Danny Steele

Breytingin byrjar hjá mér

“While there is much that is out of our control, there is much we can control. Every single day we control the energy we bring into our school, and every single day we control the passion we have to making a difference for our students and our colleagues.”

— Danny Steele

Um fyrirlesturinn

Kennarar hafa ótrúlegan kraft til að umbylta kennslustofum og heilum skólum. En það byrjar allt með því að þekkja sjálfan sig. Danny Steele sýnir hvernig þú getur komið auga á drifkrafta þína og styrkleika og hvernig þú getur. nýtt þátil að hafa raunveruleg áhrif á líf nemenda. Skilaboðin eru einföld en beitt: breytingin í skólanum byrjar ekki með nýrri stefnu, nýjum forritum eða nýju stjórnendateymi. Hún byrjar með manneskjunni í skólastofunni.

Hver er Danny Steele

Danny Steele hefur helgað yfir 30 ár af starfsævi sinni menntamálum — sem kennari, þjálfari, aðstoðarskólastjóri, skólastjóri og dósent í forystu. Hann hefur tvisvar verið heiðraður í Alabama: sem aðstoðarskólastjóri ársins 2005 og framhaldsskólastjóri ársins 2016. Danny er höfundur sex bóka, þar af tveggja með Todd Whitaker, og er eftirsóttur fyrirlesari á landsvísu í Bandaríkjunum. Hann er með meistaragráðu í sögu frá University of Alabama at Birmingham og doktorsgráðu í menntunarforystu frá Samford University. Danny býr í Birmingham ásamt eiginkonu sinni og er stoltur faðir þriggja uppkominna barna.

Spurningar og svör frá Sli.Do

How can we encourage others to take responsibility and make a positive difference?

Being a strong role model is one of the most powerful ways to inspire others to make a positive difference.  But also hold on to the belief that every educator entered the profession because they wanted to make a difference.  So continue to appeal to the values that motivated them to begin this career.  The purpose that compelled them in the beginning still holds up.  

How do you bring colleagues with you through change when people are in very different places in terms of how willing and how brave they feel about it?

When people are hesitant, it is often because of feelings of insecurity.  So make sure you account for that dynamic and look for ways to help them feel more secure.  Once people feel secure, they’re more comfortable being vulnerable and taking risks.  And continue to underscore the values and purpose that is behind the change.  The kids are always worth it!

How would you start the "change" or the ongoing part of the positive reinforcement of yourself. How can we do and be the change so it is natural.

Clarify for yourself what your core values are.  Consider writing your own oath.  And then own it.  It was an important insight in my journey when I learned to redefine my own lightbulb moments.  When you keep your head on a swivel in the school building, you’ll see that there are moments all around that provide you an opportunity to make a difference for a student or a colleague.  Those will be moments that reinforce your values and your purpose… and they will remind you that you matter.

Of your examples, which one do you believe was the strongest positive change that your people were passionate about for the benefit of everyone in your school?

I think the process of having staff members write their own oath was a valuable exercise for keeping us all grounded in our purpose and clarifying what we truly care about.  Those oaths help us keep the drama and adversity in perspective.

I love football and golf, and I often bring sport into the classroom. How do I make sure I am also motivating the students whose passions are nothing like mine?

The first step is to care about every student… but you’re already there!  Then it’s important to be curious about every student; take time to learn about what they care about… learn about what lights their fire.  And then look for ways to bring those things into the classroom.  A.I. can makes it really easy to write short stories or come up with activities that integrate, music, art, dance, drama, Anime, or whatever it is that your students care about.  Thank you for caring.  The students will always notice when you genuinely care about them.