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All right, everyone, welcome to the next episode of the Inside Wise podcast.
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Um, today we have three amazing guests.
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Um, I think it's important to mention that um as we prepared to record, um, it was kind of, I guess, quintessential principle life.
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Mary um was was caught up waiting for buses that were stalled out.
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Yeah.
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Uh Karen, um, there was perhaps lack of clarity on the invite, went to the wrong building.
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Uh Ross was here, ready to go, but just the chaos of of recording a podcast with three principals at the end of May, and three principals that are retiring.
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And so uh we're joined by Mary Mackesee, who is the principal of Gleason Lake Elementary, Karen Kefler, who is the principal at Meadow Ridge Elementary Elementary, and Ross Williams, who is the principal at Sunset Hill Elementary.
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So thank you for joining us.
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We appreciate it.
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You're welcome.
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Glad to be here.
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All right, so we're gonna start off.
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Start with you, Mary.
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You supervise thousands of lunch periods.
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If you had to pick one school lunch to be your last meal before retirement, what would it be?
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I would pick pizza because I love pizza and I feel like why not?
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Ross, what about you?
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Um, I actually have only probably eaten lunch once, and it was orange chicken.
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Uh, usually I don't find time to eat.
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I'm eating almonds on the run.
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Um, there are days where at 2 30 I might try to sneak something before those buses.
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Um, but I'd probably have to say orange chicken.
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By you, Karen.
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Ah, tomato soup and grilled cheese standing up in the cafeteria, because that's what that's what happens.
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While you're supervising.
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Yes, that's what happens.
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That tomato soup's pretty great.
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So the three of you are retiring.
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What went into that decision?
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Why now for retirement, Karen?
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Uh early on in my career, I'd always set a goal that 60, when I turn 60, it'll be my retirement date.
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And like in the blink of an eye, I'm 60.
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And I don't know.
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It's you know, you always think of it, and it's just it's weird that it's finally here.
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And um yeah.
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Well, like Karen, the time has gone incredibly fast.
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You never I've gone to all these retirements for other people, and you don't think it's ever gonna be you.
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But I think why I decided is I feel like I'm healthy and I just want to have something that's less demanding, and I just have more time for myself and to spend with family.
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So I'm looking forward to that.
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Oh, you're asked.
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Um, probably similar to Karen and Mary.
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Uh, it's not like I ever going back to what um Karen had mentioned, I didn't ever have a goal or a target in mind, although maybe I did, in that I didn't really ever see going until 60.
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Um, if there were opportunities to uh maybe ease into 60 or do some things differently, while again, I could.
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Um that probably is what weighed into my decision.
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Um, when I say do some things, um, I want to be able to ride a bike, go on hikes, um, surf, do some things that I've been wanting to do for a while, and I don't know if I'll be able to do them to the same level as I'm older.
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So I was kind of looking at that and always have been.
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Has it hit any of you yet that like, you know, where it's May 18th, so we're plus or minus two or three weeks away from the last day of school?
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Has it hit you that like, well, this is it, or are we too deep into like the the day-to-day life of school to even think about that?
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No, I got teary twice last week.
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Kindergartners surprised me with this cute little verse in their kindergarten program, and then fourth grade did some read readers' theater from their curriculum, and they just said the kindest things before they started.
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And so, yeah, it's getting it's getting real.
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Yeah.
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Mm-hmm.
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I think it for sure.
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I feel like I had a retirement celebration last week, and just the heartfelt things that the staff shared with me, as well as the students and the PTO, it becomes more real.
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I think for me, everybody knows I've saved tons of stuff.
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So, you know, I'm going through a lot of things.
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There may have been a moment, was it two or three years ago when we were tasked with uh condensing about storage we were using?
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And there was Mary had a lot of a lot of storage space she was utilizing.
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But yeah.
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So I not only have electronic storage space, I have a lot of like files, right?
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So, but I get caught up instead of just dumping them in the garbage, like reading through emails that I've printed out or letters that I've gotten or just things like that that I look fondly back on.
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But it helps, I think, bring closure to my time at Gleason.
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Well, your acid hit you.
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Um, yeah, I mean, in the same way.
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And there are probably moments in time where you aren't thinking about it.
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I people ask how many days you have left.
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I'm like, I don't know.
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And that's partly because I think I always probably would answer if someone asked me what time of day it was.
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I don't know.
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Just need to get to A to B.
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You you were punctured punctual for this podcast.
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But I it it's coming and um kids have said some things, parents said some nice things in our are carnival, and I think all those are probably indicators of it, it is real.
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Um, I probably won't really know it's it probably really won't hit me until it's August or September, when usually we're getting prepared for the start of another school year.
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So I guess after all these years working in education, and you know, you've you've all worked in different roles.
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Um what kept you coming back year after year?
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I mean, education can be challenging, right?
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Like I'm I don't need to tell all of you that, but Ross, what kept you coming back year after year in a role like this?
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The people, uh the people that I worked with, um, the kids, of course.
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Um and I've been at a actually I think Mary Ann and Karen both have at secondary level and elementary school level.
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And, you know, they they say some pretty cute, enduring things that just kind of stick with you.
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Um, and then working on the other end at times, just seeing the growth that they make and the ones that come back and connect with uh with you later on and the things that they've they're doing.
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I mean, just to be able to be a part of that in some degree is I think that's what kept coming back.
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It was pretty um, pretty satisfying uh to know that you're helping people.
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How about you, Mary?
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Well, I just think every single day you have an opportunity to make a difference, whether it's in children's lives or the teachers that you're working with or the parents.
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So I find it it's like incredibly rewarding along with the demands.
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But I feel like I've always seen myself in some kind of a service-oriented job.
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And I think what just keeps me coming back is you know the impact that you can make over time.
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And just I enjoy being with people, and it's an amazing, you know, to get to work with educators every single day and see what they can do with children and and to be in this community that's been incredibly supportive for me as a teacher as well as an administrator.
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I can't imagine being have spent my career anywhere else.
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Um at no other job are you able to start fresh every year?
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It's it's a new year and and setting new goals and um meeting a new class of kindergartners, and it really is the people.
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Um, and just just that feeling of newness, the excitement that's does that change at all?
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Is that year to year?
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Is it always kind of the same feeling?
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I'm sure you you get more used to it, but does it change like kind of that that buzz or that excitement that typically comes with the first day of school?
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Or is it all kind of the same?
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It's always there.
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It's just it's it's a new year, and um, and like Marion Ross said, it really is the people.
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I mean, there are just amazing people in this district, teachers, parents, students, um, support staff.
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It's we I have been incredibly blessed to be in this district for 27 years.
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Yeah, so let's talk about that a little bit.
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So you've all been here for different amounts of times, but long enough to really experience that the community, and you've seen a lot of growth, right?
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So you're at Meadow Ridge, which was opened in 20, what is that, 16.
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So what has it been like to see to work in work in the community and also see how the district has grown from when you started to where it is now?
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I have loved um just the richness of the population growth.
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Um, you know, we are I you know we are an amazing district where people come from uh come to us from international places and and YZA is their choice.
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And um just to have that um just to have have all of that within our community and incredibly supportive parents and people come to YZ because they value education, and that again is just a gift.
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Um every single parent wants what's best for their child, and they have chosen YZ to give their children that.
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And um that is um, yeah, that's that's a uh it's a it's a I don't know what the word I'm looking for, but um it's it's a gift and it's an opportunity and um we need to do that, we need to give our best to the families.
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Been in the district for a long time.
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What has it been like to see the growth and work in this community?
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I just think from when I started teaching to now, I've always felt that the community was incredibly supportive.
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So I think about the growth no matter if we're adding buildings or changing, redistricting and the reboundaries.
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Um everyone has helped make those shifts and making the best we could for families.
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And I feel like so fortunate that our district colleagues really we work together very collaboratively.
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So it's almost as if you don't recognize the growth till you really sit back and think about how many elementaries we have added and the things that we've gone through over time.
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But just feeling super fortunate because everybody takes the time to think about how that's going to play out for families and for staffing.
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I think it's been uh pretty easy journey knowing we've been a growing district and that people last Karen said want to come and want to be with us and continue to support.
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I mean, what other district passes these referendums like they do to keep us, you know, feeling so supported in everything that we can do?
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And that and that growth, like it's one thing from a district level to see enrollment numbers like this, but all of you are in a school building.
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And is there a is there an element of it of trying to make it feel smaller, I guess, even though the district is growing, like you're still trying to like personalize it and make it for each student to have a just a good experience every day.
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Yeah, I mean, that is our that's our charge.
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Um I also don't know that in some situations we from a size standpoint, um, some of our buildings get really big and there's this fluctuation as we're we're changing.
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So it becomes um kind of tight feeling at times.
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I'd echo the same things, I think, that um both Mary and Karen had talked about with just support.
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Um, sometimes going through a process of determining enrollment boundary shifts is not easy.
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And so support might sound kind of like an odd way to describe it, but everyone's at the table.
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Everyone, it means something to everyone.
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And when decisions are made, they're made and we're moving on.
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Um the other thing I think, and I think Mary, you were the one that said it that I'll remember is the group of um nine, 10 principles that work together real, really closely at the elementary level.
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I mean, we have to because our experiences collectively are I think what we're trying to deliver on as a as a district.
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So it it's it's enjoyable to some degree to work with people, pick up the phone, and I'm working through this.
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What about you?
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Uh, those are helpful.
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And in districts this large, I don't know that that always can be said.
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And I think when we we all try to be as much similar as we can so that we can give the same experience to our students when you think about it in terms of their educational experience in our buildings.
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So no matter which building they're at, we hope that they have a similar academic experience.
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So, Karen, you've been in YZETA for a long time, but you started your career elsewhere.
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What makes YZA different?
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And ultimately, like, what is something that you see in students and staff that makes it so unique?
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Um, the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I talk about that, my experiences in other districts is that in this district, teachers value and ask for professional learning.
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They want to grow, they want to get better, they know um how important their role is in student success.
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And that has always been something that I have not taken for granted since moving to this district because I've seen in other districts where it's not as important.
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And I think that's one of the things that that makes YZA what it is.
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Ross, can you think of a challenge or a you know, quote unquote failure that you might have experienced as a leader that actually made you better in the long run after going through it?
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Because I obviously all of you are perfect, but if there were a moment that you slipped up just a little.
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Um, yeah, I have a lot, a lot of failures and slip-ups.
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Um, you know, I looking in, and I thought you were gonna ask me the same question about a previous district, but I think maybe it holds true for um both in answering that question.
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I think um learning and really continuing to um listen, uh listen a lot more than just acting.
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And when I say that, I mean really trying to hear what other people are saying when ideas are generated as opposed to just leading means doing.
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I think it leads a it means a lot more than that.
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And that's where the collaboration and working with people to find solutions to things, make adjustments.
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Um so listening even more.
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I mean, I I think I do a pretty good job of that, but I don't know that I always did that.
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Probably came maybe with with time.
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I think something that I've thought about, yeah, we've had a lot of times that you think back and you could have done better, but I think it's under being more understanding of different perspectives.
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I don't think I understood that when I, you know, you kind of think you maybe not that I know the answer or those kind of things, but you kind of go in sometimes to hard situations.
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And I think I've really learned from some masterful people that I've had an opportunity to work closely with about hear the other be curious, hear the other person's perspective, think about there's probably not there's there's not a right answer, but there's the both and um that I think has just helped me over time in really hard situations is to um just take more time to listen, reflect on what the person is saying and hear the impact of maybe what I had done in that situation that could have been improved.
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Um I would echo their thoughts and it is um everyone's perspective of any situation is different and really learning that and when your impact was not your intent, just apologizing and doing better.
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When we know better, we do better, and it really is learning from every interaction, every situation um to just move forward and try to do better every day.
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On the flip side of that, there's there's probably been moments where you're you're like, this is why I do this.
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Is there like a recent moment that you've been able to take a step back amidst all the chaos and and just really kind of reinforce like this is why I'm a principal?
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I think it's those everyday moments of joy um, whether it's a student coming up to you and sharing a wonderful or silly story, or um, you know, staff members who um who are vulnerable and and again want to do well and um sharing that and you know, every day when kids come into the building, you really this is why I do this that you just want to make it the best possible experience that you can.
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I would echo that.
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It's it's seeing the little moments of joy that that students and staff have.
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It's probably not big things, but it's the day-to-day um achievements that you know I mean, something that I'm probably switching it now that really brings me joy is just watching kids walk into school every day.
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They are happy and excited.
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And it's like that's what makes me want to be there, is they come every day.
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And, you know, it's it's pretty exciting watching them get off the bus or just come in at the hallway.
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I mean, they're all excited to be with their friends, and it's a great, it's a great thing to be part of that, to work with happy, fun students.
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We've talked about how at times it's really challenging and not to just reiterate what my colleagues have said.
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But if you're having a bad moment and you're working in an elementary school, once you're finished with that, uh, whatever it is, go find some kids, go into a classroom and just engage and say, tell me what you're talking about, teach me, tell me, show me.
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And you'll probably walk out of there 15 minutes later feeling pretty good.
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So you have to seek it out because sure the job is demanding, but there are always ways to, I guess, remind you as to what you did.
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And they're right there.
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There's 700 of them in the building.
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So how has uh how has school changed from when you started your journey as a principal to where it is now?
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What's like the biggest thing that has changed in your mind?
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What I think has changed the most is maybe the classroom.
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When I think about it, I think when I started teaching, we thought a good classroom was one that was well managed, the teacher was in control, and everybody was quiet.
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That's how I think in the desks and rows.
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Right.
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We did that.
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That's probably the system I grew up in.
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So then we sometimes replicate the system that we've been experienced to.
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And we've certainly come a long way to think about what's the heart of a room is the students taking ownership of their learning.
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It's the teacher being the facilitator.
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It's okay when kids are talking and learning because that's a we learn by interacting and talking with one another.
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So that for me has probably been the biggest shift from when I was teaching to think about how I needed to manage a classroom and instruct to what I see amazing teachers do today.
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Is that hard to shift like to to what you when you when you're doing the thing, you're teaching and now you're overseeing it?
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Is it hard to switch what you at one point believe was a way to do something?
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I think it's all it's that professional.
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Learning.
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And every time I'm in a classroom, even still, I think about how much I miss it.
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Because you see the relationships that the teachers form with the students and what they're doing now, more groups, more student voice, more ownership in the learning.
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And um it's it's energizing to Ross's point.
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If you're having a bad moment, go into a classroom and just watch the magic happen.
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And I think it's just it's the instructional strategies has just changed for the better in the 38 years that I've been doing this.
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Yeah.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:46.559
The experiences that kids have that we provide are definitely different.
00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:53.599
Um, but we're responding, and that feels good to their experiences, the way that they learn best.
00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:58.799
Um it isn't just sitting in desks and rows and everybody is quiet.
00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:02.160
So um what is the phrase?
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.359
The the one that does the learning.
00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:12.559
Um doing the talking and doing the talking, doing the learning, doing the work, just doing the learning, which is really, really true.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:21.440
Um which also goes along the same lines as what Karen was saying about the the desire to learn more as a as a as a teacher.
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:26.319
So when we're learning, we actually are impacting the kids' experiences.
00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:38.240
So it just it does translate in this thirst and desire for people to want to know more and assuming I want to know more and giving them that, I think always translates to the the kid's experience.
00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:44.160
I feel like one of our goals working in education, obviously, you you all are in the classroom.
00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:50.640
I talk into a microphone every once in a while, but the the goal is to build trust, right?
00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:56.720
Whether that's with students or your staff, families, a community.
00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:06.319
How do you think you've helped build that trust within your specific school community since you've been there?
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:10.160
What's kind of them what's one of the ways you've you've done that?
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:26.079
One thing that comes to mind, I think, um, that I know that teachers have gotten kind of really appreciated is just our work in in teams and plcs and uh learning specifically from each other, different strategies or ideas.
00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.400
And what's a PLC for someone listening that doesn't professional learning community?
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:35.359
Um I will use the team interchangeably sometimes.
00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:50.880
Um but but this wanting to know and see what their colleagues are doing next door, or to try to answer a question about um a problem that they're having with really engaging students.
00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:59.039
Um, I see more and more of that and have in the last five years, at least at Sunset Hill, with them wanting to see what their colleagues are are teaching.
00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:01.839
We call them uh learning walks recently.
00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:16.799
And uh that that is actually really motivating and exciting when you um just the discussion that teachers are having um when they're when they're doing those things, and then they're taking that information and translating it to their their own classroom.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:22.799
So there's definitely uh transparency in a community and um it's kind of it's not kind of, it's super cool.
00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:30.000
For me, I think a lot about building trust is just that my words and my actions, they they match.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:36.079
If I say I'm gonna do something, I try to follow through to the best of my ability.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:55.920
I also think about just my communication, visibility, being there for staff to try to encourage them, support them on the they need support just like the students, and they know that I need that support and figuring out that working relationship that I'm there for you and you're there for for each other and me.
00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:04.880
I think I've been there 18 years, and I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of the same staff for those 18 years.
00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:10.799
So just knowing what people need, being there for them.
00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:16.000
And I always feel I live by I believe people bring their best self to work.
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:31.200
And we also know that that fluctuates with what's going on in their personal life and just some of the hardships that they have, but being that knowing they can be themselves is a really important thing for me.
00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.920
And I'm gonna be real too.
00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.680
Like, this is who I am.
00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.880
Never question that with you, Mary.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.640
Never question that, Sam.
00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:49.119
I think it's that it's it's listening, just really listening.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.240
And what do you need?
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:52.799
And how can I say yes?
00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:57.759
Um, and how can I support you in taking a risk?
00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.440
And that when you make a mistake, it's okay.
00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.400
Like what just we tried something new, and if it doesn't work, that's okay.
00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:18.160
Don't don't be afraid to try new things, don't be um don't be afraid to go out on those limbs because that's sometimes where you really find the greatest the greatest things.
00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:31.359
Um and and to Mary's point, I don't know if I said it, but just being visible, just being visible and um making sure that you um you're just meeting the needs as best you can.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:43.599
So all three of you are there will be successors to um that will replace you in your at your schools, kind of different for all of you.
00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:51.920
For you, Karen, um Sarah Bath's coming from Oakwood, for you, Ross, Cassie, as Ben at Sunset Hill.
00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:58.079
And then for you, Mary, it's it's Amanda who is coming from outside um of Wiseout.
00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:05.440
So I'll come back to you if you were to leave a sticky note for Sarah Bath, what would it say?
00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.599
You're gonna love it here.
00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:11.039
Yeah, Ross.
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.240
You got this.
00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:20.960
And then for you it's a little different, like someone coming from outside of the district.
00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.880
What would that message be?
00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:40.400
Just take time to listen, to learn from this amazing staff, and just to spend time building relationships because you're gonna have an opportunity to work with amazing people and families, so just be present with them.
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.759
And I think the rest will come.
00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.359
Okay, a little bit of a lightning round.
00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:51.039
Um you did the school lunch.
00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:54.720
What is your favorite spirit wear theme?
00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.480
Oh my gosh.
00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:06.799
So, what's going around in kind of the world and Instagram are the underground spirit days where the teachers know this, like the grown-ups know, but the kids don't.
00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.279
Yeah.
00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:21.039
So like you wear like monochrome day or denim tuxedo day or anything but a water bottle day, or and then like maybe day three, the kids start figuring out there's something going on.
00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:24.640
And then they try to guess, which that that's a lot of fun.
00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:32.960
And that again, that builds that camaraderie between the adults because if you are not having fun, um that's hard.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.720
We have to have fun at what we do.
00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:43.440
So I think my favorite one was dress like a student because they dress like us, and that's really funny.
00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.000
But what they wear.
00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:50.960
Well, you know, sometimes I don't know, it's like leisure wear, you know, the apple leisure, you know.
00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:57.200
It's funny what they envision us, or you know, but that's probably my favorite one.
00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.640
I don't know.
00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:03.359
I maybe it's because I don't think about too much about dress up, but I always like to fry it.
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:05.119
I just wear my Y Z shirt.
00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:13.920
So when anything athletic, why Z athletics, just uh wearing that I think would be probably my my favorite, maybe because it was easy.
00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:18.559
Um crazy socks have been kind of funny.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:18.960
Yeah.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.759
Oh, that's easy.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.680
You have crazy socks under an hour.
00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:24.000
No, uh, I don't know, really.
00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.119
It's good.
00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:36.000
Um I remember in being in school and the principal was kind of intimidating.
00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:48.720
Um so I want to ask like, if I were to find one of your former students out in the world and said, Principal Kefler is what would they say?
00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:56.240
Well, I have a funny story back when I went from East to Sunset Hill because Sunset Hill, all the families came to East.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:06.079
And I was in the cafeteria probably the first week of school, and this little girl looks at me and she says, My brother goes to East and he thinks you're mean.
00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:13.759
You think, well, as an assistant principal, yeah, sometimes you have to give the consequences that they don't like.
00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:20.960
So I just smiled and I said, Well, your brother might think that, and I hope that after we get to know each other, you won't think that I'm mean.
00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:28.319
So if I saw that same student, they would say you're mean yeah, yeah.
00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.440
What about you?
00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.640
Oh, I don't know.
00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.480
I haven't thought about that one.
00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:36.240
I guess maybe what I'd hope they'd say is that I'm kind.
00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.039
Not mean.
00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.000
Not mean, not mean.
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:42.079
When I'm in the lunchroom, right?
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.839
The lunchroom's a whole different thing.
00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.279
Here you gotta hold the lines.
00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.079
It is.
00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.559
Yeah.
00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.240
Cool.
00:31:49.440 --> 00:32:00.799
And I'm only saying that because uh at our carnival that we had, um, one of our an eighth grader who had come over with family and neighbors had said had made that comment.
00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:02.880
Oh, you know, you were the coolest principal.
00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.920
I'm like, thanks.
00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.559
Ross is Ross is pretty cool.
00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:07.839
I would agree.
00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:08.960
Yeah.
00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.119
Not sure what that really meant for that.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.400
What is cool to find cool?
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.039
We didn't get into the depth of cool.
00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:27.519
Um, what is something that would surprise people the most about what the job of being a principal entails?
00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:31.279
There are some crazy things that happen.
00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:42.079
I've been doing this for a long time, and every year I just something happens, and you say, Oh, this has never happened before.
00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:49.359
And now I mean, there are some really interesting things that happen in a school.
00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.599
I'm not sure if we need to go down the road.
00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.759
But yeah, there might be oh my gosh, yeah.
00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:07.119
You just shake your head sometimes, and sometimes you just laugh because they're touching and funny, and some are tragic and sad.
00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:14.000
And um, and it's what makes it all a gift to do the job.
00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.200
Anything jump out to either of you.
00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:28.799
Yeah, uh sometimes I'm I'm flattered by some of the things that that someone might expect that I should know, like really minute detail, and it'd be like, I'm I'm sorry I don't know that.
00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:33.119
I know I am the principal, but I guess I can answer that question for you.
00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:36.400
I don't have a really good example, but that's happened a few times.
00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:50.960
Um, and you know, you do the best you can to point them in the right direction, but also feel bad that I haven't been able to deliver on that expectation when it's probably 200 on the you know on the list of things that happen over the course of the day.
00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.319
But you're the principal.
00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:54.160
Yeah, I sorry.
00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:57.200
Don't have all the answers.
00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:57.680
Yeah.
00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.400
I can usually find them though.
00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:03.519
So I just call Mary.
00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.400
Can you look?
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.960
Can you look for the email that came back in 2016?
00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.679
This was the Mary keeps all of her stuff.
00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:15.840
Mary keeps her emails we know somebody somebody's gonna wish they had those.
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.719
Yeah.
00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.159
She she can find them.
00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.519
She carries the history.
00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.199
Yeah, definitely.
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:29.280
All right, what is one thing you won't miss once you're retired?
00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:37.679
I think just the early the early mornings.
00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.719
Yeah.
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.639
For me, that one's easy.
00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.719
I will not miss the chameleon.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.880
I drive from St.
00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.679
Paul every day.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:51.039
The morning's usually easy, but the night never is.
00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.679
Right?
00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.719
And the snow.
00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:55.119
You should calculate your miles.
00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.280
I know I was trying to figure that out.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:59.199
Ross and I were trying to do that one day.
00:34:59.360 --> 00:34:59.920
Oh my god.
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:04.159
How many, how many hours or years have I spent driving?
00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.880
Maybe don't figure that out.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.760
No, I'll give it to a fifth grader.
00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.320
They'll do a math.
00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.679
Right, right, right.
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:19.679
Um something I won't miss.
00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.719
Yeah.
00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.519
Videos, podcasts, perhaps.
00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:24.559
Probably.
00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.920
Late buses.
00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.360
We will not miss late buses.
00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:32.480
They don't happen that often, not anybody, but yeah, I won't miss those.
00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:38.719
Um, yeah, probably the videos and the podcasts.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.960
Sorry.
00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:48.400
Okay, well, I guess we'll cross off your invite for the next one.
00:35:49.199 --> 00:36:00.960
Um, have do you any of you have like a secret place to hide when you just like want to like get away from anyone?
00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:10.480
Or have you ever hid somewhere that you maybe wouldn't can always want to admit?
00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.760
I've I've never hid somewhere.
00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.760
Yeah, I can't say I've ever hid.
00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.159
Yeah.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:23.760
Um and with our overcrowding, there is no place to really find a corner.
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.000
Um yeah, I don't.
00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:31.039
There's not a place that I would say I would hide or I have hidden.
00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.840
No hiding up.
00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.159
Okay.
00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:34.639
No.
00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.920
It's probably a good answer.
00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:46.320
Um if you could sum up your I have felt sometimes like people think I might be hiding out.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:49.199
Because they'll come to the door and the office door shut.
00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:57.440
I'm on the phone or doing something there, but you know, and and I my walkie's going off, so I'm trying to make sure I'm getting out there, but I'm right in the middle of something.
00:36:57.599 --> 00:37:04.159
So I felt that maybe that's a wonderment, but definitely not hiding.
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.119
I think I've probably at some point come into all of your offices and you weren't there.
00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:17.920
And I was wondering if it was intentional, but probably in classrooms, you know, doing what you should be doing.
00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:28.639
Um if you could kind of sum up your career in like a sentence, what would it be?
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:33.119
Incredibly challenging, but yet fulfilling.
00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:45.039
I'd probably say extremely rewarding, demanding, and a humbling experience.
00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:57.280
Um yeah, I would say just so joyful and stressful.
00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:02.880
And just every day is so different.
00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:06.960
Um just been a gift.
00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:17.599
I've said that a couple of times now, but just to be I've just been really fortunate to uh be inwise out of schools and work with everyone.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:27.280
Well, Ross, this was we're to the end, so you don't have to, you know, dread coming on any more of these anymore.
00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:45.199
But um does anyone have a countdown of how many days left until they're f I mean there's like the I feel like there's the end of the school year um when students are here, and then there's uh when you actually clean out the the desk or the office.
00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:47.119
Maybe that's already started.
00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:52.719
I I started uh a little bit today, actually.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:56.559
I saw some files and I went, okay, I need to I need to clean these.
00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.920
How many days do we have left?
00:38:58.079 --> 00:39:00.320
Nine, 10, 11, 12, 13?
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.119
Not sure.
00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:02.079
I think 13.
00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:05.119
And whenever this airs, it'll be right.
00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:08.000
And then June 30, June 30 for all of us.
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:12.159
So are you gonna collectively do something on June 30th?
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.719
I think I think we should.
00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.920
I think we should.
00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.679
We do another podcast.
00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.559
We could do a podcast.
00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:23.039
I almost know how do you feel the tell the tell all podcast.
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:28.400
We told that to uh to to Chase that we could do uh oh he could join us.
00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:28.960
There we go.
00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:29.519
Good.
00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.559
Yeah, what is it?
00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:36.320
Um how does it feel to be overshadowed on all of your retirements with uh Dr.
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:37.199
Anderson?
00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:44.079
I guess in seriousness though, like to go out with him must be kind of cool for for all of you.
00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:54.719
Yeah, I I just when he when he came to all of us and announced that he was retirement retiring, I it w it came as a surprise.
00:39:55.119 --> 00:40:09.679
And then um I was just I I was grateful though that he's been such uh an incredible leader and to be able to spend um all of these years with him and just retiring together.
00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:11.360
It's kind of cool actually.
00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:13.360
I would agree.
00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.599
Chase hired me, so we came on 18 years ago together.
00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:23.840
I'd been in the district, but yeah, it's pretty cool to think about we came in at the same time.
00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:27.679
I've learned so much from him.
00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.000
Yeah.
00:40:30.960 --> 00:40:36.320
I certain certainly haven't had that time that Karen and Mary have had, but I would echo echo that.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:44.400
I mean, working with Chase and it is kind of nice to go out with the great guy who gave me a chance here.
00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:47.280
So cool.
00:40:47.679 --> 00:41:00.719
Well, for to all three of you, thank you for um for joining us and for all the fun over the years and best wishes in retirement and not driving and surfing and whatever else.
00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:01.679
Whatever else you have to do.
00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.920
Because that's not something you can do in education.
00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.000
No, thanks for joining us.
00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:08.880
We appreciate it.
00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:10.320
Thanks for having us.
00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.119
Thank you.
00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:12.079
Thank you.
00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:08.480
All right, everyone, welcome to the next episode of the Inside Wise podcast.
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:12.480
Um, today we have three amazing guests.
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:21.839
Um, I think it's important to mention that um as we prepared to record, um, it was kind of, I guess, quintessential principle life.
00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:27.440
Mary um was was caught up waiting for buses that were stalled out.
00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:28.079
Yeah.
00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:34.399
Uh Karen, um, there was perhaps lack of clarity on the invite, went to the wrong building.
00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:45.439
Uh Ross was here, ready to go, but just the chaos of of recording a podcast with three principals at the end of May, and three principals that are retiring.
00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:59.119
And so uh we're joined by Mary Mackesee, who is the principal of Gleason Lake Elementary, Karen Kefler, who is the principal at Meadow Ridge Elementary Elementary, and Ross Williams, who is the principal at Sunset Hill Elementary.
00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:00.479
So thank you for joining us.
00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:01.359
We appreciate it.
00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:02.159
You're welcome.
00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:03.600
Glad to be here.
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.959
All right, so we're gonna start off.
00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:08.239
Start with you, Mary.
00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:11.280
You supervise thousands of lunch periods.
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If you had to pick one school lunch to be your last meal before retirement, what would it be?
00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.760
I would pick pizza because I love pizza and I feel like why not?
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.159
Ross, what about you?
00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:29.920
Um, I actually have only probably eaten lunch once, and it was orange chicken.
00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.040
Uh, usually I don't find time to eat.
00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.120
I'm eating almonds on the run.
00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:41.120
Um, there are days where at 2 30 I might try to sneak something before those buses.
00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:44.560
Um, but I'd probably have to say orange chicken.
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By you, Karen.
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Ah, tomato soup and grilled cheese standing up in the cafeteria, because that's what that's what happens.
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While you're supervising.
00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:56.079
Yes, that's what happens.
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That tomato soup's pretty great.
00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.920
So the three of you are retiring.
00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:04.480
What went into that decision?
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.640
Why now for retirement, Karen?
00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:15.840
Uh early on in my career, I'd always set a goal that 60, when I turn 60, it'll be my retirement date.
00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:19.680
And like in the blink of an eye, I'm 60.
00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:22.560
And I don't know.
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:27.599
It's you know, you always think of it, and it's just it's weird that it's finally here.
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:30.080
And um yeah.
00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.520
Well, like Karen, the time has gone incredibly fast.
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You never I've gone to all these retirements for other people, and you don't think it's ever gonna be you.
00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:54.479
But I think why I decided is I feel like I'm healthy and I just want to have something that's less demanding, and I just have more time for myself and to spend with family.
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So I'm looking forward to that.
00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:59.039
Oh, you're asked.
00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.800
Um, probably similar to Karen and Mary.
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:15.439
Uh, it's not like I ever going back to what um Karen had mentioned, I didn't ever have a goal or a target in mind, although maybe I did, in that I didn't really ever see going until 60.
00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:23.680
Um, if there were opportunities to uh maybe ease into 60 or do some things differently, while again, I could.
00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:28.560
Um that probably is what weighed into my decision.
00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:42.319
Um, when I say do some things, um, I want to be able to ride a bike, go on hikes, um, surf, do some things that I've been wanting to do for a while, and I don't know if I'll be able to do them to the same level as I'm older.
00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.960
So I was kind of looking at that and always have been.
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Has it hit any of you yet that like, you know, where it's May 18th, so we're plus or minus two or three weeks away from the last day of school?
00:03:55.520 --> 00:04:05.360
Has it hit you that like, well, this is it, or are we too deep into like the the day-to-day life of school to even think about that?
00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.680
No, I got teary twice last week.
00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:20.160
Kindergartners surprised me with this cute little verse in their kindergarten program, and then fourth grade did some read readers' theater from their curriculum, and they just said the kindest things before they started.
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.000
And so, yeah, it's getting it's getting real.
00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:24.480
Yeah.
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Mm-hmm.
00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.439
I think it for sure.
00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:40.879
I feel like I had a retirement celebration last week, and just the heartfelt things that the staff shared with me, as well as the students and the PTO, it becomes more real.
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:44.639
I think for me, everybody knows I've saved tons of stuff.
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So, you know, I'm going through a lot of things.
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There may have been a moment, was it two or three years ago when we were tasked with uh condensing about storage we were using?
00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:02.480
And there was Mary had a lot of a lot of storage space she was utilizing.
00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.279
But yeah.
00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:09.360
So I not only have electronic storage space, I have a lot of like files, right?
00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:21.199
So, but I get caught up instead of just dumping them in the garbage, like reading through emails that I've printed out or letters that I've gotten or just things like that that I look fondly back on.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:26.560
But it helps, I think, bring closure to my time at Gleason.
00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:28.959
Well, your acid hit you.
00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.120
Um, yeah, I mean, in the same way.
00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.639
And there are probably moments in time where you aren't thinking about it.
00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:36.879
I people ask how many days you have left.
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I'm like, I don't know.
00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.959
And that's partly because I think I always probably would answer if someone asked me what time of day it was.
00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:43.839
I don't know.
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Just need to get to A to B.
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You you were punctured punctual for this podcast.
00:05:51.360 --> 00:06:02.959
But I it it's coming and um kids have said some things, parents said some nice things in our are carnival, and I think all those are probably indicators of it, it is real.
00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:14.319
Um, I probably won't really know it's it probably really won't hit me until it's August or September, when usually we're getting prepared for the start of another school year.
00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:23.519
So I guess after all these years working in education, and you know, you've you've all worked in different roles.
00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:28.399
Um what kept you coming back year after year?
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I mean, education can be challenging, right?
00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:39.199
Like I'm I don't need to tell all of you that, but Ross, what kept you coming back year after year in a role like this?
00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.319
The people, uh the people that I worked with, um, the kids, of course.
00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:53.920
Um and I've been at a actually I think Mary Ann and Karen both have at secondary level and elementary school level.
00:06:54.079 --> 00:07:01.360
And, you know, they they say some pretty cute, enduring things that just kind of stick with you.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:12.560
Um, and then working on the other end at times, just seeing the growth that they make and the ones that come back and connect with uh with you later on and the things that they've they're doing.
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:18.079
I mean, just to be able to be a part of that in some degree is I think that's what kept coming back.
00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:24.480
It was pretty um, pretty satisfying uh to know that you're helping people.
00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:26.959
How about you, Mary?
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:39.600
Well, I just think every single day you have an opportunity to make a difference, whether it's in children's lives or the teachers that you're working with or the parents.
00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:44.160
So I find it it's like incredibly rewarding along with the demands.
00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:49.360
But I feel like I've always seen myself in some kind of a service-oriented job.
00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:56.800
And I think what just keeps me coming back is you know the impact that you can make over time.
00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:14.240
And just I enjoy being with people, and it's an amazing, you know, to get to work with educators every single day and see what they can do with children and and to be in this community that's been incredibly supportive for me as a teacher as well as an administrator.
00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:18.000
I can't imagine being have spent my career anywhere else.
00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:27.120
Um at no other job are you able to start fresh every year?
00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:38.080
It's it's a new year and and setting new goals and um meeting a new class of kindergartners, and it really is the people.
00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:44.559
Um, and just just that feeling of newness, the excitement that's does that change at all?
00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:45.840
Is that year to year?
00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:47.600
Is it always kind of the same feeling?
00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:55.039
I'm sure you you get more used to it, but does it change like kind of that that buzz or that excitement that typically comes with the first day of school?
00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.000
Or is it all kind of the same?
00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:57.120
It's always there.
00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:03.120
It's just it's it's a new year, and um, and like Marion Ross said, it really is the people.
00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:10.720
I mean, there are just amazing people in this district, teachers, parents, students, um, support staff.
00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:15.759
It's we I have been incredibly blessed to be in this district for 27 years.
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.919
Yeah, so let's talk about that a little bit.
00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:27.440
So you've all been here for different amounts of times, but long enough to really experience that the community, and you've seen a lot of growth, right?
00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:32.240
So you're at Meadow Ridge, which was opened in 20, what is that, 16.
00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:43.360
So what has it been like to see to work in work in the community and also see how the district has grown from when you started to where it is now?
00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:49.519
I have loved um just the richness of the population growth.
00:09:50.159 --> 00:10:03.679
Um, you know, we are I you know we are an amazing district where people come from uh come to us from international places and and YZA is their choice.
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:24.799
And um just to have that um just to have have all of that within our community and incredibly supportive parents and people come to YZ because they value education, and that again is just a gift.
00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:33.279
Um every single parent wants what's best for their child, and they have chosen YZ to give their children that.
00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:51.679
And um that is um, yeah, that's that's a uh it's a it's a I don't know what the word I'm looking for, but um it's it's a gift and it's an opportunity and um we need to do that, we need to give our best to the families.
00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.000
Been in the district for a long time.
00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:03.440
What has it been like to see the growth and work in this community?
00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:12.240
I just think from when I started teaching to now, I've always felt that the community was incredibly supportive.
00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:19.919
So I think about the growth no matter if we're adding buildings or changing, redistricting and the reboundaries.
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:28.240
Um everyone has helped make those shifts and making the best we could for families.
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:35.840
And I feel like so fortunate that our district colleagues really we work together very collaboratively.
00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:47.360
So it's almost as if you don't recognize the growth till you really sit back and think about how many elementaries we have added and the things that we've gone through over time.
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:58.240
But just feeling super fortunate because everybody takes the time to think about how that's going to play out for families and for staffing.
00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:10.480
I think it's been uh pretty easy journey knowing we've been a growing district and that people last Karen said want to come and want to be with us and continue to support.
00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:19.840
I mean, what other district passes these referendums like they do to keep us, you know, feeling so supported in everything that we can do?
00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:31.279
And that and that growth, like it's one thing from a district level to see enrollment numbers like this, but all of you are in a school building.
00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:48.000
And is there a is there an element of it of trying to make it feel smaller, I guess, even though the district is growing, like you're still trying to like personalize it and make it for each student to have a just a good experience every day.
00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:50.960
Yeah, I mean, that is our that's our charge.
00:12:51.440 --> 00:13:01.679
Um I also don't know that in some situations we from a size standpoint, um, some of our buildings get really big and there's this fluctuation as we're we're changing.
00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:07.840
So it becomes um kind of tight feeling at times.
00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:13.840
I'd echo the same things, I think, that um both Mary and Karen had talked about with just support.
00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:21.039
Um, sometimes going through a process of determining enrollment boundary shifts is not easy.
00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:28.080
And so support might sound kind of like an odd way to describe it, but everyone's at the table.
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.120
Everyone, it means something to everyone.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.039
And when decisions are made, they're made and we're moving on.
00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:47.759
Um the other thing I think, and I think Mary, you were the one that said it that I'll remember is the group of um nine, 10 principles that work together real, really closely at the elementary level.
00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:55.840
I mean, we have to because our experiences collectively are I think what we're trying to deliver on as a as a district.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:02.799
So it it's it's enjoyable to some degree to work with people, pick up the phone, and I'm working through this.
00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.840
What about you?
00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.200
Uh, those are helpful.
00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.120
And in districts this large, I don't know that that always can be said.
00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:20.639
And I think when we we all try to be as much similar as we can so that we can give the same experience to our students when you think about it in terms of their educational experience in our buildings.
00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:26.720
So no matter which building they're at, we hope that they have a similar academic experience.
00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:34.080
So, Karen, you've been in YZETA for a long time, but you started your career elsewhere.
00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.679
What makes YZA different?
00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:45.200
And ultimately, like, what is something that you see in students and staff that makes it so unique?
00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:56.879
Um, the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I talk about that, my experiences in other districts is that in this district, teachers value and ask for professional learning.
00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:03.919
They want to grow, they want to get better, they know um how important their role is in student success.
00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:13.360
And that has always been something that I have not taken for granted since moving to this district because I've seen in other districts where it's not as important.
00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:17.279
And I think that's one of the things that that makes YZA what it is.
00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:30.080
Ross, can you think of a challenge or a you know, quote unquote failure that you might have experienced as a leader that actually made you better in the long run after going through it?
00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:37.120
Because I obviously all of you are perfect, but if there were a moment that you slipped up just a little.
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:42.799
Um, yeah, I have a lot, a lot of failures and slip-ups.
00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:55.759
Um, you know, I looking in, and I thought you were gonna ask me the same question about a previous district, but I think maybe it holds true for um both in answering that question.
00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:06.000
I think um learning and really continuing to um listen, uh listen a lot more than just acting.
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:14.960
And when I say that, I mean really trying to hear what other people are saying when ideas are generated as opposed to just leading means doing.
00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.679
I think it leads a it means a lot more than that.
00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:24.480
And that's where the collaboration and working with people to find solutions to things, make adjustments.
00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.919
Um so listening even more.
00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:32.080
I mean, I I think I do a pretty good job of that, but I don't know that I always did that.
00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.080
Probably came maybe with with time.
00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:49.200
I think something that I've thought about, yeah, we've had a lot of times that you think back and you could have done better, but I think it's under being more understanding of different perspectives.
00:16:49.519 --> 00:17:00.480
I don't think I understood that when I, you know, you kind of think you maybe not that I know the answer or those kind of things, but you kind of go in sometimes to hard situations.
00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:37.519
And I think I've really learned from some masterful people that I've had an opportunity to work closely with about hear the other be curious, hear the other person's perspective, think about there's probably not there's there's not a right answer, but there's the both and um that I think has just helped me over time in really hard situations is to um just take more time to listen, reflect on what the person is saying and hear the impact of maybe what I had done in that situation that could have been improved.
00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:53.759
Um I would echo their thoughts and it is um everyone's perspective of any situation is different and really learning that and when your impact was not your intent, just apologizing and doing better.
00:17:54.000 --> 00:18:06.319
When we know better, we do better, and it really is learning from every interaction, every situation um to just move forward and try to do better every day.
00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:17.039
On the flip side of that, there's there's probably been moments where you're you're like, this is why I do this.
00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:29.839
Is there like a recent moment that you've been able to take a step back amidst all the chaos and and just really kind of reinforce like this is why I'm a principal?
00:18:30.480 --> 00:19:03.680
I think it's those everyday moments of joy um, whether it's a student coming up to you and sharing a wonderful or silly story, or um, you know, staff members who um who are vulnerable and and again want to do well and um sharing that and you know, every day when kids come into the building, you really this is why I do this that you just want to make it the best possible experience that you can.
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.000
I would echo that.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:10.799
It's it's seeing the little moments of joy that that students and staff have.
00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:27.440
It's probably not big things, but it's the day-to-day um achievements that you know I mean, something that I'm probably switching it now that really brings me joy is just watching kids walk into school every day.
00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.759
They are happy and excited.
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.960
And it's like that's what makes me want to be there, is they come every day.
00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:41.519
And, you know, it's it's pretty exciting watching them get off the bus or just come in at the hallway.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:52.160
I mean, they're all excited to be with their friends, and it's a great, it's a great thing to be part of that, to work with happy, fun students.
00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:59.440
We've talked about how at times it's really challenging and not to just reiterate what my colleagues have said.
00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:13.759
But if you're having a bad moment and you're working in an elementary school, once you're finished with that, uh, whatever it is, go find some kids, go into a classroom and just engage and say, tell me what you're talking about, teach me, tell me, show me.
00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.160
And you'll probably walk out of there 15 minutes later feeling pretty good.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:27.839
So you have to seek it out because sure the job is demanding, but there are always ways to, I guess, remind you as to what you did.
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.640
And they're right there.
00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:30.480
There's 700 of them in the building.
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:41.200
So how has uh how has school changed from when you started your journey as a principal to where it is now?
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.519
What's like the biggest thing that has changed in your mind?
00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:49.359
What I think has changed the most is maybe the classroom.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:59.680
When I think about it, I think when I started teaching, we thought a good classroom was one that was well managed, the teacher was in control, and everybody was quiet.
00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.799
That's how I think in the desks and rows.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.240
Right.
00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.200
We did that.
00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:08.000
That's probably the system I grew up in.
00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:13.119
So then we sometimes replicate the system that we've been experienced to.
00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:21.039
And we've certainly come a long way to think about what's the heart of a room is the students taking ownership of their learning.
00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:23.440
It's the teacher being the facilitator.
00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:30.559
It's okay when kids are talking and learning because that's a we learn by interacting and talking with one another.
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:42.400
So that for me has probably been the biggest shift from when I was teaching to think about how I needed to manage a classroom and instruct to what I see amazing teachers do today.
00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:51.759
Is that hard to shift like to to what you when you when you're doing the thing, you're teaching and now you're overseeing it?
00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:57.200
Is it hard to switch what you at one point believe was a way to do something?
00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.680
I think it's all it's that professional.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.559
Learning.
00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:06.079
And every time I'm in a classroom, even still, I think about how much I miss it.
00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:16.480
Because you see the relationships that the teachers form with the students and what they're doing now, more groups, more student voice, more ownership in the learning.
00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:20.960
And um it's it's energizing to Ross's point.
00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:26.319
If you're having a bad moment, go into a classroom and just watch the magic happen.
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:37.279
And I think it's just it's the instructional strategies has just changed for the better in the 38 years that I've been doing this.
00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.240
Yeah.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:46.559
The experiences that kids have that we provide are definitely different.
00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:53.599
Um, but we're responding, and that feels good to their experiences, the way that they learn best.
00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:58.799
Um it isn't just sitting in desks and rows and everybody is quiet.
00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:02.160
So um what is the phrase?
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.359
The the one that does the learning.
00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:12.559
Um doing the talking and doing the talking, doing the learning, doing the work, just doing the learning, which is really, really true.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:21.440
Um which also goes along the same lines as what Karen was saying about the the desire to learn more as a as a as a teacher.
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:26.319
So when we're learning, we actually are impacting the kids' experiences.
00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:38.240
So it just it does translate in this thirst and desire for people to want to know more and assuming I want to know more and giving them that, I think always translates to the the kid's experience.
00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:44.160
I feel like one of our goals working in education, obviously, you you all are in the classroom.
00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:50.640
I talk into a microphone every once in a while, but the the goal is to build trust, right?
00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:56.720
Whether that's with students or your staff, families, a community.
00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:06.319
How do you think you've helped build that trust within your specific school community since you've been there?
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:10.160
What's kind of them what's one of the ways you've you've done that?
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:26.079
One thing that comes to mind, I think, um, that I know that teachers have gotten kind of really appreciated is just our work in in teams and plcs and uh learning specifically from each other, different strategies or ideas.
00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.400
And what's a PLC for someone listening that doesn't professional learning community?
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:35.359
Um I will use the team interchangeably sometimes.
00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:50.880
Um but but this wanting to know and see what their colleagues are doing next door, or to try to answer a question about um a problem that they're having with really engaging students.
00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:59.039
Um, I see more and more of that and have in the last five years, at least at Sunset Hill, with them wanting to see what their colleagues are are teaching.
00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:01.839
We call them uh learning walks recently.
00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:16.799
And uh that that is actually really motivating and exciting when you um just the discussion that teachers are having um when they're when they're doing those things, and then they're taking that information and translating it to their their own classroom.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:22.799
So there's definitely uh transparency in a community and um it's kind of it's not kind of, it's super cool.
00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:30.000
For me, I think a lot about building trust is just that my words and my actions, they they match.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:36.079
If I say I'm gonna do something, I try to follow through to the best of my ability.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:55.920
I also think about just my communication, visibility, being there for staff to try to encourage them, support them on the they need support just like the students, and they know that I need that support and figuring out that working relationship that I'm there for you and you're there for for each other and me.
00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:04.880
I think I've been there 18 years, and I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of the same staff for those 18 years.
00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:10.799
So just knowing what people need, being there for them.
00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:16.000
And I always feel I live by I believe people bring their best self to work.
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:31.200
And we also know that that fluctuates with what's going on in their personal life and just some of the hardships that they have, but being that knowing they can be themselves is a really important thing for me.
00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.920
And I'm gonna be real too.
00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.680
Like, this is who I am.
00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.880
Never question that with you, Mary.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.640
Never question that, Sam.
00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:49.119
I think it's that it's it's listening, just really listening.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.240
And what do you need?
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:52.799
And how can I say yes?
00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:57.759
Um, and how can I support you in taking a risk?
00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.440
And that when you make a mistake, it's okay.
00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.400
Like what just we tried something new, and if it doesn't work, that's okay.
00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:18.160
Don't don't be afraid to try new things, don't be um don't be afraid to go out on those limbs because that's sometimes where you really find the greatest the greatest things.
00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:31.359
Um and and to Mary's point, I don't know if I said it, but just being visible, just being visible and um making sure that you um you're just meeting the needs as best you can.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:43.599
So all three of you are there will be successors to um that will replace you in your at your schools, kind of different for all of you.
00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:51.920
For you, Karen, um Sarah Bath's coming from Oakwood, for you, Ross, Cassie, as Ben at Sunset Hill.
00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:58.079
And then for you, Mary, it's it's Amanda who is coming from outside um of Wiseout.
00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:05.440
So I'll come back to you if you were to leave a sticky note for Sarah Bath, what would it say?
00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.599
You're gonna love it here.
00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:11.039
Yeah, Ross.
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.240
You got this.
00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:20.960
And then for you it's a little different, like someone coming from outside of the district.
00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.880
What would that message be?
00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:40.400
Just take time to listen, to learn from this amazing staff, and just to spend time building relationships because you're gonna have an opportunity to work with amazing people and families, so just be present with them.
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.759
And I think the rest will come.
00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.359
Okay, a little bit of a lightning round.
00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:51.039
Um you did the school lunch.
00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:54.720
What is your favorite spirit wear theme?
00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.480
Oh my gosh.
00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:06.799
So, what's going around in kind of the world and Instagram are the underground spirit days where the teachers know this, like the grown-ups know, but the kids don't.
00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.279
Yeah.
00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:21.039
So like you wear like monochrome day or denim tuxedo day or anything but a water bottle day, or and then like maybe day three, the kids start figuring out there's something going on.
00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:24.640
And then they try to guess, which that that's a lot of fun.
00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:32.960
And that again, that builds that camaraderie between the adults because if you are not having fun, um that's hard.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.720
We have to have fun at what we do.
00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:43.440
So I think my favorite one was dress like a student because they dress like us, and that's really funny.
00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.000
But what they wear.
00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:50.960
Well, you know, sometimes I don't know, it's like leisure wear, you know, the apple leisure, you know.
00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:57.200
It's funny what they envision us, or you know, but that's probably my favorite one.
00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.640
I don't know.
00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:03.359
I maybe it's because I don't think about too much about dress up, but I always like to fry it.
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:05.119
I just wear my Y Z shirt.
00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:13.920
So when anything athletic, why Z athletics, just uh wearing that I think would be probably my my favorite, maybe because it was easy.
00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:18.559
Um crazy socks have been kind of funny.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:18.960
Yeah.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.759
Oh, that's easy.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.680
You have crazy socks under an hour.
00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:24.000
No, uh, I don't know, really.
00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.119
It's good.
00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:36.000
Um I remember in being in school and the principal was kind of intimidating.
00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:48.720
Um so I want to ask like, if I were to find one of your former students out in the world and said, Principal Kefler is what would they say?
00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:56.240
Well, I have a funny story back when I went from East to Sunset Hill because Sunset Hill, all the families came to East.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:06.079
And I was in the cafeteria probably the first week of school, and this little girl looks at me and she says, My brother goes to East and he thinks you're mean.
00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:13.759
You think, well, as an assistant principal, yeah, sometimes you have to give the consequences that they don't like.
00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:20.960
So I just smiled and I said, Well, your brother might think that, and I hope that after we get to know each other, you won't think that I'm mean.
00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:28.319
So if I saw that same student, they would say you're mean yeah, yeah.
00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.440
What about you?
00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.640
Oh, I don't know.
00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.480
I haven't thought about that one.
00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:36.240
I guess maybe what I'd hope they'd say is that I'm kind.
00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.039
Not mean.
00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.000
Not mean, not mean.
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:42.079
When I'm in the lunchroom, right?
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.839
The lunchroom's a whole different thing.
00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.279
Here you gotta hold the lines.
00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.079
It is.
00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.559
Yeah.
00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.240
Cool.
00:31:49.440 --> 00:32:00.799
And I'm only saying that because uh at our carnival that we had, um, one of our an eighth grader who had come over with family and neighbors had said had made that comment.
00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:02.880
Oh, you know, you were the coolest principal.
00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.920
I'm like, thanks.
00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.559
Ross is Ross is pretty cool.
00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:07.839
I would agree.
00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:08.960
Yeah.
00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.119
Not sure what that really meant for that.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.400
What is cool to find cool?
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.039
We didn't get into the depth of cool.
00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:27.519
Um, what is something that would surprise people the most about what the job of being a principal entails?
00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:31.279
There are some crazy things that happen.
00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:42.079
I've been doing this for a long time, and every year I just something happens, and you say, Oh, this has never happened before.
00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:49.359
And now I mean, there are some really interesting things that happen in a school.
00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.599
I'm not sure if we need to go down the road.
00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.759
But yeah, there might be oh my gosh, yeah.
00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:07.119
You just shake your head sometimes, and sometimes you just laugh because they're touching and funny, and some are tragic and sad.
00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:14.000
And um, and it's what makes it all a gift to do the job.
00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.200
Anything jump out to either of you.
00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:28.799
Yeah, uh sometimes I'm I'm flattered by some of the things that that someone might expect that I should know, like really minute detail, and it'd be like, I'm I'm sorry I don't know that.
00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:33.119
I know I am the principal, but I guess I can answer that question for you.
00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:36.400
I don't have a really good example, but that's happened a few times.
00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:50.960
Um, and you know, you do the best you can to point them in the right direction, but also feel bad that I haven't been able to deliver on that expectation when it's probably 200 on the you know on the list of things that happen over the course of the day.
00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.319
But you're the principal.
00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:54.160
Yeah, I sorry.
00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:57.200
Don't have all the answers.
00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:57.680
Yeah.
00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.400
I can usually find them though.
00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:03.519
So I just call Mary.
00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.400
Can you look?
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.960
Can you look for the email that came back in 2016?
00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.679
This was the Mary keeps all of her stuff.
00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:15.840
Mary keeps her emails we know somebody somebody's gonna wish they had those.
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.719
Yeah.
00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.159
She she can find them.
00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.519
She carries the history.
00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.199
Yeah, definitely.
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:29.280
All right, what is one thing you won't miss once you're retired?
00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:37.679
I think just the early the early mornings.
00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.719
Yeah.
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.639
For me, that one's easy.
00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.719
I will not miss the chameleon.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.880
I drive from St.
00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.679
Paul every day.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:51.039
The morning's usually easy, but the night never is.
00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.679
Right?
00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.719
And the snow.
00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:55.119
You should calculate your miles.
00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.280
I know I was trying to figure that out.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:59.199
Ross and I were trying to do that one day.
00:34:59.360 --> 00:34:59.920
Oh my god.
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:04.159
How many, how many hours or years have I spent driving?
00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.880
Maybe don't figure that out.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.760
No, I'll give it to a fifth grader.
00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.320
They'll do a math.
00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.679
Right, right, right.
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:19.679
Um something I won't miss.
00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.719
Yeah.
00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.519
Videos, podcasts, perhaps.
00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:24.559
Probably.
00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.920
Late buses.
00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.360
We will not miss late buses.
00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:32.480
They don't happen that often, not anybody, but yeah, I won't miss those.
00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:38.719
Um, yeah, probably the videos and the podcasts.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.960
Sorry.
00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:48.400
Okay, well, I guess we'll cross off your invite for the next one.
00:35:49.199 --> 00:36:00.960
Um, have do you any of you have like a secret place to hide when you just like want to like get away from anyone?
00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:10.480
Or have you ever hid somewhere that you maybe wouldn't can always want to admit?
00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.760
I've I've never hid somewhere.
00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.760
Yeah, I can't say I've ever hid.
00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.159
Yeah.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:23.760
Um and with our overcrowding, there is no place to really find a corner.
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.000
Um yeah, I don't.
00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:31.039
There's not a place that I would say I would hide or I have hidden.
00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.840
No hiding up.
00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.159
Okay.
00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:34.639
No.
00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.920
It's probably a good answer.
00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:46.320
Um if you could sum up your I have felt sometimes like people think I might be hiding out.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:49.199
Because they'll come to the door and the office door shut.
00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:57.440
I'm on the phone or doing something there, but you know, and and I my walkie's going off, so I'm trying to make sure I'm getting out there, but I'm right in the middle of something.
00:36:57.599 --> 00:37:04.159
So I felt that maybe that's a wonderment, but definitely not hiding.
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.119
I think I've probably at some point come into all of your offices and you weren't there.
00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:17.920
And I was wondering if it was intentional, but probably in classrooms, you know, doing what you should be doing.
00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:28.639
Um if you could kind of sum up your career in like a sentence, what would it be?
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:33.119
Incredibly challenging, but yet fulfilling.
00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:45.039
I'd probably say extremely rewarding, demanding, and a humbling experience.
00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:57.280
Um yeah, I would say just so joyful and stressful.
00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:02.880
And just every day is so different.
00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:06.960
Um just been a gift.
00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:17.599
I've said that a couple of times now, but just to be I've just been really fortunate to uh be inwise out of schools and work with everyone.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:27.280
Well, Ross, this was we're to the end, so you don't have to, you know, dread coming on any more of these anymore.
00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:45.199
But um does anyone have a countdown of how many days left until they're f I mean there's like the I feel like there's the end of the school year um when students are here, and then there's uh when you actually clean out the the desk or the office.
00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:47.119
Maybe that's already started.
00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:52.719
I I started uh a little bit today, actually.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:56.559
I saw some files and I went, okay, I need to I need to clean these.
00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.920
How many days do we have left?
00:38:58.079 --> 00:39:00.320
Nine, 10, 11, 12, 13?
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.119
Not sure.
00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:02.079
I think 13.
00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:05.119
And whenever this airs, it'll be right.
00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:08.000
And then June 30, June 30 for all of us.
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:12.159
So are you gonna collectively do something on June 30th?
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.719
I think I think we should.
00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.920
I think we should.
00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.679
We do another podcast.
00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.559
We could do a podcast.
00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:23.039
I almost know how do you feel the tell the tell all podcast.
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:28.400
We told that to uh to to Chase that we could do uh oh he could join us.
00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:28.960
There we go.
00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:29.519
Good.
00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.559
Yeah, what is it?
00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:36.320
Um how does it feel to be overshadowed on all of your retirements with uh Dr.
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:37.199
Anderson?
00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:44.079
I guess in seriousness though, like to go out with him must be kind of cool for for all of you.
00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:54.719
Yeah, I I just when he when he came to all of us and announced that he was retirement retiring, I it w it came as a surprise.
00:39:55.119 --> 00:40:09.679
And then um I was just I I was grateful though that he's been such uh an incredible leader and to be able to spend um all of these years with him and just retiring together.
00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:11.360
It's kind of cool actually.
00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:13.360
I would agree.
00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.599
Chase hired me, so we came on 18 years ago together.
00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:23.840
I'd been in the district, but yeah, it's pretty cool to think about we came in at the same time.
00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:27.679
I've learned so much from him.
00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.000
Yeah.
00:40:30.960 --> 00:40:36.320
I certain certainly haven't had that time that Karen and Mary have had, but I would echo echo that.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:44.400
I mean, working with Chase and it is kind of nice to go out with the great guy who gave me a chance here.
00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:47.280
So cool.
00:40:47.679 --> 00:41:00.719
Well, for to all three of you, thank you for um for joining us and for all the fun over the years and best wishes in retirement and not driving and surfing and whatever else.
00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:01.679
Whatever else you have to do.
00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.920
Because that's not something you can do in education.
00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.000
No, thanks for joining us.
00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:08.880
We appreciate it.
00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:10.320
Thanks for having us.
00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.119
Thank you.
00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:12.079
Thank you.
