Setting Goals for the New School Year

With the start of a new school year in the United States, students and teachers welcome the hope and promise of a clean slate; it’s a time for resetting, taking risks and trying things differently. The start of school is an exciting time and I often use it as a reminder for focusing on professional goals for the upcoming year. Here are some of the goals I’ve set for myself this year.

1. Be a Mindful Listener
   As an introvert, I find myself spending much more time listening to others talk, while at the same time, getting distracted by thinking about what I can contribute to a conversation and plan what to say next. I want to focus on listening for understanding and suspending judgment and evaluation. Mindful listening also means putting my other senses to work: being aware of non-verbal cues, body language, and tone of voice. To learn more about how being a good listener is crucial to being a great leader, check out this article.
2. Always Learn
   I love learning, whether it’s gaining a completely new skill or relearning/unlearning something so I can improve upon my performance the next time. Modeling this kind of learning becomes important for those students who may be used to more conventional modes of education. Learning today is different for Generation Alpha and occurs in various formats and diverse environments. Our rapidly changing world means the focus of learning shifts from content to capabilities, such as social and emotional intelligence, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Developing these capabilities helps us evolve our skill sets to be successful global citizens. I make time every day to learn from my professional and personal networks and plan to attend at least three or four conference events during the school year.
3. Be Aware of Implicit Biases
   Implicit biases are attitudes and stereotypes we have without awareness or conscious direction. They can cause potentially devastating effects for classrooms and schools if we don’t realize their impact on others. I’m hoping that acknowledging my biases and moving toward them will improve my interactions with others and help me make better decisions. In my role, this could mean improvements in the hiring and interview process or provide a safer learning environment for students and colleagues.
4. Take Initiative
   My job allows me to take a lot of risks and implement new ideas. I’m very lucky to have that support because it allows me to push myself and feel comfortable with being uncomfortable. I like to offer many different kinds of professional learning opportunities for teachers and district staff, including a Technologist-in-Residence Program, Learning Café, EdcampPDX and virtual office hours.
5. Manage My Energy
   Putting practices into place to help build and sustain my energy lets me accomplish more in less time at a higher level of engagement. I just learned about energy renewal programs; you adopt rituals that lead you toward healthy behaviors to sustain a positive attitude and mindset. I’ve identified these behaviors as important to me: exercising every day before or after work, five minutes of daily meditation, preparing more homemade meals, taking at least two 15-minute walking breaks during the workday and going to bed at a reasonable time. I’m optimistic that cultivating this good energy will widen my scope of positive human impact and keep me motivated and focused on my work with a renewed sense of purpose.

What are some of your goals for the new school year and how do you plan to measure your progress toward them?