Will you sign my yearbook?

My school just finished senior grades yesterday, ending their time for assignments, tests, projects, homework, etc.  They have to come in a little bit next week but their days roaming the halls and interactions have come to a close.  With the end of their week, I was blessed to be bombarded by requests of "will you sign my yearbook?"

I love being asked to sign students yearbooks, and I hope all educators feel the same.  Remember, it is a privilege to be asked to sign a students yearbook.  A privilege reserved to educators who made a difference in students lives sometime throughout their schooling years.  Here is my philosophy on signing yearbooks:  make it meaningful and make it long.  They are going to get nostalgic sometime in the future, and they will want to see something written that means something to them, and its hard to do that with "Have a great summer" or "good luck in college next year."  Yes, it takes time to write a meaningful yearbook letter, and its not like they pass out yearbooks in February to help you with time constraints, so you have to be patient and creative.  Be willing to take the time and give a specific memory of that student.  If you are having trouble thinking of a specific memory, take the time to write about their character.  Tell them something great you think they will do in their future.  I always like to give a little relationship advice to my students, because I know they are going to need it real soon, if they don't already.  Lastly, just remind them to always care about and love people, because they should always care about and love others.  And you can model this for them by taking the time to not only write something meaningful in their yearbook, but in everyone's yearbook that asks you.

Relational Leadership

Yesterday I was talking to a fellow Assistant Principal about how we could continue to improve ourselves.  He said something real interesting that his Principal recently shared with him.  "Smile more."  We both feel that we are relational leaders, but we both have been accused of having a look of "don't talk to me" by students and teachers.  As someone who feels that get along great with students and teachers, it brought me back to times in the hallway when my body language has screamed "stay away" and these students and teachers have let me know.  As a relational leader, I have to be willing to improve in this area.  

Walking in the front door at 7:15 am - smile 

Helping students in the arrival line - smile more

Asking a student to hurry to class - smile more

Talking to a teacher about their lesson plans - smile more

At lunch duty picking up trash - smile more

At dismissal patiently waiting on students to get to their cars - smile more

It was a great reminder and visual as we finish up this last month of school (last day is May 21).  I was thankful this colleague was willing  to share with me something that had also been told to him.

Make wise decisions

See you soon

Bray out

A Beautiful April day for a Blog

April 15, 2015

Its Tax Day, but thankfully I have finished all of my taxes.  I wish there was a better way for high school students to learn about the tax system.  Does webturbotax have a training system for teenagers?  Is this something that really doesn't hit you until you are working 30-40 hours a week?  How do parents involved their students in the tax process?  Just questions I think about on tax day.

Mr. Bray's blog for the people

I've always loved the word benevolence.  Its not used a lot, but I've always heard my dad use it.  An old hardcore christian band I used to listen to had a song with the name in it.  Anyway, benevolence is a "desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness."

I believe this is what I was called to be and live out as an educator.

That is the reason for starting this blog and using it in my blog name.  I want to be good to others and be giving to others.  It isn't always easy, as a parent, a father, or a teacher, but I believe it is what others need and depend upon.

I look forward to interacting with you as we move forward in benevolence.

God bless,

J. Lance Bray