Video+Reflections

= Kicking Out The Ladder =

After watching the Honda video called Kick Out The Ladder, please respond to the following questions. Include your name with your response.

__**1. What connections does this video have to the work you do in your district?**__

There are certain things you have to do no matter what. They just have to be done and if I don't do them then I shouldn't be in the position I'm in. I want our school to stand out be pushing our students and staff beyond the ordinary. I like the comment "If your goal is too easy to meet, it is not challenging you." I think there is always another level to reach to in education. Dawn Erickson,

The concepts that if we don't challenge ourselves and our students or if someone else doesn't challenge us, we will not realize the potential that we or our students have. I have found myself in this situation and have had students that are in this situation and both our responses are "I didn't realize I could do that." If noone had placed the challenge out in front of us, we may not have reached for our potential in that area. Kicking the ladder out to me means not getting relaxed and comfortable in what we do and how we do it. We have to always look for new ways to accomplish the task. - Michele Schmidt

Sometimes (maybe often) being too comfortable is not a good thing; yet working without a safety net is pretty scary too. Pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone is essential if we expect to push ourselves to do the impossible. Marilyn Whitaker

Our school just went 1:1 in August and I am the technology integration person for the school. I feel that this video relates to the work that I do in two ways. First I feel that I play the role as the one who kicks away the ladder for some of our staff. I try to bring new ideas to them that challenge them and make them have to get out of there comfort zone. Some things have gone well and others not so much because they resisted when I knocked the ladder out. Part of my job is to figure out what challenges they are ready to tackle and where to start with each of the teachers. I also feel that technology changes so quickly so I also have had the ladder kicked out from me. My degree is in Elementary Education and my Master's is in Guidance. I have no formal training in technology so all of this is a challenge to me as well. -Becky Corkle

I enjoy a challenge and I think that is why I am a special education teacher; because everyday seems to bring something different to deal with. The video did make me think about the support I receive from administration and teachers. I can't imagine working without that support, without that ladder. I can see how not having that ladder would push you. I think our whole country expects the government to take care of them so we as a country are not pushing ourselves to be better and that attitude is reflected in the schools. Janet Rood

How many times do we hear our students say "I Can't" when we challenge them with a new assignment or project? This is one of my responses: When you have no hands, feet, legs, arms etc.. then you can use the excuse "I Can't". Maybe this is a little harsh but it is true. We don't know our own potential until we are pushed into a project that seems impossible. Jim McKenney

My interpretation of "kick out the ladder" is that when something unexpected happens and I'm "left hanging" regarding the uncertainty of the future, I now have an opportunity for improvement, personal growth, and higher achievement. State and federal legislation impacts what we currently do in education, while simultaneously leaving educators unsure about what lies ahead other than demands for increased student achievement, lowered financial resources, and nationwide accountability. -- Jill Bates

"Kicking out the ladder" is what happens at schools all the time from the state dept, but the issue is that most teachers don't have any input into the decissions and the out come so it does become just a job for many. as an ag teacher i am always looking for new or different ways to approach somthing and sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't but that is what makes my job different than many teachers. also being told that i can"t (will not be able to) do somthing usually is a good way to motivate me to find a way to make it happen. Chad Kment

"If people feel they have an impact on final results then they are more committedto the job" - this is happening in our district with a new superintendent. He has a teacher advisory committee and all of us have input to those individuals. Many times, unlike in the past, our views and suggestions happen. Annette Rasmussen

Our district is very small, and sometimes we get sidetracked with worry and concern of being closed. This can keep us from concentrating on the important things that need to be done today and make a difference on how we plan for the future. My goal for my department and school is to point out that because we are so small we can really make a difference in students' lives. I work each day to make it a place where students are well cared for and provided for. Lori McKenney

I think my work at ESU 1 requires me to be a ladder kicker. I know I have to continue to find challenges for myself, so I can turn around and challenge others. It's hard sometimes as my head gets buried in my work. I need to look up and around to continue to see the new opportunities awaiting not only me, but the teachers I serve. ~Chris Good

__**2. Give an example of when the ladder was kicked out from under you. How did that make you feel? Please share.**__

One August a week before football season was to begin practice some student athletes came to me to ask me if I would coach football that year. The school district had not hired a coach yet and it was the night of the August board meeting. Not even giving it my full thought about what I was committing to I said yes. I had never coached football or been around football since I had played in High school some 20 + year before. You can imagine the scrambling that took place in the first few weeks that followed. This group of young men that I coached through a complicated first year are still very special to me and we have memories that will never be forgotten. Success is not always measured by wins and losses. Jim McKenney

Every time I make the schedule out for the Junior High and High School I have no ladder. It's pressure but the kind that makes me work at getting the job done. My first day as a guidance counselor. I had the outfit, the office and the book knowledge but where to start? The lump in my stomach felt like a ball of lead. Now, I look back at it as the beginning of a great adventure but back then, my knees shook and my mouth was dry! Dawn Erickson

I am in the middle of a situation right now where I feel like the ladder has been kicked out from under me and that is getting our Filter Server up and running correctly. I do have to admit that we have taken back to it's original settings for the time being; because we had so many issues that couldn't be addressed at the current time, but it is a task that has to be done. As I have been going through training I have felt like a duck out of water, which really makes me question whether I have the intelligence to do this job; but after watching this video, I realize that this is just another one of those challenges that has been set in front of me. I thought when I left training that I had a grasp on what we were doing; but when I arrived back at school, I found out differently. We had a mess with accessibility. By the way, we will be focusing on this issue as we start into a new semster in January rather than at finals time in December, so I know it isn't going away. I just have to step up to the plate and figure the situation out. - Michele Schmidt

When our superintendent bought Mac laptops for us (2 years ago), I thought it was a really dumb idea. I was a PC/Windows person...but I also enjoy technology. We had 2 days of inservice with Mac when we first got the computers. My bad attitude soon disappeared. Next, we were told that we were expected to totally re-think the way we taught and the new laptops should be used often. I made myself learn enough of the new Mac things to feel somewhat comfortable using them and dived in. My students and I basically have explored and learned together. I am frustrated by students who are even more resistant than I was. They are PC/Word, etc. people and won't even try Mac programs. I guess they feel like they are working after having the ladder kicked out too. Sometimes it takes a tsunami to get a person out of the rut he/she has been stuck in.-Marilyn Whitaker

I feel as if I kicked the ladder out from under me when I created my job description for technology integration earlier this school year. I was creating what I would be evaluated on and I didn't just put the things that I knew I could do. I added some things that would be a challenge. For example, I listed that I would get around to each teacher on our high school staff and help them with one computer project each semester. I didn't meet it completely or to the potential I wanted the first semester, so now I am going full bore to accomplish it or do a better job at reaching it this semester. I know some of the challenges that I have and I am trying to overcome them. - Becky Corkle

When I earned my teaching degree 3 years ago it was in business and computers. I was working as a special education para and wanted the 7-12 special education teaching job, I really enjoyed working with the students and thought I could do the job. That first year when I had to learn all the SRS forms and paperwork involved in SPED, I really felt I had kicked the ladder out from under myself. I really forced me to consider how much do I want to teach in this field,.-Janet Rood

A painful work-related "ladder kicking episode" occurred when our Board voted to eliminate an entire department of 18 employees. Maintaining my composure during the meeting was vital, but afterwards, I retreated to my office and cried. This happened over 10 years ago. However, due to diligent and creative leaders, dedicated employees, and requests from schools, this department was redesigned and thrives today. -- Jill Bates

having our school board vote not to initaite a 1:1 computer initiative this year, and stating that they just didn't have enough information and that we were moving two fast after we have worked on this proposal for over a year, felt like having the ladder kick out, but then reallizing that if we as teachers are here for the students that if this is the best thing for the students we have to keep working different angles to show our board members that this is somthing that we need. even more frustratin is the fact that i feel that some members only voted aginst this because they have ajendas aginst some of our administration, and want to try to make them frustrated so that they will leave, and then vote for it. I guess that is not the lighting the ladder on fire that honda president is talking about it is just kicking the ladder, but either way the end result is the same in that i have to decide to work harder to get what we need rather than just give up and throw in the towel. chad Kment

This year during the summer I was notified that I was teaching 3 new classes that include a really nasty schedule. I thought, "ok this is going to be difficult but I believe that teaching computers to 5/6th7/th/8th graders is soooo important". So I developed a curriculum and have implemented some technology applications that even high school students are not utilizing. Annette Rasmussen

In one of my jobs, I was told that it would be more convenient to let me go and give my job to a new incoming teacher's spouse so it would make the move to our school more appealing for them. I was shocked, because I thought the board was pleased with my work and there hadn't been any problems. I went to the board and told them how much I enjoyed doing my job, and that I felt I was doing my job very well. I decided to "fight" for my job. They were surprised by my reaction and told me not to worry my contract was on the way. Lori McKenney

Coaching provided me with some ladder losing experiences. I think I learned to stand by my convictions, treat people fairly and try to move "the herd" forward served me best in those times. There were anxious moments, nervous, scary times, but the support of colleagues, friends and family gave me the courage to see the opportunities for growth. ~Chris Good

__**3. How are you working towards your challenging goals?**__

In the education profession things are always changing. State requirements, staff changes, administrative changes just to name a few. Each class, from day to day, changes in the demands on an ecucator. Every day I have to be ready to accept these new developments and meet them head on. I don't always succeed at the end of the day so I get to try again tomorrow. Many times sucess if not realized until long after the problem has passed. I just keep trying each day. Jim McKenney

I show up and work at them day after day. I just keep plugging away. I keep at it. My network of co-workers inspire me. By letting them know my goals, I know they are holding me accountable and helping me press toward them. They are my best cheerleaders and I give them the same support back! Dawn Erickson

I thik I partially answered this in the previous response, but I am having a person with more experience come out in January and sit by my side as we make these adjustments. That way, if something goes wrong, we can work through the solutions together. I don't feel that when challenges are put in front of us, that we are expected to meet those challeneges without assistance. I think we are expected to meet the challenges by reaching inside ourselves as well as out to others that have the experience. We will see how things go in January! - Michele Schmidt Suzette McCarthy - Ponca Public Schools

I agree with Dawn, I just go to work everyday with the attitude that I can get things done and keep at it. I also know that failure can happen and if it does I need to learn from it and move on.-Janet Rood

An open mind and a willingness to learn (and not have to be the 'expert') makes it fun to have challenging goals. Also, realizing that having things not always work out perfectly is OK too is a big part toward actually reaching those challenging goals. I love thinking out of the box! -Marilyn Whitaker

I like a challenge so that helps tremendously. I work hard to figure out what obstacles lay in front of me and am creative on how I am going to handle the challenge. I, like several others, show up to work each day with a positive attitude and work hard to accomplish as much as I can towards reaching my goal. I try to maintain a healthy balance between work and home because I find that helps me be more productive. I try to concentrate solely on work when I am at work and solely on home when I am at home. -Becky Corkle

The beginning of a new year, whether in January or in August at the start of a new school year, gives educators an opportunity for a new perspective. Although I've always loved to learn and thrive on new experiences and challenges, the rapid changes in technology coupled with greater demands for accountability have increased my stress level in the workplace. Therefore, I've made a conscious effort to work toward my goals, both personal and professional, by working purposefully and identifying the "things that matter." -- Jill Bates

Trying to be open minded and listen to the new things that the board feels that the need before they can vote yes on this initiative. I am going to be puting together a presentaion on how i would use angel softwear, and i am going to have an independant study student take one of my laptops for two of her classes and try to make her class all electronic. she will also be creating some differnt projects and i will ask her to make an eportfolio that i can share with the board. I will also be working hard to try to change the opinon of some of our board members that may not think that I as an elective vocational teacher have an opinion that maters and that a school is made up of more than just the core teachers, that it takes all the teachers, staff, administration, and even the community to make a school succeed. chad Kment

I'm going through a difficult time in my personal life and am seeing a negative impact on my attitude at work, which is unfortunate, but I read positive books, material, etc. to focus. Also just being with my students brings me the strength and inspiration to keep learning and keep striving for the best. Annette Rasmussen

I am finding that after working in school systems for 20 years, things have changed a lot! Students and parents have very different attitudes that make teaching very challenging. I am networking with other educators to learn new strategies for dealing with students as well as realizing that presentation methods and assignments probably look very different than they did years ago. I want to look at these changes and challenges as things that make my job more interesting and exciting. Lori McKenney

Finding like minded people who push my thinking gets me moving in the right direction. ~Chris Good

Teachers are always being asked to do the impossible. We are asked to increase test scores with fewer resources than the year before. We are asked to give more individual time to students within our 8-hour workday. We are asked to do more preps without more preparation time. We are required to show achievement for all students regardless of ability. We have classrooms with students representing a wide range of abilities and need to find ways within the same class period to teach to all levels. We are asked to prepare students for the 21st century with outdated hardware and software.
 * What connections does this video have to the work you do in your district?**

I felt the ladder was kicked out from underneath me when I attended the Design Team II visioning meeting in Omaha. Before that, I felt pretty good about what I was accomplishing in the classroom. But now I know I need to move forward and creating more challenging learning opportunities for all my students. Now that I know that, there is no going back to mediocrity. You kicked the ladder out from under me. At first I felt overwhelmed and even a little defeated. I doubted whether or not I had the ability to do what was required. I knew I wouldn’t have all of the resources I needed. I guess I just had a lot of doubt.
 * Give an example of when the ladder was kicked out from under you. How did that make you feel? Please share.**

I am doing without knowing…..without knowing exactly how to do it, without knowing exactly what to do, without knowing where I can find the resources to do it, without knowing what the outcome will be, and without turning back. I am implementing one idea at a time and learning to think on my feet. My students have been great. They are willing to try anything and together we are doing what at first I thought we couldn’t.
 * How are you working towards your challenging goals?**

Brian Fanta I agree with Suzette that teachers are asked to do the impossible at times. But with that said I felt the same way with my previous job. At the time we get the assignment or job it seems impossible but we have to take things one day at a time. My problem seems to be that there is so much technology out there and I feel under pressure to know and understand all of it when in all actuality it may only be one piece that I need to learn or know at that time. We are under pressure to perform constantly but we also put pressure on ourselves to meet the expectations of our students and administration. Like the video said when you promise to do something you really don't know how to do it creates pressure to learn how to get it done.
 * 1. What connections does this video have to the work I do in my district?**

This answer is similar to the previous. I feel like at times I may be starting to understand some technology and then come to realize that there is something new or different that has came out. I need to realize that learning never stops and there is always something out there that is going to make my technology skills seem outdated. When the ladder is kicked out from under you, you feel like you are starting back at ground zero and you have to get built back up.
 * 2. Give an example of when the ladder was kicked out from under you. How did it make you feel?**

I am trying to take one day at a time by not looking too far ahead or too far back. I need to focus on what is in front of me and figure out what I can accomplish and what will have to wait. The quote they used in the video about if your goals are too easy to meet then you are not challenging yourself is so true. I feel my goals are challenging and will take time to accomplish but with hard work and perseverance we can accomplish anything Over the years I have learned that sometimes you aren't on the Leading Edge you are on the Bleeding Edge. Things don't work out as you wished but the important aspect is that you learn from it. It's the old adage "That if you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got." We are going to go 1-1 computing and that will be a challenge but at least one that has already been done by several other schools, so we get the benefit of their knowledge. Tim Olin
 * 3. How are you working towards your challenging goals?**
 * 1. What connections does this video have to the work I do in my district?**

Now that it has been decided that we are going 1-1 computers our challege is bring along our technical staff as they are not totally onboard. We may have to totally revamp our tech team. Tim Olin
 * 2. Give an example of when the ladder was kicked out from under you. How did it make you feel?**

I do the same as Dawn does. Show up and keep working away. I constantly look at what other people have done in similar situations. Tim Olin
 * 3. How are you working towards your challenging goals?**