A New Beginning...

As I begin preparation for my new summer endeavor, I think to myself..., "How lucky can I really be?" Two years ago, I began this blog in anticipation of traveling to Mexico for a month's trip. Last year, I continued the blog in anticipation of beginning my first summer coursework with Teachers College Columbia University. This summer I continue my blog in anticipation of moving to Houston, finishing my coursework for my second master's in Educational Leadership, and beginning a career with KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) on path to chartering a new high school in an area I know nothing about.

My life has been one change after another. I owe it all to the soul searching trip I took to Mexico two years ago. During this trip I discovered that I myself had been locking away my inner self waiting to let life happen to me... forgetting that I was to make life happen for me. Well, now I am on a path which honestly I do not know how I began... life is sort of still happening to me with me making some decisions along the way. But I wonder, when will the time come when luck runs out and opportunities close... then I will find if my self-discovery over the years has taught me anything.

I seem to be rambling... I'm not quite sure what to say. My life is changing in so many directions, but I do know one thing. I am the path to a new beginning. A beginning that will open my eyes to new experiences and life's wonderous adventures. I say, "I'm ready." I'm ready to make life happen.

Let's see how it goes...

Working Day...

Good Afternoon! It has been a few months since I have updated my blog, and I must say it only feels like days. Time is flying faster than I wish it would, and procrastination has taken control over my life!!! I am still relishing in the blessings I have been fortunate to experience these past months and am looking forward to the fruition of my dreams in goals in the next few months. As I sit here working on lesson plans and my Principal Shadowing Report, I am reminded of the opportunities I am trying to achieve and the opportunities my sisters are about to embark on. Life is great! I have included a picture of my little Ladee enjoying life as pets do! I'll talk to you soon with great news!

New Opportunities...

Everyday I wake up and I think (yes this is cliche) that I am so lucky. I have a fantastic family who gives me unconditional love and support; I have fantastic friends that pick me up when I'm down and raise me higher when I'm already feeling good; I have a fantastic profession that I love to pieces and have dedicated myself to. No, I do not have a husband; I do not have children, but I do know why I push myself to be the very best I can be...to be a role model for my sisters... and to carry the legacy my grandmother began in educating her children. Tomorrow I leave for New York to embark on the next part of my arduous but satisfying journey. Today, I I am excited with every breath I take... my skin is tingling with excitement ready to take on new challenges and new opportunities.

I love life!

Christmas at home...

At the beginning of this holiday season, I wasn't feeling thrilled about the holidays. I don't know why, but I just wasn't. One weekend I decided to get myself together and put out my Christmas decorations. A few of the holiday touches are pictured here as reminders of what I love about the holidays. Here you see the heart of what I have... my 4 ft. Christmas Tree! Yes, it's small, but it's beautiful!

My Christmas tree is completely filled with disco ball decorations. I guess the disco balls show my sparkling personality! I love them.

This year my grandmother gave me her nativity set that she has had since I was little. I felt honored to receive such a gift, and I couldn't wait to give the nativity it's spotlight. I think it to be beautiful.

You know I love my little Ladee. She's so special she deserves her own tree! And of course, it's a red tree!

Here is a small nativity I bought when I was in Mexico for my Fulbright trip. It's eccentric, and I love it just as much as everything else I own.

I wish everyone a great holiday. I'm looking forward to seeing what Santa brings this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Ladee's Weekend Visit

Ladee and I decided to take a little visit this weekend to see her cousins at Noemi's house. While Noemi studied for her medical boards for this weekend, Kassy and I worked on school work to keep busy. Ladee had a great time with her cousins, and I thought I would log a few of her pictures to keep track of her visit. Here you will see pictures of me and Ladee, Ladee and Emma, Gunther, Emma kissing Kassy (my goddaughter), and finally Ladee with both of her cousins.

It's quite funny how the Great Danes are scared of a little Miniature Schnauzer, but then again, those of you who know her, know Ladee can be a little vicious! I love my doggies!

Educational thoughts for this week...

Reflective Prompt: To what extent is the quote applicable to me and my colleagues: “In training a child to activity of thought, above all things we must be aware of that I call ‘inert ideas’- that is to say, ideas that are merely received into the mind without being utilized, or tested, or thrown into fresh combinations.” Alfred North Whitehead (1929)
Standardized testing has become the rooting soil of ‘inert ideas’ for students and teachers. Standardized testing has paralyzed master teachers into becoming the planters of seeds that will find neither water nor sunlight to grow. Every year a teacher is reminded that he/she will be held accountable for students passing a standardized test. Every year a teacher is reminded that if his/her students do not meet the criteria of a rigid passing rate the school will suffer and could be condemned to failure. Every year a teacher sees no other outlet but to plant these “inert ideas” so that the students will pass this year’s particular test for this particular teacher. And every year, a new planter must begin this process. In turn, the seeds wither and die as the sun and water to their growth continues to become paralyzed by the drought I call standardized testing.
As I transition from teacher to administrator, I see so much more than what I thought I knew about education. When I first read this month’s prompt, I thought, “How Interesting? I am struggling with this very same idea with the teachers I work with. How will I respond to a prompt that upsets me every time I read it?” My question lies in thinking how is it that education has not changed since 1929 when Whitehead spoke these very words. How can this situation be possibly true seventy-eight years later! The teachers I work with work diligently at their craft: some work diligently to continue teaching the same lesson they have taught for years on end; some work diligently to revamp the teaching lessons they taught last week. And neither is at fault for continuing to work with these “inert ideas” that hinder a student’s understanding of content material.
My students constantly grumble when my expectations lead their thinking beyond a regurgitation of concepts covered in the classroom. I stand by three rules a student must adhere to when giving an answer to a question:
Rule No. 1: Students must provide ‘On the Line’ Understanding where there are able to provide an answer covering basic concepts and validity of their point.
Rule No. 2: Students must provide ‘Between the Line’ Understanding where the intricacies of their answer must be provided in detail. How or what makes their answer correct? By whose authority does their answer stand true? How would I go about finding their answers validity?
Rule No. 3: Students must provide ‘Beyond the Line’ Understanding where a student must complete their validation by referencing their answer to life. How is their answer substantiated with life’s occurrences? Is there a time in their personal life that they have witnessed their answer be true or false? Where else have they seen the answer validated: movies, literature, family, etc…?
The adage of ‘read between the lines’ holds true in my classroom, and what I have seen with this teaching theory involves a student having to manipulate the “inert ideas” presented them in class into personal ideas that can be adapted to any situation they see fit. This process is not easy; by all means, I am honest to say that my students sometimes take months to understand that this concept of working their minds works. But the answer to Whitehead’s proposed dilemma lies in this: I am most happy when my students come back to school and tell me, “Miss Rodriguez, I couldn’t get you out of my mind this weekend. I was watching this movie, and all I could do was analyze why this was this and why that was that…”. It is then and only then, that I realize that the educational ideal Whitehead discusses is that of stale “inert ideas”, and the attainable educational ideal of now lies in productivity of vigorous ideas. As a future administrator, I will lead by setting and striving for the attainable educational ideal of today.

English Department...I love teaching...

Wow! This year is just flying by, and I don't know what to make of everything that is going on in my life right now. I have been working on my internship diligently, but I feel like I'm not making a dent in progress. I will be observing a teacher for a formal evaluation (well not too formal... what I write up does not go in their file) tomorrow, and I'm really excited about it. We had our pre-observation last Friday, and I actually felt like maybe I can do this administrator thing! Ha! Ha!

I would like to say that working with my English Department team this year has been a blessing. They are really teaching me what it will be like when I do take on the administrator role... it's been difficult having to juggle between when to be a friend, when to be a mentor, and when to draw the line as the one in charge... but I've always been one to understand those boundaries.

I do love how my team bonds together to celebrate the good times in life. Here we are celebrating Rita's birthday a few weeks ago. Yes, I donned the UT colors just to celebrate her birthday... I'm sorry to all of my Aggie friends... I could only wear the cap though!

Much props and love to my English buddies!

New Show... Annie Get Your Gun

I know... I know... many of you have asked me why I fill my days with nonstop activity, and honestly, I do not have a great answer. We opened our first show of the season at the Camille Playhouse on Friday... I have a few pictures below. We had a great first week and end next weekend. I guess I caught the bug from watching broadway shows in New York... I do love them. If you have a chance, you should come out to see the show. I'll also be appearing in the next two shows (Mousetrap - we start rehearsal on Tuesday) and Cats (I'll be the cat that sings "Memory" and die right after!)...





My body is aching, my spirit is exhausted, but like the show says... "Let's Go On With SHOW!!!"

(Here is a shot of the stage when the show opens, and here is a picture of Annie Oakley (Sophia Esteve). We were in our first community theatre show together when whe was in the 7th grade - she is now a Senior in High School... I feel old).

(My sisters saw the show today and took pictures - great photography... and yes, I am being facetious! The first picture is me getting upset with the stage manger because he has given my assistant job to Annie Oakley; the second picture is me at the beginning of the show where we are getting ready for Buffalo Bill's wild west show!)

Oops... I forgot to tell you about LADEE!

I wanted to include pictures of Ladee's mishap this summer. Everybody knows how much I love my little dog, Ladee. Everyone also knows that she is on a specific diet food and has a weak stomach due to her Pancrititis...well, during the summer as she was living with her grandparents (my parents), she was asking to go outside to go "potty" when in turn she was eating my dad's dog, Luna's, dog food instead. Needless to say, she became extremely ill, and almost died. My parents had to take her to the emergency vet who placed an I.V. in her delicate little leg (pictured below), and my parents did not want to tell me about it while I was in New York.

She is fine now, but I almost lost her! I don't know what I would have done...so, I think my little pumpkin deserves some screen time... Here she is in all her glory! I love my Ladee.

James Pace High School...

Another year has begun at James Pace High School... I am embarking on my 7th year at Pace, and I must say I am still learning and loving every hectic minute of it. I don't know if this will be my last year at my Alma Mater, but I will say that I will bleed green forever! It's football night tonight... I'm not sure if I'm going to the game. It is an out of town game, but I think I need a little football fever!

I don't know what the future holds for me... this might be my last year at Pace High School... I don't know. I do know.. that I love my students this year... they don't want to do their homework, but they will come around. I love my colleagues...I have a great bunch of people who I work with. And I love my school... more to come soon... I promise... I won't be so neglectful.

Teachers College

Going to New York City was an experience in itself, but when I stop to think that I am enrolled in the number one educator training facilities I am stun by the possibilities of my life opening in so many ways! Since I have been back at school, I can see the difference a summer of study has made in my outlook of education and how I work with my colleagues. Working with my colleagues and using some of the strategies I have learned through the summer has been fantastic. I have officially begun my internship and will be meeting with my mentor coach and principal Monday morning. I will make my first principal observation this Friday at my father's school (Port Isabel High School), and I will get to see first hand what a principal does for their complete day (both good and bad)... my father is giving me the opportunity to shadow him... What a wonderful opportunity... I really get to see my father in action!

I just talked to my buddy Ally yesterday (pictured above), and when talking to her I was saddened... I had quite a day with my department the other day where I realized that the teachers I work with (my friends and colleagues for years) do not see me as part of the "teacher" team anymore. They tell me that I've turned to the "dark" side of education... I say I'm on the side of "STUDENT SUCCESS". That is what I have learned from Teachers College. It might seem like a simple lesson, but it's not. Everyday I am reminded that my job is not a selfish job... I became an educator to educate... not just my students, but my family, friends, colleagues, and everyone else around me. If that means I ruffle a few feathers along the way, so be it. If I have the power to influence others in a way that behooves them, then doing what I do is worth every second.

I have to remind myself of this. Ally has reminded me of this... and so with that thought... I leave the blogging to future successes and hardships...

Reflections from my summer...

I know I have not been attentive to my blog for a while now. Life since I've been back home has been extremely hectic. So many changes in my life occur daily, and sometimes I wonder where I fit into all of it! I miss so many characteristics of New York that I do not know where to begin. When I was there, I could see myself living there with the day to day hustle and bustle of life. Now that I'm home with the comforts of family, my culture, MY CAR... I don't know what I want to do. The romanticism of the city calls to me, but the reality of the people I love and the life I life claim me.

I wanted to add a few more pictures from my life in New York City before I continued to blog what is going on in my life now. Here are a few moments of what I enjoyed from NYC...

I miss the roar of the subway trains as I walk through the streets! I miss seeing everything from the streets that I've seen on television and movies all my life and now have been able to see in person!I miss the lessons on communication. Communication is key... and boy have I been practicing my conflict resolution skills since I have been home!!!! This poster (drawn by Dawn De'Costa) is a beautiful description of how communication is key!

Although I love driving my Xterra... I miss walking the streets of the city! I can't believe I am typing this! But I do...

I miss my good buddies! I have been fortunate to experience great opportunities these past two summers, and networking with people I would have never met if never given the opportunity has been the greatest experience of all. I miss you buddies!

Sitting in the airport typing...

I have learned that my notebook computer is now my best friend. I couldn't sit here at the airport without opening the computer up and typing. Well, I am trying to finish my school audit paper for my group assignment for Decision- Making models class. Special note to friends: I don't always procrastinate!!!!!

I am dressed out in my full Columbia gear today in honor of my new school and summer experience. I guess the week has been so emotional that today I didn't feel so bad leaving. The funny thing though is when I landed here I did miss seeing the myriad of buildings that have been surrounding me for the past month and a half! My flight leaves at 6:40 Central time, so I will continue to type until my computer looses battery. I'm looking forward to seeing my family tonight, sleeping in my own bed, and playing with Ladee!!!! Yeah Ladee!

Goodbye New York... Goodbye Teachers College... Goodbye 1 train... I'll see you in February!

Something new to cry about...

(Last look at my daily subway entry on 116th street)

I have so much to be thankful for... I went to my last dinner outing with my buddy Ally on Friday and had an epiphany. I have been so luck in my life... so lucky. I have just finished the first part of an incredible program that has completely changed my view of education and my role in it. I am blessed to have flown half way across the country to study with the wonderful educators I have studied with. I have so much going through my mind on this last night I spend in New York City. I am saddened and ecstatic at the same time. Saddened to be leaving a city I have grown so fond of - a city where I feel I belong. Ecstatic to see my family, friends, and of course Ladee when I get home. I do miss everyone so! I still have so much to blog, but I have been so busy these past days. I have had an incredibly difficult week emotionally and physically (my heel spur came back), and I am learning to deal with what has occurred emotionally this week. It all comes to a head tonight as I sit at this computer trying to think of what I want to say, but the sad thing is, I don't want to say anything; I just want to sit here and cry - too many feelings inside - which is so unlike me... I'M NOT A CRIER!!!!! What is happening to me!

I'm going to go and cry now. When I get back home, I will blog the rest of my adventures that I have not talked about since for the last two weeks. Goodbye New York.

( A view of the 50th street station before the 1 train comes to pick me up for my last ride in NYC)

(The 1 train as it leaves me at the 116th subway stop. I'm gonna miss this place! tear! tear!)

Have you ever had a day like this???

Okay... today was a horrible day! Between trying to figure out what I am going to do with my life, friends not supporting my nose-piercing because it is going to destroy my career, a third night sleeping without air condition, my toilet and tub getting backed up with no end in sight, and anything else that could go wrong, I am having a crazy day!!!!!! Ergo... the picture. But thanks to buddies like Anwar, Rosa, and Rhena, I can make it through these days. Keep my chin up they say... we'll see.

Morning Coffee...

Here is a picture of our daily routine... every day after we have our self-awareness meditation with Dr. Richards, a few of us head off to the coffee cart. The men in the back know my order by now... Ham,Egg, & Cheese Roll & Iced Coffee with Milk and Sugar. Yes, it is true... I have become a coffee drinker since I've been in New York. Here you see me with Sylvia (middle) and Rosa (right).

At lunch we see the same guys for some chicken and rice. I need to take a picture of the men... maybe tomorrow!

Synergy

(Pictured: Rosa Choi, Lisa Karlich, Denise Rodriguez, Chris Anest, Sylvia Beevas)

Finally, I bought a digital camera. Now I can take pictures of all of my new buddies and document my experiences a little more. I will be leaving in 11 days, and I have extremely mixed feelings about everything that has gone on for the month I have been here. I will tell you that the people pictured with me here have been my saving grace. They are truly by new buddies and sweeties. The five members (me included) you see here make up Group 2: Synergy. We believe that together we "Build on Each Other's Strengths". We have been working together since Day 1. We are currently working on our last project together... School Audit- Fredrick Douglas Academy in Harlem. I love my group! Whenever I talked to you and told you I was in the library, these were the people I was working with! Love ya Synergy!

Changing Courses...

I know I haven't blogged much lately, but I've been so busy with my coursework! We are changing classes tomorrow, and I am sitting in the library trying to finish my work.

On Friday, I met with mentoring coach, and I feel that we had an incredible meeting. I will be working with him and my new principal to push myself to become the leader I want to be. I have some thoughts on this issue, and I wanted to share with you how I was feeling about the midpoint of my program. My final journal entry for my Introduction to School Leadership and Decision Making Class. Here are my thoughts...

Before I say anything else, I must start by expressing my unbounded thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a participant in such a wonderful program. When I first talked to Tom on the phone, I must say I was extremely nervous. The phone interview was great at the beginning of the conversation where I felt Tom really understood where I was coming from. Tom continued to push me and challenge my answers where I almost became upset with his pushing. Then I said the trigger that made Tom push me to my limits, “I believe being a leader is being a servant.” Wow, did I think I was being profound, and my answer set Tom on a whole new line of questioning. And as he was shooting questions, I became frozen in that I could not explain what I meant. I thought, “I’ve lost my chance.” But, as I composed myself, I began to answer how I felt being a servant meant to me in my heart and in my head. I will assume that I said something right because I am here today. I have learned so much in just a short period of time. Tonight I sit in the library breathing a prayer that my stay here will be long. It was only Friday, July 22nd that I thought with hesitation and fear that my stay here would be long.
I have realized that I no longer want to go home. I no longer want to leave this “holding environment” that has reinstated my love of learning and for education. I am afraid to go back and lose this passion for leadership that I am learning how to foster and nurture. I, like my colleagues, am afraid to go back and become disillusioned with the realities of education we see in our schools. But, I do realize that as a leader, I can change that. When I first became a teacher, I had this blazing attitude that I could do anything in the school I worked at. I know I proved this in the first school I worked at. When I went back to my alma mater, I went there with the same mentality… “I will change this school. I remember the glory days! I will make a difference.” And I did, for a while… then I let the negativity get to me. I let myself down. I needed rejuvenation, and I was pushed by a good friend to find it.
Now I sit here in the library, and I’m a little sore from the pushing. From the push of my family to be the person I’m supposed to be, from the push from my friends to be the person they see me to be, from the push from my instructors and group members here at Teacher’s College to be the leader I need to be. I have discovered, through the teachings of this class that the time has arrived for me to push myself. I now see that where I was scared to take initiative before, it is now my job to take a stand in what I believe and be the leader I was made to be.
We had a powerful case write-up the other day, where as a new administrator we (my group) had to make a difficult choice in deciding if a school needs saving or if we should go down with the ship. I found it hard to make a decision to fire personnel, especially an assistant principal, and I even told Tom in a meeting we had that I don’t know if that decision would be an easy one for me to make. But as I sat in class the next day, I saw the strength in my colleagues as they stood up and were adamant that to make changes in school culture sometimes you have to make a change in yourself and make the hard decision you never thought you could. This was a big realization for me! I know what I stand for, and that is that I stand for children. When it comes down to it, my decisions will be made for the betterment of the students I represent… all of them, not just a classroom full. And now, with your guidance, I think I am ready. On Friday you asked us to end the class finishing the sentence, “I am more of ______________”. When it was my turn, I said, “I am more of a leader today than I was three weeks ago.” This statement only reiterates the commitment I am making to myself for today and for tomorrow when I go back home and take these teachings and implement them into my leadership. Thank you for helping me see what others see in me. Thank you for helping me see me. May the journey continue…

Big Learning Day...

First let me say that I miss you greatly, and in times like today where my brain is challenged and I have to push myself I think of you and how much faith you have in me and my abilities to work this program. I have learned so much, I can't begin to say how I have changed in just a week and a half. Today was a big day for me!

I decided to run for a council seat for our Summer Principal's Academy. I don't know what I was thinking. Today I had to give a speech and it was pretty good except for the fact that I was trembling uncontrollably!!!!! I was fine getting up in front of my colleagues in my cohort (48 intelligent outstanding leaders), but when I had to stand up in front of them and the cohort from last year I freaked... I was first up, ready with my speech:

"Where I'm from - I am a mixture from two worlds-
I am American by birth and Mexican by heritage.
I live in a border town; two countries divided by a bridge,
A bridge I have learned to cross when needed.
A bridge that sets me a part from my mother country-albeit
sometimes welcoming and sometimes terrifying.
You may ask why am I talking about a bridge?

Bridges represent connections - I am familiar with these bridges and these connections.
I can serve this council as a bridge in three ways:
I represent a bridge for communication between students of this cohort in New York City (95% participation in the Summer Principal's Academy) and the students of this cohort from visiting states.
I represent a bridge between this academy and teachers of color - diversity of this cohort is important in reaching the diverse population of students we serve as leaders.
I represent a bridge between this academy and the teachers in this academy who are veteran teachers. I realize most teachers in this program are Teach for America teachers (TFA) and New York Fellows, but I come from a different mindset of the traditional teacher who has been taught and enriched with a base for education much different from TFA and fellows. I can bridge that gap.
Sometimes we need to show people that there is a bridge to be built. Communication is key. Sometimes we need to understand how to extend these bridges and walk together. That is what I hope to represent. Let me be a bridge for you. Thank you."
Needless to say with my notes in my hand and voice shaking, I had to place my notes on the table in front of me so that my colleagues could not see my paper shake. This was definitely a defining moment for me and inspiring. I'm learning so much, I just can't tell you how much.
I also took on a role in one of our case studies where I was principal. I had to direct a meeting and make a decision based on comments from my administrative team. I learned an important lesson: sometimes you take the input from others, but then you have to stand up to what you believe and stick with your decisions. Ultimately, I am responsible for the decisions I will uphold in my school... it's my butt on the line, and I have to feel invested in my decision. I have a great group of people I am working with, and boy are they supportive and fantastic. Today the associate director of the program watched as I conducted my meeting. He took me aside and informed me of what I did right and wrong. I was enlightened, but the way he looked at me when he was talking to me is what caught my eye. He was my interviewer, and while he was commenting on my work, I could see in his eyes how proud he was of me at that moment. At that moment, I was a validation of his decision to invite me to be part of this cohort. What a validation for me! There is so much to say, but I do not want to ramble on. Thank you so much for your support. I miss and love you!