Presentation delivered as part of the Association of California School Administrators 2015 Leadership Summit

1. Stay in Your Lane
PRESENCE AND PRODUCTIVITY
ACSA LEADERSHIP SUMMIT,
NOVEMBER 6, 2015

2. A little about me, and our time today.
Principal, Carleton Middle School, Warren
Consolidated Schools (in Michigan, 7 miles
north of Detroit).
13th year in education
8th year as an administrator
Ph. D. Student, Oakland University
2015 NASSP Digital Principal Award winner
1. Harnessing the power of technology for
productivity
2. Expanding the use of technology to
communicate with families.
3. Growing my digital footprint

3. Bernia’s Basic Beliefs about Technology
Hardware should be mobile.
Software should sync.
Find the tool that works for you, and stick with it.
Try the free version for 30 days before making a purchase.

4. Some Core Beliefs
No one will give you more time.
A person is productive when they produce work that they believe makes an impact.
Not feeling productive leads to anxiety (feeling as though you have no control over a situation)
and burnout (feeling like your efforts/work do not matter).

5. I was tired of
My desk looking like this.
Answering “I don’t know”
when asked about my day.
Feeling like I had no control
over my work.

6. I was
Managing, not leading.
Feeling disconnected and spending more time
in my office than I wanted to.
Frustrated.
After reflection, I became obsessed with
productivity.

7. Three important quotes
“You can only control what
you control.” Dan Hickey
“Every time we say yes to a
request, we’re saying no to
anything else we might
accomplish with that time.”
Tim Harford
If you’re working out of your
inbox, you’re focusing on
other people’s priorities.”
Donald Rumsfeld

8. A Book and a Webinar
Peter Bregman’s book, 18
Minutes, was
transformational for me as I
thought about my time,
productivity, and how I
managed my work day.
Justin Baeder, through a
webinar on his website,
theprincipalcenter.com,
shared with me several
productivity applications that
provided me significantly
more time.

9. Name Your Priorities
The school year breaks down into manageable segments.
Chart out those segments, then develop 5 priorities for each.
Instead of checking your email or listening to voicemail, revisit your priorities chart at the
beginning of your day and map out what you want to accomplish. Finish your day with a look at
your chart to reflect on how you spent your time, it is ten minutes well spent.

10. A sample
November 4 – December 18
Get into classrooms, provide
feedback to teachers.
Work with SIP/Building Policy teams
on next steps for Carleton.
Begin Principal’s Advisory
Committee.
Ensure Parent Teacher Conferences
can go well.
Finish State
reporting/documentation for 2015.
(Title 1, FOCUS School, School
Improvement).
MISC.

11. Remember the Milk

12. iDoneThis
A key to being productive is
the positive “shot in the arm”
we feel when the work we
have completed aligns with
our priorities.

13. Calendly
Syncs with your Google/Outlook Calendar.
Generate a link where stakeholders can book
time with you. You receive an email and it
shows up on your calendar.
Great for checkpoint meetings or for staff who
like to set up formal appointments.

14. Evernote/OneNote
“Alignment” – Who does what?
Can share notes/collaborate on agendas with
various groups (secretaries, administrative
team, counselors, school improvement).
Cuts down on email, at the end of the
meeting, everyone has the outcomes/action
items and can get to work.

15. What about Email?
It never stops.
The most common mistake people make with email – over filing.
Keep your system simple, two to three folders is sufficient.
Nudgemail/HitMeLater – resend the message when you want it to come.
Awayfind – A VIP of VIP lists.

16. Feedback to teachers
To improve instruction, we have to focus on
instruction.
No administrator has ever been too visible.
Time is limited, very limited.
Checklists do not impact instruction.

17. Wufoo Forms
3 free forms
Settings to email comments to individuals
Allows me to
◦ Give feedback to teachers
◦ Organize small group discussions at staff
meeting
◦ Analyze my patterns

19. Get the word out
The future of mail/email.
To communicate with parents and stakeholders, we must “go where the people are.”

20. S’More
$39.00 for an education membership.
1 page of text, 6 pictures, generates a
newsletter.
Send the link via email/text/Twitter, post on
our website.
Anyone reading the newsletter can contact me
with a click.

21. Remind
Stakeholders can opt-in to receive a text
message update from me.
It does not share my phone number.
The new “chat” feature allows people to
respond to me, through Remind, and ask
questions they may have.

22. Twitter, @mrbernia
Free
Quick
On your phone/iPad/Computer
Available 24/7
Connects us to other professionals
Connects us to resources
You control your learning
Develops your “digital footprint.”

23. My digital presence has allowed me to:
Grow professionally.
Recognize students and staff.
Collaborate with other educators.
Find resources that I can pass along to staff.
Make my learning and reflection visible.
Talk with authors/experts in the field.

24. What’s your message?
Where do you spend your time?
Are you harnessing the power of digital tools
to get out of your office?

25. Let’s Stay Connected
mrbernia.com
@mrbernia
jbernia@wcskids.net