Musings on Accomplishment

I am, admittedly, a podcast junkie. I think I have a library of 120 that I listen to. Depending on my mood, my whereabouts and my interests, I tune in to hear what other people are apt to put on the airwaves for the rest of us to absorb. Though I approach listening to podcasts with a sincere desire to learn and to be inspired, I sometimes can't help but feel thoroughly unaccomplished by the end. I have been a professional for over 30 years; I have been an athlete across a number of sports; I've fostered a loving marriage for over 22 years and I have a lovely teenage daughter who is thriving. What is my problem?

Something about ready access to an abundance of media compresses experiences; compresses lives. What may have taken someone 5 years to build; 10 years to realize is reported out in 27 minutes (or so). I know I am responsible for the way I feel so I am trying to put in perspective the life stories - lengthy, surely tumultuous, triumphant and chaotic - in relation to the podcast format. 

I've not figured out the balance of inspiration and motivation, or reflection vs regret that I feel when absorbed in my podcast world. It does not stop me from listening at all; it does however, stop me from stopping. 

An Open Letter to the Tam District Board and Superintendent

To members of the board of Supervisors at Tam Unified School District,

I attended and gave comment at the Board meeting yesterday evening, Tuesday April 27, 2016 on the topic of Wellness. Specifically, we - the community of parents, teachers, caregivers, students and administrators - gathered to review 4 programs under review by the Budget Committee and the District Executive Leadership team - you, to whom I am writing. I made two points:

1. That this is the second Board meeting in which the topic of Wellness was being addressed and for which no one on the Board was prepared.

2. I called into question David Yoshihara’s competence to fulfill the obligations of his position, which he has held for one year.

I am writing to put greater context to my comments and to share the fact that I simply gave voice to common sentiment throughout the community. It is not the community who should have to defend the rights of access to wellness of the students; indeed it is Yoshihara who should have to defend his point of view which stands in the face of decisions made unanimously one year ago and which are currently manifest at Redwodd High. To date I have seen, read and heard nothing of a strategic vision from Yoshihara. As the appointed “Chief Executive” of the school district it is incumbent upon him to reveal and share his vision; the strategy he seeks to put in place to realize that vision; and to bring the academic and parent community along to create an action plan that supports and makes manifest the strategy. If he cannot garner the support then it is indeed incumbent upon him to modify his ways in order to effectively lead and hold title.

Leadership is a unique position and with it comes responsibilities that exceed general management:

• Vision
• Strategy
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Transparency

Having seen none of the above from Yoshihara, I feel it is absolutely within the realm of my right and responsibility as a parent, an adult, a community member and a tax payer to demand that he rise to the level of his position and title. If this is seen an “uncivil”, as Michael stated yesterday, I would ask that “civility” be defined and equally applied as the modus operandi of all.

Civil: “adhering to the norms of polite social intercourse”

In context:

1. Redwood High has had an operating wellness center in excess of one year.
2. Drake wellness Design team has been working since September 18, 2015
3. March 22, 2016 was the date of the prior Board meeting when Wellness was “under review”

Is it “civil” that:

1. Yoshihara has failed to visit the Redwood Wellness Center to garner a thorough understanding of its services, affect and impact on students, Counselors, Parents and Healthcare providers?
2. Yoshihara has failed to meet with students - his primary constituents - to learn about Wellness from their point of view? Yoshihara is in service of the students, not the other way around.
3. Yoshihara has failed to review and disseminate the plan(s) and corresponding data on Wellness to the Board? He has been in possession of the information for some time now?
4. Yoshihara has failed to inform Board members of the data, the methodologies, and the project plans for each school’s Wellness program in preparation for and in anticipation of the March 22 and April 26 meetings?

If our children had a school project, the results of which were delivered in isolation and without any research or engagement, they would fail. I expect more from a trained, professional adult who holds a senior executive position in an academic organization. 

Reciprocity: “mutual exchange”

I am not a religious person but I do live by the notion of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  I have done my research to understand the mission statement of the school(s) and the job scope of the Superintendent of the District. As well, one can read the mission statement published on line. Has the work been done by Yoshihara to understand his constituents? Has the leg work and soul-searching been done by him within and amongst the community to truly understand the nature of the challenges and the opportunities across the student bodies and parent community?

• Transparency
• Outreach
• Effective use of resources
• Open mindedness
• Engagement
• Continuous improvement

Perhaps you can review the below attached together and reflect on the lack of civility slung upon parents and students as decisions are recalled in isolation; data is suppressed; discussion is silenced and outreach is nonexistent. 

Leadership requires a higher standard of conduct; leadership is accountable; leadership demands the highest demonstration of civility and reciprocity if leadership is to be respected and taken seriously.  I demand a higher level of excellence from the Superintendent of Marin District Schools. One can expect to receive back what one puts in - a fundamental tenet of education. Yoshihara needs to demonstrate his willingness, ability and capability to put in the work necessary in order to win the support and credibility he should and will so badly need to be successful in his current role.

The Philosophy statement published on the website states that the district schools are:

"…dedicated to the development of creative, passionate, and self-motivated learners. Upon graduation, students will be prepared for engaged citizenship and able to contribute individually and collaboratively in order to address the challenges of a dynamic and diverse world. To these ends, all students will demonstrate mastery of core competencies and will be offered meaningful learning experiences to enable them to access and critically analyze information, pose substantive questions, and communicate effectively.”

Please articulate, in a public forum, how the current management proposes to realize this vision with the current leadership model?

While I appreciate Chuck Ford’s criticism that the current school system is “outdated” and reflects post Industrial Revolution ideals and methodologies, that does little to address change in current practice. We cannot ‘boil the ocean’. We can however, effectively put in place a collection of practices and aligned strategies that, in synchrony, evolve and bring about change to the post-Industrialist structure of our current educational system. 

Case in point for Mr Ford: the TEAM Program. This program has high accolades. It is reputed to have changed kids lives. Holy crap, let’s leverage that. Instead of serving a mere 24 students to the tune of $350,000 per year, let’s address how to “adapt” that program to scale and be more inclusive. This is “wellness” manifest and yet there is no call to evolve, scale and apply this learning to a broader community and context. The budget for this program, that serves 24 kids, is half of next year’s requested Wellness budget that would serve over 2000 kids. Mr Ford, care to take on that challenge and demonstrate, through your vision and leadership, that not only the (24) elite get a program that promises the following?:

This mission statement is the very essence of wellness - well mind, well body, well person, well community. 

Drake statistics are:

86% of students report a private space at a wellness center would be helpful if they were having a serious emotional issue (per Drake Welllness Design Survey)

61% of students showed interest in education and presentations around drug and alcohol use

57% of students would be interested in talking to counselor about drugs and alcohol

81% of staff agree or strongly agree that students need access to mental health services

86% of parents report that they feel students should be able to access mental health services at school

Even if the data were off It is our mind set that needs to shift - from one that believes schools have nothing to do with shaping and nurturing children and that they are just there to “teach” - as if these are separate activities. Jessica Colvin speaks of 14 years of evidentiary data that validates the impact - the ROI - of wellness in schools. That it is thought of in a silo is our problem - is apparently your problem - because any thinking, engaged and rational person knows that wellness is a holistic concept. Well mind, well body, well person, well community.

ROI - Michael spoke yesterday evening about a school NOT being a business. I beg to differ. Every school has a budget, a leadership structure, deliverables, metrics and a product. The children are the product. What Michael was in fact referring to is that schools have the complexity of unions. Having managed businesses in Europe for 7 years I can say with confidence that unions remain an integral part of many cultures’ business operating platform. The unions are neither a force of success nor failure. I don’t believe that the union-free business model is any better than the ‘union-burdened’ business model, but what I do believe is that no matter which social contract exists, managing a business is hard. This is why trained, professional, educated, aspiring people are hired to do these jobs. All of us need to stop whining about our personal preferences and focus on the excellence of our product: creative, passionate, and self-motivated learners…students… prepared for engaged citizenship, able to contribute individually and collaboratively in order to address the challenges of a dynamic and diverse world…students…demonstrate mastery of core competencies… to enable them to access and critically analyze information, pose substantive questions, and communicate effectively.” 

If ANY of you do a tiny bit of research on the subject you will find IRREFUTABLE evidence that the return on investment in whole, healthy children has EXPONENTIAL returns on families, communities and self-actualized human beings. That this is even a point of contention illustrates to me the massive failure of the School Executives to do their homework; continuous learning and/or to simply stay hip to modern knowledge. Start with First 5 - http://www.ccfc.ca.gov - and work your way up - through the age groups from there. 

Interestingly related were two other topics last night. They were not even discussed in the context of holistic ‘wellness’ of students. I find that a silo’d mind set. Perhaps Tara should not be a “one woman department” but should be collaborating with peers and colleagues to leverage the support for; the budgetary allowance for; the inter-related staffing needs for such efforts:

1. Library hours:

- Libraries create a safe haven for kids who may not have the support to do homework at home

- Libraries create a safe haven for kids who may not have parents who wait in line to retrieve them as they exit last period

- Libraries create a safe haven for kids who are trying to learn how to study and follow by example of their peers

- Libraries create an environment of adult supervision for children who may feel like they have none

2. Summer School:

- Summer School may in fact provide ‘coverage’ for kids who would be home alone otherwise

- “WHY” the recidivism? The way is more important that the “what”

These are all inter-related issues and require communication, engagement and frankly a more purposeful focus on the product (the children). Let’s focus on contributing to the very best product we can: whole, healthy children - Well mind, well body, well person, well community.

To the speaker at the meeting who said it may be “too late” to catch troubled students in High School through Wellness Programs, shame on you. She revealed her fundamental ignorance in the area of children, academics and the enormous role that schools play in the success of our society. 

I will take it upon myself to personally forward the Drake Wellness plan to those on this email since we cannot rely on our School Superintendent to share the work so diligently completed. For now what I can share is the Cost Benefit analysis which was concurrently prepared - and that Noah graciously walked up to hand to Leslie yesterday evening. I hope that we - the community - can count on the Board being better prepared for the next meeting when again the decision about Wellness is on the docket.

Let’s ALL focus on “civil” behavior by adhering to the norms of polite social intercourse of treating one another as we wish to be treated; of holding ourselves to the highest possible standard of reciprocal excellence. If we can count on you, you can count on us. If I can count on you, you can count on me. It is indeed that simple a mind set that brings change and excellence.

With kind regards,

Deborah Keiser

Change, through the eyes of a "change junkie"

Many years ago a boss characterized me as a "change junkie". I think he meant it as a compliment even though he rarely doled out compliments - especially to any women. At the time I was working with a large corporation and daily life seemed to have devolved into sitting in meetings with different consultant groups talking about how we would inspire, manage, drive, and sustain change. Here's how simple my mind is: I thought, if we want to change, why don't we do something(s) different other than sit in rooms hour after hour talking aout how we are going to do things differently. I am a woman of action; of movement; of dynamic progress. I am not afraid of changing things up to generate different results. "Operating in a state of ambiguity" is how I prefer to characterize it.

Even I have limits. Today, I find I have hit a limit. Many people have to develop the mind set to take on change; I have to develop the mind set of what to do to a) slow the change and b) how to operate in greater stasis. Even though I feel like I need to take a break from the change, I am not sure I have the developed muscles to manage it. Maybe a little bit "living in the moment" but also maybe a little bit of "stop trying to alter everything". Maybe they are the same thing.

Musings for the day.

Bread baking

Baking bread: I am neither a cook, nor a food enthusiast. I do enjoy bread though. And, having lived in France for 7 years I became quite used to my baguette-a-day habit. Now back in the US I struggle to find an authentic french baguette. I can find 'a' baguette but it likely does not have the same (right) crusty exterior, airy light interior, perfect length (for carrying) and...the big clincher...cost the right amount ~$1-2 bucks. Bread is not a luxury; it is not fancy. It is simply elegant, yummy and a great form of basic sustenance. So, I have embarked on a bread-making effort that proves entertaining and frustrating at the same time. I've made several great baseball bats - hard as wood. I have made a few molten yeast-blobs - more like Irish Soda bread but without the unique flavor. I've made OK tasting loaves but nowhere near the crusty baguette splendor for which I am longing. I keep trying, convinced that the chemistry will strike and I will find the right recipe and the right touch.