70 and Snowboarding

I'm silly. I jump and hop around like a kid on Christmas morning when my friends and I pulled up to Keystone for the first day of snowboarding this season. The sun was shining, there were skis leaning against cars and people enjoying a Coors before hitting the slopes. After I put on my new boots and had my board out - I just smiled. God has blessed me. He has been leading me along on a journey far from one I was imagining throughout college. But here I am in Denver, Colorado. I wanted to be here for college, didn't happen. It was #1 on my preferences for cities with Teach for America. I was in Phoenix for two years. Now - here I am. And I'll be snowboarding until I am 70.
The mountains are luminous as you drive west on the 70 and they just keep multiplying. The best part is as you hug the mountainside, around a bend is another set of large, snow-capped peaks. I always look out for the mountain goats and am hoping to see a mountain lion at least once.
The snow was there and 10% of the mountain was open for us early-bird skiers and boarders.

From Denver Fall09

Did I mention it was 70 degrees in Denver the day before heading to the mountains to snowboard? Love it.

Here is how the ski vacations of the past have panned out for me...
Day 1 - stare wildly at the mountains and comment every 5 minutes on how amazingly beautiful it is and that I want to live here.
Days of snowboarding - wake up early for breakfast and coffee. Be on the slopes for the first run of the day and hit the fresh pow-pow before another board slices through. Sometimes, I'll pause at the top of a run to take a big, deep breath and a photo. I'll take a quick 15 minute break to eat and have a Gatorade. Back out to the slopes for Round 2.
Oh, you know where I am going with this one. The last run of the day. Let me tell you. My thighs are shaking, maybe even burning a little bit. I'm not sure I can make it. Then, I just look around me and feel that open air liberty that rushes around as you fly down the slopes. I've already hit a few jumps on the sides, fallen when I try to get more air than the last time and I've even gone through some moguls. Those moguls take a lot of concentration. They are a blast!
All that goes through my mind as I take my time - and allow the adrenaline to race through my legs -
At the bottom of the hill, I can't wait to be back at the top again tomorrow.

From Denver Fall09

Now - I can do that each weekend. What!? You mean I don't have to be so sore that I can't get out of bed the next morning as early as the first day? I can take a long break to enjoy a beer at the summit! Now - I get to drive 90 minutes to be at the parking lot of Keystone or Breck. Sometimes, we'll venture out to Vail.

I'll venture.

From Denver Fall09

It's another venture on the open road, and this season, the road is white, powdery and fills me with adrenaline and sheer joy!

Social Protest Dump

Here we go.
Our school leader resigned his job one week ago. He left. He started the middle school here in Denver and opened the new high school this year. I moved from Phoenix (thankfully) to Denver to be part of the founding team and family. Our students came from our middle school and various other charter and public middle schools. Most of them bought into his leadership, style and passion for their education. Some of our families have been with him for 5-8 years. I've known him for less than one year. This kids put their whole lives into him. He was their Pied Piper.
He left without an explanation or goodbye. To kids - this is an awful abandonment. This act made them go into wild cycles of emotions, from anger and resentment to disappointment and a drop in self-esteem. These are kids that already have been through hell and back, or still living in hell. This man brought sunshine to their cloudy dismal lives. He brought them hope. And gone.
Teachers? We are here but very minuscule compared to his grandness. So he left and the teachers took all the heat. I have seen kids plummet in a few days because of the abandonment and diminished sense of security. It is an awful place to be.
As adults, we were abandoned by the man that led us here to Denver. 5 out of the 7 of us teachers came from out of state to help open this school!
I felt frustrated and disappointed and shocked. But I found my strengths and I found my leadership - and I provided consistency and structure. The two things kids need.
The kids, though, felt anger and were mad. Who can they direct that to? The people they see everyday and that are still here. Us. A few of them failed some quizzes, failed to complete their homework and sat in a daze.
A small group of the student leaders went Lord of the Flies and led the kids into rebellion.

We had a protest outside of our school doors yesterday. Posters. Chanting. The student government was represented - minus 4 of the kids that went to school that day. Yup. They skipped school and stayed outside all day. 30 degrees and cold. Marching. Denver police came to monitor. The kids called the news stations to get them out here. They didn't come because they called our office. At least the news reporters have some decency. A few of the parents were even out there marching with them. Marching to get Mr. Barrett back.
Lesson #1 - protests are about social injustice and a call for change. The injustice is that he didn't say goodbye. So protest outside his house.
Lesson #2 - not going to school is skipping = truancy = unexcused absence = unlawful. The choice to arrive at school and not go to school is the definition of defiance.
Lesson #3 - every action has a consequence. Some are good, some not so good.

So here I am, sitting in a classroom, with 25 students writing papers about social protests throughout history.
I was affected. You chose to skip my class. You chose to break that trust and relationship that we had. You chose to say - no, he is the only person and the only brick in the wall that can get me to college. Bullshit.
If you want to make an adult choice, you gotta deal with adult consequences.
All these kids that had a great relationship with me - bull.
They were saving their true self for one person. And it wasn't their own self.

What is sad about all this is that these kids are really smart. Really smart. But they just have been believing in the wrong person the whole time. They haven't started to believe that they are worth it. That THEY are the kids that make KIPP, KIPP.
I am sad that my relationships with my students is so adversely affected. I am saddened that they are not internally motivated for school and their future. I am disheartened by their own pain and suffering. Yet - they chose to internalize all those emotions instead of talking about it with us. They made a choice - and that chose ended up being the wrong one. They broke the relationships that were still there.
Where do we go from here?

Denver Menver

When I moved here in early June, many friends and family friends kept referring to Denver as "Menver." Let us take a look at what that really means for a girl moving to Denver in her 20s...

If you want a date, tell people you just moved here a week/month/2 months ago. After 2 months, it isn't a great line anymore. But within those 2 months, expect a date or phone number every weekend. Especially if you go out in LoDo.

Wash Park is full of frat guys and Big Ten graduates. The park is a great place to ride your bike because you can slow down to check out the guys playing bags, volleyball or kegball (yes, we have kegball, not kickball). However, this is a scene to be seen, not the greatest pickup place because there isn't really forced interaction between different groups of friends. Unless you are really bad at throwing a frisbee. **You can meet new groups of friends here, people to hang out with for football/baseball/hockey season and maybe a diamond in the rough for a date or two..or three.

Colfax is the place you want to go to people watch and feel like you are in a college dive bar. PBR is everywhere and people are dressed all sorts of crazy. You'll find hipsters, flannel shirts, girls in skimpy clothes and too much makeup, and the traditional button-down guy and Jcrew girl. somewhere in the mix you can find an original human being. It just might take some soul-searching. Note: don't go home with a guy from Colfax. No way!

REI: Yes. REI is the place to go to find the rugged, the bearded man, the recent college grads still living off their college loans and some mountaineers. These guys work here or come to climb the rock wall and get their wool socks and climbing ropes. It's a fun place to find a guy that cycles, climbs, camps and/or wants to live in the mountains. Caution: many of these guys would prefer to live in seclusion at the tree line away from society.

LoDo: Wow. Where else can you find a sea of men, drinking, playing beer pong and buying drinks for ladies all night? The beer is great in Denver/Menver and these guys love to drink it. Watch out for the guys looking for something short-term and easy to forget, they seem to be all over the place. Take a group of friends with you and your night will be filled with drinks, dancing and bar hopping. It amazes me the difference between here and Chicago. In Chicago, guys don't buy you drinks. They sit and drink their rum and coke, wait for you to order yours and then come talk to you. Out here in the Rockies, the scruffy man with his messenger bag will pull out a PBR before you walk into the bar and get you a drink before you know what you want. If he slips away because he isn't interested, someone else will be along before the end of the night.

The men are plentiful. They are everywhere. The ratio of guys to girls here is something like 6:1 or 7:1. Insane. Girls, be wary - what type of guy do you want? There is definitely a plethora to choose from so be wise..and be safe!

Loyola's gift

Teaching. I think someone lit a fire under my a** when I chose to go to Loyola. As a Jesuit university, its motto is "preparing people to live extraordinary lives." To me, the motto represents an awakening to our global citizenship. I am a steward of justice and faith, of perseverance and solidarity. Would I have discovered my calling and my gift at another university? It might have taken me a lot longer.
Loyola gave me a chance to follow a path that I did not even realize I was walking. Through community service projects in the city to studying abroad and wearing my Ramblers shirt downtown, I was promoting the traditions of a group of people committed to making a difference.
Now, the deeply embedded Jesuit values of justice and faith carry me through the day. As a KIPP Denver Collegiate High School teacher, I share with my students the value of character and being one for the global community. My small group of students that most high schools would call homeroom is called my PRIDE. These kids are my pride because they have already started to recognize their one life is better and bigger when they affect their community. We went to Dumb Friends Animal Shelter in Denver, Colorado for a Saturday afternoon. We will be going each month for a few hours to help the shelter in any way we are able. These kids went with me last night to Red Rocks to listen to Greg Mortenson talk about peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He builds schools for girls in a society that does not promote peace for all. Through education, he is empowering a generation of people to improve the way their world functions.

Where is this going?

I had no idea that signing up for Teach for America would bring me to the point where my school cell phone is a lifeline for kids when their world goes dark. It is. The question, "Will you pray for me?" lights a fire in me. Who is putting these bright, talented, caring teenagers in misery? Someone who knows that these spirits and minds can develop into strong leaders and activists that will fight against injustice and stand proudly for their right to a safe, strong and successful life.

Thank you for the gift. The gift of listening, of compassion and humility. Loyola, you lit a fire in me that is inextinguishable.

New School, Old Building

I'd like to paint a picture in your mind....
Imagine a high school where students walk calmly through the hallways, wearing either blue or white shirts with the school logo emblazoned on the front. Snazzy signs hang throughout the halls and in classrooms with slogans like, "If a teammate needs help, we give," or "No shortcuts. No excuses." One of my favorite slogans that hangs in our halls says, "Work Hard. Be Nice." What if I said those were the school rules? You won't find signs that say "No Gum" or "No late work accepted." This is a school where students call their teachers and ask for an extension on their homework if they need more time. No excuses. Imagine 130 freshman sitting quietly and listening to school announcements led by their student government. Teachers are visible but rarely heard. In that same meeting, students snap their fingers to praise each other for hard work, being there to lift a friend who had a rough time or thank a teacher for their dedication in the classroom. Was that your high school?
This is KIPP Denver Collegiate High School. Right here in Denver, Colorado.
Imagine these kids, so positive and demonstrating citizenship in their schools, sitting in classrooms with brand new tables and chairs, new science lab rooms with gas and air hook ups. In a building that has air system features that are circulating around dirty air out of filters that haven't been changed in years. The wing we occupy hasn't been used in years. The staircases collect dust and the cleaning crew doesn't clean daily. The lockers need some force to help open them. Teachers don't have keys to their classrooms and our cafeteria is underground, with no air ventilation. 130 teenagers at lunch time can heat up a room! There was asbestos in the building, I was told it was all removed. Hm. I thought that stuff was a little difficult to remove.
Remember those great kids? Their teachers and leaders and coaches are even more indescribable. These teachers show up early and stay late. They make sure each kid has a chance to succeed - whether it takes them an extra week to get it or they need more challenging problems to solve. Their leaders work relentlessly to make college an option.
I am so proud to be a part of the KIPP family. These kids are already showing that they can and will graduate from college - if they continue to work hard and be nice.

phone numbers

There is something to say about the scary moment when someone asks for your phone number. The scenario can go a few different ways but it seems to lean one way for me, kind of like the way I lean more blue than red or left than right.

Scenario #1 (most common for me)
Boy and girl flirt for a length of time, exchange similar stories and enjoy a few laughs. A kiss might be shared - or not - and the end of the party nears.
Boy: "So I should get your phone number before you leave."
Girl: "Hm, maybe/ok"

TIME-OUT: I do not like the way that the boy asks for the phone number. It shows no real interest. Why do you want the phone number? For an actual reason or just another girl's number to have in case you need someone to hang out with?
Plus, I don't really like the fact that there is no answer for the girl. It wasn't a question, the boy made a statement. Awkward. Why?

Girl (inside of her head): I don't really want to give him my phone number. But now how do I make the phone number thing go away? Will he forget? I can't make one up because he'll call right there so that I have his number. This is the dumbest of all new trends for boys and girls. Don't call me so that I have your number. So laaaame!

Back to the scenario...
Boy: Hey, you've got your phone out, you should take my number.
Girl: Ummm....(I need THINK TIME PEOPLE!) OK.
Girl (thinking): I am not going to call you. I don't want to because I am not interested. This is not flirting, this is making a business network contact.
Boy: *punches his number into girl's phone* *clicks 'send' on my phone so he has my number.
Boy: You should call me sometime. Seriously. We should hang out.
Girl (inside of her head): I am not interested. I will ignore your phone calls. I am not interested.

Scenario #2
Boy and girl flirt. Boy gets the girl's phone number through a friend or by asking her to meet up outside the current venue and then needing her phone number because they will be meeting again. There is a purpose in that!
Girl (inside of her head): I can't wait to see him again....

Question: How can I be polite and say no to giving out a phone number?

The Northerner

Although I am from Michigan, I am not talking about summers in northern Michigan, our wet summers and winters and extreme storms in the spring in fall. I'm also not here to brag about the Detroit Tigers or the infamous Lions.

This was week #1 at KIPP: Knowledge is Power Program. I moved to Denver to teach algebra at the new high school we are opening as a team. It is pretty daunting and exhilarating. At a lot of work places, there comes a day when the employees are asked to take a survey and discover their leadership styles. Well, the whole staff participated in an activity that revealed our leadership styles. The compass served as a beautiful analogy; there are always other forces working in all directions. Even at (0,0) there is a sense that all four directions are at play. The catch is that I had to pick one (north, south, east, west) direction that seemed to resonate with me.

In short, I am a northerner. I make decisions quickly and without hesitation, I would rather get the work done myself than delegate if I am unsure of others' ability or willingness. I thrive on challenges and new projects, seeing them through. I like the bottom line. I can be perceived as cold, aggressive or impatient. Got it. However - east was a close second. East was all about seeing a vision and the bigger picture, setting the details down but then moving onto the next project before the first was completed. It was about making sure there is meaning behind a decision and other perspectives were considered. It sounded nicer. I also totally relate to losing track of time - those easterners have no idea when the sun is coming up or going down.

Let's just say I am not South. Think opposite of north; the south is how I learned patience. I recognize that patience is a work in progress.

Many times these leadership style activities allow co-workers to see the other side and recognize why some people are easier to work with than others. Our school - and its staff - is using this knowledge and keeping it in the forefront of our thoughts as we discuss and make decisions regarding the opening of a new Denver public charter high school.

Question - as a young or experienced professional, how does your leadership style impact those around you? Where has your leadership taken you?
How can the opposite direction sometimes be the most sensible and right?

How much does your internal compass direct you?