AASSA pre-conference in action

Flying to an international location, staying in a nice hotel, meeting with people from all around the continent, and being in a room with so many others who share my passions for teaching and travel seems like a dream come true to me! I feel so lucky that my school chose my friend Marshall and I to represent them at the AASSA conference. I only wish that I had been able to attend one of these conferences earlier!

Yesterday we attended a pre-workshop on Educational Leadership with Barry Dequanne who is the head of school at the American School of Brasilia.   It was a full day from 8-4 (with an hour off for lunch) and I was shocked to find that I was engaged and interested the whole day!

I took several pages of notes, but I had a few takeaways that I wanted to share:

Advice for getting hired: Heads of schools say that “You can hire people with the right values and THEN you can train people to learn the right skills.” Values are almost more important than skills. In general, they are looking for positive people, who love children, someone who fits the teacher profile, and who is resilient. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

Advice for attending workshops: Know that you are always interviewing and representing the school. Don’t talk bad about the school when you are overseas. Be your best self.

How to Develop Yourself into an Educational Leader: Look for leadership opportunities in the school. If there are no opportunities, look for ways to CREATE your own opportunities. Volunteer to organize an event, join a committee, and learn who you are as a leader and what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Social Emotional Learning: Very important for both students and teachers. Your relationships are very important. You must learn how to listen and pay attention to people’s stories. Emotional Intelligence is twice as important as IQ.

My favorite quote of the day, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Read these books:

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life by Parker J. Palmer

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership by Lee Bolman

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K–8 Coaches and Principals by Diane Sweeney

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman

I’m really looking forward to another day at the conference and perhaps having a chance to see more of this gorgeous city!

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