2012 "Suits and Sneakers" for Coaches vs. Cancer

2012 “Suits and Sneakers” for Coaches vs. Cancer

Ashbrook High School Staff

Every staff member that pledged to Coaches vs. Cancer was able to wear sneakers with their professional attire on Tuesday, January 31^st.

The event was capped off with Ashbrook hosting Kings Mountain, where both coaching staffs represented "Suits and Sneakers" during the game.

Here are some pics from the day:

Ms. Caldwell (Data Manager)

Mr. Carpenter (Counselor/Athletic Trainer)

Ms. Seawell (Media Specialist)

Mr. Birnstihl & Ms. Bryson (English Teachers)

Coach Duncan (Psychology/Sociology Teacher/Head Boys Basketball Coach/Athletic Director)

Ms. Sams (CTE Teacher)

Yours Truly

Coach Carsner (Social Studies Teacher/Tennis Coach/JV Boys Basketball Coach) & Coach Entas (CTE Teacher and Assistant Football Coach)

Coaches vs. Cancer Mission Statement

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Coaches vs. Cancer provides critical mission outreach, while raising funds in support of the Society's lifesaving cancer research, education, advocacy, and community service efforts.

Enthusiasm & Encouragement: Every Day

We start the second semester tomorrow, so I took advantage to meet my teachers this morning, due to the Teacher Workday.  I did not want this meeting to be simply a distribution of information, but rather an opportunity for me to gather the team together and focus on the start of the semester (which, due to the 4 x 4 Block schedule, is really like the first day of school all over again).

I began by placing the teachers in random small-groups and asking them to do the following:

Discuss "what" as a school, can improve for this semester.  But, for everything you list, you must also provide "how" we can improve in this area.

This led to some very good discussion, as the whole group was able to speak freely with their colleagues.  I served more as a moderator to maintain the focus, initially by asking for "instructional issues" first.  The best aspect was not only allowing teachers to voice "what" needs to be done and "how" we need to accomplish it, but by speaking in front of the group, we can now keep each other accountable for the areas discussed.  I frequently told the group, "If it's a few weeks from now and we haven't done it, tell me.  Keep me accountable."  Crucial convesations!!

After sharing some pertinent information, I transitioned to a key component of the meeting:  Encouragement.  I showed the following two clips, asking the group to notice the drastically different environments, but consistent actions of both motivators, courtesy of http://www.wingclips.com/ :

"Run Through Me" 

"Dare to Climb"

The consistent factor is constant encouragement, regardless of how many failures or how many attempts occur. 

I quickly transitioned my meeting by sharing one of my all-time favorite quotes, by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."  This quote has become a mentality that I find crucial to my role as a leader.  It also was the "team quote" of my 2010 team, which won the conference title, maintaining an almost contagious amount of enthusiasm every day, especially during matches.  Other coaches actually complained that my players were "too spirited" and there was "No place for all those 'Let's go's' and 'Come on!'s' that you would frequently hear at our matches.  This only reassured how powerful enthusiasm can be for those who have created a culture of enthusiasm.

I finished by asking my teachers to bring a high-level of enthusiasm and encouragement every day this semester.  I asked my teachers if they possess a genuine enthusiasm and consistently encourage their students, this semester will be a success.  Every day.

Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

What Makes A Successful Mentor?

In recognition of January being National Mentoring Month, an Assistant Principal in my district created the following diagram for reference:

“WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL MENTOR?”

By

 (Dr.) James Robert White, Ed.D., Assistant Principal

Catawba Heights Elementary School 101 Ivey St., Belmont, N. C. 28012 [704-827-3221]

MAGNIFY  ENCOURAGEMENT,  GUIDANCE,  CHARACTER  AND  INTEGRITY!

EXPRESS  UNCONDITIONAL  COMMITMENT  TO  EQUITY,  EQUALITY,  AND

      EXCELLENCE  IN  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  MENTEE!

NEVER  GIVE UP  AND/OR  QUIT  ON  THE  MENTEE,  SCHOOL,  HOME,  AND   COMMUNITY!

TRUSTED  AND  TRAINED  ADVISER  (MENTOR) WHO  PROVIDES   UNCONDITIONAL   

      ENERGETIC TIME TO  STUDENTS  (MENTEE)  IN  AN  EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION  OF

      LEARNING!  [AND/OR AN EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUAL IN AN ORGANIZATION WHO TRAINS

     AND ADVISES NEW EMPLOYEES].

OPEN  YOUR  HEART,  MIND,  AND  SOUL  UNCONDITIONALLY  BY  MODELING  THE     

      SYNERGY  OF  CARE,  CONCERN,  AND  CONNECTEDNESS!

RESPECT  AND  LISTEN  UNCONDITIONALLY  TO  THE  OPINION  OF  THE  MENTEE



Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Top Three Athletic Events I Attended in 2011

Here are, far and away, the Top Three athletic events that I attended in 2011, along with a little story for each:

(Note: I ruled out anything I coached in or prep contest that I attended; this is simply as a "fan".)

3.  Surprise Speaker

In early August, during the second week at my new school, I received a phone call from my principal.  "Craig, he said, "We're going to lunch."  In a quick panic, I glanced over my calendar, hoping I hadn't overlooked any district meeting or administrative session.  Nothing had been planned, so I simply grabbed my keys and headed up to the front office, along with our other assistant principal's and our athletic director.  Come to find out, I was on my way to Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2011 Luncheon through the Gaston County chapter.  We walked into a large banquet hall that was filled with coaches, athletes, administrators, and FCA members from across the area.  After the blessing, the welcoming member of FCA told us, "We have a little while before our keynote speaker arrives...we believe Coach Bowden is about ten minutes away."  I perked up out of my seat, leaned over to my athletic director and asked, "Which Bowden?!?"  He looked at me, smiled, and said "Bobby".  I was provided the opportunity to hear Coach Bobby Bowden speak on not just football and the Fellowship, but leadership and living the "right way".  Needless to say, that day in early-August provided a tremendous experience that was both non-expected and truly inspirational.

2.  600 

I have lived outside of Charlotte, North Carolina since January of 2005.  Before then, I lived in Michigan.  Before Memorial Day weekend of this past year, I had never attended a NASCAR race.  I had never really wanted to.  I didn't consider myself a NASCAR fan, but you cannot live here and not have an understanding of the sport.  In mid-May, I received an email from Time Warner Cable about a chance to win two tickets to the Coca-Cola 600.  Normally, I delete this emails immediately.  I cannot explain why I decided to fill out the information and enter the drawing.  One week later, I received an email stating that I had won two tickets for the race.  The email appeared to be pretty legitimate, but still, I was skeptical.  When the tickets arrived the next day at my house, I couldn't believe it. 

I immediately called up my buddy John, a fellow NASCAR virgin, and asked if he would be interested.  (Side note: Our wives are best friends, so we are fortunate to make our plans, since the wives can make theirs.)  I spoke to a few guys that go to the race every year, and our plan was simple: We'll go early, check out the tailgate experience, get inside in time to see the start, watch a few laps, and then take off when it gets boring.  Since the tickets were free (and parking, which was shocking), so we did not worry about getting our money's worth.

We entered the speedway about 15 minutes before race time and realized that our seats were ridiculous.  Sixth-row, across from the pits (Dale, Jr., to be exact), right before the finish line.  All of the sudden, this experience became more than "we're just here with free tickets."  The adrenaline rush that quickly filled my entire body, we quickly became involved the race.  The roar of the engines around turn four on re-starts is unique to any other sporting event.  I found myself selecting random cars and keeping my eyes on them for a couple laps, then watching other cars.  My buddy and I looked at each other during a caution (since we couldn't talk during the normal laps) and both agreed, eloquently put: "This is awesome.  We're staying."  Our seats were so good, our faces were covered in black after the race.  We both got much more than our money's worth.

1.  "Go Blue!" comes to me

Selection Sunday.  Die-hard University of Michigan fan.  Michigan's on the bubble.  Greg Gumble's voice...

"The eight versus nine game, to also be played in Charlotte, North Carolina, will include John Belein's University of Michigan squad..."

If you are any type of sports fan, I am sure you have seen the reaction when a "bubble" team is announced to be in the tournament and everyone goes nuts.  That was me, only I was by myself in the living room.  Immediately, my phone starting blowing up with texts, mostly including the question, "Are you going?".  To make things even better, the game was assigned the Friday afternoon timeslot and we did not have school that day (No, college basketball does not dictate the school calendar in North Carolina).  I called my buddy Jaime, a fellow Michigan fan, who had just moved to Charlotte a few months prior.  We were geared and ready to go.

Attending an NCAA tournament game had always been on my "Sporting Bucket List", but to have the opportunity to watch MY team in MY town was a dream come true.  The EpiCentre in uptown Charlotte provided melting pot of various college basketball fans in attendance for their games.  I love being able to see complete strangers, give them a "Go Blue!" and receive it back.  The game itself, couldn't have gone any better, as Michigan waxed Tennessee (if you remember, this was Bruce Pearl's last game as coach).  We stuck around for the Duke-Hampton game, but quickly began searching for tickets for Sunday's match-up.

The two games we were able to attend on Sunday were nothing short of spectacular, besides the result of the Michigan-Duke game.  The UNC-Washington game was first, which was much more competitive as anyone expected.  Since Michigan was playing Duke, all the UNC fans quickly became Michigan supporters.  Michigan hung with Duke, provided a valiant comeback, with Darius Morris's lay-up as time expired almost forcing overtime. 

I was able to see my beloved Wolverines twice in one weekend on the biggest stage of college basketball, by far the top athletic event I attended in 2011.


Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Who Are Your "Go To" Teachers?

Take a second and imagine this situation:

You have an unexpected visitor at your school: someone from the community, a local elected official, maybe even the Assistant Superintendent.  They would like to visit a couple classrooms.  Quickly decide without hesitation--where are you going to go?

The teachers which entered your mind are who I like to consider your "Go to" teachers.  These are the teachers that seem to always be on their game when you perform your routine Walk-Through's.  These are the teachers where the student engagement level is always very high and the classroom environment is consistently conducive to maximize instructional time.

These are the teachers that possess an enthusiastic personality and excitement about the content and day-to-day instruction that occurs in their classroom.  You are confident bringing anyone into these classrooms any day of the week, and more importantly, these teachers would welcome any visitor.  I remember a veteran Social Studies teacher once told me, "You know, I don't care if the Governor comes in to observe me.  They just better be ready to participate!"

The best part about this is that I haven't even discussed which students you would bring the visitor to observe.  What does this indicate?  Any student can thrive with a "Go to" teacher, regardless of grade-level, economic status, etc.  And every student deserves a "Go to" teacher.

It's our job as educational leaders to provide a school full of "Go to" teachers.  Therefore, when the visitor arrives and wishes to visit some classrooms, your quick response can be, "anywhere."

Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.