NAESP State Rep, Wisconson
March 2017 NAESP State Rep Connection

My three goals for 2016-2017:

1. Lead my school thoughtfully and passionately for the betterment of the students and staff.
2. Stay active in and a positive voice for public education at the state and national level.
3. Continue to strive for work-home balance in order to be the best “me” I can be every day.

What I do when I’m NOT at work:

• I spend quality time with my wife and four children. In addition, I coach youth football and basketball in our community.

If I weren’t doing this:

• I would definitely continue to work in a service-oriented profession—perhaps child therapy or physical therapy.

My Media Mix:

• Movies: Any movie which has historical connections to the Civil War era or the Mafia genre (my favorite movies are Glory and The Godfather, Part I and II).
  Music: Dave Matthews Band
  Magazines:Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness

On my desk right now:

• Lost at School by Ross W. Greene, Ph. D.
• Our recently completed testing schedule for the Wisconsin Forward Exam
• A gallon of water (which I drink every day)

Best advice I ever got:

• There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.
  —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

James is principal of Woodside Elementary School and can be reached at edmoja@hamilton.k12.wi.us.

NAESP State Rep, Wyoming
August 2016 NAESP State Rep Connection

Top 3 issues keeping WY principals up at night:

1. Wyoming principals are faced with reducing budgets which means cutting staff – both certified or classified – or not replacing retirements. This causes classroom sizes to increase and difficulty with scheduling, especially for those embedded in the PLC process. Adding to this is the fact that the funding decrease will be doubled the following academic year. 
2. We are seeing increasing numbers of severe behavior needs children. Also, the numbers of students who are in foster care placements, being raised by grandparents or other family members, is higher than ever before. How to meet the needs of these children and provide them with the best, safe academic atmosphere is a never-ending challenge.
3. The ever-increasing role of the principal. Determining the most essential elements of student learning and how to lead that focus as a principal with staff. How do we get staff on that bus and keep the bus moving forward? Or, how to have that difficult conversation with staff members. The principal role is bigger than ever and we are being asked to do more with less.  

Best thing about being an NAESP State Rep:

• Getting to know fellow state leaders. Hearing what other State Reps do in their daily lives, personally and professionally, always raises the bar of my expectations to be a better principal and person. I am humbled when I am at the National Leaders Conference with all the State Reps, listening to what my colleagues do every year. I always leave that meeting knowing I can do better.

#1 reason why principals join WAEMSP/NAESP:

• In a small state like Wyoming, principal professional development is almost nonexistent. Our organization provides some of the best professional development year after year for principals.  Additionally, the networking opportunities give principals the opportunity to learn from colleagues inside and outside of our immediate area.  Also, the resources that NAESP offers are a great tool for principals.  Two of my personal favorites are Before the Belland Report to Parents. I always find pertinent information to send on to colleagues or parents through these publications.  

What I do when I’m NOT at work:

• I enjoy spending time with my family – including the two cutest grandkids on the planet, reading, camping, hiking, attending sporting events and going to nearby Flaming Gorge Reservoir with our boat.  I am never lonely at home either with my Newfoundland, Sammi, and two cats.  

If I weren’t doing this:

• I can’t imagine not doing this. Since I was a small child, I knew that I was going to be a teacher. It was a natural progression to be a leader of teachers. 

Who I’m following on Twitter:

• @WYOEducation, @DrSGeis, @Broncos, @PrincipalFrench, @tepsamark, @307Magazine, @usedgov and @WYLegislature and of course @walnutsquirrels, to name a few.

On my desk right now:

• My desk is pretty organized, because otherwise I can’t find anything in the whirlwind of start-of-year things that need done.  I am working on professional development plans for the new school year, planning class lists for new enrollees and organizing intervention classes based upon recent data.  With a reduction in staff this school year, I am re-working the PLC schedule, planning a book study for the beginning of the year, and working on our PBIS interventions/enrichments.

Best advice I ever got:

• “It’s all about the relationships,” Brenda Creel, Wyoming NDP, 2014/2015.

Kristeen is principal of Walnut Elementary School and can be reached at cundallk@sw1.k12.wy.us.

NAESP State Rep, Massachusetts
May 2016 NAESP State Rep Connection

Top 3 issues keeping MA principals up at night:

• Social/emotional needs of students and how to support them.
• Maintaining high academic achievement.
• Unfunded mandates.

Best thing about being an NAESP State Rep:

• The interesting things you learn and perspectives you gain from listening to principals from all over the country.

#1 reason why principals join MESPA/NAESP:

• Being a principal can be a tough, lonely job. Principals need to be part of their state and national associations to participate in professional development opportunities and learn from the expertise of the members. It’s all about principals supporting principals.

What I do when I’m NOT at work:

• Call my mother every day, experiment with new recipes, make time for family.

If I weren’t doing this:

• I would have stayed at my alma mater, Springfield College, and worked in residence life or undergraduate admissions.

Who I’m following on Twitter:

• John D’Auria, Mark French, Dave Burgess, Joe Scozzaro.

On my desk right now:

• Pictures from Dr. Seuss Day and a business card from Tom Struzziero, vice president of O’Connor Studios.

Best advice I ever got:

• Be kind and be fair.

John is principal of Roosevelt Avenue School and can be reached at jquinn@naschools.net.

NAESP State Rep, New Jersey
January 2016 NAESP State Rep Connection

My 3 goals for 2015–2016: 

1. To extend the number of hours in a day to meet state-mandated timelines for new regulations.
2. To enhance my anti-bullying program so that my pre-k students will not say to me, “I’m not gonna be your friend.”
3. To complete all staff evaluations at school so that I don’t have homework.

What I do when I’m NOT at work:

• I enjoy various genres of music.  Some music I listen to and some music I listen to as I cook dinner. 

If I weren’t doing this:

• If I weren’t an educator, I would have missed my calling to serve my community.

Who I’m following on Twitter:

• New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) and EOSD.

My Media Mix:

• Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and KEM
• War Room, Selma and Inside Out
• Ebony, Oprah and Time Magazine

On my desk right now:

• SGOs, administrative goals, grade-level goals, and lunch.

Best advice I ever got:

• “The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” — Greta Shepherd

Fidelia L. Sturdivant is principal of Wahlstrom Early Childhood Academy, in East Orange, N.J. She can be reached at f.sturdivant@eastorange.k12.nj.us.

NAESP State Rep, North Dakota
September 2015 NAESP State Rep Connection

My 3 goals for 2015–2016:

1. Make walk-throughs and coaching work for me.
2. Facilitate high-functioning PLCs.
3. Be the best state rep. I can be!

What I do when I’m NOT at work:

• I train English cocker spaniels for hunting and field trials.
• I enjoy working out and running in various events.

If I weren’t doing this:

• I think I would have enjoyed farming.

My Media Mix:

• Movies — Guardians of the Galaxy, Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, Harry Potter
• Music — Maroon 5, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars
• Magazines — Runners World, Gundog Magazine, and Principal Magazine (of course!)

On my desk right now:

• A stack of books waiting to be read.
• A computer with an incomplete school schedule and a grant that I’m hoping to get done.
• A coffee cup waiting for a refill!

Best advice I ever got:

• “Everything in moderation.”

John Alstad is principal of Miller ES, in Bismarck, N.D. He can be reached at: john_alstad@bismarckschools.org.