Author archive

Angie Kim

Sometimes, life doesn’t make sense.

Who would think that having a bomb go off at the end of the marathon line was a sane thing to do?  In such times of crisis, we turn to leaders to guide us and give us something to hold onto.

President Obama addressed the nation today in his usual, composed manner.  There is reassurance that the people responsible will be caught and punished.  However, he does not use the word “terrorist.”  I don’t know all of the facts in the situation, however, I find it interesting that the word was purposefully left out.  Especially since other officials are using the word in interviews with reporters.  It makes me wonder if the president will be criticized and seen as being weak.

Being a leader is hard.  Being a leader in spotlight during a crisis is harder.

http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/15/president-obama-remarks-on-the-boston-marathon-tragedy-transcript/

Angie Kim

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Angie Kim

Stake’s clock face to evaluate programs is representative of the path an evaluator using responsive evaluation could take.  Stake states that an evaluator could go in any direction and decide to backtrack, move diagonally  and even stay in one “box” for as long as needed.  What bothers me about this graphic is that a true clock only goes one direction, never stays in place, and certainly does not “skip”boxes.

A better way to present the mobility of this graphic is to see it as a wheel.  In the Wheel of Action (a variation of Wheel of Fortune), the evaluator could “spin” the wheel to see the starting point and then spin again when completed with the task.  There is a one out of twelve chance that the spin will be result in the same box again, encouraging the fluidity of the process.  Also, keep in mind that since this is not truly a wheel that will land you any money, those wishing to land on a certain space is encouraged to “spin” the wheel with just the right amount of force.  This Wheel of Action will allow you to use Stake’s methods to the ability it was intended for.

Angie Kim

Once upon a time, in a land closer than far, there was a middle school nestled in a neighborhood.  Fate Middle School was an established middle school with many students who needed extra help and teachers who felt the same.  Many of the faculty moved on for various reasons and there was always new teachers on the staff.  The principal was fairly new himself, but his heart and desire to do good was bigger than any obstacle that came his way.

One day, the principal asked a friend, the professor, for some help with figuring out what makes Fate Middle School the way it is.  The principal knew that things has to change and he wasn’t sure of the best way to get teachers the help they needed.  The principal and professor decided to have the teachers work together on a project that would help them learn to help students.  The project was called Woodit.  They spent a lot of money buying books on how to do the Woodit.  They spent half a day explaining the Woodit to the teachers.  Then the teachers were expected to meet every week to do the Woodit.

Some of the teachers read the book on the Woodit.  Some didn’t.  Some of the new faculty members tried to talk about the Woodit at the weekly meetings, but the veteran teachers told them they didn’t have time.  They needed to plan for their lessons instead.  The kids were the most important and worksheets needed to be copied.  The Woodit would have to wait.  Maybe they would have time next week.

After about a year, the principal and professor decided to bring in some very smart, hard-working doctoral students to help figure out how the Woodit was working.  The doctoral students interviewed the teachers.  Some students found that the teachers were angry.  Some found that the teachers were silent.  Other teachers were guarded in what they said to the students.  But the truth was clear that the teachers did not know what a Woodit was or what the point of the Woodit was.

So dear readers, take away this lesson when introducing new ideas to your staff.  Take the time to introduce, re-introduce, hold accountable, and keep checking back.  And if you need help, I know a group of really smart doctoral students.

Angie Kim

My summer morning ritual has been to wake up late, make myself a cup of coffee, and watch my favorite morning crew on the Today show.  I learned about world affairs, the latest wearable fashions and grilling tips from celebrity chefs.  It was my moment to not think about school or work.

So imagine my surprise on June 22 when a statement caught my attention and drew me straight to my Educational Leadership frame of mind.  Matt Lauer was interviewing Ringo Starr and asked Starr if it was any different for him now going on the stage at the age of 71 because he has done it for so long.  Starr answered that every time he is about to go on stage, he thinks, “I want to go home” and many other negative thoughts.   He has to literally run out onto the stage because he gets nervous.

If Ringo Starr hasn’t learn to eliminate his inner critic and he has been on stage longer than I have been alive, I am definitely not going to beat myself up over my negative voices.  I like how Ringo has to “run” onto the stage to get himself going.  I still haven’t figured out my ritual quite yet, but I am working on it.  I can’t borrow from Starr, though, since we can’t run in the halls at school.

Starr Interview