Educational Bucket List

Educational Bucket List

So in August 2018, my parents retired. In that time, they have criss-crossed the country, visiting friends and family, and hitting up some major touristy spots. My dad kept referring them as bucket list stops—Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, a corner in Winslow, AZ, and even our house to name a few. But they were all significant stops—the sites and the people—for them in their new post-employment life.

In 2017-2018, I was able to hear essentially the Mt. Rushmore of educational speakers. Adam Welcome, Andy Jacks, Dave Burgess, John Hattie, Peter DeWitt, George Curos, Hamish Brewer, Michael Boner & Kim Bearden. It was awesome! To be able to hear the voices from the books that helped to shape me as an administrator was powerful. It was important to hear these folks speak, to ensure that what I had heard and processed in my head and heart, actually matched up with their personalities and personas—a reaffirmation of sorts. I was very fortunate to hear these folks talk, and have continued to follow them as I have moved on from that point in my career, to my current.

Yes, hearing and meeting all of the above was freakin awesome, but it was not the end. It was part of a list, my “educational bucket list”. I know we all have these lists, on paper, on a board, in our heads or just in our hearts, but we’ve got them.

I began my journey into teaching in 1998 at Mayville State, and my list was born. Now, we can’t get confused or muddle up bucket lists with accomplishments. Becoming a principal—accomplishment, driving 3 hours one way to hear Adam Welcome speak—bucket list. Some items on list, we don’t even know that they are there until they happen—in 2015 I attended VAESP and met Jacks & Brewer. (At the time, Brewer whom you all know as the “Tattooed, Skateboarding Principal” was better known as the “Whip and Nae Nae Principal”. )

We all have  choices that we get to make on when and where we go (sometimes) for our experiences. Keep the power in your hands, make the decisions that will impact your list. Because the more that we expose ourselves to the positive influences in the world, the more likely we are to turn around and make awesome things happen for others. It’s a fantastic cycle. 

Go out and choose to be a positive force in this world! You’re doing it for far more than just your own list. You never know, you just may be on someone else’s list.