One of the biggest ones for me is the way that the Headmaster has built relationships with his students. He has over 500 boys, and yet he knows them all by name. More than that, he knows who they are as individuals. Despite the million or so to dos that he has on his agenda each day, he will always take the time to confer with the boys to get a pulse on what is happening in the school. He will ask about their personal lives, and always make them feel valued and cared for. This is what I hope that we will have at Brilla- that every staff member, from elective specialists, to administration, to the teaching staff, feels connected to the school and invested in knowing what is going on. I hope that the students will feel valued and respected as individuals, that we will know them personally, and that each of them will have at least a few members of staff who they feel closely connected to. I hope that we will always have "time" to talk to visitors, to families, to each other in a way that makes the other person feel valued and cared for. It goes back to the idea of customer service that we've been talking about. I'm not sure any of us has the capacity to personally answer correspondence for two hours each morning like the Headmaster does, but I think there are other ways to really achieve that strength of community and sincere caring.
I love and share your hope for students to feel closely connected to at least a few staff members. I remember when I was just starting school, I would only feel comfortable talking to my own teacher. The principal was scary and probably didn't know my name (since I wasn't in need of discipline) and the other teachers never got to know our class. In previous posts we've all mentioned how we want to know all the students names and not only our own classroom. You're right. Let's take it even further. Let's get to know ALL students, regardless of their grade or class. This is just another piece of Brilla that will make us different than all the rest.
I was so impressed by the Headmaster's attitude of fatherhood to the school. He took such good care of it- picking up trash, developing meaningful relationships with the students and staff, nightly meeting, dinners at his house. He not only cared about the academic progress of his students, but he went the extra mile to show that he cared for the well-being and development of each student as a person. He created a very distinct sense of "family" at the school. That is what really sets Deerfield apart from other schools, and what made them thrive when they were about to shut their doors. The value that he gives to each person involved in Deerfield and the respect that he has for the campus is noticed and becomes contagious, developing a faculty and student body who love the school as much as he does. We can surely create this type of family at Brilla! I would love to see each of us make a valliant effort to get to know the students and their families deeply, in a way that shows that we aren't like most schools. We don't just care that they pass the state test or that they master the concepts we are teaching, but we are concerned with their growth, promoting their talents, encouraging their interests, and are by their sides in times of need.
I completely agree. I'm really looking forward to meeting with families and keeping in close contact with parents to not only keep them updated on their child's progress but to also develop a deep, meaningful relationship with each of them. In this sense we'd be partners in each scholars' education, which would definitely manifest into a Brilla family.
Overall, I think that the immense commitment and investment that the Headmaster gave to the school was overwhelmingly powerful. I hope that I am also able to commit my entire self to my students and that my students fully dedicate themselves and their families to the school. The Deerfield students felt a genuine connection with their Headmaster, and therefore trusted him to lead them to great success and wholeness as they came into their young adult lives. I believe that Brilla holds this same potential to gain genuine relationships with our students and lead our school community to being responsible and compassionate members of Mott Haven and beyond.
I love that you brought up the trust Boyden's students possessed. Once we make those connections and strengthen those relationships, our scholars will put that initial wall down and trust our lead. If we do everything we can to show our students we genuinely care about them, learning will blossom and those relationships will never end. I know if we have that commitment that Boyden shows, our students will not only remember us forever, but know that they can always come to us -- whenever.
I agree. I think commitment and investment are key for a school to become successful. Founding a school will be extremely hard, and I'm guessing for all staff members our commitment will be tested in some way, but I know we will all be able to stick to it and our investment will not waiver. I can already see a strong staff culture being built and I'm excited to see how we hit the ground running come August. I know our commitment and investment will help to build the foundation for a great school.
Go Calina Cuevas Go! I do not know if I am out of character responding to this blog. I am so excited about my daughter new school that I could not contain myself! Congrats Miss Cuevas on your dynamite class your truly showing up for Brilla!!! Oh my daughters was ready for school Sat morning just after 3 days of summer school!
I look to the headmaster and how he originally got into the school. No one believed he would last long, and he himself saw it as a crossroads in life as he prepared for law school, etc. 60 some odd years later he his still the headmaster, outliving some of those who he himself mentored that went on the be headmasters. I'm reminded of the story of him pulling his golf cart over because he was so particular about keeping the campus looking as pristine as possible. All of these stories remind me of one thing: commitment, and most of all, unexpected commitment. We are all about to embark on a journey as founding members -- some never having taught in their life and others having decades of experience in education. But together we have one thing in common, commitment. Most of all, things will happen unexpectedly and I doubt any of us can accurately predict our course at Brilla or the greater Mott Haven community, so most of all I hope to see a culture of commitment that is strongest when things happen that are unexpected.
Beautiful reflection! It is incredibly important that we surpass everyone's expectations because the stakes at hand are immense. We must remind each other of our commitment every single day at Brilla.
I agree that it is a lot about commitment. Right now, we are committed to founding a school together and making it the best. For that, we must trust that we are in it for one reason: the students' progress. Wherever we are in the spectrum of experience, we all care about educating today's youth at Brilla and making an impact in their lives, their families lives and our lives.
I was very surprised by the relationship he had with every student in his institution. The headmaster was very charismatic, he knew each boy on a personal level, and he could sense that someone was troubled, even if they didn't show it because he was in tune with every student. I believe this is important for us as Brilla staff to inherit because knowing each student individually, like and dislikes, ways of learning shows we are their friends as well as a disciplinarian. Another example that I think of replicating is the relentless effort to create the image of perfection that the headmaster saw for his academy. As a family we now what we need to work on and fix to make perfect, but to the community we need to show that we are flawless in everything we do.
Happy 4th of July Mr. Johnson! I agree that we all need to be incredibly in tune with our students' strengths, weaknesses, passions, and incredible potential. By doing this, we ensure a deep relationship and commitment to each student that will reflect in how they respond to our classrooms and goals for success.
His relationships with students impressed me as well! We should all make an effort to know each student on campus, even if they are not in our classroom, and ensure that they feel supported by all staff. All too often, kids don't have enough support and love when they leave school, so we need to provide all that we can while they are with us. The school that I am coming from has been using "Capturing Kids' Hearts" methods, and when we were trained in it they said, "many times the only kind words a student will hear that day will come out of your mouth." That really stuck with me. We can make such a difference in student's lives by getting to know them and showing them we care.
One of the many takeaways that I hope to see in Brilla is the school culture that the headmaster Boyden created at Deerfield. He created this unity and sense of family not only with his students and their family, but also with the staff. He was so in tune with everyone in the school that he didn't have to worry about typical school issues. His staff remained loyal. His students (with a couple of exception) focused on school and his parents pleased. I hope that in Brilla we all get to be school teachers and not classroom teachers. It's imperative that we all know the students and their families on a personal level so that they trust us with the academic choices we are making for their futures. Not only that, but with such a strong school culture, everyone will be committed to the same goal and mission. Boyden was also dedicated to creating the best environment for all his boys and being their number one supporter. The school was his life and every decision he made was for the betterment of everyone: staff, students, parents and himself.
Happy 4th! I really liked your distinction between being school teachers and not just classroom teachers. While each classroom will have their own unique culture brought by the leadership of the teacher and the students personalities, but more importantly there should be a united culture throughout the entire school.
I like the fact that Boyden could not pass a stray piece of paper without picking it up and depositing it in a waste basket, he knew each boy. He was attentive to every detail and for me that’s the most important takeaway of the book. At Brilla I hope to see every single teacher, administrator and support staff really paying attention to the most important aspect of the school, the students. I think that if we all become attentive to the necessities of the students and their families and we make decisions based on that, we become part of their support system and a relationship of trust develops. We cannot resolve all the problems but we can play a part in the solution process. To be successful we need to develop these relationships and to do that we need to be attentive to details as Boyden.
I agree. When setting up a foundation for a school I think it's especially important to sweat the small stuff. If you look over minor details now, it will not be beneficial for the future. However if we are attentive to every detail now we will have a much smoother sailing school years down the road. I also think being attentive to the relationships we build with students and parents is even more crucial. We want parents to feel comfortable sending their students to our school and for students to feel safe in our building--and that comes from building those close relationships from the get.
Agreed! And when we pay attention to the details, we are setting an example that the students will catch on to. They will treat themselves, the campus, and each other better when we set the example.
Boyden is a role model. He's a role model for his students, his students' parents, the community, and for us. It's clear why we read the Headmaster because there is so much to learn from him. Every action that Boyden took was a lesson for others. From doing his part in keeping the school clean to acknowledging every individual student, this man did it all. I know that our staff will take each of these pieces into consideration when starting in August. Each of us will go above and beyond to understand, appreciate, and nurture our students. Boyden shows how caring goes beyond the test scores. Our students' interests and emotions are just as important as their education. Those facets mold them into the learners they are becoming. If we take interest in their interests, we can do everything in our ability to create a learning environment that will be engaging to each student. Boyden also went beyond the classrooms, beyond the school itself, and brought others into his own home. He played an active role in the lives of the families at his school. In previous posts we have continuously spoken about how important it is that we make strong relationships with our students' families and the community. Boyden knew exactly how to do this. We can follow his lead. The last key takeaway I want to acknowledge is the beginning and the end. Initially no one thought anything of this man. They expected him to fail and they would move on to the next. He had no one cheering him on along the way. The only confidence he had was within himself. This was a turning point for him - a stepping stone. Here we are. Brilla is starting from scratch. Although we have extremely supportive families, students, and staff, we are in a similar boat as Boyden. The expectations are set for ourselves. We will go that extra mile to make sure we prove to everyone we are sticking around.
I totally agree that if we are invested and interested in our student's interests, we can create an environment where each child will make progress. Taking it beyond the classroom is what will make us different from other teachers and schools.
The big takewaway that I took from the book was that all students were required to attend games, such as basketball and football. I love the idea that the headmaster at Deerfield wanted to put forth the vision of loyalty at his school. I hope to see this type of loyalty at Brilla. It would be wonderful to see all students, teachers, and parents at Brilla events, showing loyalty and care about not only the school, but the importance of banding together as a team to support one another both inside and outside of the school. One thing I have seen in my years of teaching is the struggle to get people to attend events outside of school. We were always thinking of ways that would motivate not only the parents, but the staff as well, to attend events such as reading night or an after-school carnival. We would offer things such as food and vouchers, raffle tickets, etc. Even with these things, turnout was never what we wanted it be. Im not sure how to do it, but having a school where everyone (parents, teachers, staff, students) has an inner commitment to showing support and loyalty at events outside of the school day would be wonderful to see!
One of the biggest ones for me is the way that the Headmaster has built relationships with his students. He has over 500 boys, and yet he knows them all by name. More than that, he knows who they are as individuals. Despite the million or so to dos that he has on his agenda each day, he will always take the time to confer with the boys to get a pulse on what is happening in the school. He will ask about their personal lives, and always make them feel valued and cared for. This is what I hope that we will have at Brilla- that every staff member, from elective specialists, to administration, to the teaching staff, feels connected to the school and invested in knowing what is going on. I hope that the students will feel valued and respected as individuals, that we will know them personally, and that each of them will have at least a few members of staff who they feel closely connected to. I hope that we will always have "time" to talk to visitors, to families, to each other in a way that makes the other person feel valued and cared for. It goes back to the idea of customer service that we've been talking about. I'm not sure any of us has the capacity to personally answer correspondence for two hours each morning like the Headmaster does, but I think there are other ways to really achieve that strength of community and sincere caring.
ReplyDeleteMs. Kopro,
DeleteI love and share your hope for students to feel closely connected to at least a few staff members. I remember when I was just starting school, I would only feel comfortable talking to my own teacher. The principal was scary and probably didn't know my name (since I wasn't in need of discipline) and the other teachers never got to know our class. In previous posts we've all mentioned how we want to know all the students names and not only our own classroom. You're right. Let's take it even further. Let's get to know ALL students, regardless of their grade or class. This is just another piece of Brilla that will make us different than all the rest.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was so impressed by the Headmaster's attitude of fatherhood to the school. He took such good care of it- picking up trash, developing meaningful relationships with the students and staff, nightly meeting, dinners at his house. He not only cared about the academic progress of his students, but he went the extra mile to show that he cared for the well-being and development of each student as a person. He created a very distinct sense of "family" at the school. That is what really sets Deerfield apart from other schools, and what made them thrive when they were about to shut their doors.
ReplyDeleteThe value that he gives to each person involved in Deerfield and the respect that he has for the campus is noticed and becomes contagious, developing a faculty and student body who love the school as much as he does.
We can surely create this type of family at Brilla! I would love to see each of us make a valliant effort to get to know the students and their families deeply, in a way that shows that we aren't like most schools. We don't just care that they pass the state test or that they master the concepts we are teaching, but we are concerned with their growth, promoting their talents, encouraging their interests, and are by their sides in times of need.
I completely agree. I'm really looking forward to meeting with families and keeping in close contact with parents to not only keep them updated on their child's progress but to also develop a deep, meaningful relationship with each of them. In this sense we'd be partners in each scholars' education, which would definitely manifest into a Brilla family.
DeleteOverall, I think that the immense commitment and investment that the Headmaster gave to the school was overwhelmingly powerful. I hope that I am also able to commit my entire self to my students and that my students fully dedicate themselves and their families to the school. The Deerfield students felt a genuine connection with their Headmaster, and therefore trusted him to lead them to great success and wholeness as they came into their young adult lives. I believe that Brilla holds this same potential to gain genuine relationships with our students and lead our school community to being responsible and compassionate members of Mott Haven and beyond.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday, Ms. Clair!
DeleteI love that you brought up the trust Boyden's students possessed. Once we make those connections and strengthen those relationships, our scholars will put that initial wall down and trust our lead. If we do everything we can to show our students we genuinely care about them, learning will blossom and those relationships will never end. I know if we have that commitment that Boyden shows, our students will not only remember us forever, but know that they can always come to us -- whenever.
I agree. I think commitment and investment are key for a school to become successful. Founding a school will be extremely hard, and I'm guessing for all staff members our commitment will be tested in some way, but I know we will all be able to stick to it and our investment will not waiver. I can already see a strong staff culture being built and I'm excited to see how we hit the ground running come August. I know our commitment and investment will help to build the foundation for a great school.
DeleteGo Calina Cuevas Go! I do not know if I am out of character responding to this blog. I am so excited about my daughter new school that I could not contain myself! Congrats Miss Cuevas on your dynamite class your truly showing up for Brilla!!! Oh my daughters was ready for school Sat morning just after 3 days of summer school!
DeleteI look to the headmaster and how he originally got into the school. No one believed he would last long, and he himself saw it as a crossroads in life as he prepared for law school, etc. 60 some odd years later he his still the headmaster, outliving some of those who he himself mentored that went on the be headmasters. I'm reminded of the story of him pulling his golf cart over because he was so particular about keeping the campus looking as pristine as possible. All of these stories remind me of one thing: commitment, and most of all, unexpected commitment. We are all about to embark on a journey as founding members -- some never having taught in their life and others having decades of experience in education. But together we have one thing in common, commitment. Most of all, things will happen unexpectedly and I doubt any of us can accurately predict our course at Brilla or the greater Mott Haven community, so most of all I hope to see a culture of commitment that is strongest when things happen that are unexpected.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflection! It is incredibly important that we surpass everyone's expectations because the stakes at hand are immense. We must remind each other of our commitment every single day at Brilla.
DeleteI agree that it is a lot about commitment. Right now, we are committed to founding a school together and making it the best. For that, we must trust that we are in it for one reason: the students' progress. Wherever we are in the spectrum of experience, we all care about educating today's youth at Brilla and making an impact in their lives, their families lives and our lives.
DeleteI was very surprised by the relationship he had with every student in his institution. The headmaster was very charismatic, he knew each boy on a personal level, and he could sense that someone was troubled, even if they didn't show it because he was in tune with every student. I believe this is important for us as Brilla staff to inherit because knowing each student individually, like and dislikes, ways of learning shows we are their friends as well as a disciplinarian.
ReplyDeleteAnother example that I think of replicating is the relentless effort to create the image of perfection that the headmaster saw for his academy. As a family we now what we need to work on and fix to make perfect, but to the community we need to show that we are flawless in everything we do.
Happy 4th of July Mr. Johnson!
DeleteI agree that we all need to be incredibly in tune with our students' strengths, weaknesses, passions, and incredible potential. By doing this, we ensure a deep relationship and commitment to each student that will reflect in how they respond to our classrooms and goals for success.
Have a great holiday!
His relationships with students impressed me as well! We should all make an effort to know each student on campus, even if they are not in our classroom, and ensure that they feel supported by all staff. All too often, kids don't have enough support and love when they leave school, so we need to provide all that we can while they are with us. The school that I am coming from has been using "Capturing Kids' Hearts" methods, and when we were trained in it they said, "many times the only kind words a student will hear that day will come out of your mouth." That really stuck with me. We can make such a difference in student's lives by getting to know them and showing them we care.
DeleteOne of the many takeaways that I hope to see in Brilla is the school culture that the headmaster Boyden created at Deerfield. He created this unity and sense of family not only with his students and their family, but also with the staff. He was so in tune with everyone in the school that he didn't have to worry about typical school issues. His staff remained loyal. His students (with a couple of exception) focused on school and his parents pleased. I hope that in Brilla we all get to be school teachers and not classroom teachers. It's imperative that we all know the students and their families on a personal level so that they trust us with the academic choices we are making for their futures. Not only that, but with such a strong school culture, everyone will be committed to the same goal and mission. Boyden was also dedicated to creating the best environment for all his boys and being their number one supporter. The school was his life and every decision he made was for the betterment of everyone: staff, students, parents and himself.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th! I really liked your distinction between being school teachers and not just classroom teachers. While each classroom will have their own unique culture brought by the leadership of the teacher and the students personalities, but more importantly there should be a united culture throughout the entire school.
DeleteI like the fact that Boyden could not pass a stray piece of paper without picking it up and depositing it in a waste basket, he knew each boy. He was attentive to every detail and for me that’s the most important takeaway of the book. At Brilla I hope to see every single teacher, administrator and support staff really paying attention to the most important aspect of the school, the students. I think that if we all become attentive to the necessities of the students and their families and we make decisions based on that, we become part of their support system and a relationship of trust develops. We cannot resolve all the problems but we can play a part in the solution process. To be successful we need to develop these relationships and to do that we need to be attentive to details as Boyden.
ReplyDeleteI agree. When setting up a foundation for a school I think it's especially important to sweat the small stuff. If you look over minor details now, it will not be beneficial for the future. However if we are attentive to every detail now we will have a much smoother sailing school years down the road. I also think being attentive to the relationships we build with students and parents is even more crucial. We want parents to feel comfortable sending their students to our school and for students to feel safe in our building--and that comes from building those close relationships from the get.
DeleteAgreed! And when we pay attention to the details, we are setting an example that the students will catch on to. They will treat themselves, the campus, and each other better when we set the example.
DeleteBoyden is a role model. He's a role model for his students, his students' parents, the community, and for us. It's clear why we read the Headmaster because there is so much to learn from him. Every action that Boyden took was a lesson for others. From doing his part in keeping the school clean to acknowledging every individual student, this man did it all. I know that our staff will take each of these pieces into consideration when starting in August. Each of us will go above and beyond to understand, appreciate, and nurture our students. Boyden shows how caring goes beyond the test scores. Our students' interests and emotions are just as important as their education. Those facets mold them into the learners they are becoming. If we take interest in their interests, we can do everything in our ability to create a learning environment that will be engaging to each student. Boyden also went beyond the classrooms, beyond the school itself, and brought others into his own home. He played an active role in the lives of the families at his school. In previous posts we have continuously spoken about how important it is that we make strong relationships with our students' families and the community. Boyden knew exactly how to do this. We can follow his lead. The last key takeaway I want to acknowledge is the beginning and the end. Initially no one thought anything of this man. They expected him to fail and they would move on to the next. He had no one cheering him on along the way. The only confidence he had was within himself. This was a turning point for him - a stepping stone. Here we are. Brilla is starting from scratch. Although we have extremely supportive families, students, and staff, we are in a similar boat as Boyden. The expectations are set for ourselves. We will go that extra mile to make sure we prove to everyone we are sticking around.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that if we are invested and interested in our student's interests, we can create an environment where each child will make progress. Taking it beyond the classroom is what will make us different from other teachers and schools.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe big takewaway that I took from the book was that all students were required to attend games, such as basketball and football. I love the idea that the headmaster at Deerfield wanted to put forth the vision of loyalty at his school. I hope to see this type of loyalty at Brilla. It would be wonderful to see all students, teachers, and parents at Brilla events, showing loyalty and care about not only the school, but the importance of banding together as a team to support one another both inside and outside of the school.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have seen in my years of teaching is the struggle to get people to attend events outside of school. We were always thinking of ways that would motivate not only the parents, but the staff as well, to attend events such as reading night or an after-school carnival. We would offer things such as food and vouchers, raffle tickets, etc. Even with these things, turnout was never what we wanted it be.
Im not sure how to do it, but having a school where everyone (parents, teachers, staff, students) has an inner commitment to showing support and loyalty at events outside of the school day would be wonderful to see!