Ep. 29: Finish Strong! Be Mr. May.

Reggie Jackson was nicknamed "Mr. October" because of his clutch hitting in the postseason. He finished the year strong! And so should we.

In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss ways teachers and administrators can finish the year with clarity and purpose. From roundtable discussions, award ceremonies, and renewing educational vows, how we end the year not only impacts how we remember the entire year, it prepares and excites us for what comes next.

Finish strong! And earn the nickname Mr. (or Mrs.) May.

Providing Clarity Reduces Anxiety

Reduce anxieties about this year:

• Clarify end-of-the-year procedures (final grades, end-of-the-year activities, schedule changes, etc…
• Remind yourself and others that we are where we are - don’t cram solutions to the year’s mistakes into the last few weeks.

Reduce the anxieties about next year:

• Give teachers their teaching assignments as early as possible, clarifying any major changes
• Allow teachers the opportunity to rest over the summer - remove the worry and ambiguity of next year
• Start something new - test it out! - so next year is more prepared

Provide a playbook for the start of the next school year:

• Have a plan on how you are going to integrate new staff members
• Identify a goal or three (with tangible actions and quantifiable objectives) for the year - what is our focus, and why does it matter?

Staff Building Activities:

• Staff-Driven Award: Allow staff an opportunity to celebrate and recognize their colleagues in a very real, very personal way.
• Objectify Staff: Provide a very purposeful picture of each staff member that objectifies them and their importance and impact on the school.
• Renewing Educational Vows: Provide an opportunity for staff members to walk through their educational journey and that brings them back to their "Why" of education.

Show Sponsors:

Schurtz and Ties is sponsored by PeerDrivenPD, a teacher training platform that brings "candid conversations from some of the best classroom educators in the country." You can "get your training directly from the teachers in the trenches as current classroom teachers guide your professional learning with authentic insights and practical strategies you can try immediately." Check out PeerDrivenPD.com for more information and mention Schurtz and Ties and get 10% off any purchase for one year!

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#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Thank you to Matt Hard for the outro music (it was generated from our Chat GPT Episode) and Karl DeCock for creating the cover art!