Out of Step

Out of Step

January 24, 2019

By, Michael Earnshaw

@mearnshaw158

“I don’t care about test scores." This is what I boldly stated to my audience at a recent Pastries with the Principals Parent Café I held. A few jaws dropped, you could hear the gasps sucking the air out of room, and many sets of wide eyes gazed upon me. I could literally read my parents minds for a few minutes, “What is he talking about? What are our kids going to do for their future? Maybe it’s a midlife crisis? He should probably stop skateboarding and hanging out in the halls all day and start doing real ‘principal’ work.” 

I said it, and I admitted to our parents that I would say the same thing in front of my superintendent. I truly believe this, and I have my entire educational career. I think back to when I was a classroom teacher, grades 6-8 ELA. I had standards and curriculum that needed to be met, and I did just that. If I didn’t teach kids what they’d be tested on I wouldn’t have a job or have lasted as long as I have in our field. I’m not saying abandon all curriculum and just do what you want, I grew up punk rock, not a hippie. I’ve always wanted to challenge the systems, still do, because status quo is so artificial.  

Back to my story as a classroom teacher. My main focus was never on teaching to the test. I have always focused on, and always will focus on, putting relationships first. That’s my nature. Since I was a child I have always loved talking to others, getting to know their stories, their interests, their passions, and then sharing mine with them. I like to believe that the relationships I’ve built have helped others as much as they have benefited and improved my life. I find nothing more gratifying than sitting down and talking with students about their life, outside of the classroom. I did this daily as a teacher and had less discipline problems and higher test scores than many of my counterparts, and remember, I didn’t stress about that upcoming test.  

I’ll never forget a 7th grade class I had. We began every class talking about our lives, what was going well, what was stressing us out, and we all helped each other out with empathy and advice. When it came time for our Winter assessment, we did a little prep, I spoke to students about where they were in the Fall so they had an idea, but I never put our main focus on this test. It was a test, anything can happen, anyone can be having an off day. I’ll never forget my principal walking up to me during my plan time to tell me about the upcoming assembly to celebrate our students’ successes on making growth. Not only did my 7th grade have some of the best growth of the school, I had the honor of having in my ELA class the student that surpassed their goal and showed the most growth out of 750 or so students! Reflecting, I know that my students’ success wasn’t luck, which I believed at the time. 

Fast forward to my career as a building administrator, and recently my self-given title of Lead Learner. Everyday I focus on building relationships with my staff, families, and most importantly students. It’s not uncommon for me to be talking to a staff member about topics directly affecting their classroom and then morph into topics about our children, music, and weekend hobbies. The same goes for students. We spend lunches and hallway powwows discussing Fortnite, Super Smash Bros., and then lead into choices, behaviors, expectations, and studying.  

No academic progress will be accomplished if we do not build meaningful, trusting, and loving relationships. Period. 

We are currently in our Winter assessment window. All school year I have stressed relationships first, relationships second, relationships third, relationships always. I asked my staff to trust me that by building these relationships everything else will fall in place. We are not yet done testing, but I cannot tell you how many teachers have come to me with smiles stretching farther than ear to ear, bragging on how much growth their kids have made as a class, and individually! This is the first year where at any point of the day you will find smiling kids speed walking the halls to find that adult they are busting at the seams to share their progress and goal graph! 

Is this all because daily we listen to kids, encourage them to take risks, and tell them we love them? The answer is “No”. We have an amazing staff here that is dedicated to educating the whole child. Our strong curriculum also plays a huge factor. But the relationships this year are different. Everyone enjoys walking into our den every day, it can be felt in the air.  

“I don’t care about test scores." This is what I boldly stated to my audience at a recent Pastries with the Principals Parent Café. After I let that marinade for what felt like hours with our parents, I followed up with, “Test scores are important, and I do want our kids to show growth and success, they need to, but that’s not what they are going to remember about us. I want our kids to leave here ready for the world. I want them to know they don’t have to go through life alone. It’s ok to ask others for help, to care about people who are different than them. It’s more important to me that our kids know how to question, solve, challenge, and most importantly love.” 

Once the frame of relationships and love are in place, the other pieces will fit together.