Oprah's Leadership Academy

As a principal, I think it is good news whenever the media highlights the power of education. This story is especially inspiring from what I'm told. I had two teachers pull me aside the day after it first aired and tell me about how it was so good to see. It will be aired again March 3 at 7pm central time.

What is nice about Oprah's Leadership Academy is not necessarily the 52 acres of campus, or the matching uniforms. It's not the murals or the beauty salon some are making fun of. To me, the beauty of the story is that the 152 girls who will be going to her academy will be safe. This is what was quoted by a primary teacher in this story. "Those girls who went to Oprah, they are going to be safe," Mohulo says. "They are much better off."

Why is it we have places left in this world where kids are hungry or orphaned or not educated? Every effort we make to help teach children is an effort to be applauded. Each tiny gesture we make to help kids be safe is an effort to celebrate and wrap around us like a quilt hand sewn by our grandmothers. Oprah is creating a space where girls can learn and be challenged and become future leaders of South Africa. More importantly (to me), Oprah is creating a space where girls can wake up and go to school and not worry about anything other than learning. The fear has been taken away and room is made in their world for knowledge.

Today I sat in a meeting about a girl in our school who has been acting out. She has recently begun to steal from teachers and fellow students. She has been caught on a few occasions, and we met to try and help her make better decisions. The girl seemed remorseful to an extent, but she also just seemed very tired. There is much in her world that makes her space unsafe. But there was this magical moment when a teacher was retelling what was stolen from her, and the girl just dropped her eyes and used her hands to cover her face to try and hide. The teacher reached out, took this girls hands and held them in her own. The teacher looked at this girl in the eyes and told her "I will not give up on you. I made your mother a promise. I will not let you go." The sincerity of the gesture warmed the room and gave this girl a safe place to be.

This is what education is about.

ps. You can donate to the Oprah Leadership Academy. Better yet, find a school in your area where the community is affected by poverty and go listen to kids read. It does make a difference.

(Image taken from this location:http://a.abcnews.com/images/ThisWeek/ap_oprah_070105_sp.jpg)

Pay it Forward

This is a real life version of pay it forward, just like in the movie. In this story, each member of a congregation was given a crisp $100 bill to use to make more and give back to the community in some way.

Through private donations, members of the St. Barnabas Church in Northfield, Ohio were each given the challenge to take the $100 and make good use of it. It was seed money to be built into something more. And it worked out fabulously.

One woman was able to raise $8000 through a bake sale. Another teenage girl used the $100 to make beaded bracelets and blankets to sell and she donated the money to a local hospital. She was able to raise $1,230.

This project, called The Kingdom Assignment, is a fun way for people to pull together their resources and make something new. It puts people in a place where they get to be creative and have fun while they brainstorm how to make the most out of their $100, all in an effort to give it away. What a great way to make good.

(Image located at this location: http://www.newsnet5.com/2007/0212/10989651.jpg)

Loving your Job

I'm starting to love the Daryn Kagan site for it's upbeat collection of stories. I try to spread the source of news around, but she seems to have a great eye for good stories. This one isn't any different.

Hartford's Officer Don Healey has been on the job for 49 years. He started in 1957. He could have retired at 20 years, but he didn't want to sit around and watch TV. He likes being a police officer, and people like him.

So often we talk about doing what you love for work. And when we talk about all of the possibilities, sometimes people choose what they think they "should" do for a living. And when we talk about The Secret, it is hard for some to believe that not everyone wants to be powerful and have a lot of money and somehow become famous. This story is one example that not everyone wants to be the same thing. Not everyone aspires to be beautiful or rich or powerful. Don Healey has been happy being a police officer. Now maybe he wanted to be the Chief of Police at some time, but I doubt it. He is doing what he loves, and it shows.

His badge number is #1.

Don Healey is a great reminder for me to follow my heart, and not do what others think I should do. If I stay in that job I don't like, what I'm really doing is taking away the opportunity for the perfect person to take their perfect job -- the one I hate. We are all here for our own unique adventure, and thank goodness. There are many jobs I wouldn't be very good at.

PS. I love being an elementary school principal.

Don't Give Up

Patrick Henry Hughes was born without eyes and he can't walk, but he is a member of the Louisville Cardinals marching band. This is a great story. With a little help from his dad, Patrick is able to use his talents as a trumpet player and play in both the pep and marching band.

Well, OK, it isn't really fair to say a "little" help. His father has to put in a significant amount of time to help his son, but dad feels he is still living a blessed life and enjoys it. Dad was working as a systems analyst, but traded in that day job for a night job with UPS working from 10:30 pm to 5:00 am. He then sleeps from 6:00 am to 11:00 am and gets up in time to take Patrick to his classes. Throw on top of the classes, rehearsals for the marching band and pep band and it's a full schedule. In the video, dad admits he gets tired once in awhile. But, dad adds, it is worth it when he can sit back and is see all that his son can do, and watch how his son inspires others. Again, he considers it a blessing.

You can see this story also on video and I find the visuals even more fun when you get to see Patrick as a little tyke at the piano.

Like the story posted a few days earlier about Kyle Maynard, Patrick Henry Hughes doesn't know life any differently, and he is going to make the most of it. How many times do we find inconveniences enough of an excuse not to start that book we've been meaning to write, or maybe we never seem to get enrolled in the classes we've been meaning to take. Truth is, today is the only day we know we have, because today is here. Yesterday cannot be lived again and tomorrow isn't a sure thing. So today is the day. What is it you have always been wanting to do. What dreams have you carried with you to "now"? If you know what they are, do one thing today to make those dreams closer to reality. You'd be surprised how a few small steps can make an avalanche of opportunity. Think about it.

(Image found at this location: http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2006/oct/trumpet200x250.jpg)

Nice Guy Keeps the Store Going

In small town America, it is hard to keep things going. Often young people have to move away to find a job. Farming isn't quite like it used to be. There isn't much going on in regards to economy or opportunity. But in this story, there's a bit of hope in the air.

In Truman, Minnesota, the small community had lost its grocery store. The same had happened to my grandma's little town. Once the grocery store was gone, the life of the town seemed to slip away. Nick Graham had other ideas in mind for his hometown.

Nick had been working odd jobs and helped his uncle on the turkey farm. He was able to save up about $10,000 and used this money for a down payment to buy the grocery store in Truman. He reopened the grocery store, and now he works there whenever he can, keeping the place going. People are so thankful to have their store open again, some have volunteered to stock shelves. Everyone does their best to shop there. They are so happy for the convenience of a store nearby.

You have to watch the video of the same story if you can. Not just because it is an example of good, midwestern (Minnesota) accent, but also because this Nick Graham is such a great guy. He's only 17 years old, and he's changing his corner of the world in immeasurable ways, bringing a community together.


(Image found at this location: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/15/assignment_america/main2272837.shtml)

Peace Train

Now this isn't exactly what I would call news, but it did make me say "wow" out loud. It will make it obvious to everyone that I am a peace person. In my writing here, I try not to be political, and I apologize to those of you who think that's what I'm trying to do here. The truth is, I'm a people person. And look at these beautiful people, and the beautiful place that they live. Why aren't we seeing these images in the news?

Enough of me talking. Take time to look at this 2 minute video.
Check it out here: http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html

Pass it on.

(This image found at this location:http://beachblogger.net/pics/media/peace_train_400_060308.gif)

Amputee becomes Great Wrestler

Kyle Maynard has been competitive all of his life. Until tonight, I haven't heard about him, but it seems he's old news. Been in the news since 2004 when he began college and just after he was in the Georgia State Championships for wrestling. He was interviewd by Larry King and is on the Washington Speaker's Bureau. He is a weightlifter and broke the world record for modified bench press at the Arnold (as in Schwarzenegger's) Fitness Classic. Just a hardworking guy with a competitive spirit. Really isn't any big deal other than the fact he has no arms beyond the elbow and no legs below the knee.

He was born with a condition known as congenital amputation. It is rare that this condition affects all four limbs, but for Kyle it did and he has not missed a beat.

You can see him on a video clip living his life (writing papers, typing, and hanging out) as well as a video displaying his skills as a wrestler.

Next time we find ourselves all worried about what's not working in our life, it will be good to remember how much some people have to overcome. It will help me keep to things into perspective. I'm looking forward to reading his book No Excuses. It's true.

And I love what he said in his interview with Larry King. . ."We have to have a crutch, though, at times. And I have -- I do believe that I was blessed in the sense that the challenges that I have to face in life really mold the person that I've become today. I think without that, then I wouldn't have ever been able to succeed."

Now there is gratitude in action.

There is so much to be thankful for when we take time to look.

(Image found at this location: http://www.csw.edu/209647.ihtml)