Empowering Educators - Mrs. Lynn Levins

Meet Mrs. Lynn Levins: First Grade Teacher and Half-Marathon Runner

Mrs. Levins is a first grade teacher at North Elementary School. Today, she was seen scurrying around the hallway, sporting her colorful dinosaur dress. With a smile on her face, she said - this is for the kids. They love it!

Mrs. Levins has been an educator for ten years, and her pathway to education was paved through personal life experiences and a-ha moments about the schooling of her personal children. First, she volunteered at her children's school and got a glimpse of the hard but rewarding work that teachers did. This sparked her interest in substitute teaching. While substitute teaching, Mrs. Levins also decided to go back to school. She obtained her teaching degree online through Western Governors University. Mrs. Levins said that participating in an online program allowed her to do what she needed to do educationally while still continuing to work during the day, and being there for her kids in the evenings.

Mrs. Levins explained that coming into education later on in life definitely has its advantages. Having  raised children of her own, Mrs. Levins stated that she has a better understanding of how to handle kids, but also, she has a better understanding of where parents come from. She said that she understands the frustrations, worries, and everything else that comes with parenthood.

When Mrs. Levins talked about her students, she said that her students are the reason she keeps coming back each and every day. The days when students get excited about learning and ask the teacher to "do it again", are the ones that make teaching rewarding. Small-group learning time is Mrs. Levins' favorite, she said. Why? Because this is where students are challenged, but also, it is the time when real connections can be made. Mrs. Levins says that small groups are great for learning and engagement, but also for relationship building. She talked about situations where students would tell her that they did not know each other's names, but had an opportunity to get to know one another in a safe environment in a small group. Mrs. Levins explained that his is the kind of learning that should be happening at schools - and this is where students want to be.

Besides teaching, Mrs. Levins has also tried their hand at running a small business. Recognizing the need in the community, Mrs. Levins and her family opened a bowling alley with a hope to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for families that they could enjoy at a low cost. The business brought a lot of excitement and enjoyment, but it also brought many heart aches. Mrs. Levins described how all of her resources - including time and energy, went into the business that just did not seem to give back financially. There were other perks though, she said. While Levins family has now closed this business, many memories have remained. Mrs. Levins described how students who came to visit at the bowling alley would often say "Mrs. Levins, I did not know you work here!". Mrs. Levins stated that this was important for the kids to see; they saw their teacher working like many of their parents, which, Mrs. Levins hopes, helped students to make a better connection to her in class.

Mrs. Levins admitted that the long days at school and long nights at the bowling alley took its toll on her. To overcome this, Mrs. Levins tapped into health foods and physical fitness activities.

She started running. It started out with one mile jogs that then extended into three miles, then into six miles. When her friends saw what she was doing, they jumped right in and now, there is a group of friends who are together dedicated the healthy life choices and physical activities. As jogging turned into running, a few miles here and there also turned into more and more miles every day. Now, Mrs. Levins trains for the 13.1 mile half-marathon, and she participates (along with her running mates) in half-marathons all over the state of Florida.

Mrs. Levins concluded her story by saying that running has turned into something more than just a hobby. It is now a lifestyle. Describing how running has changed her life, Mrs. Levins stated that she now starts her day at 3:30 am, and then runs for an hour prior to heading to work at NES. She stated: "Running gives me more energy that lasts throughout the day, and it empowers me to carry on as a mom and educator each and every day".

Dr. Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

Empowering Educators - Mrs. Chelsea Fraser

Meet Mrs. Chelsea Fraser - 4th Grade Math and Science Teacher at North Elementary School; Hand-Lettering and Macrame Artist at Fiber + Pen

On Thursday, a photographer visited North Elementary School for an opportunity for some stock photos for the school district publications. She was able to get some unique photo ops in Mrs. Fraser's classroom: the teacher was using technology and online tools to deliver the math content, students were using dry-erase markers to write on their desks to solve math problems, and the teacher was making her way around the classroom, getting students' attention with theatrical intonation and moves. Mrs. Fraser explained: "If I have to make a fool out of myself to get them to understand the content, then that is what I will do". Mrs. Fraser talked about the importance of students' readiness to learn, and said that before we can teach, we need to set the stage to engage. "We are teaching hard stuff", she said, "and getting students to where they can understand it is the fun part".

Mrs. Fraser joined North Elementary school as a first grade teacher, and this is her second year in 4th grade. When attending University of Central Florida, Mrs. Fraser majored in radio-television, but quickly realized that this was not something that she enjoyed. She had an opportunity to lead a cheer leading group as part of an after-school program, and she was hooked. She switched her major at UCF to elementary education, and became a teacher in 2016.

While teaching is not for everyone, Mrs. Fraser feels like her calling is definitely with students. "They  make me happy", she said. She also talked about the importance of the relationships that she has with her students. Mrs. Fraser explained that her unique approach to school and education stems from a conference that she attended a few years ago. She said that one thing that resonated with her was the approach to teaching that emphasized the idea that you are a school teacher; not just a classroom teacher. This is why Mrs. Fraser looks for opportunities to be involved with students in and outside the classroom. "It is not just a job, but your life", Mrs. Fraser said. I call parents. I go to games. Talking about her relationships with students, Mrs. Fraser stated that we have to put our heart and soul into it because there is so much at stake. We teach manners, and how to talk politely. How to be accountable for our talk - not just academically, but even just in our conversations with others.

Mrs. Fraser reflected on her goals and aspirations in education and shared that she has definitely found her niche in teaching math, but she is also very interested in the mental health aspect of education. She recognizes the needs that students have when they come to school, and emphasized that they need to have a safe place - a location or a person, to go to. Mrs. Fraser is trying to give her students just that. A safe and engaging classroom where students want to be.




Outside her work at North Elementary School, Mrs. Fraser is a hand-lettering and macrame artist. She stated that she has always been a doodler; a visual learner and someone who has to write things out. Her friends took a notice of Mrs. Fraser's unique style of handwriting, and encouraged her to do some writing for them. Initially, Mrs. Fraser wrote greetings on Christmas cards, invitations, and more.

Today, this little gift has evolved into a professional hand-lettering and macrame artistry at Mrs. Fraser's own business, Fiber + Pen, and her online store on Etsy. Mrs. Fraser explained the hand-lettering as a form of art where she uses fiber arts and pens; and the macrame as the art of tying knots. Mrs. Fraser said that she now does macrame and handwriting decorations for individuals as well as for businesses, calligraphy for weddings, graduation announcements, and of course anything that anyone at school asks her to do. Many examples of Mrs. Fraser's hand-lettering art can be found across the campus at North Elementary School. Additionally, visitors at North Elementary School now enjoy a large, welcoming wall mural with our NES Tiger - painted by Mrs. Fraser over the summer.

Ms. Fraser concluded her interview with a special message for her students' families. "I am grateful that I get to spend my days with your children. I hope that I have played my part in helping students to become independent, learning to advocate for themselves, and building their confidence". She added: " Thank you for letting me be on your team - because that is what we are".

Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

Empowering Educators - Mrs. Leah Suarez

Meet Mrs. Leah Suarez - Children's Mental Health System of Care Site Coordinator for the Okeechobee County School Board, and founder of Our Village Okeechobee

Wednesday, October 10 was Mental Health Awareness Day. Earlier this week, Mrs. Leah Suarez solicited assistance from school leaders in Okeechobee to help her spread the word, and ask everyone at their schools to wear green in support of this cause. Many schools and individuals shared their green photos on social media, tagged with a #okeesoc, #notalone, and #worldmentalhealthday.

"This is a tradition that we stared here in Okeechobee", Mrs. Suarez said. She stated that it is really cool to see how this initiative has taken off, and spread to other communities as well.

The passion that Mrs. Suarez has for bringing awareness to mental health related issues is not a coincidence. It stems from her personal life experiences as well as from the jobs that she has held since graduating from college. Mrs. Suarez has worked with marginalized and under-served populations since 1990. Interestingly, it all started at a baseball field where connections with people led Mrs. Suarez to her initial work with children and families. Mrs. Suarez said that being bi-lingual was a factor that got her hired. She worked with the Department of  Children and Families and held various social positions that exposed her to issues with foster care, child support, revenue maximization, and more. Later on, Mrs. Suarez' rich background in support services led her to accept a position in Florida  Community Health Center building a health benefits coordinator program and later, developing medical case management systems. Her work in social services with marginalized populations and her experiences in case management have paved her way to the field of facilitating support services, including mental health related services, to those in need.

Mrs. Suarez shared that she did not set out to do work in this field. When obtaining her degree in Speech (Interpersonal Communications) through the University of Central Florida, she aspired to become a presidential speech writer. The reality, however, has turned out to be very different than that. With her mom battling cancer, uninsured, and passing before Mrs. Suarez' graduation from UCF, Mrs. Suarez's focus turned to helping others, and connecting them with resources that are needed to get through life.

Helping others has happened in may ways. "I have fostered", Mrs. Suarez said, "And I still do". She shared that her family takes in kids as they come - often with trauma. Over the years, Mrs. Suarez has provided a safe place to 30-40 children; anywhere from a a few days to years.

Work with children and youth eventually led Mrs. Suarez' to find her way to the school district. This is Mrs. Suarez' third year working with the school district - first as a classroom teacher at North Elementary School, followed by her current position as the Children's Mental Health System of Care Site Coordinator. Taking on this position had its challenges - leaving her students at NES, to start with. Even though the new job was a good match with what Mrs. Suarez' had done in past, leaving students, mid year, was not something that she was ready to do.

Teaching others, while having a rich experiences in social work, has it's challenges as you look at people from a different angle. "You cannot educate until you have built relationships with your students", she said. Mrs. Suarez has observed that many students come to our schools with trauma, and they are defeated. Their desire to learn and do well has to be cultivated. And because of that, Mrs. Suarez shared, educators have a special place in students' lives. "It is not always the content that we teach, but rather the life lessons". Even today, Mrs. Suarez has a special message to her students and other youth. "You are enough", she said. "You are worth so much more than you imagine. Find your grit, and go for it".

Outside her work with the school district, Mrs. Suarez spends her time helping people through Our Village Okeechobee - a community resource center that focuses on providing individuals and families in need assistance in getting back on their feet.  This organization is based on the idea of giving a hand up, not a hand out to those who seek assistance. Establishing Our Village is a dream that started back in 2015, and it has been the labor of love. Today, this organization provides health and educational services for those in need. "My goal is to fill the gaps; to level the playing field and bring on equity", Mrs. Suarez said. At Our Village, people are connected with community resources and donors to satisfy their needs and to match people with those that can help.

Our Village Back to School Expo Volunteers

Mrs. Suarez talked about the hundreds of home visits that she has done to reach out, and the eye opening experiences that she has had in the course of that work. She said that she is fortunate to know and understand where these families come from, as she has experienced difficulty and hard times herself. Mrs. Suarez talked about the searing memories of her own life, and her understanding and empathy for students who have it rough - having to go through hardship to even get to school. This has left Mrs. Suarez with a strong will to help. Much of this has become possible through her work with Our Village where she provides tutoring services, peer support groups, and skills groups for both youth and their families. There are Spanish classes, ladies groups, and more. Mrs. Suarez shared that they hosted a grad party, back to school expo (the event volunteer crew pictured above), and more is still to come.

Mrs. Suarez admitted that juggling these may responsibilities is a challenge; a challenge that she has been able to overcome by managing her time well. "There cannot be a minute that is wasted", she said. Three days a week, Mrs. Suarez leaves her day job and heads over to Our Village to provide tutoring services.  When asked, why, Mrs. Suarez simply said: "If you see Our Village, you will understand". It has become another home - a place and an experience that Mrs. Suarez is able to share with her family.

Dr. Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

(Photos provided by Mrs. Leah Suarez)

Empowering Educators - Mr. Tyrone Smith

Meet Mr. Tyrone Smith, 1st Grade Teacher at North Elementary School and Head Football Coach at Okeechobee High School

Many people who meet Mr. Smith do not think of him as a classroom teacher at an elementary school. Yet, Mr. Smith has enjoyed being a 1st and 2nd grade teacher for over 16 years. Mr. Smith says that his interest in becoming a teacher is the result of a series of empowering teachers that he himself had at school. He said that starting in 6th grade, he continued to have teachers who simply believed in him, and helped him when he needed help the most. Later at high school, a bus-driver child-care program that gave high school students an opportunity to take care of these children was the beginning of Mr. Smith's work with pre-school students - followed by other jobs in day care centers in the community. At that time, he knew that he wanted to continue to work with children. He found himself in a dilemma as he thought of founding his very own day care, but did not want to deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork of owning a business. Mr. Smith stated that he has been fortunate throughout the years to have opportunities to work with children in the capacity that he dreamed of; and eventually, become a teacher.

Mr. Smith spoke very fondly about his experiences in early childhood education, and the opportunities that he has as a coach at high school that allow him to complete a full circle in many of his students' lives. He said that "I see them when they are 6-7 years old, then in the community, and then again at the high school". Seeing their growth is important - something that he enjoys.

When asked about his thoughts about the teaching profession, Mr. Smith said that this job is about molding lives. Setting students up for their future. "It is our job as educators to mold them into successful people". That is something that cannot happen just in the classroom. Every day, Mr. Smith finds opportunities to walk around in the cafeteria at North Elementary School to be seen and to be available for the students. Not only as a teacher, but as a male role model at an elementary school. He said that he finds it important to tell students who he is. "Hello, I am Mr. Smith and I teach 1st grade". Why? "Because it is rare to see an African American male teaching 1st grade anywhere in America", he says. "But that is what I do. I am real".

After leaving North Elementary School, Mr. Smith heads over to the football fields to coach.  Interestingly, he stated that years ago, he never really wanted to be a coach - but his very own high school coach got him into it. Mr. Smith coached for a few years at the college, and that is how it all got started. In June of 2018, after being a defensive coordinator and assistant coach for the Okeechobee High School football team, Mr. Smith was chosen to be  the high school head football coach. This is something that he agreed to do, but it forced him to get out of his comfort zone - or "his shell". He admitted that the first year of coaching was rough, and that just like teaching, coaching continues to have its own frustrations. But at the end of the day, it is not about managing the team or finances. It is about managing the kids and their lives. That has made the task more comfortable, he said. Mr. Smith believes that the relationships that he created with students and adults that play important roles in these students' lives have allowed people to see a different side of him, and have made him more approachable.

When asked what Mr. Smith would like to tell his former students, he stated that it is important to keep their heart open for the world that is out there. He said that we cannot stop ourselves from growing, but too often, this is exactly what happens. Many students just get stuck in a rut, and never make it to where their potential could take them. Mr. Smith talked passionately about colleges that are out there, and the importance of learning about the opportunities that these schools provide. He said that this is very difficult for students who feel like they have made it when graduating from high school because this might be the highest achievement in their family. Mr. Smith wants to encourage these students to keep going, and feels that educators (at all levels) are in a position to expose our  students to what all is out there.

Even though Mr. Smith is originally not from Okeechobee, this town has a very special place in his life. He spoke keenly about the positives that this town has brought to his life - including his wife and his beautiful children. He said that he loves this community like he was born here. But he also worries about our community and students within it who might not have the most stable lives. Then again, he said, this is a town that comes together when we need to come together. He spoke about the high school bonfire, the homecoming parade, and the small town atmosphere in general that makes Okeechobee a home for many. He said that he wishes we could do things like that more often. Especially because there is no mall, or other fun things that might be available on the coast or further down south. And that is why, he feels, it is more important than ever that those who have had the opportunity to go, see, and do, would come back to our community and share their experiences. "We owe that to our students", he said.

Mr. Smith would like to encourage young people who have left and done great things to come back and tell their stories. Especially those who were perhaps not set up for success, but went and did it anyway.

Finally, Mr. Smith spoke about the student-parent relationships, and emphasized the importance of parents being the first educators. Educators who teach students about life, and being able to make wise choices in life. "Wise, not just right", he said. Many of us always make right choices because that is what we are supposed to do, but without a deeper connection to the actual reasons for why these choices are right. For example, he says, people should not drive under the influence not only because that is not right, but also because they should not want to put others in danger. That is being wise. We must teach students to see the difference, and prevent them from making unwise choices that can have a long lasting impact on their lives.

Mr. Smith finished his story by saying that eventually, the kids will need to choose what they will do, and they must choose wisely. He encourages students and his children to go out there and make a difference. To make a difference not only in their life, but also in a community in which they live.

Dr. Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

(Photos provided by Mr. Ty Smith)

Empowering Educators - Mrs. Kristi Nolte

Meet Mrs. Kristi Nolte, Gifted Education Teacher at North Elementary School; a Wildlife Biologist, and Amateur Entomologist 

Mrs. Nolte is a lifelong learner. She obtained her first Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where she majored in psychology. She pursued a second Bachelor's Degree, followed by a Master's Degree at the University of Florida where she studied wildlife ecology and conservation.

Interestingly, Mrs. Nolte's first job was that of a crisis counselor in a baker act unit - a job that she refers to as stressful and scary. Mrs. Nolte stated that it really made her ponder if this is really what she wants to do, and she eventually left that job. She did not dismiss the experience though; she stated that as a crisis counselor, she learned how to talk to people and how to identify signs and symptoms of the feelings that people have. It also helped her to build a certain level of comfort when approaching people and working with them. Now, Mrs. Nolte stated, the skills that she learned help her notice things with her students at school. The child psychology classes also helped, she said. Understanding the science behind childhood and adolescence helps you to have realistic expectations about what the students are capable of (or not). It has helped her to keep things in perspective.

Mrs. Nolte was a parent of a student at North Elementary School when she was approached by the school administrator with the idea of considering teaching gifted education - a new program that was being built at NES at that time. Mrs. Nolte said that she did not feel qualified for the job at the time as her background was mainly in sciences. Still, she accepted the position, and has loved it ever since. The first (half year) was tough, she stated. Even though the State of Florida allows alternative teacher certification as a pathway into classrooms, Mrs. Nolte shared that coming into education without a degree or experience in education was not easy. Long, crazy hours with little pay did not do justice to the position, but there was something about it that pushed her to obtain a teaching certificate, and come back the following year. Mrs. Nolte said that teaching gave her something that she had been longing for - an ability to make a difference; something that she never felt when working as a wildlife ecologist. She simply loved it. The years that she worked as a wildlife ecologist were very repetitive in nature: breeding birds, rescuing birds, collecting data, and then releasing them. Teaching, however, brings new challenges every day. And these challenges are not limited to just teaching. With the on-site gifted education being a new program at the school, the airplane was being built while flying. Three and a half years later, it has evolved into a rigorous, science-focused enrichment program that reaches beyond the classroom through hands on experiences at Riverwoods field laboratory in the heart of the Kissimmee River basin and at Florida Coastal Oceanographic Center in Stuart, for example. Mrs. Nolte is very excited about a third possible field trip experience for younger students this year. She said that it is definitely a work in progress with a simple goal of exposing students to the ecology around the Okeechobee area.

There are several other initiatives that Mrs. Notle has introduced to NES gifted program - all evolving around stretching the limits of students' thinking. Last year, Mrs. Nolte's students participated in the virtual Treasure Coast Stock Market Game; they took  first place by even outperforming  Wall Street. Mrs. Nolte and her students were recognized at the ceremony at Florida Atlantic University main campus in Boca Raton. Additionally, Mrs. Nolte's students brought home several medals from the Florida Elementary Science Olympiad in Orlando. These experiences have been valuable life lessons for those who were involved; forcing students to take risks, think outside the box, and just go for it.

The feeling that she is helping someone has been the driving force behind Mrs. Nolte's motivation to work as a teacher. She stated that it is not even only about helping students, but also about helping families. Mrs. Nolte has worked diligently in an effort to identify and advocate for the gifted and talented student population even when the students do no meet the FLDOE eligibility requirements for gifted education. She has been disseminating information to families about the Duke University Talent Identification Program in a hope to open new doors for students who might have been otherwise "left behind".

Mrs. Nolte believes that the profession of teaching is actually so much more than just teaching due to the simple fact that the kids need so much more than that. There are days where she feels like she is in a mother's role as kids might just want to come and tell her about their day. At morning duty, there is a group of kindergarten students who never pass by Mrs. Nolte without her having an opportunity to ask them about their day. When these students arrive, Mrs. Nolte stops any conversations that she might have with adults and takes time to ask about their day. With a smile on her face she states that "This is just something that we do. They never go past me without me talking to them".

Mrs. Nolte stated that sometimes, students come to her with emotional needs. We teach them about kindness, ethics, values; so much of what we do and teach evolves around teaching them how to handle frustration and disappointment. These are the life skills that they need. Spending time on the emotional support upfront is important because the kids end up being happier. That is our goal.

With that being said, Mrs. Nolte has not turned her back to her interest in wildlife. She is an avid collector on natural history. She has a collection of bugs and a collection of skulls that she kindly shares with her students during Career Fair at school. This is a nice glimpse of her past in the present, even though she says that the majority of her leisure time these days is taken up preparing her own children for school, packing lunches, organizing birthday parties, attending soccer games and PTO events, and of course, doing laundry.


When asked about her former students, Mrs. Nolte stated that she misses them. She always wants to know what they are doing, and if they are okay. She worries about them going to middle school and hopes that they are happy and make friends. Mrs. Nolte stated that it is almost as there is a feeling of void when she does not know how they are. She wishes that her students would keep up the enthusiasm for learning when leaving her program, and that they would keep in touch with her. Mrs. Nolte has a special message to all of her former and future students: " I think about you all the time and wonder how you're doing.  So if you see me at Walmart or Pogey's, don't wonder if I'd like to talk to you.  I will always want to talk to you and hear how you are doing (smiley face)".

Mrs. Nolte also has a special message to parents. She said "Please know that I love your kids, even if they challenge me". This is the "thing" about education, she said; you cannot simply spend so much time with students and not care about them. Mrs. Nolte also talked about the importance of the home environment and the expectations that parents have for their children. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with the teachers - even when parents do not always agree. Mrs. Nolte believes that positive parental support is so important in child's attitude which is a driving force behind their success at school. Mrs. Nolte feels like she has been very fortunate with the parent-relationships that she has had, and she appreciates these partnerships as they are paving the pathway to students' success.

When Mrs. Nolte's told her family that she is thinking about becoming a teacher, her mom said that she is not at all surprised. Her mom remembers that Mrs. Nolte often played school during her formative years.

We are glad that Mrs. Nolte has picked up her childhood passion, and we are privileged to have her at North Elementary School!

Dr. Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

Empowering Educators - Mrs. Tracy Phillips

Over the past decade, I have had a unique opportunity to work with many teachers and administrators from kindergarten all the way to the college level. Some of them have been merely acquaintances who I have passed by in the hallways while others have left a long lasting impact on my thinking about education. I have met wonderful, passionate individuals who love teaching, but yet, find opportunities in their lives to do so much more than that. These individuals are true testaments to the fact that there is no such thing as "just a teacher". It is my hope to introduce them and tell their story.

Meet Mrs. Tracy Phillips, Math and Science Teacher at North Elementary School; a Reptile Enthusiast, and Muay Thai Kick Boxer

Mrs. Phillips has been an educator for 19 years - 15 of which she has spent at North Elementary School in Okeechobee, Florida. Mrs. Phillips refers to herself as a home grown educator who graduated from our very own Okeechobee High School. When talking about her experiences in a small town, Mrs. Phillips stated that Okeechobee is a place that is not just home. She recalled the time when she walked into class at middle school, then at high school - with the same individuals; then years down the road - they walked their sons together to kindergarten. The relationships across multiple generations, according to Mrs. Phillips, is what makes Okeechobee unique.

Teaching was not the only career choice that Mrs. Phillips considered; however, it was the only one that had a promise to impact lives in a way that Mrs. Phillips was seeking to do. She spoke passionately about that magical moment in class when the child looks at you - with a smile on his or her face, as if the light bulb came on because they just understood a concept that they had struggled with. It is the face of success. Mrs. Phillips referred to this as an important life lesson; she stated that if students can do it at school, they can also do it later on in life.

Even though many in Okeechobee know Mrs. Phillips as a teacher, some do not know that Mrs. Phillips is a true science buff who knows more about plants and animals than an average person. She grows exotic plants such as orchids and herbs, and she enjoys anything related to horticulture in general.

Mrs. Phillips is also an avid reptile enthusiast. Her home includes sand boas, leopard geckos, and many turtles. Fortunately, this is a hobby that the whole family shares. Mrs. Phillips is proud of her children who have learned to be responsible by taking care of these unique animals. While many people are scared of reptiles, Mrs. Phillips explained that there is no reason to be scared of them; however, it is important to be educated about exotic animals so that you know what you are dealing with, and how to use caution when approaching and handling them. Last year, Mrs. Phillips' reptile handling skills came in handy when three snakes were intertwined in the fence at school. Mrs. Phillips came to the rescue and removed the snakes, using her snake-handling skills that she practices at home.

Mrs. Phillips got teary eyed when asked what she would like to tell her former students. She stated that she is proud of them. That she remembers them; not always their name, but as a student. She believes that she is a better teacher for having known them. Mrs. Phillips admitted that her former students have taught her many lessons, one of which is to recognize the disparity that exists in our community. This has molded her educational philosophy, and helped her understand the need to level the playing-ground so that all students have an opportunity to succeed.

Even though Mrs. Phillips does not teach reading this year, she has always been an avid reader. She enjoys reading various genres - fiction as well as non-fiction, historical fiction, and also philosophy. On an average, Mrs. Phillips reads about 60 books each year which has also sparked the love of reading in her children.

In long term, Mrs. Phillips wants to live a long and healthy life. Inspired by her husband who is into fitness, Mrs. Phillips signed up for Muay Thai kick boxing that she now does five days a week.  She referred to Muay Thai boxing as the art of eight limbs that is often used in self defense. For Mrs. Phillips, this is a unique and exotic way of committing herself to fitness and healthy life choices for years to come.


Dr. Tuuli Robinson
Educator and Lifelong Learner

The Search Is Over!

I started this summer just like most school principals - looking for high quality teacher candidates to fill the vacancies for the upcoming school year.


With lots of driving to do, I decided to advertise this on the back window of my car. Essentially, I turned our family vehicle into a "Tiger Van", with a large advertisement that read: "Proud Principal at North Elementary School, Now Hiring". Some people thought it was clever, others thought it was funny. In reality, however, it was the face of desperation. I searched for applicants near and far. Many of those who were from far were not ready to make the move; and many of those who were near just did not work out.

I kept asking myself why is it so difficult to find teachers? Perhaps it is not; however, I now realize that I had turned it into a task that was nearly impossible to accomplish. I knew that educationally speaking, our school has systems in place. We are fortunate to have enough dedicated individuals who can provide ample of support to any of the new teachers in order for good instruction to take place in their classrooms. But I was not only looking for someone who is a strong content area expert. I was looking for the spark. I was looking for someone who is eager to learn. I was looking for someone who had passion. Passion for educating their students as well as themselves. I was looking for someone who would be able to think outside the box. Someone who could understand the needs of their students. Not just any student. The students who are so little that they do not often know their name or address when they get dropped off the first day of school. So, clearly, I did not just mean the educational needs. The needs that I had in mind were far more basic: the need to be acknowledged, the need to be cared for, and the need to be loved. I was looking for someone who would be able to treat each and every one of my students as their very own child. Someone who could establish routines and expectations in their classroom that provide order, but also have room in their heart for tweaking the rules if it is in the best interest of the child. I was looking for someone who could walk into our building and blend in with all the wonderful teachers that call our school their home. Mission impossible? Almost.

Tomorrow is the day when all of our teachers return, and I am beyond blessed to say that there will be a teacher in every one of the classrooms that were left empty in June. The search is over! We are ready for the new beginnings, and we are ready to rock and roll. There will be lots of learning. There will be successes and there will be defeats. It will not be easy. But if we keep our focus on each and every child and their individual needs - it will be just right.

I then realized that I probably need to take down the advertisement from the back of my car. So I got busy, removing the sticky decals that had been burning on the black window of my car in the scorching hot Florida sun for the last two months. But I did not remove it all. I left something that is more true than ever. I am a PROUD Principal at North Elementary School.


Welcome aboard new teachers!
You are about to start the most magical beginning. Don't let anyone dull your sparkle!!!

The Role of Program Evaluation in a Public School Environment

Educational arena is changing at a rapid pace, and various new programs and initiatives are implemented in public school settings on a regular basis. We utilize innovative approaches and technologies to better the learning environment, and it is our hope that our practices have a positive impact on student learning. The problem is that too often, these initiatives are costly, and they may end up not producing a desired result. Even worse, there may be unintended consequences that undermine not only the initial intent of the initiative, but they also inadvertently affect the entire climate and way of work of the organization.

Every innovation should start with a vision and a question: What are we trying to accomplish? Is this innovation going to help us to obtain our goals? What are the impacts of the innovation on the organizational structure? That is not to say that if an innovation is difficult to implement, we should not attempt to do so. It is important to weigh the relative advantages that our innovation would bring to the table. If we find that the innovation is compatible with our organizational structures, and there is a reason to believe that it would enhance our way of work, it may be time to go for it!

Even then, we must consider our human resources who will have a crucial role in the successful implementation of our innovations. We need trailblazers who's work is visible at our organization, and who can start convincing early adopters to embrace the innovation. Often, these people are opinion leaders or other personnel at our organization who have some type of authority or status that sets them apart from others. Gradually, others would buy in and soon, the innovation is no longer something new, but it becomes part of our way of work.

Job well done! Yes, but... In an organization that is interested in both implementing and sustaining an innovation, we cannot stop here. It is important to engage in thorough program analysis to evaluate the progress and the impact of the innovation. This is where we do not always follow through. After all, who has time to evaluate every step of our work? It is essential however not to underestimate the power of program evaluation. This should be part of the innovation implementation cycle, and not a stand alone piece that is used as an option. Every innovation (successful as well as unsuccessful) should start with a vision and end with a thorough evaluation to ensure its' suitability in our particular situation.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations. Simon and Schuster

Should Public School Administrators Use Social Media (Twitter) for Communication?

Contemporary educational literature referring to 21st century learning often emphasizes the importance of students using technology tools in our classrooms. Education however is not only about learning: it is also about teaching as well as leading the environments in which our students learn.  Howard (2013) writes about educators’ responsibility to learn and understand the language of the technological landscape that is an integral part of today’s students’ lives. Larkin (2013) concludes in his article about “Tweeting the good news” that “we are really not teaching responsible citizenship if we are not modeling appropriate use of digital resources” (p. 71). Educators that truly understand the language of digital literacy and can navigate social media can make effective use of it in school leadership.  In this paper, we will take a look at how K-12 public school leaders can utilize social networking tools such as Twitter to enhance communication between the school and its stakeholders.

Why should we use social media?

First, let’s look at the obvious benefits of using social media. Using social media tools can enhance our overall communication (Cox & McLeod, 2014). While communication may seem as a simple task, it is an important one in the era of heightened accountability in public education. Leaders need to be able to convey their message and promote their vision to gain support of the stakeholders. The media will typically pay attention to schools when something newsworthy happens, and the outsiders will then portray a picture of the school that may not necessarily align with the school leader’s vision of the school. Choosing to use Twitter allows the school leaders to start branding their image (Cox & McLeod, 2014), taking control of what information is disseminated about their school.

Literature on school leadership often reflects the isolated nature of our jobs where school principals typically have very few counterparts (Sauers & Richardson, 2015; Carpenter & Krutka, 2014). School leaders can use the social media tools such as Twitter for enhanced collaboration and communication (Sauers & Richardson, 2015; Carpenter & Krutka, 2014; Lu, 2011), and to create communities of practice (Sauers & Richardson, 2015). Additional benefit of social media tools in educational administration is that it can widen personal learning networks (Wejr, 2011). Heightened engagement with peers in general can improve our leadership (Sauers & Richardson, 2015) because we would be more up to date with the recent trends in our profession. Paus (2013) discusses the transformational use of social media in public institutions that allows the leaders to enhance their organizational operations and create a culture of sharing. Sharing information on a regular basis leads to increased interaction with stakeholders (Cox & McLeod, 2014) which is a worthwhile reason to look into including social media as a tool in our leadership arsenal.

To understand exactly how to make the best use of Twitter in public school leadership, let’s start with a discussion on the nature of “tweeting”. Tweets are small bursts of information, each of which is no more than 140 characters long (Twitter, 2013). They are short and on topic, making them time efficient and easy to use. Carpenter and Krutka (2014) list the brevity, immediacy, and openness as three main benefits of communication via Twitter. They also list efficiency and accessibility as perceived benefits by Twitter users in their study. The nature of instant tweeting allows collaborations to take place in real-time (Sauers & Richardson, 2015). Kurtz (2009) emphasizes the personalized nature of communication via Twitter, providing parents a “window into their children’s days” (p.2). In their study of the school district superintendents using social media, Cox and McLeod (2014) echo the abovementioned benefits of Twitter, adding also greater transparency, impact on their personal growth, and stronger connections as additional reasons we should utilize the social media tools in our leadership. Furthermore, the superintendents that participated in their study emphasize that the use of Twitter is no longer an option but a must in 21st century leadership. They go as far as naming the use of social networking (Twitter) as a 21st century communications strategy.

Institutions also try to tap into the benefits of social media in crisis management situations. Immediacy, access, and firsthand exposure to information are just a few of the benefits that tweeting can offer when disaster strikes. United States Department of Education Office of Safe and Healthy Students training module (available at https://rems.ed.gov/docs/Training_SocialMediaInEM.pdf) for using social media in school emergency management outlines posting information about the school dismissal and closure procedures, during the emergency updates and post-emergency status, as well as post-reunification protocols. Using social media allows us to communicate firsthand information and eliminate the other media as the middle man in our crisis situation. We cannot underestimate the fact that all of the abovementioned benefits are available for school administrators at no cost as Twitter (as most other social networking tools) is available to users free of charge.

How should we “tweet”?

Twitter lends itself to extending the content through the use of hyperlinks that can link to the institutional website or the administrator’s blog. Hashtags (#) can be used to relate to similar content on the particular topic posted by others – therefore creating professional networks and interest groups that can be further used for professional development (Carpenter & Krutka, 2014; Jackson, 2012). One of the important aspects of using social media for communication is stability. We cannot simply use it daily one week and then quit posting for a while. To overcome the time crunch and the possibility of forgetting to post important information such as upcoming events, important dates, etc., we can tap into the feature of scheduling our posts ahead of time, therefore using Twitter strategically and continuously but on a schedule that will allow us to take some time off of tweeting if needed. Strategies suggested by Cox and McLeod (2014) in making Twitter part of our brand image include posting tweets simultaneously on social media as well as on our institution’s website, using the icon of Twitter in an e-mail signature, as well as on our school letterhead. Those that still have business cards can also include their Twitter handle on their cards.

Finally, while advertising has typically not been a practice of public schools, we cannot overlook the potential of using Twitter for that purpose. When public schools compete with private schools, and more recently with the virtual schools and home schooling, it is increasingly important to use social media as part of our business strategy to attract potential students as well as to retain our existing students. While this may be a more immediate concern for post-secondary education, it is not too early to think about the same in a public school setting. Every additional student on our enrolment list translates into additional FTE (Full Time Equivalent) dollars, and every student attending our school out of zone (or moving to our school zone due to the popularity of our school) has a potential to bring in another involved parent that can become an active participant in the school’s PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) - further enhancing the communication between us and the community. In addition to attracting students, a positive and even attractive digital image can also spark the interest of potential new educators that can become an asset to our schools.

What are the concerns?

Before making a decision to use social media or not, it is also important to understand the limitations of electronic communication. Just because tweeting is popular, it may not be appropriate in every situation and for all audiences. School administrators in Sauers and Richardson’s (2015) study expressed the concern about the public perception of social media caused mainly by inappropriate tweets and cases of online bullying.  In other instances, parents and community may not be fond of social media due to the negative and inaccurate information that is often posted on public sites (Cox & McLeod, 2014).

It is also important to consider the nature of the audiences that we are attempting to reach. For an elementary school administrator, the audiences would be clearly the parents, staff, and the community, while in the case of a secondary school we must also consider the students as our potential audience. Other concerns expressed in the literature about using Twitter by institutional leaders deal with rules and regulations of individual work places. In many instances, those wanting to use Twitter for educational and professional purposes still report the incompatibility of this kind of communication with the institutional policies (Carpenter & Krutka, 2014). Implementing Twitter based communication may not be suitable in a community where another network has been chosen by the audience as an alternative over Twitter (Carpenter & Krutka, 2014). In their study, Carpenter and Krutka (2014) also point out the concerns about privacy and academic integrity and lack of evidence based material when it comes to the use of any type of social media, but I would like to pose a counterargument to their claim. Namely, our goal in using social media tools is indeed to break the walls of silence and inform the public of our opinions. When using social media mindfully and meaningfully, it can be a powerful tool in shaping the perceptions and the image of our school as we see it, and not as the public wants to regard it due to the lack of having better information. The non-use of social media can lead to perceptions formed on social networking sites behind our back without a chance for us to protect ourselves and our institutions.

Carr (2012) brings out the final but important aspect of using social media as a tool of communication: social networking should not take the place of the traditional ways of communicating with our community and the stakeholders. Tweeting is an additional, 21st century mean for communication that can lead to a heightened collaboration and engagement with the community and the stakeholders.

References:

Carpenter, J., & Krutka, D. (2014). How and why educators us Twitter: A survey of the field. JRTE, 46(4), 414–434.

Carr, N. (2012). Technology for effective communication, in Hancock, R. and McLeod, D. (Eds). What school administrators need to know about technology leadership? International Society for Technology in Education. Washington DC, p.1-30.

D. Cox, D., & McLeod, S. (2014). Social media marketing and communications strategies for school superintendents. Journal of Educational Administration, 52(6), 850–868. http://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-11-2012-0117

Howard, K. (2013). Using Facebook and other SNSs in K-12 classrooms: Ethical considerations for safe social networking. Issues in Teacher Education.

Jackson, C. (2012). Synthesis & Sensibility: Twitter 101 for school leaders: Four reasons to join the conversation today! Retrieved from http://carriebjackson.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/twitter-101-four-reasons-to-join-the-conversation-today-2/

Kurtz, J. (2009). Twittering about learning: Using Twitter in an elementary classroom. Horace, 25 (1), 1-4.

Lu, A. (2011). Twitter seen evolving into professional development tool. Education Week       30(36), 20.

Paus, V. (2013). New media and leadership: Social media and open organizational communication. Change and Leadership, (17), 73–78.

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center.   (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2016, from http://rems.ed.gov/

Twitter. (2013). About Twitter. Retrieved from https://about.Twitter.com/company

Wejr, C. (2011). Connected leadership: A journey. Retrieved from http://connectedpincipals.com/archives/4833

3

Digging Deeper in Behavioral Economics

Despite the good advice from one of my professors, Dr. Antonenko, to read at least one professional article a day, I have decided to take a few days off reading Sadker & Zittleman’s “Teachers, Schools, and Society” for work, and dozens of peer reviewed articles for my literature review at school topped with Dooley’s “Social Research Methods” - for school as well. I am fully aware that taking time off from reading is not something that a doctoral student can afford to do, however…. my recent interest in behavioral economics has not subdued, and I am starting to find ties from the discipline of economics to the discipline of education in ways that are quite intriguing and I feel compelled to follow until I either reach a dead end, or - perhaps find a lead that will necessitate doing some more reading and additional research. 

All of this takes me back to Richard Thaler’s (2015) book, “Misbehaving” which at glance does not have much to do with education whatsoever. Even at Barnes and Noble, this book is far away from the sections of Education and other social sciences. So - being an educator, where does my fascination with behavioral economics stem from? First, I found the discipline of behavioral economics interesting because it recognizes the centerpiece of our educational system - a human. Our clients are solely human beings, and as described by Richard Thaler, humans misbehave; they construct their experiences based on hunches that are not always reasonable, but nevertheless perceived to be good for them in a certain way. The first few chapters of “Misbehaving” are literally telling the story of our world in public education. Thaler’s discussion of statistical lives vs. identified lives also has a perfect application in schools. With the accountability measures, we are always looking at the statistics of the test scores. This data gets analyzed at so many levels by many different departments, but improved results in student learning are slow to follow. That is because we are dealing with statistics. When we start looking at individual students (identified lives), and working with each and every child at the classroom level, we can expect to see results. That is not to say that the statistical data does not matter. It does, but the difference can only be made when addressing the needs of individual students, one at a time.

Second, I could not help but chuckle when reading about the “endowment effect” - descried by Thaler as a phenomenon of people valuing what they already have higher than something that they do not currently have (but could have). This is the story of of our school system! While public perception of our schools is generally lower than average, parents of children attending our schools are generally (77% at the time) satisfied with the schools that their children are attending (giving the school an “A” or a “B”); (http://www.gallup.com/poll/142658/americans-views-public-schools-far-worse-parents.aspx). Furthermore, those that can afford, will opt to send their children to private schools altogether (http://humanevents.com/2013/10/17/where-do-public-school-teachers-send-their-own-kids/). The question is - why do parents favor the schools that their children attend while the general public is still doubtful about the efficacy of American education? While the data provided by Gallup is from 5 years ago, there are reasons to assume that the situation has not improved. In the sate of Florida, we have dumped one ineffective test (FCAT) for another (FSA) that could be (possibly) effective, however, the schools will not receive the majority of the test scores until several month into the next school year, hence continuing the saga of the same old murky waters of American education. 

Could behavioral economics provide a different lens for viewing our education? Let’s leave the value added models aside (once we have determined that the values that we are using are indeed valid for the purpose for which they are to be used) and look at the human aspect of education - our clients’ (students and parents) satisfaction. What is the picture that we get of American education then? This is a million dollar question, but using the theory of behavioral economics may provide some insight into understanding the perceptions of parents and students that are our clientele today.

A Letter to Graduates

Back in June, Florida Department of Education blogged about 6 Things that High School Grads Need to Do Before Leaving for College. While some of them were the good old common sense pointers such as “learn how to do your own laundry” and “know how to keep your things safe”, others were practical swim or survive strategies. Two of them resonated with me as a college instructor, as a professional, and as a graduate student.

Time Management

First, you need to get a grip on your time management. The deadlines have just become real. You may get lucky and have a professor that will fall for your excuses that you simply “did not know” that something was due, or that you needed a book for the course - but this is not going to last. YOU are the one in charge of your learning. Reach out to others. Build networks of support. Contact the instructor. The majority of colleges have the outline of their courses online, and you can see what is coming up. There are no secrets! If you have not done it yet, now is a good time to build a good work ethic that will be a great asset for years to come.

Social Presence

FLDOE blog outlines the importance of crafting a good resume and learning how to network. What a better way to do it than creating an online profile! Have you Googled yourself recently? What did you find? If it is the pictures of your undergraduate wild side, then it is time to make a change. A good resume is great, but you must link it to sites that put your name out there for others to see. A great start is using a professional site such as Linkedin where you can share your competencies and experiences. Be sure to update it on a regular bases! Also, Twitter and Facebook can be used for promoting professional presence. It is okay to keep the personal accounts but you have to be mindful about what you post and how you grant access.

A Few More Tips for College and  Beyond

With all the excitement of the new beginnings comes the responsibility to live up to the challenges that you will face. In his 2015 Commencement Speech at Trine University, Lou Holtz  spoke about what matters in life. He did not paint a rosy picture of unobtainable dreams that many of us have. Quite opposite, he was realistic and said that we will all have problems. Problems are part of life. We should embrace them and find solutions! He spoke in simple words and in the most powerful way, reminding us of the very basics of life: Do right, do everything to the very best of your ability, and show people that you care. He asked, if you did not show up at work, would anyone miss you and why? These are important questions to ask, and now is the time to start thinking about the answers. Have dreams but understand that life will also bring problems. It is what you do with them that makes a difference. Do your best, and never settle for less.

Best of luck graduates! The world is yours to conquer!

Discovering  Behavioral Economics

One of the criteria that will resurface over and over during any professional practice doctoral student’s studies is the importance of connecting theory to practice. After all, this was the reason I decided to pursue this degree in the first place - to be able to use proven and research based practices in my current profession. A topic that has surfaced in my recent readings and is highly applicable to my professional practice is behavioral economics (Thaler, Benartzi). Thaler’s recent publication of “Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioural Economics” provides an interesting account on the topic, and is described as “bringing the academic discipline (of studying humans as central agents in economy) back to earth”. This is a timely topic as we recently walked away from a parental advisory committee meeting learning that our students’ parents would like to change the way of communication - they would like to get school information on their phones in the form of a text message. While I did not know what to think of that request at the time (or how to go about it), I am recognizing the validity of their request after having a subtle understanding of the behavioral economics. Thaler’s blog http://www.misbehavingbook.org/blog/ for his recent publication provides an example of the text based feedback used by one of the blood donation centers in Sweden where participants receive a text message when their blood is used. While there is not enough research available at this time to discuss the effects of this  phenomenon on the numbers of people donating blood - one must agree that it is a really neat idea! Without further research, one can assume that if people know that their blood was used to make a difference, they are more likely to donate blood again.

Why not use this analogy at schools? I know from personal experiences that e-mail and voice message are not effective, text message however may be the next “big thing”. Giving feedback in a form that is timely, easily accessible (our smart phones have become wearable technologies), and specific, can only aid in parent-school relationships. Of course, since we are talking about a public entity as well as data that may be confidential or otherwise sensitive, proper planning must go into developing a system as well as guidelines for making this happen at schools.