Presentation link:
http://tinyurl.com/pzv7k2q
Passion, Humor
and Hope
Jo Prusha, Ph.D.
Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services, Benton Community
jprusha@benton.k12.ia.us
@joprusha
319-228-8701 ext. 408
What drives us?
We’ve been doing business the same way for 40 years and there
are very few 40 year old business models that are successful
forever.
■ periods of disruption are periods of disproportionate
opportunity
■ to be out there in the messy mosh pit of change with
unclear direction and unclear implications, that’s much
more important
● GapQuest -- FAST April 2015
What drives our students?
“When children create for the world, they
make it good. When children only create
for their teachers, they make it good
enough.”
Rushton Hurley
Ryan Wise -- School Leader Update Aug 2015
“Key ingredient to improving
student learning is to
strengthen the knowledge
and skills of teachers.”
Passion - Engagement
What are your passions?
Passion - Gary Gordon
Building Engaged Schools,
● Enlist talented teachers and principals to cultivate the potential
within each student day by day
● Educational excellence relies more on the talent and
engagement levels of the people w/in the individual school than
on any other factor
● Improve outcomes of students by identifying and leveraging the
underutilized talent of students, teachers, support staff and
principals
Passion - Steve Jobs
● Be willing to be open to the talent of others
● Be willing to be inspired by others and challenged by
their talent
● But also to inspire them to do amazing things he
knew he couldn’t do himself
● His best collaborators understood that “you had to
listen past the yelling to understand what the yelling
was about.”
Passion - Tim Cook
● Steve thought most people live in a small box -- they think they can’t
influence or change things a lot - calling that a limited life.
● If you embrace the things that you can do are limitless, you put your
own ding in the universe.
● Insights are years in the making -- result of careful, deliberate, try, try,
try....improve, improve, improve. Have the patience to get it right.
● Culture drives things -- create a standard for insane level of
excellence.
● selection of people helps propel the culture
Passion - Sam Intrator
Leading from Within
● Opportunities for leadership are all around us
● The capacity for leadership is deep within us
○ “A leader shapes the ethos of which others must live, an ethos as lightfilled as heaven or as shadowy as hell. A good leader is intensely
aware of the interplay of inner shadow and light, lest the act of
leadership do more harm than good.” Parker J Palmer
○ “You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. And
you can be that servant.” MLK
Humor -- Where I find it!
“Coach”
“Spin City”
“Carol Burnett”
“Everybody Loves Raymond”
“My Family”
“Our BC Family”
What makes you laugh?
Humor - Productive-social humor
1. People enjoy working when humor is present.
2. Humor is a potent stress buster - Laughter is a physical
response that relaxes.
3. It is humanizing - come together for common ground.
4. It puts others at ease - break thru tension barriers.
5. Spurs creativity!
6. It helps build trust - authentic selves.
7. It boosts morale and collaboration.
8. People who use humor tend to be more approachable.
9. Humor can allow your company to stand out.
10.Increases productivity.
Hope
What do you hope for?
Hope -- Shane Lopez
Making Hope Happen
○ Ripples of hope -- Give hope to one another
○ Hope happens in head and heart when rational selves meet our
emotional selves
○ When we choose hope we define what matters most to us
○ Hopeful people spread hope to almost everyone they meet
○ Teach hope
○ Hope core beliefs
○ Hope matters
How will you build passion, humor
and hope in your life?
I’m planting
seeds to trees
I will never sit
under.
Hope for these cuties!
jprusha@benton.k12.ia.us
@joprusha
319-228-8701 ext. 408