When I was an undergraduate student, there were very few education courses at the College of the Holy Cross. One of them was Principles of Guidance, a once-weekly seminar. As a sophomore, I didn't think I had a chance to get into the course, but as it turned out, I was accepted. This was my first of many classes with Dean Joseph Maguire. Going forward, I had at least one class with him each of my remaining semesters in college.
Principles of Guidance met on Wednesday afternoons, a class limited to 15 students, as I recall. We discussed a number of topics critical to education, most notably though the emphasis was on relationships. I can credit this class as the first time I began to form my professional commitment to these critical connections in education.
Following Principles of Guidance, I was able to apply for and earn an internship teaching at a school in Worcester. As part of the internship, I met weekly with Dean Joe. We reviewed my plans, assignments, grading and of course, there was reading to do. I read Paolo Friere, John Dewey, and Jonathan Kozol, to name a few. And for the most part, to accommodate our schedules, we met on Wednesdays.
In 1997, Mitch Albom released his wonderful memoir about his experience going back to visit a former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz. Tuesdays with Morrie is a beautiful recounting of the trips that Albom made, after seeing Schwartz on television. Schwartz, who was in the latter stages of a struggle with ALS, continued to teach Albom, imparting wisdom, interspersed with humor and life lessons. Albom has acknowledged that this return to Schwartz changed his life.
I did not have the benefit of perspective as I went through my four years at Holy Cross. While I was keenly aware of the influence Dean Joe was having on my academics, I could not yet fully see the impact he would make on my life. To this day, unless legally required, I use a purple pen. Dean Joe too always used purple. When I asked him about this, his reason was simple: No one ever wants to see their work covered in red. How true.
My professional emphasis in twenty-two years as an educator has been about relationships and that is the greatest tribute I can give to Joe Maguire. From Chicago to Boston to New York to Vermont, whether as a teacher or an educational leader, I have prioritized the relationships with students, faculty, staff, families, and communities. As superintendent, I tell students my job is to make sure they feel safe and included so they can come to school and learn to their potential. I also tell adults, it's my job to make sure they can be their best selves for their students.
I got here, thanks in large part, to my Wednesdays with Joe.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Sunday, March 24, 2019
The Best of Us
Often when I go to national conferences on education, I get the sense that people think of Vermont as quaint and idyllic. We are the land of Ben & Jerry's, Bernie Sanders, and maple syrup. However, when I talk about our statewide education initiatives (proficiency-based graduation requirements and personalized learning), that very quickly gets their attention. This past week though, there were two moments, one shared with the nation, and one lesser known that demonstrates what I believe we genuinely are as a state. They both come from the University of Vermont Men's Basketball team.
By now, we know that our Catamounts lost a hard-fought game against Florida State last Thursday in Hartford. But that is truly burying the lead. Last Sunday night on ESPN, Scott Van Pelt highlighted the tremendous integrity of Head Coach John Becker. (Click here for the link to the video, courtesy of YouTube). In 2015, Josh Speidel who had already committed to play at UVM was in a car accident, and the resulting injuries left him in a coma. Three days later, Becker flew to Indiana and assured Speidel's family that there would be a spot for him on the team and further told the family, that UVM would honor the scholarship offer. This was before Becker could know that the NCAA would decide that this would not count against the number of scholarship players on the team.
How easy would it have been for Becker to very quietly tell the family that since Speidel could not physically play basketball, there was no place for him? Given the extent of the injuries, one might even consider that a reasonable way forward. Not Becker. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is looking. This was the right thing to do.
Such leadership from a head coach filters down directly to the players, and that brings me to the other moment, one that did not receive national attention. On Saturday, March 16 UVM defeated the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC) to win the America East Tournament and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Anthony Lamb had 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. What was truly noteworthy to me was what he did after the game, and after he helped cut down the nets, a tradition that goes to the winners.
Lamb went around Patrick Gym and took a picture with anyone who wanted a picture and signed an autograph for anyone who wanted an autograph. Let me make this clear: no one who wanted either a picture with Lamb or his autograph left the UVM campus that day without it. I've never played sports competitively any higher than junior varsity in high school. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to compete for almost 40 minutes at the Division I level. Lamb played 39 minutes, helped his team earn a victory and then made the UVM fans feel like they were part of the family. Every single one of them.
Sports does not always bring out the best of us. There are countless stories of grown adults, admittedly usually men, behaving badly both on and off the court. And then there are stories of integrity and leadership from a coach, that's then exemplified by his players. Perhaps we can continue to confound the rest of the country as to what we really are all about in Vermont.
Because what we saw this week from UVM really is our best, as human beings.
By now, we know that our Catamounts lost a hard-fought game against Florida State last Thursday in Hartford. But that is truly burying the lead. Last Sunday night on ESPN, Scott Van Pelt highlighted the tremendous integrity of Head Coach John Becker. (Click here for the link to the video, courtesy of YouTube). In 2015, Josh Speidel who had already committed to play at UVM was in a car accident, and the resulting injuries left him in a coma. Three days later, Becker flew to Indiana and assured Speidel's family that there would be a spot for him on the team and further told the family, that UVM would honor the scholarship offer. This was before Becker could know that the NCAA would decide that this would not count against the number of scholarship players on the team.
How easy would it have been for Becker to very quietly tell the family that since Speidel could not physically play basketball, there was no place for him? Given the extent of the injuries, one might even consider that a reasonable way forward. Not Becker. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is looking. This was the right thing to do.
Such leadership from a head coach filters down directly to the players, and that brings me to the other moment, one that did not receive national attention. On Saturday, March 16 UVM defeated the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC) to win the America East Tournament and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Anthony Lamb had 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. What was truly noteworthy to me was what he did after the game, and after he helped cut down the nets, a tradition that goes to the winners.
Lamb went around Patrick Gym and took a picture with anyone who wanted a picture and signed an autograph for anyone who wanted an autograph. Let me make this clear: no one who wanted either a picture with Lamb or his autograph left the UVM campus that day without it. I've never played sports competitively any higher than junior varsity in high school. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to compete for almost 40 minutes at the Division I level. Lamb played 39 minutes, helped his team earn a victory and then made the UVM fans feel like they were part of the family. Every single one of them.
Sports does not always bring out the best of us. There are countless stories of grown adults, admittedly usually men, behaving badly both on and off the court. And then there are stories of integrity and leadership from a coach, that's then exemplified by his players. Perhaps we can continue to confound the rest of the country as to what we really are all about in Vermont.
Because what we saw this week from UVM really is our best, as human beings.
 |
| Photo Courtsey of The Burlington Free Press |
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Endless Possibilities
While listening to National Public Radio recently, I heard something stunning: the smartphones that we all carry in our pockets are each more powerful than all the computers that put men on the moon for the first time on July 20, 1969. That is simply staggering.
Consider that this year will be the 50th anniversary of that moon landing. There have been so many advances just in the space program alone. For example, in the past fifty years, NASA created, deployed, and retired the space shuttle. The first space shuttle mission lasted only two days in April of 1981, while the final mission was a total of thirteen days in July of 2011. While there were tragedies and loss of life as part of both the Apollo and the space shuttle programs, there was no way to foresee in 1969 that there would be an aircraft that could launch from earth on a rocket and return to earth landing like an airplane.
I've seen it first hand in my own family life. Last weekend, our youngest son Brendan accomplished something in his first ten years on the planet than I have yet to accomplish in my first forty-four. He will be designing a sneaker with a company in Italy. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Brendan Ricca, a resident of Vermont, will be designing a sneaker with a company in Italy.
In 2019, there are many, many ways to tap into the passions of our students. When I was growing up, if my parents didn't have the answers to my questions, and friends of ours didn't have answers to my questions, and if my teachers didn't have the answers to my questions, there was a source available in the living room for me to look to: the World Book Encyclopedia.
No longer is that our reality, as we have such powerful resources in our pockets. Our world is shrinking smaller and smaller each day. We are able to connect with people on the other side of our planet, as easily as we connect with the person next door. This literally opens the world to our students.
As educators, the greatest investment we can receive is time. Time to know our students. If we are able to know our students well, we will be able to teach them in the way they learn best. When we teach our students the way they learn best, we improve student outcomes. Regardless of the challenges our students come to school with, we simply cannot limit what they are capable of.
Who knows what they will think of next?
Consider that this year will be the 50th anniversary of that moon landing. There have been so many advances just in the space program alone. For example, in the past fifty years, NASA created, deployed, and retired the space shuttle. The first space shuttle mission lasted only two days in April of 1981, while the final mission was a total of thirteen days in July of 2011. While there were tragedies and loss of life as part of both the Apollo and the space shuttle programs, there was no way to foresee in 1969 that there would be an aircraft that could launch from earth on a rocket and return to earth landing like an airplane.
I've seen it first hand in my own family life. Last weekend, our youngest son Brendan accomplished something in his first ten years on the planet than I have yet to accomplish in my first forty-four. He will be designing a sneaker with a company in Italy. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Brendan Ricca, a resident of Vermont, will be designing a sneaker with a company in Italy.
In 2019, there are many, many ways to tap into the passions of our students. When I was growing up, if my parents didn't have the answers to my questions, and friends of ours didn't have answers to my questions, and if my teachers didn't have the answers to my questions, there was a source available in the living room for me to look to: the World Book Encyclopedia.
No longer is that our reality, as we have such powerful resources in our pockets. Our world is shrinking smaller and smaller each day. We are able to connect with people on the other side of our planet, as easily as we connect with the person next door. This literally opens the world to our students.
As educators, the greatest investment we can receive is time. Time to know our students. If we are able to know our students well, we will be able to teach them in the way they learn best. When we teach our students the way they learn best, we improve student outcomes. Regardless of the challenges our students come to school with, we simply cannot limit what they are capable of.
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| Photo courtesy of www.aliveshoes.com |
Who knows what they will think of next?
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Always Growing
I've been a fan of Loyola University Chicago (LUC) prior to their recent NCAA Final Four trip, and well before Sister Jean was a household name. Chicago is a place that is near and dear to my heart. I lived there for ten years, it's where I met My Wife, and where our first child was born. LUC is also where I attended graduate school to earn my doctorate.
With the national spotlight being cast on LUC, I will admit I've followed their basketball team a little more closely in the past year or so. In particular, I've been intrigued by the head men's basketball coach, Porter Moser. When a team has a meteoric rise to the top, the way LUC did last year, naturally there is a curiosity about the relationship the coach has with his players. What does Moser do differently? What buttons did he push? How did he blend the right amount of leadership with letting go?
Watching a recent LUC game, one of the broadcasters noted that Moser has chosen to spend time with other successful coaches in the off-season. Not just basketball coaches, but coaches in other sports. I imagine the workload of a college basketball coach that led his team to the Final Four is pretty significant. Further, I would expect that there's not a substantial amount of free time. Add to the mix that Moser is married and has four children and I would expect that there are many demands on his time.
The fact that Moser chose to learn more about his craft, from others in his profession, doesn't just speak to the type of coach that he is, it speaks to the kind of learner that he is. Seeking out others who have more experience, success, and insight into your own profession indicates a level of humility that is not typically praised in our modern culture. In our 24 hour a day news and social media cycle, we pounce on what we perceive to be the truth and ask questions later.
Moser's actions, however, speak to a larger goal. While it's not probable that LUC will return to the Final Four this year, that has not stopped him from taking steps on his own to grow in his field. in 2019, this is something to be celebrated and recognized. No one would have given it a second thought if Moser rested on the success his team enjoyed in 2018. Instead, he chose to look for other opportunities for growth, completely on his own.
As educators, we are entrusted with the highest level of care for our PK - 8 students. They see us for more waking hours a day, at times than their own families. They are legally compelled to come to school for more than 180 days. How can we take Moser's example and make it a part of their world? How can we foster not only the passion for a profession but the desire to continue to grow and learn, especially when it is least expected?
I don't have all the answers, but I desperately want to be part of the solution.
With the national spotlight being cast on LUC, I will admit I've followed their basketball team a little more closely in the past year or so. In particular, I've been intrigued by the head men's basketball coach, Porter Moser. When a team has a meteoric rise to the top, the way LUC did last year, naturally there is a curiosity about the relationship the coach has with his players. What does Moser do differently? What buttons did he push? How did he blend the right amount of leadership with letting go?
Watching a recent LUC game, one of the broadcasters noted that Moser has chosen to spend time with other successful coaches in the off-season. Not just basketball coaches, but coaches in other sports. I imagine the workload of a college basketball coach that led his team to the Final Four is pretty significant. Further, I would expect that there's not a substantial amount of free time. Add to the mix that Moser is married and has four children and I would expect that there are many demands on his time.
The fact that Moser chose to learn more about his craft, from others in his profession, doesn't just speak to the type of coach that he is, it speaks to the kind of learner that he is. Seeking out others who have more experience, success, and insight into your own profession indicates a level of humility that is not typically praised in our modern culture. In our 24 hour a day news and social media cycle, we pounce on what we perceive to be the truth and ask questions later.
Moser's actions, however, speak to a larger goal. While it's not probable that LUC will return to the Final Four this year, that has not stopped him from taking steps on his own to grow in his field. in 2019, this is something to be celebrated and recognized. No one would have given it a second thought if Moser rested on the success his team enjoyed in 2018. Instead, he chose to look for other opportunities for growth, completely on his own.
As educators, we are entrusted with the highest level of care for our PK - 8 students. They see us for more waking hours a day, at times than their own families. They are legally compelled to come to school for more than 180 days. How can we take Moser's example and make it a part of their world? How can we foster not only the passion for a profession but the desire to continue to grow and learn, especially when it is least expected?
I don't have all the answers, but I desperately want to be part of the solution.
 |
| Photo courtesy of www.wabisabilearning.com |
Sunday, March 3, 2019
We All Make Mistakes
I was listening to a podcast recently that featured a former major league umpire, Rich Garcia. Garcia is a 25-year veteran of the big leagues, retired as a crew chief, had twelve assignments in the playoffs and was on the field for two perfect games.
And yet, he is probably best remembered for a mistake he made in the 1996 playoffs:
As you can clearly see from this photo, the young man in the black shirt is reaching over the wall and interfering with the ability of the Orioles' outfielder to catch the ball. It's classic fan interference. Garcia, working the right field line, called this a home run and the Yankees went on to eliminate the Orioles from the playoffs.
Immediately after the game, Garcia's supervisor approached him and gave him the news that the call was wrong. Garcia was crushed and spent his offseason lamenting the call. He couldn't wait to get back on the field for Spring Training, specifically with the Orioles. He wanted to prove to them that he still had the skills needed to be a high-quality major league umpire.
In Spring Training, he got his wish - he worked an Orioles game. While jogging out onto the field, Brady Anderson, one of the Orioles outfielders at the time, joined him and asked how his winter was. "Awful," Garcia replied. Anderson stopped, "Why?" he asked.
As Garcia shared how badly he felt about the call, Anderson put his arm around him and gently told him to stop. "Richie," Anderson said, "The Yankees were a better team. We've forgotten about it and you should too. It's over - it's time for you to let it go."
We all make mistakes, every single one of us. Perhaps not on a national stage, in front of millions of fans, but we all make mistakes. I've often said that I make plenty of mistakes in the morning getting my own children ready to go to school. Chances are pretty good that I'm going to make mistakes when entrusted with more than 600 of other people's children.
The lesson here is that even the one who makes the mistake must be able to let it go. In a high-stakes environment, like the major league baseball playoffs, mistakes can cost a team a chance to move on. In a high-stakes environment, like a PK - 8 school, mistakes can cost us a relationship with a student who may need a second chance, or perhaps a third, or even a fourth...
As adults, we need to model how to keep mistakes in perspective as Brady Anderson did. We need to embrace the ones that others make and move on from our own.
We need to put our arm around others and let them know it's OK. No matter what the stakes are.
And yet, he is probably best remembered for a mistake he made in the 1996 playoffs:
 |
| Photo courtesy of ESPN.com |
As you can clearly see from this photo, the young man in the black shirt is reaching over the wall and interfering with the ability of the Orioles' outfielder to catch the ball. It's classic fan interference. Garcia, working the right field line, called this a home run and the Yankees went on to eliminate the Orioles from the playoffs.
Immediately after the game, Garcia's supervisor approached him and gave him the news that the call was wrong. Garcia was crushed and spent his offseason lamenting the call. He couldn't wait to get back on the field for Spring Training, specifically with the Orioles. He wanted to prove to them that he still had the skills needed to be a high-quality major league umpire.
In Spring Training, he got his wish - he worked an Orioles game. While jogging out onto the field, Brady Anderson, one of the Orioles outfielders at the time, joined him and asked how his winter was. "Awful," Garcia replied. Anderson stopped, "Why?" he asked.
As Garcia shared how badly he felt about the call, Anderson put his arm around him and gently told him to stop. "Richie," Anderson said, "The Yankees were a better team. We've forgotten about it and you should too. It's over - it's time for you to let it go."
We all make mistakes, every single one of us. Perhaps not on a national stage, in front of millions of fans, but we all make mistakes. I've often said that I make plenty of mistakes in the morning getting my own children ready to go to school. Chances are pretty good that I'm going to make mistakes when entrusted with more than 600 of other people's children.
The lesson here is that even the one who makes the mistake must be able to let it go. In a high-stakes environment, like the major league baseball playoffs, mistakes can cost a team a chance to move on. In a high-stakes environment, like a PK - 8 school, mistakes can cost us a relationship with a student who may need a second chance, or perhaps a third, or even a fourth...
As adults, we need to model how to keep mistakes in perspective as Brady Anderson did. We need to embrace the ones that others make and move on from our own.
We need to put our arm around others and let them know it's OK. No matter what the stakes are.
 |
| Photo courtesy of www.mrsruberrysblog.blogspot.com |
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