Emergency!

Last week, my youngest daughter called me with an emergency. She needed me to pick her up from her mom’s house for an urgent mission. I was there in a matter of minutes and assessed the situation. It was just as she had described it….dead. Yes, her phone was dead as a doornail. We traveled to the Sprint store and fortunately the technician was able to restart her phone and in a matter of minutes it was good as new. My daughter was so happy and grateful that she actually treated me to a hot chocolate at the Starbucks next door. I was guaranteed hero status for a full fifteen minutes!

You’re probably thinking that a dead phone does not rise to the level of an emergency. However for a sixteen year old girl, it absolutely was. Her connection to her peer group, her access to information, and her pathway to entertainment were all gone without her phone. What would have been a minor inconvenience to me, was a major disaster through her eyes. I chose to approach the situation through her lens.

As educators, we are often approached with situations that are deemed “emergencies” by others. Teachers deal with student issues that may seem small in comparison with the needs of the classroom. Principals deal with teacher issues that may seem small in comparison to the needs of the school. Superintendents deal with principal issues that may seem small in comparison with the needs of the district. But the reality is that to that one student, teacher, or principal it may mean the world. Looking through the eyes of another is a skill that we NEED as educators. It can help us create trusting relationships and develop a global perspective.

“One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” – Arnold Glasow

“The emergencies you train for almost never happen.” – Ernest Gann

“Real friends are someone who is right next to you in emergencies, not only in parties” – Hiroko Sakai

• Monday, February 10: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM, parent meeting (Ringler) 3:20 PM
• Tuesday, February 11: Achievement Team (Allmayer) 8:15 AM, Follow Up Meeting (Ringler) 9:05 AM, Parent Meeting (Hochkins) 3:20 PM
• Wednesday, February 12: Elementary Principals Meeting 1:00-4:30 PM, Founders Day at Schoolcraft (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
• Thursday, February 13: Staff Meeting 8:05 AM (facilitated by Theresa O’Brien and Jen Cory), PTA Meeting 7:00 AM
  • Math Theme: Measurement

• Monday, February 17 & Tuesday, February 18: Midwinter Break
• Wednesday, February 19: IEP (Tanner) 8:15 AM
• Thursday, February 20: Coaches Meeting at Central Office (all principals & literacy coaches)
  • Math Theme: Geometry