One year later.... -Amy

As the end of my school year quickly approaches, I've found myself heavily reflecting on all of the things that I've learned over the course of this year.  I spent the last school year out of the classroom, as an administrator, with the title "Director of Academics."  I'm not going to lie, when I received the offer that title was extremely intimidating and made me wonder a little bit if my bosses were headed straight to the funny farm.  However, they somehow saw something in me that I did not know I was capable of, and that I did not know I was ready for.  It's taken me awhile to get comfortable with my job title.  Let's face it, it still sounds really serious to me.  But, over the course of the year I've been continually pushed out of my comfort zone and forced to take on a leadership role that was definitely not always comfortable for me.  During all of this, I've learned a lot of things about leadership, the education field, and life.  

One lesson I've taken away from this year is when opportunity arises, seize it.  You may be nervous, you may think someone's crazy, you may think that there is no way you are meant to do what they are saying.  I had all of these thoughts when offered my position.  After all, I had three years of teaching experience (two within my school), no masters or administrative license (what? How is this possible?!), and a big, fat chance of falling flat on my face.  I will never understand what I did to convince my bosses that I was worthy of this position and that I would be successful, but they somehow knew me better than I knew myself at that moment.  They knew I would rise to the occasion and work really, really hard.  Well, I can say that I've definitely done my very best, learned a ton, and worked very hard.  

I've learned that the more uncomfortable you are, the more you are probably growing as a human being.  I like to call my moments of stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed at work my "growing pains."  I have started to seek out opportunities that are specifically challenging for me because I LOVE the after affect.  I love feeling accomplished, like I've grown, and like I am a better person for it.

Overall, this year has had some major successes.  We have a really great staff moving into next year, our math scores REALLY improved, and we implemented a lot of culture pieces within the school that have made it a a really fun and rigorous place.  Our scholars work hard and play hard.  It's awesome.  Some of my personal highlights are below:

• Implementing a K-5 community circle (community building time)
• Coaching instructors and building relationships with them
• Receiving our most current Math data- we rocked it
• Getting hit in the face with 3 pies by 6th graders
• Travelling to New York twice to observe schools and attending amazing trainings
• Meeting (and receiving personal coaching from) Doug Lemov (author of Teach Like a Champion)
• Heading to Portland for another conference
• Leading PD that drives our instructors to be motivated by data
• Learning how to have tough conversations in a positive way
• Working with the most amazing, driven people in the world
• Becoming great friends with Stephanie Bartell (my boss, and overall awesome human)
• Receiving countless hugs from kids
• Being asked to be someone's mom (heartbreaking...)
• Being nicknamed "Mrs. Awesome" by an entire kindergarten class
• Watching kids know their academic goals and be incredibly motivated to meet them 

Our kids are doing amazing things.  Our instructors are doing amazing things.  We are working really hard to make a really big difference of the lives of kids who really need it.  I could not be more fulfilled in this position, and I'm so happy that my bosses were right.  I couldn't feel more happy about where I am.

One more thing.  I have to say that no matter what I do on a daily basis at this point, there is NO ONE I admire more than a hard working, relentless teacher.  It is REALLY hard to be a REALLY good teacher and I am a lucky lady to be in the presence of so many of those.

Some of our AWESOME kids.  The reason for everything.

Dogs & Life Dreams - Brady

For most of my adult life, I've wanted a dog. I've loved animals, especially big dogs, since I was a kid and just knew I'd get one someday. It took me longer to work up the courage to commit to a pet than I expected, but now that we've got Molly I couldn't be happier.

I keep having moments with Molly where I think, "Life dream fulfilled." Moments where I'm doing something with my dog I always wanted to and now I can't believe I'm lucky enough to have this sweet girl to swim with or to ride in the back of my Prius. Below are some pictures I've captured over the last two months that fall into the "life dream fulfilled" category.

(Try not to judge me too hard for all the pictures I take of my dog, okay?)

Road trips:

Naps on our couch bed (Molly's a great cuddler): 

Hiking:

City adventures (in this case, Molly and I stopped on a walk at a coffee shop that has walk-up window - she waited very patiently for her dog treat, and I waited very patiently for my drink):

Boats and swimming, in Chicago and at Lake Wawasee (look at that scraggly mutt in the last photo!):

I thought getting a dog would stress me out or make me feel trapped, and it definitely does complicate life a little bit, but all in all she is such a positive, wonderful addition to our lives. I find that we look at all of our old favorite places in new ways. We're more likely to seek out parks and beaches and outdoor patios where we can take her rather than dark bars or the same old indoor restaurants we always visit. She's changed our lives, for sure, in a really great way. 

Project "Drastic Diet Change" Update- Amy

I thought I would take some time to document the things that I've noticed happening as I've given up Gluten and Dairy.  I am currently on day 11.  The purpose of this update it to let anyone who may want to try this know what it's been like for me, and also to have something to read to remind myself why I SHOULDN'T eat that cheesy snack that I'm craving.  Here are the things that I've noticed:

• I am hungry ALL the time.  It's like I am incapable of getting or staying full.
• I've learned that what makes me feel the most full are fatty foods that are still allowed (avocado, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc).
• There are A LOT of gluten/dairy free foods that I can treat myself to when I feel like indulging (potato chips or french fries would be my favorite guilty pleasures).
• I. have. to. plan. EVERYTHING.   Gone are the days of forgetting to pack a lunch and running to Subway during school.  Nope.  I have to have something prepared to be able to eat, period, during the day.  
• People at Subway look at you weird when you order 3 chicken breasts and that's all.
• There is an awesome gluten free place on Grub Hub that delivers to us called "Bountiful Eatery."  
• I am now a person who looks up "gluten-free" on Grub Hub.
• I have A LOT more energy.  I notice this specifically when I am working out.
• My joints feel better.  I am much less "crackily."
• I have had a total of ZERO stomachaches since giving up the good stuff.  
• My mind feels more "clear."  I don't get headaches, and I feel less stressed.
• On the flip side of above, I was a crazy manic mood swinger for the first few days.  Seriously.  Up and down.  Poor Roger.  Luckily, it's evened out (about as "even" as I get, I think).
• Saying no to ice cream cake is hard.  Saying no to cheese pizza is harder.
• Saying no to beer is the hardest.

All in all, I'm really happy that I am doing this.  It's definitely not easy, and it's taken a lot of "mental" switches.  However, My stomach feels better and flatter, I've lost about 5 lbs since starting (mostly water weight, I think), and I have less anxiety, stress, and fatigue.  DEFINITELY worth saying no to cheese sometimes.  Excited to keep you posted on my progress!  Almost half-way through the month!

The Ragnar Relay - Kelly

This weekend I completed my first Ragnar Relay- a running event where a team of twelve runners covers a distance of around 200 miles by running non-stop, overnight relay style.  I did the Madison to Chicago Ragnar but there are races all over the country (and a few new trail events, too!).  

This is the way it works: you rent two huge vans and split your team into two groups of six.  You cycle through the same running orders three times so you cover the 200 miles in 36 different chunks.  The shortest leg was around 2.5 miles and the longest was 11- mine were 6.6, 3.9 and 5.5 miles.  You go through the night (the vans can take turns driving ahead while the other van's runners are doing their legs) but for the most part you're either running, driving, navigating or cheering for your friends. 

A bunch of my friends did it last year and raved about how much fun it was but I’m not going to lie- I was a little skeptical.  Running three legs over the course of about 36 hours, sleeping in a van, and no showering?  I figured it would have it’s moments but I’d spend a lot of the time being cranky and tired.  

No joke, people- this event is AWESOME.  Yes, you’re tired and you smell bad (and your legs hurt like they never have before if you didn’t train…) but it’s such an amazing experience- you feel like such a team and it’s seriously kind of insane how accomplished you feel after covering so much ground.  

Below are some pictures from the event- definitely something I'll do again!

Photos: My van after we all finished running// vans lined up in WI near the lake at 6 am// trail on the IL/WI border// Jen and I piloting/co-piloting the van// our insane octopus of cell phone chargers

• Jun 9, 2013 8:44 pm
  
  

In the famous words of Joey Gladstone... -Amy

 

I am going to....

 

 

Gluten and dairy, that is.

 

 

I decided after careful consideration and a lot of stomach aches that I should attempt to take the lead of some of my friends and cut gluten and dairy OUT of my diet.  I am planning to do this for a month.  It should be interesting.

 

For anyone who doesn't know me, this is NOT going to be easy.  I am a CHEESE-O-HOLIC.  I am actually not as worried about the gluten part, although that will definitely be tough too.  I have NEVER been a vegetable eater, so I am going way out of bounds of my normal diet.  I really am excited to see what happens and how much better I feel- I've heard it's amazing. 

 

So, as long as I can keep my mood in check when I am jonesing for some gouda, I should be fine.... or at least I hope so.

 

 

I'll keep you posted about my progress and any interesting concoctions that I come up with.  Here are some options that I've come up with for each meal.

 

Breakfast:

Fruit!  Bananas so far.

 

Gluten free breakfast bar- not the best I've had.

 

Naked Smoothie- Red Power!

 

Lunch:

Quinoa pasta with olive oil, onions, and lemon juice.

Fine, but not something to write home about- definitely edible.

 

Chicken wrap (currently consuming).- Shredded chicken, raw green and white onion, roasted garlic hummus in a Rubi's Gluten-Free Wrap. - REALLY GOOD! 

 

 

Dinner:

Turkey burger (no bun or cheese) with hummus on top and sweet potato chips.

Really delicious, just chop up some sweet potato, put some olive oil on it, and season to taste (I just use salt and pepper, maybe a little garlic salt).  Then bake it at 350 for about 25-30 minutes.

 

Snacks:

Hummus and Carrots.

If you can overdose on hummus, it's going to happen to me.

 

 

 

I'm excited about trying some recipes with other "good" sources of fat (which my body is now using for energy... woo hoo!) like eggs and avocados.

 

 

 

This should be interesting!