Cool Coffee w/ Kansas Principals

CC#68: PBIS w/ Dr. Steve Archer

In this episode of Cool Coffee with Kansas Principals, Dr. Steve Archer, principal of Delaware Ridge Elementary School, shares his extensive experience in education and his insights on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). He discusses the transition from middle school to elementary education, the importance of building relationships with students, and the challenges of implementing PBIS. Dr. Archer emphasizes the need for a supportive school culture and the role of positive reinforcement in shaping student behavior. He also offers advice for educators looking to implement PBIS in their schools and highlights the welcoming community at Delaware Ridge.
Dr. Steve Archer
Delaware Ridge Elementary School
Bonner Springs-Edwardsville USD 204
Connect with Dr. Archer: archers@usd204.net
Chapters (AI generated--times do not account for intro)
00:00 Introduction to PBIS and Dr. Steve Archer06:30 Transitioning from Middle School to Elementary Education12:30 Understanding PBIS: History and Implementation18:28 Challenges and Misconceptions of PBIS24:41 Building Relationships Through PBIS30:22 Advice for Implementing PBIS in Schools34:21 The Community and Culture at Delaware Ridge Elementary
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
FULL TRANSCRIPT (AI generated)
Rick Sola (00:01.686)Hello and welcome to Cool Coffee with Kansas principals. I'm here today with Dr. Steve Archer, principal of Delaware Ridge Elementary School in Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, USD 204. Welcome, Steve.
Steve Archer (00:15.278)Thank you, Rick. It's great to be here.
Rick Sola (00:17.824)Yeah, I am excited to have you on here in part because you're going to be presenting at USA Kansas here in just about a month. And you're going to be talking about a topic that I have really found myself enjoying and getting into, and that is PBIS. And we'll get into that in just a bit. But once again, at the end of a long day, I just want to say thank you for coming on. And it's a Tuesday here. It's April 29th.
no shortage of things occurring in our schools and on our calendars. So to add this, I really appreciate it.
Steve Archer (00:55.086)Well, you know all about that full calendar, so I appreciate your time as well.
Rick Sola (01:01.28)Yeah, well, it is also a fun time of year and we'll just start off here, first question, probably what everyone wants to know is are the Chiefs going to be moving out to your neck of the woods in Bonner or KCK or?
Steve Archer (01:15.458)You know what, my primary concern is keeping them in the Kansas City area. And as long as we can do that, I'm gonna be a happy Chiefs fan.
Rick Sola (01:20.724)Okay.
Rick Sola (01:25.068)Yeah, it's funny because I was looking up, I wanted to see exactly where Delaware Ridge was. I was like, oh my gosh, you're really close to the speedway. And I know there's been rumblings of the chiefs. at least as of this recording, we don't really have any information. well, Steve, we'll start with where I like to start is just kind of a it's more or less a, I guess, introduction of yourself, but really your road to the chair of to Delaware Ridge Elementary School.
Steve Archer (01:53.55)Sure. Well, Rick, my road has been a very long one. This is actually my 36th year in education. I started in middle school, and if you told me all those years ago that I'd be an elementary principal, I wouldn't have believed it because I started as a middle school teacher.
did that for seven years, then between a couple of districts was a middle school assistant principal for a while, and then had a great opportunity to become an elementary principal. So I had worked up to that point in the Kansas City, Missouri school district, Raytown school district, and then went to Park Hill for the last 16 years in Missouri, then was able to retire from the Missouri system, but
I love working in school and so I couldn't imagine actually retiring. So I was very, very fortunate to see the opening here in Bonner and when I came here I could just tell it was a very special place and a place that I would want to take my next step. So I was delighted when they called me and offered me the position. So that's how I ended up here at DRE.
Rick Sola (03:05.451)That's great. I'm sorry, you've been you've been DRE, okay, that'll be helpful for me here, but you've been there how many years? Your first year in Kansas, okay.
Steve Archer (03:13.698)This is my first year in Kansas, I just retired from Missouri at the end of the last school year and immediately started here.
Rick Sola (03:23.818)wow, well welcome to the Kansas side of things and you know maybe the Chiefs will after all follow you over to Kansas so how about that?
Steve Archer (03:26.83)Thank
Steve Archer (03:31.086)Well, you know, I am a native Kansan. I actually grew up on the Kansas side of things. you know, one thing I've learned over time is we're a really great community regardless of which side of the state line it is. And so I feel very fortunate to have been able to grow up in Kansas City and then have a really great education career here too.
Rick Sola (03:53.452)Well, it's really interesting being on the Kansas side. hear so often, and I have a lot of, have a really close principal friend who's retiring this year, and you just never know. Often we see the other direction. Our principals here, our educators here, we're going over to Missouri. And so to hear it conversely, that would actually make it kind of an interesting topic for this show. All the same, but no, well, very good. So.
Steve Archer (04:05.346)Thank you.
Rick Sola (04:19.818)You know, I'm 21 years into education. I've been in middle school all but one of those years. I had one year where I was teaching freshmen at the high school. We had a transition here where I'm at. What's the biggest adjustment from middle school to elementary that you would say?
Steve Archer (04:38.254)Well, you know, with middle school there's typically just the three year span. And so you get like those 11, 12, 13 year old kiddos in elementary. And of course my school also has a pre-k classroom now. And so we have everything from four to 11 year olds here. so...
What I love about elementary is we just get to see kids grow up over time and get to see them develop skills and develop their personalities. so that is a really big difference. But I guess a similarity between the two is.
Kids just need adults who care about them, you know? And whether they're little or whether they're middle school, and even though I haven't taught in high school, I know they do too. And so it's just that common thread that goes all the way through. But definitely differences between middle school and elementary would be a lot around supervision, I would say, you know, making sure that...
As I recall in middle school, would have passing periods and kids would come and go as they needed to. And here at the elementary level, it's much more controlled by the teacher and making sure that we keep track of the classes all throughout the building as well.
Rick Sola (06:00.928)Yeah, well, absolutely. kind of it's really a pretty natural segue. You just mentioned the importance of, you know, kids at all levels. Those relationships are so important. And certainly there's differences in logistics in a day and what that looks like at the three different levels of school. Some may argue that middle school, the three years of middle school feels like five years of growth, but certainly a lot of lot of growth and lot of
Steve Archer (06:25.368)Thanks
Rick Sola (06:30.988)But it's a good segue to PBIS and again, really intrigued and why I wanted to have you on. So you're gonna be presenting on this at USA Kansas here in about a month and those who may listen to this podcast are likely to attend. And so what I was really intrigued of, I was reading the description of your presentation is the reference to 15 years in PBIS.
Steve Archer (06:59.916)Yes.
Rick Sola (07:00.894)And so as a school, we were mentioning before we kind of went live here, but as a school that I'm at, we're in our third year of implementation, that conversation of longevity and keeping it going and, you know, it's constant involvement. Seeing 15 years is really, really intriguing, but I think a good place to start really would be kind of your history with PBIS. I know you're a big fan of it, a proponent of it. And so, you know, just, guess, starting off with
with your history, how did that start with PBIS and what was that hook that kind of led you now 15 years in?
Steve Archer (07:38.808)You know, at the time I was in Missouri and my school had really good kids and we just expected them to come in and do what we expected them to do. And they did for the most part. Some kiddos struggled a bit with the expectations, but a lot of them just came in and did the right thing.
And when I became aware of PBIS, one of the things that really struck me is we're not recognizing the awesomeness that these kids bring into our building every day. And you know, everybody likes a good out of boy, out of girl every once in a while, even if we're doing the right thing. And so just that acknowledgement and again, going back to the relationship piece, you,
those positives draw staff and students together and build those relationships when
I notice a student being respectful or responsible or safe. That's a really great way for me to let them know you make our school a better place to be. And so that was very appealing to me that we got a chance to thank these students who were doing the right thing and sometimes seemed a bit unseen. It also struck me that as we were doing that, we would be able to catch some of the kiddos who maybe didn't always make the best choices, but if we
caught them at the right moment, we could positively reinforce those things that we were going after so that we would get more of that with in a positive way rather than really focusing on the negatives.
Rick Sola (09:26.666)So pushback, challenges out of the chute, especially starting up a program. It's one thing to have it and tweak it and adjust it, but starting it up, what were some of those initial challenges maybe amongst staff and whether a community or kids and that sort of thing?
Steve Archer (09:47.086)Yeah, I think that is a reality. I had parents who said, why are you rewarding kids? They should be doing these things. And that surprised me because it was their children I was rewarding. So that was a little bit of a surprise and that wasn't a big voice, but it was definitely a conversation that we had to have. My take on that is I get positively reinforced a couple of times a month.
in the form of a paycheck that goes into my account. I love what I'm doing. I love doing the right thing. But it's great to get positively reinforced with that paycheck. Our kiddos obviously are not getting monetarily paid, but we all like having those things that we know we've earned.
From a staff standpoint, I think we sometimes have a lot of work to do to reframe some of our thinking around behavior because a lot of us grew up with the good kid, bad kid binary kind of thinking and with PBIS and with several of the models, it's more of looking at teaching that behavior and that it's our responsibility to teach
behavior just like it's our responsibility to teach any of the content that students come in contact with over the course of a day. And so I know for me,
Certainly I've changed my philosophy of behavior over the years. so I think with any of the staff members, we just have to be patient but also persistent in helping shift that narrative to it's our responsibility to teach behavior just like we teach content.
Rick Sola (11:36.16)Yeah, there's a really good quote and I'm going to totally butcher it so I won't even try to, but the essence is, you know, if someone's misbehaving, we teach this or it, I think you know where I'm going. I am not articulating it well, but the main point is when a student acts out, we, and then fill in the blank with it's a consequence of some sort, which, you know, to that point, I'm curious of your experience with it is, you know, one of the misnomers that
Steve Archer (11:45.73)Yes. I know exactly. Yes.
Rick Sola (12:05.74)I remember when we went through the development and we continue as our district works with this, there are consequences still part of PBIS. And I think there's this, maybe if we're not totally informed on PBS, we think, well, it's a token reward system for things that we should be doing anyway and kids can never get in trouble. But that's not accurate.
Steve Archer (12:30.286)It's really not. I work in a real life elementary school. I dealt with discipline today and there were consequences. However, consequences don't always mean a negative thing. It just simply means the outcome of the behavior.
And so I think that's one thing is to stop just assuming the consequences are negative. But then also, you know, in the vein of conscious discipline, there's a lot of focus on natural consequences and logical consequences. The more we can look at the consequences that we have in place.
and determine are they natural or are they logical and are we keeping them close to the behavior? You know, I think the closer we can get to the behavior and shaping the behavior...
We simply have to decide, are we wanting to our vengeance for a perceived wrong that a child has done, or are we wanting to teach them for the future? Are we wanting a short term, aha, I got them, or are we wanting a long term, I taught that child, and I helped them see a more productive way to do things. And I think the more we can look at the child's future and helping them develop those more
appropriate skills and that sort of thing, the less we worry about getting kids. That having been said, we do still have to have an orderly environment. There's a principle of BIST that says the classroom has to be as good or better when you're here, or you can't be here. And so sometimes I say that to kids, you know, your classroom needs to be as good or better when you're present. Did you make it as good or better? If not, what do we need to do to fix that?
Steve Archer (14:21.364)And so I do think that idea of there are no consequences with any discipline model can be a real misrepresentation. But at the same time, we need to do our own soul searching as the adults and decide, are we trying to get long term gain that benefits the child or are we just trying to get vengeance for some perceived wrong because they inconvenienced us today.
Rick Sola (14:49.502)It's a really good, first of all, that's a really good quote. I wrote it down. If you're good or it's a good or better when you're present or, you know, you know, there's certainly a mind shift and, you know, we're a few years in and, and I think we have a lot of things really positive in place and that we're kind of adjusting and evolving and reassessing. But it's interesting too, there's a mind shift for students. And I have had situations where I've had students in my office or I've been out at a
Steve Archer (14:56.13)video.
Rick Sola (15:18.102)football game and I've had to address a behavior and I've had the conversation, I've had the necessary consequences if you will, and they've responded the way I would hope and ask and eye contact, nodding, understand. And I'd give them a, we have tokens, I would give them a token and it's like, wait, I'm supposed to be in a fist bump to conclude it. And I said, look, you're not getting a token because you just, you know, did.
Action A over there, that's not what this is about. But when I called you over, you came over. We were able to have a conversation. We talked about our program, our values here in the building, which I'm gonna ask you about if you have one of the acronyms that often go along with PBIS. Because it's really all about, we have expected behaviors. And when a student provides expected behaviors, especially in a situation where they've maybe made a bad choice,
It's a mind shift perhaps, but it's not inappropriate to say, I appreciate that. Because the alternative is they could have run the other direction or they could have cussed me out or they could have done this or that. We were able to have a good conversation, address the situation, and hopefully it doesn't happen again.
Steve Archer (16:36.53)If you do need to address something again, how much more likely are they to partner with you the next time? Or how much more when they're tempted to do something, are they to think, you know what, maybe I don't do that? And so again, you're teaching for the long term rather than trying to catch them doing wrong. And that's really what PBIS is all about.
Rick Sola (16:59.062)Yeah, and really what you just mentioned there is I think why I like it so much is it encourages and promotes that interaction that can be very positive, even surrounding a hard or challenging situation or a poor choice. And it does, it builds those relationships, which goes back to the very start of this conversation. But it does not ignore or dismiss behavior, if anything.
It's an active program to correct it. So I was going to ask you, I referenced we use tokens here. What is your form of currency at Delaware Ridge?
Steve Archer (17:36.898)Yeah, we use the PBIS rewards app and so we have no physical tokens. All of ours is electronic. I will say it is a much more efficient system than when.
We started 15 years ago in my previous school and we had slips of paper and there were people who hand counted them to see you know how many have been handed out. I can open that app and very quickly tell you how many have been rewarded this month, how many for each category, each grade level, lots of very specific reports that I can get so that then we can move forward based on the data.
that we have. So it does make it a lot more efficient for us.
Rick Sola (18:28.332)Do students always know when they receive, I'm going say token, when they receive that recognition or does it just kind of appear in their bank or how do they know?
Steve Archer (18:39.97)No, they should know because really the token or the item, that is only part of it. I know when I catch a class in the hall, and this happens a lot and I'm very proud of it, but when I catch them in the hall and I stop them, you know, a lot of times I'll say...
I saw you before I heard you because you were so quiet and appropriate in the hallway and to me that says you were being respectful.
you were being responsible for your own behavior and you were helping keep our school safe. So you know what? I'm going to recognize you with not one, not two, but three points because you did all those things. so then they do know and a lot of times there's a place to put a comment. And if I'm recognizing the whole class, I'll enter that comment that says your class did a great job in the hall. And so then they know they're going to get those added. I will also say in the
classroom, one of the things that has been a benefit to teachers is they can recognize students with or without saying anything, but there you can turn the tone on or off with PBIS rewards. And you know I kid and say it's positively Pavlovian because as soon as they hear that tone
You can just see the shift in the body language and in the focus on the work and things like that because they know the teacher is noticing and they're looking for students to be that respectful, responsible, and safe student.
Rick Sola (20:22.848)Great. So your students, they have a device and the app is loaded on their device as well? Or is it a... Okay.
Steve Archer (20:27.946)No, the students don't, the teacher does. And so they can just use the app and they'll hear the teacher's phone ding. Or sometimes the teacher will walk through the room and say, Steve, I see you working really hard. I'm going to give you a point for being responsible or that kind of thing.
Rick Sola (20:49.6)We went round and round. That's why I'm curious because we talked a lot about tokens or electronic, and we ultimately leaned on tokens, and it has some challenges with that. The data collection isn't quite there as far as what you're describing. We landed on tokens for that kind of personal interaction, but it presents some challenges with every year we got to get the tokens back. There's always loss, and we got to repurchase, and there's a cost to the tokens themselves.
Steve Archer (21:07.309)Yes.
Rick Sola (21:19.692)You mentioned respect and responsible. What are your letters or posters look like?
Steve Archer (21:25.976)Yeah, so we had a building pledge before we started PBIS here in this building. This is the first year of our PBIS implementation here at Delaware Ridge. So we simply changed some of the wording. We didn't, you know, throw out the baby with the bath water and it says, I am somebody.
The me I see is the me I will be. I can be respectful, responsible, and safe. I can succeed. So that's the pledge that our students say every morning after they say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rick Sola (22:00.716)Very good. And how about tier two? Have you had much work with that as you're building currently implementing tier two using the tier two model?
Steve Archer (22:10.574)we are, we do have some students who are part of our check-in and check-out. It's, you know, we're working toward developing those tier two and tier three interventions.
This year my main goal has been making sure that we have a solid tier one implementation, we have begun, you know, there are just some students who need that additional support of like a check-in, check-out and things like that. And so we do have that in place as well.
Rick Sola (22:42.956)We have found a lot of success with moving to tier two. We did a similar approach that first year. It was really all about tier one, trying to reach fidelity. Our kids, they know our values, ROCs is what we call it. then we, by getting into tier two, I feel like that's where, I think that's where a lot of value in PBIS is. That's where, you know, cause not every student is, know, tier one's not gonna just
be there forever. It's there for everyone, but it's not going to always fix a need or provide support. And that tier two has, you mentioned the check-in, check-out. We've had a lot of success stories with that. Most of the time, once the kids are in there and they get out, they don't go back in. Sometimes we have had a student or two that we reintroduced, check-in, check-out, but it's always successful while they're there. We're at the point of
Steve Archer (23:17.422)That's right.
Rick Sola (23:41.824)we're kind of broadening even from that part of the PBIS process, but very exciting. And when you have those success stories with students with challenging behavior, it's fulfilling, especially middle school.
Steve Archer (23:56.59)Absolutely. Yes, I remember those days. But you know, if we can build skills at the elementary that kids can carry with them into middle school, what kind of, I mean, that's a huge gift, not only to them, but to that middle school. To not just...
limp through and send them on, but to really help them develop skills that will help them grow as students and as people so that they can just use those in a variety of aspects of their lives. And again, it goes back to relationship, particularly with a check-in, check-out, or a check-in, connect. It's the relationship that really makes the difference there.
Rick Sola (24:41.558)So after this episode, and perhaps you'll have several principals in your session at USA Kansas, and someone's really intrigued, and they're like, I really want to take this to my building. What would be a piece of advice you would give to the upstart of the program at a building that hasn't had it before?
Steve Archer (25:03.374)It's definitely a team sport, if you will. This is not a principal thing. It is a building approach. Also, it is a framework. I came from a building that had implemented PBIS for 15 years. There are things that fit at Delaware Ridge. There are things that do not fit yet at Delaware Ridge. And to come into this building and
and expect all of those things to transfer would have been a mistake. So I definitely think you need to get, I think first of all, would do my research and find out about the premise behind PBIS. This is not a passing fancy. It's been around for a long time and it is an approach that has
the research and the evidence behind it. But then you also have to let your staff in on that.
and make sure that they understand that this isn't going to be the flavor of the year. This is going to be an approach that we take that we're going to build from the ground up in a way that makes sense for our building so that we can develop those positive relationships with kids. And what we're looking to do is teach behavior for every area of our building, classroom, assemblies, restrooms.
lunch, all of those things and really get all of that lined out with staff before the kids ever walk in the door.
Rick Sola (26:43.232)You know, one thing that I was really excited about when I started here, when we started PBIS, we have some neighboring shops and restaurants and things. you know, unfortunately not always were we the best representatives of, you know, after school and hanging out. And we tried to extend, we did extend our program across the street a little bit.
And we had a couple businesses that were willing to give out tokens and hang some posters and just show, of support it. try to, kind of to your point, from the elementary to the middle, I try to advertise this isn't just a Chisholm Trail thing or a school thing. We're talking about respect and ownership and that's a life thing. And so these are skills that you work on now, you hopefully sharpen. And sometimes we see that
two steps back in the process. That's where they're at in their lives, there's a lot of just kind of fulfillment with this program that has really been energizing even now that we're three years in, four years after the build of it.
Steve Archer (28:00.322)you're seeing good outcomes from that. I love that idea of a business partnership. I've not worked in a school that had a business close enough to do that sort of thing and so I
excited about hearing to hear that because what a great way to expand that out. know we've worked to add some things for our bus riders because it's very hard for a know one driver on a bus of all the students to take care of all their responsibilities to drive kids safely and to focus on that positive reinforcement. But we've come up with
with a little bit of a different approach. It's still in the spirit of PBIS though, and so that's a piece that I'll be sharing at the conference, just to talk about our initial successes with that.
Rick Sola (28:58.486)Well, and kind of to that point, that's what I really like about the program too, is it's customizable. Like you mentioned, what worked at your previous school either doesn't right now or it's not a good fit for whatever reason. And PBIS is a framework, like you mentioned earlier as well, but you can make it your own to fit your population and your community, is what I love about it. You referenced your presentation and...
teaser what what can people expect if they're going to be sitting in your USA Kansas conference here in a month.
Steve Archer (29:36.558)I think one of the things that I hope people will take away are several things, definitely it's a framework. And I am not a purist when it comes to behavior models because what they'll probably hear, what I know they'll hear is PBIS.
but they will also hear echoes of conscious discipline and they'll also hear pieces of this that we've brought into our work here at Delaware Ridge. And for me, it's about finding those positives that work within your school, but still being true to the spirit behind PBIS.
I think always keeping that teaching focus and finding out how you do that. And I'll just share how we did it or how we do it here and what we found works here. I mentioned partnering with our bus drivers who, you know, that's a very challenging job sometimes, particularly at the end of the day when the kids are kind of done and they're ready to be home. That can be a big challenge. And then another piece that I'll be sharing is how we
share some positives with parents as well. So we use some different approaches for that too, so that parents see that, you know, we care about your kid. We are glad they're here and we want you to know that they're a positive part of our learning community and that we don't take that for granted.
Rick Sola (31:14.048)Yeah, it'll be a great session and if anyone's listening to this prior to, definitely stop in. And I knew a little bit about PBIS where I'm at. We had a rollout probably 10 years prior as a district. I would say we've made a lot of adjustments and improvement and we've recast it and it's kind of the full, jumping in with both feet and it's been really, really positive. So looking forward to that. Steve, you're a year one principal in Kansas.
And KPA, it's a KPA podcast. What has KPA meant to you in the seven months, eight months that you've been with us?
Steve Archer (31:53.314)Well, I will say I've enjoyed the episodes of this particular podcast that I've been able to listen to and learn and just to get excited about some of the work that's happening in Kansas that I didn't know about before, you know, and so I'm really looking forward to going to the conference, going to sessions and continuing to learn because, you know, we work in education. We should continue to learn regardless of how long we've, we've,
been in education so I'm really looking forward to learning at the conference coming up.
Rick Sola (32:25.804)Have you been to the USA Conference, attended it before?
Steve Archer (32:27.662)I have not. I've always gone on the Missouri side to our MAESP conference.
Rick Sola (32:33.996)It's a great conference. I would also put a plug in, there's actually a KPA conference in November. So keep an eye out for that. It's a little smaller than USA Kansas, but it's in the same location, or it's in Wichita, but really, really strong conference and just great opportunities to network and learn from each other. Just fantastic. well, Steve, I'm gonna have us end on, you mentioned Delaware Ridge or DRE.
Bragg on your people here that you've gotten to know over the last several months.
Steve Archer (33:02.476)Yes.
Steve Archer (33:07.724)You know, I believe that some, most of the time you can really get the heart of the building by walking into the office. And when I walked into the school, it was very welcoming and I could go into details on that. But the bottom line is there was a tone in the office that welcomed me. And that has proven to be true across our building.
I say of the people who work here, they don't work here because they don't have other choices. They work here because they want to be here and they love our kids and
they love each other. it really is a wonderful learning community. And there are times that I will overhear people just laughing together or problem solving together or that kind of thing. And I just smile to myself and I'm just like, really? This is where I ended up. And so it's a very, very special school and a very special district.
I am surprised I didn't know more about this district before I came here, but I'm very grateful to be at Delaware Ridge now.
Rick Sola (34:21.472)Great, really nice words and just very neat to be able to come over and like you said, retire from one state on over here to another and to join a community that's so welcoming. And you're right, you can certainly feel a lot when you just walk into an office of a school. what an important message. Awesome for them to hear that. I hope they hear this, to hear you say that. But important for everyone to hear that because the office...
Oftentimes they're the ones that are interacting with the community, not us. Most of our parents are dropping lunches off or making phone calls. So, excellent.
Steve Archer (34:54.286)absolutely.
Steve Archer (34:59.64)That's right. Yes, and my front office, they're just some of the best of the best about that. Welcoming our families. Teachers come and they need something. They're more than willing to help with that. Somebody needs to step away from the office. Somebody else comes in and helps. That front office is such a hub of our building.
There are a lot of fun times that we have there, but then we also know how to take care of business. again, DRE is a special place. I feel very fortunate to be here.
Rick Sola (35:32.822)Great, well, thank you for your time. At the end of a busy day, a long day, and I look forward to, I'll meet you in person, hopefully, out here in Wichita in a few weeks. It's getting that close, so.
Steve Archer (35:45.004)It is getting close. Alright, thanks so much, Rick.
Rick Sola (35:47.98)Alright, thank you Steve.
 

CC#67: A Principal's Perspective - Rick Sola - Work-life...balance?

A Principal's Perspective: Work-life...balance?
Rick Sola
Principal
Chisholm Trail Middle School, USD 233
X: @MrRickSola
Adam Grant quote--7/12/2022
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
 

CC#66: A Principal's Perspective - Courtney McCartney - Dance Through the Storms

Perspective Topic: Dance Through the Storms
Courtney McCartney Principal Frank Layden Elementary Frontenac Public Schools USD 249
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.

CC#65: A Principal's Perspective - Stacey Green - A Message from the Heart

A Principal's Perspective: A Message from the Heart
Stacey Green Pre-K-8 PrincipalStockton Grade SchoolUSD 271 StocktonX: @usd271sgs
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
 

CC#64: A Principal's Perspective - Jeremy Thomas - Increasing Student Participation Through Enrichment Before/After School Activities

A Principal's Perspective: Increasing Student Participation Through Enrichment Before/After School Activities
Jeremy Thomas
Principal
Eudora Middle School, USD 491
X: @EudoraSchools
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
 

CC#63: A Principal's Perspective - Mr. Heath Henderson - "If it were me, I'd want to know."

A Principal's Perspective: "If it were me, I'd want to know." (Todd Whitaker) 
Heath Henderson
Skelly Elementary/USD 490 Principal
USA Kansas Board of Directors
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
 

CC#62: A Principal's Perspective - Rachel Buessing - The Importance of SEL on School Culture

Perspective Topic:  The importance of SEL on school culture
Rachel Buessing
Principal
Rock Creek Middle School
USD 323, Rock Creek Schools
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.

CC#61: Spanish Immersion in K-5 w/ Jenny Steele

In this episode of Cool Coffee with Kansas Principals, host Rick Sola speaks with Jenny Steele, the principal of Manchester Park Elementary, about her journey from middle school to elementary education, the unique Spanish immersion program at her school, and the challenges and successes that come with it. They discuss the importance of community support, the enrollment process, and the transition of students to middle school, as well as the significance of mentorship and compassion in educational leadership.
Principal Jenny Steele

Manchester Park Elementary School

USD 233
"Is this a sitcom?" - CC#24: A Principal's Perspective from Jenny Steele (10/30/2024)
Email: jlsteele@olatheschools.org
Chapters (time stamps do not account for CC intro)
(FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW)
00:00 Introduction and Background

03:02 Journey to Principalship

05:49 Spanish Immersion Program Overview

09:11 Challenges in Implementation

11:49 Curriculum and Instructional Strategies

14:51 Student Enrollment and Lottery System

18:13 Performance and Assessment

20:52 Transitioning to Middle School

24:01 Community and Support

27:12 Advice and Reflections

29:57 Conclusion and Future Outlook
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
-------------------------------------------

Show Transcript (AI generated)
Rick Sola (00:01.646)Hello and welcome to another edition of Cool Coffee with Kansas Principles. Today I am joined by Ms. Jenny Steele, Manchester Park Elementary Principal, home of the Timberwolves and USD 233 in Olathe, Kansas. Welcome, Jenny.
Jenny Steele (00:17.015)Hello, Ruck.
Rick Sola (00:18.798)How's it going? How was your Friday? This is a Friday that we're recording. It's a Friday in the springtime. How'd it go today?
Jenny Steele (00:24.365)Well, it's a Friday and you know, mid April, so it's good, you know.
Rick Sola (00:29.688)So I'll just start with a little bit of full disclosure. Oftentimes, principals, I'm meeting often for the first time after some email conversation, but Jenny and I go way back to like 2011 when I was a brand new administrator and Jenny was my counterpart assistant principal at Prairie Trail Middle School. So, you know.
We'll stay professional and know, task at hand here, but we do go back a little bit. So it's good to see you again. And I actually was going to bring up, so I will just throw this out there. Jenny and I are both big Seinfeld fans. And so we always had fun with a little bit of just kind of banter back and forth and even still through text messaging. I was actually going to bring up
Jenny Steele (01:14.607)Mm-hmm.
Rick Sola (01:25.39)in a little bit, but I'll do it now since I'm there back in October and we did a principal perspective blitz through the, this KPA podcast. You submitted, a perspective called, this a sitcom? Which I will put in the show notes for people to easily find, but, I loved it because there's oftentimes it does feel like it can be a sitcom with what we do.
Jenny Steele (01:42.159)Mm-hmm.
Rick Sola (01:53.92)I was wondering if you've had any sitcom moments in recent memory.
Jenny Steele (02:01.559)Well, yes, actually, and stuff that you, you know, you're not sure anybody would write. So I'm probably not going to share those here. Keep in mind, you know, we had our middle school days together. Now I'm in an elementary. And so I have some of the zany things that we had in middle school, but they have an elementary flavor to them now. But I still, I'm still caught off guard sometimes by a few of them. Yeah.
Rick Sola (02:10.605)haha
Rick Sola (02:28.32)Yeah, and you know, today it was a Friday and we had a pep assembly and actually it was a really good spring Friday. We had quite a few subs in the building, which, you know, we anticipate this time of year, you know, holding it together. But Jenny, before we kind of get on it, because I'm interested in hearing about or learning more and for you to share about the Spanish immersion program at Manchester Park. But.
want to hear your road to the chair. You're currently in the chair of Manchester Park as principal, but what led you to that chair that you're in today?
Jenny Steele (03:02.955)Right, well, you know, actually when I started in education, my goal was elementary and that's where I started. Shortly after I started teaching, an opportunity came up in middle school and I was asked to go there and frankly, I went there and...
And I didn't think I belonged there initially and I thought this is nuts man. And then after about two weeks, I really fell in love with middle school and I was there for as you know, know, a couple of decades.
But then, you know, a few years ago was, you know, was approached about coming out to Manchester Park. And I think it's partly because it's, it's the largest elementary in the Olathe district. So we have like 615, 18 kids out there. And so I'm, you know, I'm kind of used to a large population, you know, and Rick, plus it's also back in the, in that attendance area where you and I met, which was at Prairie
trail. So I was familiar with the community and you know really had a home there. Love the middle schools I'd been at but so that's how I ended up at Manchester and it's been it's honestly it's been a great at this stage of my career. It's been a tremendous rejuvenation of my brain. I think because sometimes you do something for a long time and you feel a little bit like you're on autopilot and so when an opportunity comes along where you
to stretch yourself a little bit, which is what I did. There was a lot of new learning. It has been an outstanding opportunity and I truly love it now. I absolutely do.
Rick Sola (04:49.856)It's interesting that you said you when you started at the middle school, you felt like you didn't belong. And I don't know that I ever shared this with you, the person that hired both of us, Dr. Yurkovich, who now I guess in some ways is kind of our boss all over again in a different way as board president. And I only shared this with her like within the last year, but that whole.
Jenny Steele (05:06.639)Follow her!
Rick Sola (05:15.49)I don't know want to say the whole first year, but that first year as assistant principal, I really wondered if I made a huge mistake on why did I leave the classroom and what I was doing I enjoyed and now I'm like fish out of water. And so to hear you say that kind of like didn't belong, like I really wonder if that's a very common feeling that a lot of us when we move into administration feel, but we don't you don't publicize that. That's that's that's not something you talk about. But
Jenny Steele (05:23.012)Yeah.
Rick Sola (05:45.614)Yeah, interesting to hear you say that.
Jenny Steele (05:49.047)Right, think absolutely that stretch to administration, when you're a teacher, feel like, you know, it's kind of, if you have that calling, you feel like it's a natural progression and you think, you know, I have my skills down and I think I, you know, kind of got it together and I can do that because I've watched others. And you don't, you have no idea what's coming to you until you're in that chair and in that position and you have to make those last, you know, put out the little fires and continue
to go and the next one comes at you. Some days are like that and that just takes a lot of you know it takes a lot of experience and practice and you're right we had a great mentor when we were both learning those roles and I I'm grateful for that because I really have I learned a lot when I was at Prairie Trail and that's helped me you know continue down this road.
Rick Sola (06:43.95)I don't even know if I want to say that you have a huge elementary school and it's you're actually a decent amount bigger than the middle school that I'm currently at. Just I mean that and I know that that your building is is the biggest there's a lot of growth out there that part of well Lenexa technically but Olathe School District.
Jenny Steele (06:48.983)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (06:57.103)Yeah.
Rick Sola (07:08.886)And so, but it's interesting, the reason why I thought this would be really great to have you on is Manchester Park in a district of, what do we have, elementary schools, you're one of two that have a Spanish immersion program, and you are now, I think your oldest kids are now fifth graders, fourth graders.
Jenny Steele (07:19.448)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (07:31.275)They're fourth graders. They're going to be fifth graders next year in the program.
Rick Sola (07:35.66)So I guess there's kind of a lot to the program, but I guess start us off with, I guess at its inception, this program that started with your current fourth graders as kindergartners, just a little bit of history to the Spanish immersion at Manchester.
Jenny Steele (07:52.175)Well, when I came aboard at Manchester, the Spanish Immersion kids were going into first grade. So I wasn't there for the opening of the program. And so I really can't speak directly to its opening.
I know that the our world language coordinator in the district, Mike Flint rope. He, mean this, he is, he's the heart of it. He truly is. He has a tremendous passion for this program and world language and world culture in general. And he is truly the driving force behind it. I, I would not be able to lead that program on my building with without him because he has such
tremendous insight. So, but as we've continued to grow, it's interesting in a building because it is a new program. The families involved are all very excited about it. It's, you know, we have a waiting list every year, but there are growing pains as with any program and this is still really kind of a new program because it's, like I said, that, you know, they're just going into next year will be the first year that will be K-5.
But there are some growing pains, but overall it's tremendously successful.
Rick Sola (09:18.232)What have been some of those challenges that you've worked through and maybe your first year, first year principal, really a big program and undertaking where we're at in the district, but what were some of those challenges that really presented themselves that maybe you feel like, we had them, we addressed them and we've gotten past them.
Jenny Steele (09:39.373)Well, I will say staffing is a bit of a challenge. And I think that was not probably recognized at the program's inception because these kids, they're half and half. They have a teacher who speaks English and they have a teacher who's fluent in Spanish.
primarily the Spanish speaking teacher, their native Spanish speakers. And those aren't always really easy to find. We've actually, the past three years have worked with KSDE on their visiting teacher program where they bring teachers from.
different countries to come over for a certain amount of time to teach specifically in that program. And that brings challenges.
because sometimes they'll these individuals come over and and and I'm not sure I mean they're given a ton of information from the state and from the district and of course at the building level but you know that's a big transition and and I think that it's it's tough I think it's a little tough for them to make and and some find maybe this isn't quite for me because they're leaving their families in another country to come over and so so that's a bit of a challenge.
Rick Sola (11:07.438)All right.
Yeah, no, I can imagine that. You mentioned that the students in class and you have the English teacher and a Spanish teacher. Is there kind of a percentage guideline that does it change over the course of their first grade, second grade that so much is in English in the class versus Spanish? Or what does that look like?
Jenny Steele (11:33.058)Okay, so in every grade level, so starting in kindergarten, the students are, say we start out with 44 kids, we'll say, okay, 42, it depends, you know, from year to year, but they're split into two groups.
And those groups, have half of their instruction in English and half of their instruction in Spanish. And then they flip, change classrooms, you know, halfway through the day. So all of their English language arts, of course, is in English. Their math and social studies and science, that's in Spanish. Then as, you know, when they start in kindergarten, it's a lot of
songs and movement and things like that just you know to get things rolling and to keep up with their busy little bodies and and keep them engaged as they continue to go through and then Then they start with some Spanish language arts as well But I will tell you it's pretty amazing to see that Their instruction is in Spanish. I mean, it's not just a little bit of a little bit of Spanish those teachers are using
Spanish the entire time and it's it's phenomenal to watch. It really is.
Rick Sola (12:55.84)Wow. For the students that are in the class, I guess I'm kind of jumping to an assumption that they are English speaking at home and when they go home, do you get a sense or get any feedback from parents that they're trying to also incorporate Spanish at home or is it really just for the most part they're at school and they go through the half and half and then at home they're, you know.
Jenny Steele (13:07.331)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (13:22.573)Well, it's, they, we are, lot of dual language programs, say, where, you know, it's Spanish and English, often they're created because we have Spanish speakers that are learning English. And this is, and that's a way to get them more involved in the academic content. This is really the reverse. Our students are all, for the most part, they're all English speakers, and they're learning Spanish. Now, most definitely we,
We have students who they do have Spanish spoken in the home and so they come in with some Spanish and so in those homes they you know then their home and they're they're speaking a lot of Spanish but the majority of ours are English speakers and there's English spoken in the home.
Parents tell me that, yeah, they utilize it at home. The kids come home and they talk about it and they'll talk in Spanish, but primarily in the home they're speaking English.
Rick Sola (14:24.142)Okay. You mentioned 44, 42, 44. What does that translate as far as sections? You have your second grade right now. Is it just one classroom or are there two classrooms or?
Jenny Steele (14:33.081)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (14:36.623)No, there are two classrooms. like I said, they're divided up. Say if you take in, you know, say we start with, you know, 42, then that means in each group they have 21.
And they are, yeah, two separate classrooms and the kids like they switch during the day. So the teachers don't switch, the kids do. And that's the right way to do it because the Spanish room is completely engulfed in, you know, culture and Spanish content. so that's a better way to do it because that way they're really kind of immersed with that within the physical environment, not just within the teaching portion of it.
Rick Sola (15:21.496)curious what that application process looks like. It sounds like there's some years where you have to make decisions and that can be challenging.
Jenny Steele (15:30.883)You mean for the students coming in? Yeah. So here's what it's a lottery system.
Rick Sola (15:32.942)Yeah, you said there's so many spots per year.
Jenny Steele (15:40.547)And so students, families, there's an application thing where they just sign up for the lottery. a student does, there are no certain qualifications, okay, for ability or, you know, how much Spanish they know, anything like that. It's truly a lottery. And we wait until after kindergarten enrollment is over before we close that lottery because some
Sometimes there are some families who come in for kindergarten enrollment and they're not aware of the program. So we certainly want to give everybody the opportunity to put their names in the lottery. I think ours closes next week and it is, I'll tell you, they are true to that lottery system. I say that because there's no favoritism played in there.
I've had, you know, we've had district staff members that say, hey, you know, can you get my kid into this program and that kind of stuff and they don't buy. They're they really I appreciate that about it because it really maintains the integrity of the program. And when we say it's a lottery, it is a lottery. The only exception to that is if a student is is, you know, chosen to be in the lottery, then their younger siblings, if they choose to are automatically
Rick Sola (16:44.685)Yeah.
Jenny Steele (17:05.931)a part of the program.
Rick Sola (17:09.484)I guess that's probably the best way, but maybe the only way to do it, because a lottery, it's fair. It's got to be accessible. I'm thinking of this in terms of like, I'm at the middle school, but we have our different levels of math and that sort of thing. Are there qualifications to stay, or is it really, I mean, this is just the program they're in, no matter what grade they're in, just like we would any other school.
Jenny Steele (17:25.763)Mm-hmm.
Rick Sola (17:36.28)They're going to second grade and it just happens to be now that you're in the immersion program. Are there qualifications that they need to maintain?
Jenny Steele (17:44.521)No, there are no qualifications like no particular performance criteria that they have to meet in order to stay in the program. We have students because keep in mind they start in kindergarten and we may have some students that even are identified to need some additional support as in know for their academics as they you know go through the grades and those are provided. So we
Yeah, there's no performance criteria. Now we do have some that...
As they go through the grade, sometimes the numbers go down a little bit. Okay, so like that 42 or whatever we started, won't have 42 of them in fifth grade is what I'm saying. People move and or some decide, some families, not very many though. Some make the determination that maybe this isn't right for their child, the transitions or the, you know, the dual language just isn't the right thing for their child and they may, you know, take their child out of the program honestly.
that's very few. I'll be honest, they normally really stay in it. It's a hard decision for them to make, particularly after they've been in it for a few years because...
Rick Sola (18:51.533)Sure.
Jenny Steele (19:01.007)those students like they stay together. It's this cohort, you know, and so they kind of have their own little family feel and the families get to know each other and so it's you know, it's a really tough decision for a family to make to say, you know, I'm not sure this is right for my child any longer. So
Rick Sola (19:05.099)Right.
Rick Sola (19:20.952)Those spots wouldn't be filled at that point you're in the program.
Jenny Steele (19:23.023)No, they're not filled like you can't come in and join in first grade and I'll have some families that move in and they know that we're a Spanish immersion.
building and say they're enrolling their second grader and they say, you know, I want my child to be a part of that. And that's not an option. The only exception, the only exception to that is if a student is moving to us from a dual language Spanish immersion program in another district.
I don't make that decision, but Mike Flinthorpe does because he really, he and they can't just put it down to say, yeah, we've had that. My kid, you know, has been in that program. He looks into any researches that the program that, you know, they're coming from to make sure that it's the right thing for their child. Because the last thing we want to do is to put a child in that program.
and they're not successful. Because the academics is, I mean, it's not all about learning Spanish, you know. You know, there's an academic piece we have, an obligation to make certain that the students are performing and staying up with their peers in the content of, you know, math primarily.
Rick Sola (20:41.73)Yeah, that's a really good point because it's easy just to focus on and think of kind of singularly like we're just learning the language, but you're learning content. You've got core subjects and you've got a curriculum to maintain and you happen to be learning it in two different languages. But certainly that's a big piece. Have you, do you notice anything with assessment scores or anything at all with this or?
Jenny Steele (20:52.995)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (21:06.607)Well, I'm glad you asked because we've been, you know, as you know, Kansas assessments for math and language arts won't start until third grade.
And so when we got our scores back this year from, you know, like last year's third graders, we were looking at those pretty closely because we wanted to make sure that they were staying up and they are. They're keeping up with their peers, which was, whoo, you know, a relief and was a joy and it was a celebration. But they are and we have the data to prove it that they are keeping up with their peers.
Rick Sola (21:34.936)Yeah.
Rick Sola (21:43.928)That's really great. Yeah, no, that would be, I can imagine a little bit of maybe nerves as you are about to open that email or that packet of scores that we're getting and hoping for. So yeah, no, excellent. You know, this time next year, and I know I'm sure the thinking about it is already occurring, but this time next year, you're on the cusp of passing on your first cohort to the middle school.
Jenny Steele (21:57.976)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (22:13.07)Hmm.
Rick Sola (22:14.956)Being at the middle school, now I'm not the receiving school here, but being at the middle school, I can imagine there's gotta be quite a bit of planning and thinking through of that. I'm sure it's still being built, but what is that gonna look like?
Jenny Steele (22:17.987)Right.
Jenny Steele (22:32.108)Well, at this time, and we've been in some conversations lately about that, frankly, because we do have a group that's getting closer to middle school and what's that going to look like. And as you can imagine, some.
Middle school teachers have had a little anxiety about it thinking what are we going to do with these kids? How can we meet that need? So when they get to middle school it looks different, much different than in elementary and this is the plan at the moment and I know things can change. And I'm not the one to make those decisions, keep that in mind. But at this time the plan is when the first cohort, when they go to middle school, and you're right it's just
just two middle schools, the feeders for our two buildings.
In sixth grade, they will have a higher level Spanish class as one of their electives. Their core classes, all their other classes, they're back in with all their peers and so they're not getting that core content instruction in Spanish. So they have a higher level Spanish class. It's still in development, by the way, and that's in...
in sixth grade and then in seventh and eighth it will continue. It will be a higher level Spanish class.
Rick Sola (24:01.902)Okay, well I'm gonna hold you to everything you're saying here and nothing better change as a result of this. No, I've been kind of curious and certainly, you know, it's awesome the history of this many years in now, but yeah, that transition and I know I have all the confidence, all the people you've mentioned, including yourself, it's gonna be great. It's just so many things to think through and you're not.
Jenny Steele (24:04.813)Well, I hope nobody ever does that, but okay.
Rick Sola (24:30.798)I always think about, or I worry about the unintended consequences. We can make decisions, but then what then results as part of those decisions? so, no, very interesting and just really cool and very unique. a district as large as Olathe, just one of two schools participating in this right now, and to be a part of that's really pretty special.
Are there any area, like do you have any sister schools that you kind of stay connected with as like, I didn't know if there was any connection that you're, you know, that's been through it before as a mentor, if you will.
Jenny Steele (25:09.967)So, not really me personally. I know that a great deal of research and visits with other schools who have been trying this from around the country, actually, I know they were involved and a part of creating the program here. I know, I personally went to a conference.
with some district folks a couple of years ago. And interestingly enough, one of the schools we went to, they had a dual language Spanish immersion program in an elementary school. And that just, wasn't intended, you know, that that's not what the conference is about. wasn't, that's not why I was there, but I did spend, I was able to spend time with that principal who's phenomenal. And so we were able to talk through, you know, some of
but they've had theirs going a little longer than us.
It was a great opportunity for me to sit down and talk with her about, these are some of the challenges maybe and that I've had and it's even we're in two different parts of the country and she had some of the same. And so I was able to ask her a lot of questions about how did you work through that? And she was still working through some of them. So we were able to really bounce ideas back and forth. Although I was pretty new to it, she'd been doing it longer. think we both really kind of got.
quite a bit out of that collaboration piece and that was a tremendous opportunity for me.
Rick Sola (26:44.322)You started at the top of this show, if you will, you talk about the growth and the stretching in new ways. Well, I mean, my goodness, this is, you know, aside from transitioning to a different level from the middle school after several years at the middle school, but going to an elementary school was such a unique, really neat, but unique program, too. So there's a lot a lot to take on there right at the outset. But, no, that's all really good. And I appreciate you sharing that.
Before we hear wrap up, we mentioned our shared mentor who I know had a tremendous impact on both of us. And whether it was her or maybe some of the other leaders that you've worked with through your career, have you received any advice that you just feel like, wow, it stuck with you, it kind of resonated with you that we could put on the air here?
Jenny Steele (27:14.147)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (27:34.305)Well, you know, I think I may have even said this in my little snippet of the podcast earlier.
Honestly, it was my dad. think about this all the time. because my dad many years ago was a superintendent in the state of Kansas in a smaller district. But he told me at one time, know, he says, Jenny, you're on any given day, there's going to be at least one person in your building that's going through a personal crisis. And you have to be compassionate and you have to understand.
and offer the support for them as human beings, but you also have a job to do. And that's to lead a school and to take care of all the kids there. Rick, I think about that quote, or that piece of advice every single day that I'm at work, because you know how things come at you and somebody's got this and they have this. And there are often times, I hate to say it, but there are often times that you're feeling a little worn down. You're like, man, I just, can't think about that right now. And I know you got a problem.
but we're gonna have to put that to the side. And I really, I remember that comment from my dad from years ago and it stuck with me and so that really, you that kind of gives me the motivation to make sure I'm listening and that I'm actively listening, not just kind of hearing what they're saying, but really taking it in and trying to figure out how best to work through those situations with folks.
Rick Sola (29:14.152)I love the compassionate focus on that because you said we still have the job to do and that's the hard. I've just discovered that repeatedly and maybe unfortunately, but any given school year there's really hard things that come up and there's really challenging situations, whether it's through the school or personal or whatever. The reality is the job doesn't stop, the building doesn't stop and it's
Jenny Steele (29:39.299)Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rick Sola (29:42.112)ultimately our responsibility to make sure that we are still fulfilling our, not just obligations, but expectations, responsibilities, and helping to put the best place, put our school in the best place moving forward. And sometimes that can be hard, or I always struggle with, I don't want it to come across that I'm being cold to something going on, but.
Jenny Steele (29:57.293)Right.
Rick Sola (30:08.364)based on what you just shared, now we have to do this, whatever that may be.
Jenny Steele (30:12.567)Right, and that's hard and I think also, and I've kind of learned this as I've gotten older, is I think also we have to give ourselves a little bit of grace and there are times when there's so much coming at you and you find yourself, maybe I'm responding in a tone that may not be the best for the whole situation and trying to remember that that tone you just gave somebody, that's what they're going to hang on to. And that's not what I want them to hang on to.
and they're not recognizing that I'm kind of worn out and I've got this other stuff going on that's really a big deal, you know? And the other one isn't. And so to give yourself a little grace to where you have to kind of take a minute.
Rick Sola (30:50.349)Right.
Jenny Steele (30:58.927)Even if it's closing your door for seven minutes just to kind of breathe a bit, maybe sometimes it's going out and getting yourself a sonic drink just to get some fresh air so you can come back and get your brain back together to meet the needs that everybody's relying on you to do.
Rick Sola (31:18.776)Yeah, that pause button was one that stuck with me years ago and it's valuable. Sometimes we need it in that Sonic drink. is, you know, it's a good, for me it's quick trip. It's right down the road. And if I need to go make a run just to clear your head and come back more refreshed or whatever, but no, that's fantastic. Okay, two more things before we go. First of all, thank you for your contribution to
Jenny Steele (31:20.856)Yeah.
Jenny Steele (31:30.637)Yeah.
Rick Sola (31:46.536)this podcast, but KPA and truly what it's intended for, which is principals across the state to hear from and learn from and the sitcom perspective you did back in October. you what is the KPA meant to you as you participate in last several years?
Jenny Steele (31:51.257)Mm-hmm.
Jenny Steele (32:03.503)Thank
Well, here's what I will say and I mean this wholeheartedly. I'm a small town girl, okay? I'm up here in Johnson County, I know, and I love it up here. I love it. I'm in this big district that has given me tremendous opportunities. I mean, and I truly mean that. But I'm from Pittsburgh, Kansas, okay? I'm from Southeast Kansas. That's where I grew up. I'm a small town kind of person.
What I think we often forget up here in this corner of the state is that this little portion of the state is not at all like the rest of the state of Kansas. And I always want to try to keep that, you know, that ground, that center.
that it's not all about the hustle and bustle up here. And I love hearing from administrators from smaller districts. And sometimes I'll get on some, you know, some like state Zoom things and just to listen. And I love hearing from those folks because we have the same concerns and issues. They're at different levels and they're with different communities.
But it helps keep me grounded to know that somebody in Columbus, Kansas is dealing with the same stuff. They may not have all the resources we do, okay? Or they may. But it's important to know how people in other demographics and in other communities in Kansas that are much smaller than we are, how they're working through things. Because you know what? There are lot of really great administrators in the state of Kansas. And sometimes we get shielded
Jenny Steele (33:43.249)from that up here in our corner of the state. And KPA gives me opportunities so I can listen to that or I can read about it. And that is truly important to me.
Rick Sola (33:56.502)I love the answer because it just resonates exactly how I feel. I grew up in this area and I've worked my whole career here. Love it. Opportunities, everything that you just said. But the connections I've been able to make through this and the conversations I've been able to have through different parts, through people from different parts of the state, there's a comfort but there's a learning.
And you mentioned the hustle and bustle and sometimes it feels like that hustle and bustle can almost just kind of, you know, we're focused at the trees rather than like pull back here and look statewide. And truly, I have said it on here before, but that's really the point of this is just to share the story that's happening in the buildings all across the state because we have so much in common and it's really great to hear that. And so I love everything you said and it really, really resonates.
Before we go, Manchester Park, and I'm familiar with that community, because the middle school I was at before, I've fed right into it. Brag on Manchester Park and all the great things going on, all the great people that are up there.
Jenny Steele (34:58.735)Right? Yep.
Jenny Steele (35:05.071)You know what? Manchester Park is an awesome place. OK, I mean I know when people hear that we have 615 or whatever kids up there, they're like, oh my gosh, that's huge. But the building was built to accommodate that many students were not bursting at the seams. mean, we're OK. We don't we don't need any more right now, but I'm not going to be wrong, but we're doing just fine. Our class sizes are good. I have teachers up there. I have a tremendous mix.
of experienced teachers and new teachers. I've probably got, I don't know how many there are, maybe 10, 12 that have been there since the building opened. Rick, Manchester Park opened the same year Prairie Trail did. And yeah, so, and I remember that because I remember when we opened and Manchester opened the same year because they were a feeder. And so that says a lot that you've had people that have been there 21 years.
Rick Sola (35:48.857)wow. Okay.
Jenny Steele (36:04.943)and they're sticking around and they still are enthusiastic about it. A lot of them bring their own kids up there to have their own families a part of Manchester Park. That means a lot. And for a building who's been open, say 21 years, you we've had three principals up there. And so that, in my opinion, is a great testament to the community and that, you know, people want to stay there. Our turnover with teachers is really pretty low.
Of course, people move and they want to move on to other opportunities to refresh their brain just like I did, you know? And I'm all for that and I support people and I want to help them be where they want to be. Our kids are, they're awesome kids. We run into glitches every day like every school in the world. But they, you know, they have good families. We have a tremendous family support system up there and I've...
I really tried to embrace that, especially over the past few years to see what all they can actually bring for us in regard to support for the kids. Today I was up there, we're getting ready for our.
You know, today we're getting ready for our special showcase, which is next week. We have so many parent volunteers up there. They are decorating that school like you wouldn't believe, getting all the artwork up and getting things together. And those are just people just breaking their backs, man. I mean, I said I couldn't get up and down off the floor that quickly, you know, to do all that stuff. And I'm so grateful that you're here. So that's it. It really is a great a great community.
Rick Sola (37:36.384)I love the word glitches. I don't know why and maybe I don't know that I've, mean, I just haven't applied it to the school setting, but what a great kind of word. Yeah, sometimes kids just make glitchy decisions, you know, and that's where I love that you chose sitcom rather than like drama or tragedy or, know, something awful.
Jenny Steele (37:47.651)Yeah, that's right. That's right.
Jenny Steele (37:58.871)yeah.
Rick Sola (38:00.718)Because it is, can be very, and truly I do believe this, and actually a different mentor early on that I worked with said, you gotta laugh. If you can't laugh, then the job could eat you alive. You gotta be able to laugh and find some humor and comedy, and there are some sitcom-y moments. Well, Jenny, I really appreciate you taking the time. At the end of a very long week, and you know, we're just.
Jenny Steele (38:21.698)Absolutely.
Rick Sola (38:29.26)you know, several weeks till the end of the school year, but those several weeks feel like about two quarters sometimes with all the events and things that are going to be coming up and it'll all be great. But thanks for sharing about the Spanish immersion at Manchester Park and good connecting with you and have a nice, nice long weekend.
Jenny Steele (38:36.847)That's true.
Jenny Steele (38:49.549)Yeah, I hope you have a great weekend and it's always good to talk with you, Rick. Anytime, Zola, okay? All right, bye-bye.

CC#60: A Principal's Perspective - Casey Seyfert - Lower your stress by connecting with kids!! Be involved!

Perspective Topic:  Lower your stress by connecting with kids!!  Be involved!
Mr. Casey Seyfert
Principal 7-12
Beloit Jr. Sr. High
USD 273
X = @caseyfert
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.
 

CC#59: A Principal's Perspective - Bryan Kindle - Staying Positive Amongst Chaos

Perspective Topic: Staying Positive Amongst the Chaos
Bryan Kindle
Asst. Principal/Athletic Director
California Trail Middle School
@OlatheSchools
The stresses in administration can be tough to navigate. Here is my perspective on how to stay positive, bring the energy, and make the most of everyday.
---------------------------------------
We want to hear from you--take 2 minutes (or less) and click HERE to contribute!
YOUR FEEDBACK ON COOL COFFEE IS APPRECIATED! 
Leave show suggestions, guest recommendations, questions HERE!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service.
Read more about the KPA HERE.