An Idea and Some Courage .....

An idea followed by some courage to try the idea is all it takes to make a positive change and a difference in the world. Think about the advances we are surrounded by on a daily basis that started as a single idea: the light bulb, the internet, the iPhone, Facebook, Twitter, the laptop, the list goes on and on.

Growing up I heard I message daily, but I wasn't too sure how true it was. Me and my siblings were reminded on a daily basis by my father that, "You can make a difference in the world." Each night as we sat down to the dinner table, the seven us trying to vie for food and attention, my dad would get our attention and begin to give us our daily dose of "wisdom." He had a very natural way of telling us stories from the past that had me especially wide eyed and mesmerized. Stories about the days he was life guard at the pool, the year he shot up from a little shy of five feet tall to just under six feet in high school and how he spent a short time leading a life as a potential monk in the monastery (that obviously did not pan out for him, thank goodness.) I heard my dad remind us so often that we can change the world that it became a part of who I am at the core.

I fundamentally believe that each and every one of us has the potential to change the world. We may not make life altering decisions that impact world peace, but we impact those that we come in contact with each and every day. We have the opportunity to take an idea and either act on it or let it sit idle. It is a rather simple equation really. Take an idea that you have to improve a process, a person's day, a moment, add a little courage to carry it out and see what the results are. It may not be perfection the first, second, or even hundredth time, but with tenacity and the drive to commit to that idea you will see results.

We have dreamers, innovators, and courageous leaders among us at FHS. I would like to highlight a few this week.

Kelly Briggs fully believes in the tenets of AVID. She is teaching it for the first time this year and has committed to sharing an AVID tip of the week with everyone via her blog on a weekly basis. Kelly is creating positive change for staff and students through her easy to follow strategies that work. Her ideas are spreading. http://goo.gl/eC8MzR

Lieutenant Colonel Avery joined the Super School redesign project and is taking it several steps further. He has led a few Wednesday collaborative days on rethinking classroom design, he tweets about ideas he gleams from articles and professionals he comes in contact with, and he now has a blog where he is sharing his trials with Genius Hour/20% time and is working on developing a teacher "share" room. A room that is not a staff room but a room that teachers go to share ideas, lessons, best practices, and resources. His ideas are spreading. http://davidavery.blogspot.com/

An Idea and Some Courage.....

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!