Never did I ever...

While the 90 days of May are in full swing I have been extremely busy. For once in my life it has not been all school/teaching related. 

I did a few things in the last two weeks that I never thought I would or could do. Each taught me something about myself and the type of person that I want to be along with the type of teacher I want to be. 

First, I ran a half marathon! Now for those of you that know me well, you know I typically don't run unless something is chasing me or there are cupcakes at the finish line. I ran my first 10K last fall in Disneyland.  For whatever reason this completely perked my interest in running. For the last eight months or so, I've diligently planned to run two days sometimes three days a week. And running a half marathon is something I never thought I would do, but completing it give me a sense of pride, accomplishment, purpose, and confidence. All things that I have once or twice in my life forgotten that I had. It was liberating and sooooo FUN! I'm not sure that I have the same motivation when running places other than Disneyland, but I plan to keep trying and improving... 

Ran it with the #soulsister Jill! 

The other thing that I completed was my masters degree with Chico State. This to me has been one of the most difficult but rewarding experiences of my life. It was everything great and awful all at once. I have been working on classes for my Masters for the past two years and finished my thesis this semester. I dubbed Sundays for homework or assignments during the time I took classes. Everyone now keeps asking when I plan to get my administrative credential... The answer is never! I just don't see that in my future or ever being part of my passion... And I'm big on that! If it's not making me feel successful or like I'm making a difference or helping someone to find their passion, I'm out! 

My friend Natalie was my saving grace during the whole program. Mollie, our professor, was my thesis cheerleader!

While it was difficult, I'm glad I did it. It doesn't make me feel smarter or anything crazy like that but it has allowed me to be part of another university, meet and work with some great professors, and collaborate with friends (mostly FaceTime to get through homework). The whole process taught me a lot about myself, how I prioritize time, how I work with others, how I handle stress, how I want to be a better teacher. 

Throughout the last two weeks of craziness, I have had project visits, meetings, parent and student emails, phone calls and texts. That's because this upcoming week is FAIR! 

It's always a crazy time but with all the calls, visits, videos, emails and texts, I am just reminded how great my students are. I have been gone from school a decent amount lately and they have completely stepped up and taken responsibility for themselves and their projects. They have asked questions, worked together, called professionals, communicated and worked diligently to dial in their animals to the best spot they can. Regardless of how much or little individual students need me, they all know the expectations I  have. They are all successfully rising to the challenge, which doesn't happen in every chapter/program. It's a simple question from me about their pig's weight that begins a conversation including feed amounts, weights, videos along with questions about changes they can and will make. Even when some people (parents) try to ruin the progress through hindering their child's growth, and responsibility, I am reminded that those students need the expectations the most, but they are also the ones that rise to the occasion without question. Kids love the competition of fair and livestock, as do I. But at the same time, I try to remind the kids, the big picture isn't about what award or ribbon you won, but maybe the late night barn duty with one of your friends or the silly jokes in the barns. It's about working together, being a team player, and having a great experience. Trophies and ribbons are just a perk. 

Stay tuned for a fair post! 

90 days of May

A friend tagged me in this picture the other day on Facebook. 

 

Although I'm not sure how accurate it truly is. At a staff meeting a couple weeks ago my principal said that everyone needed to prepare for the 90 days of May. While I'm fully aware of how busy and crazy the month of May is, I actually never thought about how busy it is for other teachers. 

And really why is May so crazy??? 

The days are longer,

The weather is nicer, 

Kids are restless, 

AP Testing, 

Standardized Testing, 

Placement Tests, 

Seniors are checked out, 

FFA Banquet, 

Fair,

Officer Elections,

Senior Trip, 

Fundraisers, 

Master Scheduling,

The list goes on and on...

May has just begun and yet I feel like it's been May for at least two weeks. Not to mention that I picked up another class to help out for the last six weeks. 

However, this class has given me some perspective as a teacher, adult and potentially a future parent (someday). We have reached a generation of students that literally have no idea how to act as respectful human beings to one another. I like to think that I don't stay in my little bubble of Ag students. But apparently I do!! With a few exceptions of course... 

This new class is all freshmen and none are of an FFA background because it's not an Ag class. It is appalling to think that we have many students in schools, who are so intolerant of each other and each other's beliefs. I like to think we have come along way towards equality and common decency, but I think many of our students are regressing when it comes to being a student. 

I'm probably gonna get flack for this but I think it goes back to parenting. 

#1- If you could be their parent and hold them accountable that would be great! It's pretty difficult for me to hold kids accountable when it's a new concept.

#2- Tell them NO... I know this begins at a young age but them constantly thinking that homework and class work are optional is not okay. 

#3- Teach them respect. While I don't have this issue often, other teachers get disrespected daily-- which is not okay. 

#4- Teach them tolerance. They don't have to like the person they sit next to but teach them enough manners so they have common decency when sitting there. 

I am a teacher... Not a parent... I am here to help facilitate the learning of children. While some days I feel like a drill sargent, it's pretty hard for me to also teach children skills like, respect, tolerance, decency, etc. 

So on top of all the craziness of May, discipline at school seems to be off the chart... Instead of the Hawaiian minion, I'm feeling like the purple one might last until June! 

One thing this class has really taught me is, I would not trade being an Ag teacher for the world!! 

My kids are amazing! Even the ones who are a little rough around the edges learn from the ones who are on their A game. Behavior (good or bad), like success, is contiguous!! 

I think more kids on campus could learn a little something from the "Ag kids". 

While they might be goofy, they are upstanding individuals! 

Wednesday Wisdom

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning."

Benjamin Franklin

While at the State FFA Conference this past weekend, I realized a quote like this has never been so true. I have never been so proud of a group of students. As a whole they really worked together, supported each other and were open minded to the new experiences.

I have talked about the summer I was first hired (read my last post), and how I took the officers on a day trip to San Francisco's Botanical Gardens. We spent the day creating goals, talking about growth and changes. One thing that I will never forget was the common goal that they no longer wanted to be a "joke" in the eyes of the section. They had felt so defeated by previous competitions and teachers that they were pretty much at rock bottom.

Over the past two years, I have had this overwhelming feeling that I need to compensate for their rough start in the FFA. Because at the end of the day, I want each of my kids to feel like they had a positive experience no matter how involved they were. So I pushed, prodded and practiced them until they thought I was crazy (well I am so....). This weekend many of those original goal setters, were pleasantly surprised and grateful for the success and achievements they received.

We had such an awe-inspiring four days in Fresno. I am so proud to say I had a student (or two) recognized on stage every day. That's huge for us....

However, there were some disappointments. My two speakers didn't make it to the semi-finals, my proficiency kids didn't win the state title and my CDE teams were not as polished as they should have been. While speaking with one of my kids about how he was disappointed with not winning his proficiency, I tried to remind him about all the growth him, and the chapter had gone through since his freshman year. He quickly came to the realization that never in his dreams did he think he'd even be on the state stage during his FFA career. He was recognized three times this year for his work--once for being our region's Star in Ag Placement, once for his Dairy proficiency and lastly, for his work as a Committee Chair.

This is big stuff... While I know he wished he would have done better, I couldn't be more excited for him. For a student who always wanted to be involved, but had no real clue, to now reading committee reports on a stage in front of 5,000 FFA members-- "He's kinda a big deal"

The growth that my kids have gone through in the last two years has been tremendous. Mostly because they are always working towards my lofty expectations. But more importantly, they are now creating their own high expectations... They no longer feel that they are a "joke", they are working towards making an impact on themselves, their fellow FFA members and now even on a bigger scale. Leadership at it's finest folks!
Success breeds success!
Getting kids to see not only their potential, but to recognize potential in others...

It makes my heart happy... I love my little boogers! Even when they make me crazy!

State Star in Agriscience!!! 

State Webpage Award Winner!!

Helping campaign for Steven!! 

They are just so stinkin cute!

Serious Success

My first summer at Healdsburg I took five of the seven FFA officers to a day retreat in San Francisco at the botanical gardens. They spent  some of the day planning, creating goals, and working on a reflection of what worked previously and what they would like to do different. 

A common theme, among all of them was that they wanted to be taken more seriously on the sectional and regional level. They each had individual plans for how they thought that should happen, but having never been extremely successful themselves, they were so unsure about how to get there. 

Weren't they cute?! They look so tiny...

I figured out very early on, that the important thing for these kids was going to be figuring out how to make them the most successful in the shortest period of time. I decided that making them better leaders, more professional at events, and amping up their SAE's would be the quickest way to help them. Which would then allow them to seek out leadership positions in the section and region, while being recognized for their efforts with state degrees and proficiencies. 

I would really like to say it's been easy! It definitely hasn't... There has been a lot of paperwork, a lot of late nights, a lot of early mornings, a few tears, some arguing, and countless signatures (those damn applications). 

Seeing a kid's potential and pushing them just enough for them to realize that they can do it, is difficult. There's a fine line between pushing so they see their own potential and pushing them so far it creates resentment. Sometimes I still lose sight of this, and I have to stop, backup and reevaluate. 

Bottom line:

I want them to push themselves, 

I want them to be successful, 

I want them to be well-liked, 

I want them to be professional, 

I want them to be passionate, 

I want them to gain life skills, 

I want them to want it.

Last Saturday at our North Coast Spring Regional Meeting and State Degree Ceremony, my hopes and their hardwork came to fruition. The last two years of hardwork paid of... For me and for them.

My most proud moment was after we had collected 3 regional proficiencies (2 state finalists), regional star administrator, 2 state finalist speakers, 2nd place program of activities, and 6 state degrees... Both of my students slated for regional office were elected!! 

It was a great day for Healdsburg FFA, as a program, for the students individually and for me too (I know, slightly selfish). And the reason I feel like the day was so successful was not because of the ribbons, certificates, or plaques won... But because my kids finally felt like they had been taken seriously... That's a win all by itself! 

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand." -Vince Lombardi

They all were pretty awesome! And the looked sharp! 

State Degrees

Proficiencies

The 2015-2016 NC Regional Officer team (with my two kiddos!!)

Convincing kids takes time...

Last year when I came to Healdsburg, I had a couple of diverse classes, one of them was Ag Biology. 

The thing about small schools, is that when you teach one of the only biology classes, you get a random mix of kids and they don't always necessarily want to be in an agriculture class. Sometimes I get students placed in Ag Bio because it fits with their schedule, some because they want to be there, and others for various unknown reasons.

I remember very vividly speaking with a student in the first month of school about why he was in my class and he said it that it was because administrators wanted to keep him away from his friends. Such a typical kid thing to say right?! 

A couple months later, I was speaking with my principal after an evaluation and he asked about the same student and his performance and behavior in class. I replied that he was a model student, extremely respectful and did really good work. My principal was shocked with that reply. Long story, short-- the student had issues with many of his teachers, and had a dark past that many wouldn't be proud of...

Having had no problem with the student previously I asked him a few days later in class about why he had issues with some of his teachers? In addition to asking why him and I did not have issues? The student replied, " You respect me, so I respect you". 

From that moment on, I made it my personal (and silent) goal to get this nontraditional FFA kid to show up to a meeting or put on the FFA jacket before he graduated. I knew he was smart and could benefit from FFA (whether he knew it or not).

After over a year of slowly pushing, today I met my goal!!! Jose volunteered at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Ag Days at the fairgrounds. He was great with the little kids and was really fun to take outside of the classroom to participate in an agricultural experience. He was actually so excited to put the FFA jacket on this morning! And was so proud to wear it all day. When we got to Ag Days, I told him I had to have a picture as proof that this actually happened... Miracles do happen... Goals are met with persistence... 

Convincing kids that the blue jacket is actually cool, mission accomplished!

All my kids did a great job today! I am so proud of them... I even got two super quiet freshmen to go! I've been working on them all year. 

"Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in"

The ones you always remember...

At every school, there are always those kids you find that make you feel like you've found your purpose. You know the ones that learn a lot, grow the most, make an effort to keep in contact after they've graduated and those you feel like you made a difference with. 

This weekend, I was fortunate enough to travel with students to the Chico State Field Day. It's always one of my favorite contests as they do a great job hosting. This year I felt very lucky to talk with multiple past students who were helping run contests. Two were even on judging teams with me while they were in high school. 

It's these students who really remind me why I love my job. They both were very successful in high school. I had close relationships with both because they were on my judging teams. But their success was not typical... They may not have won a bunch of champion livestock ribbons or tons of 1st place speaking ribbons, but they had more heart and humor than most kids. Whether in FFA, judging, speaking, showing or the classroom, these girls were the type that made you love the career of Ag teaching. 

Although I had them while teaching at different schools, one at Elk Grove and one at Santa Rosa, these girls are very similar. They put 150% into everything they did. They loved FFA, had a passion for their animals (horses and rabbits-- some of my favorites too), worked to be friends with everyone, and most importantly, laughed a lot. 

It was a pleasant surprise to talk with both of them Saturday. I'm glad to see they have continued to be successful in college (now running contests). It reminded me that at the end of the day, when all the classes have ended and shows are finished, that the little things don't matter. It's more about the experience and time spent with these kids that make a difference in their lives (and mine).

It might be a tall blonde who judged horses or a quiet city kid who aced rabbit reasons or someone entirely different that reminds you of why you, do what you do. But at the end of the day, it's not about all the kids who walk in and out of the classroom. It's about the ones who walk right into your heart and stay for forever. I'll always think of these girls and their dedication to what they do... They drive my focus and dedication. They are the reason I never give up...

Keep the rest of them... Give me the passionate, funny kids and I will do this job for the next 50 years...

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." Maya Angelou

Teacher Conferences

Currently, I'm in Sacramento for the Educating for Careers Conference for teachers. 

Now, I feel funny saying I have been to my fair share of conferences but I have... I feel like I spend many hours at both student and teacher conferences. Although this EFC conference is for CTE and pathways and academies, it's my first experience at conference not specifically for Ag Teachers. 

While there are many things going on that are great and positive, I whole heartedly think other teachers and presenters "don't have nothin' on us". I've never been one to think that Ag Teachers are the best teachers because I know some pretty awesome teachers who teach other subjects. But this conference has create a sense of awareness for me about teachers in other CTE areas. And in all honesty, it's not all that positive...

Ag teachers are a rare breed. They are dedicated, innovative, caring and tenacious. But we also know how to ask for help (well some lol), work with others and spend time creating new activities and lessons. 

It's been an interesting few days, being around 2700 other CTE and Academy teachers... Luckily I found a few familiar Ag teacher faces in the mix and I brought a few peeps from school. The biggest thing I have learned from the conference is that every presenter (with the exception of like 2), should have been in FFA. Public speaking is an important skill that you can't overdue, especially if you work for a government agency, school or business... Basically everyone I've met in the last few days needs the leadership skills that FFA provides... 

Atleast we have fun while they let us out...

In other news, it was my birthday Saturday... Pretty nice day... And what did I get myself for my birthday? Well a bunny, of course!!! A super cute Holland Lop Buck... I'm so excited to take him to school! Still working on a name... Look for his Instagram, he's bound to be famous... 

Isn't he cute?!