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Making the Impossible Possible: A Beatles Reunion in the Schoolhouse

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It just so happens that I was born on the day and in the year that The Beatles released their final studio album. The “Let It Be” Album stands as my favorite Beatles album for many reasons. The fact that I share a birthday with the final bow of The Beatles as a band in their lifetime makes it even more poignant.

The dissolution of The Beatles in 1970 was a cultural event and it made global headlines. Their break-up was the result of many reasons from financial to personal. They had simply outgrown each other and were ready to forge individual paths. The break-up was very public and bitter. For the next ten years, John, Paul, George and Ringo were hounded and pressured to reunite. There were a few close calls for a reunion but all of that reunion speculation came to an end when John Lennon was murdered in 1980.

Surprisingly in 1994, the surviving Beatles reunited in the studio for “The Beatles Anthology,” a documentary they were producing on the history of the band. Putting aside years of acrimony and bitterness, they reunited and recorded two brand-new songs.

Somehow the Impossible was made Possible because not only did the three surviving Beatles reunite they were also able to include John Lennon in the event.

Taking two rough demos John Lennon recorded before his death,  the newly reformed Beatles added music, lyrics and vocals. The songs are entitled “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love.” Both songs were worldwide hits and received Grammy Awards. It was quite an innovative practice and it was arduous in terms of the technical and musical demands of the reunion project. Somehow the world got a Beatles Reunion amidst seemingly impossible odds.

I share this anecdote not as a proud music geek, but as someone who works in a school where we embrace the Impossible. Ours is a school where we proudly register students who have been retained at some point in their academic year. My school is seen as a haven for students who want a smaller class size and a caring teacher. The school where I am the proud Lead Learner is cast on a list of Title I Schools with poor achievement test scores. Despite all of those negative odds, ours is the school that exceeds achievement growth, possesses one of the highest increases in our district’s graduation rate and overpowered our $500, 000 college scholarship goal to almost $900, 000. Most importantly, the students at the school where I stand proudly as a servant-principal feel connected, safe and loved. In a way, I feel as if I am working with The Beatles. I believe that our school will exit Title I Priority School Status and stand as a true testament to an authentic turnaround.

Daily I strive to overcome the Impossible just like the surviving Beatles did with that battered, hiss-filled cassette of an unfinished John Lennon song. I am nowhere near the musical talent of The Beatles and what they accomplished with those 1994 Reunion Sessions.

How might we embrace the Impossible collectively as educators? Sometimes there is a negative default to those who stare the Impossible down and pursue seemingly absurd quests in the service of students. This mindset is sadly evident in our noble profession as educators. There are daily stories of #EduHeroes in schools everywhere overpowering the Impossible and creating a new paradigm of possibilities for our kids. We have to spread the sparks of those #EduHeroic Stories from the rooftops within social media venues and beyond. We have to value each victory over the Impossible in the schoolhouse as we did with The Beatles Reunion of 1994.

There are many variables to plug into as exemplars of the Impossible in the Schoolhouse. I invite the conversation to address and define them. Our challenge as educators is not to give permission for the Impossible to flourish. We do give too much power to the Impossible. Sometimes we have to take the time to recognize that the Impossible has morphed into the Possible. Taking stock of those examples such as The Beatles reuniting can spark inspiration into action.

Joy in the Journey

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Imagine being in world’s most successful Pop Band near the end of a storied career. “The winter of discontent” reigns supreme for The Beatles. In an attempt to literally get back to their roots as a band, The Beatles augmented with keyboardist Billy Preston are attempting their first live performance in three years. The band’s journey to this moment was marred by an impending dissolution of their musical partnership. Woes ranging from financial to creative to personal multiplied for The Beatles and they entered the studio in January 1969 attempting to “Get Back” to their Rock Roots. The mindset for these recording sessions was to avoid overdubbing and any of the technical innovations The Beatles had established in the studio. A film was being made to document the sessions which were to culminate into a rare live performance for the band. What was meant as a celebration to their musical roots transformed into the break-up of a band. A culture of sourness and apathy had permeated the band. At one point, George Harrison was so frustrated he briefly left the band. John Lennon later called it “…the most miserable session on earth.”

Flash forward to the end game for these sessions in the return to live performance for The Beatles. It is a cold, dreary January  day in London. The Beatles are giving an impromptu lunchtime live performance on the rooftop of 3 Saville Row, headquarters from their disintegrating business empire known as Apple. Armed with a set list of new music ranging from “Get Back” to “I’ve Got a Feeling” to “Dig A Pony.” Some of the old magic is starting to seep into the marrow of the band. A groove is growing and the past familiarity of being a live band naturally arises. You can see the internal band malaise dissipate into the ether as they progress with their set.

A beautiful mistake arrives within the middle of the set.

John Lennon forgets the words to “Don’t Let Me Down” and begins to sing an inspired melange of gibberish. His nonsense creates a moment of knowing levity within the band. It is evident and The Beatles take license with it and finish the song without missing a beat literally. The moment lasts just a few seconds. The joy in this mistake carries the band through a solid conclusion of the performance.

(Check out the clip here and advance to 1:20 mark. Blink and you will miss it, but it is so worthwhile:http://bit.ly/1TcUvcc)

That particular mistake reminds me of the need to tune into the joy in the journey. Even though, the band was heading towards the end of their tenure together, they were still able to find a reminder of their core and prevailed upward in their final live performance. As educators, this time of the year can be difficult to find any shred of joy in the schoolhouse. We sometimes burden ourselves with tunnel vision amidst the season of testing, observations, paper chases. Deadlines become akin to portents of doom in the schoolhouse. Our students and colleagues are viewed as speed bumps forcing us to slow down against our will as we careen towards the end of the school year. We disinvite the essence of joy from the schoolhouse and permit what is seemingly important to prevail. This unfortunately builds a barrier to our Noble Profession and ultimately all of us ending up losing direction on this schoolhouse journey.

How might we tune into the joy along the journey in the schoolhouse? How can we find inspiration in the mistakes and pitfalls we experience as educators? Where are those organic moments of inspiration?

It is vital to remember that there is indeed joy in the journey. Staying in the moment and tuning into the positive is essential within our role as educators. As a Lead Learner, I have to own the modeling and empowering for the positivity in the schoolhouse. Encouraging a collective voice of positivity amidst the mania is crucial. Promoting the positive in the schoolhouse through things like #CelebrateMonday shift culture and illuminate joy. We have to make a targeted effort to dispel negativity in our respective schoolhouses.Many schools have created their own respective hashtags in order to the trend the positive regarding their school via Social Media.

Education itself  is not a beautiful mistake but it is filled with moments which are transformative, uplifting and inspiring. The schoolhouse is a very human institution with flaws and shortcomings. Shifting those mistakes into glorious bridges towards excellence requires an evident positive culture where inspiration, change and growth are valued as transformational commodities. Our kids pick up on the negative frequency from us and the effects are detrimental. We are obligated to listen to the “…better angels of our nature” when it comes to connecting with those we serve and support in the schoolhouse. Tuning into the possibilities we have as educators is a must. Our role as Impact Makers is a game changer for our kids. There is truly joy in that.

The Beatles were masters of eroding negative power in their musical mistakes. As Educators, we are called to that same mastery. Let’s start with tuning into the joy on the journey.

 

 

 

Unplugged

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During the mid-1990s, MTV aired a very popular series entitled “Unplugged.” The premise was to display the natural prowess of musicians in an acoustic setting. Famous artists from the Rolling Stones to LLCool J  stripped down their various hits and stadium anthems to its aural essence. It was like seeing a trapeze artist soar in the air without a net. I remember marveling at bands like Nirvana shift their musical paradigm sitting on stools amidst flowers and a cello player as they played hard-hitting tune like “All Apologies” without loud amplifiers and power chords. I garnered a new appreciation for bands like Kiss who placed a pause on Heavy Metal and emphasized harmony and acoustic rhythm guitars. It was inspiring to see Robert Plant and Jimmy Page reunite on “Unplugged” and re-discover their musical canon in a whole new setting. MTV’s “Unplugged” proved to be a good excuse for musicians to demolish their electric walls of their respective comfort zones and embrace a new audio challenge.

What if all schools had the “Unplugged” Mindset? I am not referencing powering down technology? In other words, what if we could strip away the distractions and create a culture where the focus is on the essence of teaching and learning in a positive and inviting school culture? This takes courage, support and leadership. Education sometimes succumbs to being a magnet for misguided initiatives and negative mindsets. The freedom to “unplug” and focus on what is essential is viewed as being an exercise in futility. With the constant and tired given of high-stakes accountability, low educator morale and unfunded mandates, taking giants steps to embrace the Unplugged in Education is easier said than done.

During Paul McCartney’s stint on “Unplugged,” he famously forgot the words to The Beatles’ classic, “We Can Work It Out.” He stopped the song with this wry comment, “Hang on, hang on. I got the words wrong.” At that moment the band  gently careened off course, but McCartney’s sincere and amusing transparency saved the day and he simply started the song again with the band. The band carried on and the audience cheered. How was this musical icon able to get away with this? I don’t think simply being a former Beatle gave McCartney a pass. He has been the subject of much critical ridicule and disdain over the year in some cases. (Check out the reviews of his album, “Press to Play to see what I mean.) I believe it was the positive culture that drove a mindset of support and acceptance to flub the pivotal opening of a classic Beatles song.

Imagine that happening in the classroom or schoolhouse as the norm. Envision a school or a district where it is accepted every day to focus on the essential in an atmosphere of  professional acceptance. I do not want to take away from the places where this does happen. It is inspiring to hear about the authentic experiences students and educators have thanks to things like STEAM, Mystery Skypes, SketchNotes, Makerspaces, etc. We hear about pockets of this happening in very visceral and valiant ways thanks to educators blogging, tweeting and connecting within the positive neighborhood of a PLN. How might we create a collective culture where it is acceptable to do this without fear as a whole profession of Educators?

Recently, I was reading Mike Schmoker’s latest book entitled Leading with Focus: Elevating the Essentials for School and District Improvement (ASCD, 2016). This book energized me with its clear, call to arms for a collective focus on the essentials in the schoolhouse. Schmoker contends that schools should simply focus on three things and become great at them in a relentless and cooperative fashion. These three things are a coherent curriculum, traditional literacy tasks embedded in every class and effective planned lessons (Schmoker, 2016). Although, these things may not sound like a hip episode of “MTV’s Unplugged,” it is the stripped down journey towards focus that matters most. A compelling focus is refreshing, renewing and necessary. Schmoker makes a convincing argument in this recent book. I highly recommend adding it your reading playlist. The book is truly a great conversation starter on what is essential in Education.

I believe it takes a shared, compelling vision where school administrators and teachers are placing students at the center of that focus for the common good. As a principal, I have to promote, model and encourage that mindset. It is important for me to pause and prevent as many distractions as possible for seeping into the marrow of the schoolhouse. Sometimes, we simply have to tune up and lean into a clear path of focus in a  bold, courageous and innovative manner.

These types of fearless steps encouraged Eric Clapton to unveil on “MTV’s Unplugged” his most poignant song. “Tears In Heaven” was written as an elegy to Clapton’s son. His four-year old son had died in a truly tragic accident. The song is unlike anything Eric Clapton had written and it was debuted in a live performance on “MTV’s Unplugged in 1992. The live album of this performance garnered three Grammy Awards for Clapton and it sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Literally, unplugging his electric guitar paid off for Eric Clapton and took his career into another renewed pathway. His courageous performance of “Tears In Heaven” is a healing anthem which still inspires and soothes today.

Being Unplugged in the Schoolhouse is risky, scary and daunting. It demands being fearless and focused within a supportive atmosphere. We can overcome the monoliths of mandates and initiatives if we all encourage each other to embrace being Unplugged in the Schoolhouse. A positive resonance awaits us moving forward within the Schoolhouse.

 

 

Why Remind?-Lead Learner Presence Matters

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A couple of weeks ago, I was in attendance at yet another meeting. In this case, it was a required Title I Meeting. This particular meeting demanded my presence away from my school. I was an hour away. An hour away from connecting in real time with the people whom I serve led me to a path towards reflection. I felt removed in a room full of other school leaders and educators. I was missing that buzz occurs when things are happening within a schoolhouse: the teachable moment, the smile on a student’s face when mastering a concept, the invitational wave of a teacher as I walk into a classroom. The isolation I was experiencing in this particular meeting marinaded in my mind and I began to seek space for connecting back home. Simply put, I wanted to be present in the positive moments occurring in the schoolhouse.  

My role as principal requires me to present for many obligatory meetings. Now, all meetings are not necessarily a walk along the precipice of disaster, but this one felt like a barrier to my purpose as an educator.

In fact, I was feeling somewhat homesick for the school I serve. I wanted to be there and feel the synergy of our school community. I wanted to experience the inner groove of teaching and learning in our school. Meetings are important, but being present with my community is essential to my role as a lead learner.

Leading is service: That’s the core of my philosophy as a principal. To me, service means connecting meaningfully with the people I serve, and that’s one of my joys as a principal. On any given day, I can visit a classroom filled with collaboration and creativity. I have had the privilege of observing students engaged in a myriad of activities, from coding for a social studies research project to creating masonry monuments for an interdisciplinary unit on the Holocaust.

My mind was wandering to those moments during this meeting. Missing the joy of the schoolhouse, I reached for my phone and sent out this message to my staff via Remind:

IMG_2043 (1)

What followed was a cascade of positive tweets from an amazing team of #EduHeroes at John F. Kennedy High School. Although I was not physically present, I felt a sense of connection to the community—and this all started with a simple Remind message that all of our teachers at JFK received.

If you visit my office, you will be greeted by a doorplate with my name engraved along with my school role. Alongside the title of “Principal” is my true role: “Lead Learner.”

Lead Learner Door

It is my role to model, challenge, and encourage learning in the schoolhouse. That role demands for me to stay connected to the beat of the schoolhouse, even if being visible means moving beyond the wall of an office or meeting.

There are many tools that support the virtual connectivity we all need as educators, and Remind is one of the entry points that helps me stay connected and within the moment as a lead learner. I am grateful for the flexibility and ease Remind provides to support my efforts to stay connected with my school community. I am more grateful for the return Tweets I received showing the positive and meaningful things occurring in our school. For I am proud to be a small part of the inspiration happening for our kids at JFK. One simple text can be a game changer.

 

What Is #EdBeat? Side 2 (Includes Bonus Tracks)

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This particular post was co-written with Natalie Krayenvenger, my #EdBeat Co-Moderator and Collaborator

It has been five months since Sean asked Natalie to be what we both affectionately call “#twitterspouses,” and #EdBeat has continued to reach more and more educators, as well as been extremely fortunate to welcome an amazing and varied lineup of guest moderators. Despite this and our two previous posts explaining our history (https://t.co/VsJWFy6vpF and http://bit.ly/1U5F9Gm ), the question still remains; however, “What IS #EdBeat?!?”

 

We both look at #EdBeat as the 7-11 of Twitter chats. We serve all and always have a refreshing Slurpee or that pick-me-up cup o’ Joe to offer our bandmates. Instead of posting on the entrance door a sign that reads: “No shirt, No shoes, No service,” our #EdBeat sign reads: “Be positive, Be uplifting, You can do this!”

 

#Edbeat is the cafeteria table that saves seats for everyone. We have both participated in Twitter chats that just feel like you are not part of the “in-crowd,” or are missing some inside joke. These experiences are deflating and not what we believe Twitter is about, so it is our personal mission to make sure every person who joins the #EdBeat Band feels welcome and is treated like a V.I.P. All educators are invited and celebrated in #EdBeat. We believe that Education is the noblest of professions. It is important that we support and uphold each other like a band would during a live performance.

 

We are a chat that thrives on celebrating the achievements of our bandmates and are ready to jump right in and support one another when there are bumps in the road.  As Sister Sledge says, “We are family.”

 

Oh!  we are a chat that makes you playlists!  Talk about a rockin’ takeaway!

 

For those in need of a description that sounds a little more professional…#EdBeat is an inspirational chat for ALL educators that trends the positive and is hosted by two music geeks who believe education is a profession/calling that should be celebrated and its educators uplifted.  

 

Don’t just take our word for it!  We asked our amazing and inspiring bandmates to tell us what #EdBeat is to them and below you will find what they had to say.  

 

Bonus Tracks:

 

Eric (@mrfieldmanchs) from NJ wrote:

  • Sean has stated #EdBeat is like a 7-11 where everybody gathers to talk & meet up. Well I slightly disagree (in NJ it would be a WAWA!).  To me #EdBeat it’s more like the bar in Cheers. It’s a place like home, where everybody knows your name. It’s a spot where even new band members can relax and be welcomed and be comfortable. It’s a place where like-minded people can share common interests, get honest, and if necessary tough, but constructive feedback. #Edbeat is a spot where one can be comforted when down, and slapped on the back when he/she has accomplished something noteworthy (like getting through a hard day, reaching that difficult student, or executing a successful lesson). It’s not a self-massaging,”Aren’t we all the best“ hiding place, but is supportive, loving, positive and real. It’s a place of friendship and professional development. And, it has more cowbell than any place I know.

Sara (@SaraHolmTeacher) from NV wrote:

  • Sean and Natalie are positive, they incorporate lines from music into their replies, they affirm participation and mistakes, and I feel at home. #EdBeat is a place for positivity with a beat on Twitter.

LaVonna (@LaVonnaRoth) from FL wrote:

  • Every single day it is important to find a way to stay connected and surrounded by those that align with your philosophy while pushing you to be creative, think in a different way and cherish the value you bring. #EdBeat provides that opportunity through a weekly chat and an online presence, which allows me to keep the beat going, moving forward and deciding what instrument I want to play that week!

Michelle (@MichelleLewis70) from IA wrote:

  • #EdBeat is a group of people who support, encourage and inspire each other.  The chat challenges us to think about how we impact each other and students.  Just like the beat of song keeps it going, Natalie and Sean keep us going.  #EdBeat Studios has truly changed me.  Each day I listen to and from school. It gives me moment to feel connected to something bigger than just my world.

Jennifer (@jenladd) from MI voxed:

  • Edbeat means feeling like I belong to something bigger than just a PLN. Edbeat is more like a movement of all things positive- the positive I, as a teacher, want, need, and expect to see in education. My #edbeat band is supportive when I need it to be and they give me a push when I need that too. The band is full of real, inspiring educators who strive to make a difference and look to pick each other up when necessary. It is not lost on me how lucky I am to be a part of the Edbeat band!

Christy (@christypost9) from CT wrote:

  • “You got this!  We believe in you.” That is what #EdBeat is all about.  It is about having each other’s back and believing in one another.  It is about encouraging others when there is nothing to gain.  It is about finding a group with the same beliefs about kids and sharing ideas and hopes for the next day.  It is about trust and friendship without ever meeting.  It is about respect.  I am so grateful for each and every one of you all day every day!

Larry (@TechCoachZ from NJ wrote:

  • Sean and Natalie have developed a community of encouraging and uplifting educators who empower one another to share their thoughts openly and without fear of judgment. Through these discussions, even the most discouraged and downtrodden educator can be inspired and energized; their passions reignited. Not only do Natalie and Sean host this inspirational chat, they work tirelessly to develop engaging topics, involve amazing guest moderators, and ensure every participant has a voice and a place in each discussion. In addition to Twitter, Natalie and Sean nurture the community through their extraordinary blog posts and Voxer chats. And since the #EdBeat band is tuned to the transformative power of music, Spotify playlists have been created to supercharge any day, even a #CelebrateMonday.

Elisabeth Bostwick (@ElisaBostwick) from NY wrote:

  • #EdBeat is an eclectic chat with a diverse variety of educators who come together each Wednesday evening to uplift, grow, and challenge each other’s thinking. This is a chat where energy vibrantly flows and educators synergize. #EdBeat feels like a family gathering where the music is pumping, and everyone greets one another with open arms. I’m fortunate to be able to partake in #EdBeat, and incredibly honored to have guest-moderated on the topic of Culture of Innovation in the Classroom. Some people refer to Wednesday as hump day, whereas I am cheering that it’s time for #EdBeat! To me, #EdBeat is an insightful part of my week, and an excellent dose of inspiration combined with tight knit friendships.

Sandy (@sandeeteach) from UT wrote:

  • I don’t get to participate in the weekly #EdBeat chat very often because of my schedule. But, connecting with the band members has infused a daily rhythm of positivity. These are educators who are passionate about education and inspire kids to discover their gifts and talents. Through daily/weekly collaboration, these leaders are making a difference! They hear a “different drummer” and step to the music they hear. #EdBeat is changing the public perception of education! I’m grateful and inspired by the collective energy of this group.

 

Encore/Thank You

  • Music only gets better when it resonates with its listeners, and subsequently reaches new heights when those listeners find one another.  Together we revel in our love of the music, share memories, and create new experiences.  For these reasons alone, #EdBeat would be nothing without its amazing band members.  Whether you have never missed a jam session, jumped in every now and then, or only riffed with us once, we are eternally grateful for you.

 

Rock on,

Natalie and Sean

#OneSong for 2016

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There is a neat hustle that takes place prior to New Year’s Day. It reminds me of the closing of Side 1 of certain albums or the end of the first act of a musical or play. There is an intense flourish that transpires hinting at the promise of the next movement to come on the next album side or the next act.  For example, consider the carnival flourish of “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” on The Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band” Album. It is the sound of promise.

The days and moments leading up to New Year’s Day have that same resonance. A stream of hopeful retrospection occurs. We cut up our past memories and future dreams into confetti to be tossed amidst the noisemakers and champagne bubbles at the strike of midnight. Our resolutions for the New Year are intact and we greet anthems of “Auld Lang Syne.”

In the last couple of years, many have adopted the One Word approach to greeting the New Year. This is based upon One Word by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. (Mr. Page is not to be confused with the Led Zeppelin Guitarist.). The premise is to choose a word that will sustain and inspire you throughout the year. This is truly an inspiring practice. I learned about it last year. My hope was to reach a moment of clarity on a cosmic word for 2015. Unfortunately, that did not occur. I decided to stick with my standby, reliable New Year’s Resolution of not biting my nails. Of course, I did not keep that resolution at all.

Within the last few days, many #EduHeroes have written incredible blog posts about their respective One Word for 2016. I decided that this year I was going to come up with one. I had these visions of crafting a moving blog coupled with decorating my office door with my One Word prominently displayed. Somewhere in my principal mind was the germ of an idea for an activity using One Word for the first Faculty Meeting of the New Year.

All of these ideas were quickly conquered by my dutiful friend known as Fear. In having a mental jam session with my friend Fear. Fear told me that this was a meaningless task and that I would simply waste the faculty’s time in doing these hare-brained schemes. Fear was blunt in telling me that I spend too much time listening John Lennon and that this would be another failed “Kumbaya” moment as a leader. I was better off doing a medley of songs from “Godspell,” where I would have rotten tomatoes dutifully tossed at me.  I let Fear win the argument.

In collaborating for our next Twitter Chat known as #EdBeat with Natalie Krayenvenger (@NKrayenvenger), we were thinking of possible topics. It always goes back to music for us and we were riffing on a few ideas. We wanted to avoid doing a typical New Year’s Chat. At #EdBeat, we are constantly looking for ways to be different and unique.

Without warning during the course of our Voxer Conversation, the concept of One Song suddenly arose. I thought it might be inventive for our #EdBeat PLN Participants to come up with a single song to serve as their personal anthem for inspiration. Natalie and I made plans and placed our dream idea into a reality for our PLN.

Then, I decided that it was important to set the tone and model #OneSong. I had to pick my song for 2016. What was it going to be? What was going to be my anthem to help me overcome times of trouble? What key was going to uplift over the fears and doubts I allow to play me?

“Fearless.”

The word led me to the 1971 song by Pink Floyd.  I first heard it back in college during my WCUA Radio Days. My fellow DJ co-host Chris Fischer turned me on to this obscure gem by the concept album-wielding band. It is a song that I both cherish and avoid. The song is so obscure that Pink Floyd performed only once in concert.There are songs that haunt you. In fact, it closes with a recording of fans at a Liverpool Football Club fans chanting “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” This is one of them. For me the song is about facing your fears and overcoming the barriers built by those who negate hope.

I shared this concept with my wife and proceeded to play the song. Then, I read the lyrics aloud to her. I found myself beginning to cry when I reached the lyric this verse:

You pick the place and I’ll choose the time
And I’ll climb
That hill in my own way.
Just wait a while for the right day.
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds
I look down, hearing the sound of the things you’ve said today.

A chord had been struck. I did not want this to be my One Song. I was hoping to default to the stirring anthems of something like “Hey Jude” by The Beatles or “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder. Both are excellent songs but I kept coming back to “Fearless.” The past year has been rife with moments in which I have to tune into my fearless frequency. I made a willing decision to change schools seeking a new mission of challenge and purpose. Also, I conquered my fear of flying. I want to keep the momentum going for 2016. “Fearless” is my One Song.

As a Lead Learner/Principal, I find it is important to not only tap into your inner well of courage, but also to tune into the courage of others. Teaching, leading and learning takes courage in a climate where overwhelming odds and statistics dominate conventional wisdom. Being Fearless is an individual and collective journey in the school house. Empowering other teachers and students to create and innovate requires courage. Promoting a mindset of fearlessness is a collaborative act that has to be sustained and integrated in the schoolhouse. Ditching desks, leading a Twitter Chat, attending an EdCamp are examples of innovative educational moves requiring encouragement to stand fearless. Even taking on the celebration of Monday, the most reviled day of the week, in a schoolhouse demands all to stand Fearless.

What is your #OneSong for 2016?  What will be your anthem for inspiration? You are invited to join our next #EdBeat on January 27 at 8:00 p.m. EST to share.

Here’s a YouTube Video of “Fearless” by Pink Floyd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrBGXbm4Rtk