Our Team of Learners

It all began in July 2008 when I officially began my position as Principal at Waukee Middle School, or as I lovingly refer to, The Promise Land. I found out quickly that being Principal at WMS meant so much more than maintaining the budget, supervising employees, and fulfilling other managerial duties. It's about PASSION....passion for learning and serving...and passion for PEOPLE. I am so blessed everyday to come to work and be surrounded by adult learners who truly care about children and each other. And the best part is that we have fun learning together and working so very hard!! There hasn't been a day since I started that I haven't thanked God for choosing me for this role. One of my mentors always says, "A strong leader surrounds himself with people smarter than him." While I'm certainly not saying I'm a strong leader, I am saying that I am proud to be working with teachers who are tenacious and talented, and everyone has unique strengths to bring to the table. Having committed time to build trust and teamwork has empowered us with leadership capacity, and my hope is that every person feels valued and needed. As one of our literacy leaders, Angela Maiers, says, "We are smarter together!"

So here we are....a ROCK STAR staff intersecting with 21st Century Skills. Last year, we began reading and learning about 21st Century Skills and what a 21st Century Classroom looks like. Simultaneously, the department of ed infused 21st Century Skills in the Iowa Core Curriculum. We quickly recognized the sense of urgency in transforming teaching and learning. We can no longer do what we have always done....or we will get what we've always gotten. Take note: Our children WILL NOT SURVIVE their futures if we do not provide them with 21st century learning opportunities on a REGULAR BASIS. Opportunities to CREATE and EVALUATE and ANALYZE (hmmm...I'm seeing Blooms Taxonomy here...) must drive the typical day-to-day activities instead of being a special culminating project at the end of a unit.

The million dollar question is....how will we make this happen? How will we transform our classrooms? Here's the million dollar answer: WE are 21st Century Learners! If we, as adult learners, embrace 21st Century Learning, then we will create students with skills that will empower them as successful citizens in a global society. On one hand, it sounds so easy, doesn't it? This million dollar answer is just a simple sentence; not a list of a hundred "how to" strategies. If We learn, our students will learn!!! How cool is that?!? On the other hand, though, it can be scary for some because change represents the "unknown." So, we make it happen by taking one step at a time. A phrase you'll hear in our building is, "Just try one thing." For me, that "one thing" has created a disease of, "What can I learn next?" that has spread throughout my veins, and I just can't get enough! I'm seeing this same disease spread throughout the building as teachers are trying new things and sharing with one another.

We have become a Professional Learning Community of 21st Century Learners, and there is no place I'd rather be. Honestly, I've reached the point of no return! I have a responsibility, a hunger, a passion...to serve as the fearless leader of teachers charting our learning course so that we can see our transformed 21st century school come to life! "Together" is a great place to be.