I know that I can write for a grant to get the items that I know will enhance my teaching practice. 

This is obviously just one little picture. However, I'm amazed at how morale within the school can be so strong simply in how the community supports us educators. And I don't mean just through the money, although that helps. I mean in the everyday things. When I'm meeting new people, and I mention that I teach at the high school, they talk with pride about how great our district is. And that's from young parents to grandparents. There is pride in being here, and supporting the schools. It's amazing. So as we continue to show results, we are in fact earning the finical support of the community. This is something I hardly ever felt while teaching in Fairbanks. 

2) Leadership: During my 9 years of teaching in the FNSBSD, I can remember 3 maybe 4 different superintendents. That's a lot. How can a district get a sense of where it's going if the "captain of the ship" is constantly changing? I moved to a place where the current superintendent has been a part of the district for 19 years. 19 years! Our principal has been in his position for 9 years. Together, they are the backbone of what is nothing but support to the teachers and staff in the district. Their student centered message is unified and clear. It is also clear that they work only to enhance our efforts for the kids. There isn't an us verse them vibe. They know we are working for the kids, and they support that. 

They ask us (the teachers) what we need from professional development (PD). They don't hire whatever outside speaker they can to preach at us. They instead encourage us to step into teacher-leader roles. Or to come up with ideas for PD throughout the year that we can get paid to teach to our peers. If I'm doing something awesome in my class, I can hold an after school class/workshop to show other teachers about it. The PD moneys then stay in-house, and are put towards what the teachers want/need. We are encouraged to use our voice to make positive changes. 

This has been hard for me. I wanted desperately to have a voice in FNSBSD. I frequently felt as though I wasn't being heard, and that we were constantly being talked to by the untouchable admin. It was "them" making decisions, and the teachers just dealing with it. The input they received was controlled in that those that were part of teacher committees, were often selected by the admin. And I say often and not always, because occasionally we were given an opportunity to speak our minds. It just wasn't always acknowledged. 

The strength of the leadership and the relationships they've created with all of the district staff is so noticeably different between the two districts. It is even different in how each has dealt with implementing the new Common Core based state standards (CCSS) as well as a new teacher evaluations. From day one, I've heard nothing but positive support from our educational leaders. Encouragement that we can handle the new expectations even with a change in teacher evaluations. Every week we're reminded that the CCSS don't define our students, and that we, the teachers, will work each day to help our students grow within the standards. And that it's not about them meeting these idilic standards, but that we can demonstrat that our efforts show student growth within the standards. There isn't a sense of fear trickling down each day like I remember from last year when CC was looming over us. We are supported, and valued for what they know we can do. 

3) District Size: I can't be too hard on the leadership in Fairbanks, because in all honesty, how many former educators can truly handle managing a district the size of FNSBSD? It's huge! Thirty-three schools in all when you count the elementary, secondary, and each of the schools of choice. That's insane! It has to be near impossible to oversee anything with a single superintendent, and two assistant-superintendents. Throw-in the number of employees needed, and it's no wonder the HR department is having a hard time keeping up. I wonder how long it takes a new superintendent to remember the names of all the principals! 

I went from that, to a district with a total 10 schools. Six elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools (1 main campus and 1 school of choice). I've grown to truly believe that the size of a school district matters. As in anything, the larger in number a group grows the harder it is to manage. Especially, when the message from the leader isn't clear or leadership is constantly changing. 

I find it hard to see FBNSBSD ever trying to restructure. But if I could, I would break that district up as fast as possible. Separate North Pole and Salcha into one district, maybe? I don't know. It would be great to see one day. 

Overall, I loved being in Fairbanks. My wife was a student of FNSBSD. She was the 4th generation of her family to be born in Fairbanks. We moved there, believing we were going to stay and raise our family. It was so hard to say goodbye to the people we love. But, as I see more problems for the district, I realize that my hand was in many ways forced to make a change. And while some days it hurts, the majority of my days are looking around feeling so fortunate to having been hired in my new district. In a district that encourages me each day to take an active role in leading my students and peers into the common core era.

I wish nothing but better days for the teachers of the amazing students in FNSBSD. I hope that budget shortfalls don't do further damage to the district, and I hope beyond hope, that the new superintendent has the courage to lead the district with pride, strength, and an ability to give voice to many who've been without it for too many years.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please feel free to leave comments, thoughts, or feelings below.