”Every day millions of students arrive at American classrooms in search of more than reading and math skills. They are looking for a light in the darkness of their lives, a Good Samaritan who will stop and bandage a burned heart or ego.” Jim Trelease

I survived and they didn’t eat me/us alive. In fact the whole conference exceeded our expectations. They are leaders and educators in schools that want to make a difference in the lives of kids. It’s going to be hard work for the next four years. A school that is primarily Arabic in population, a school that is primarily inner city high school students from Detroit, some rural schools in low socio economic areas, etc….. It’s a nice melting pot of diversity in this fine state. And the bottom line is they all are kids and if they don’t have a parent at home that can connect with them -- that can guide them, their next best hope is a teacher (JAMA 1997).

And after it was over, I came home to a house that was in BAD need of cleaning, flower beds in desperate need of getting rid of winter yuck and three teenagers with places to go and people to see….. I love being a mom!!!!

A Big Step

I’ve been lurking and viewing blogs for about a year now. I’m not sure I really have time to keep it up to date, but I’ve always thought it would be fun – and interesting.

What’s with the name? Seems like I’m always so busy with work and life (isn’t everyone) that I don’t take enough time to just have fun. It seemed like a good title – nothing deep to the meaning at all – I just had to come up with a title… it may change

I really love quotes; I collect them and use them a lot in my work. This is my favorite, it motivates me and it sobers me.

“There is no more delicate matter to take in hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, no more doubtful of success, then to step up as a leader in the introduction of changes” Niccolo Machiavelli

It’s bold to initiate change in my own life, it is bit daunting when change introduces itself all on its own. But even when I’ve been resistant to change, it without fail, lands me in a better place than where I was before.

It is down right scary to initiate change for other people. It is sort of what I do for a living, you’d think by now I wouldn’t be daunted, but I am. People are really comfortable with what they know, with what is familiar and something new tips them off balance.

But here I go again, ‘off to change the world’ ---- a few schools at a time (7), a few teachers at a time and a few students at a time. I want to make a difference, I want to help them make a difference and I’m so blessed that my journey in life has brought me here to do it.

Problem is – I’m scared to death……. Therefore my thoughts on the Machiavelli quote today….