Issue 44: Numbers
Noun. An arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity and used in counting.
Image Description: The author is wearing a blue jumpsuit with white polka dots and white sneakers standing in front of the Capital building in Washington, DC. Picture by Kat Ling.
Check-In:
“Numbers don’t lie”
“The truth is in the numbers”
Grading every school came to be the norm as I became a principal in NYC in 2006. I remember the level of anxiety I felt waiting for my school’s grade. Once the report card was released I remember spending hours looking at the sets of data, analyzing where we were successful and where we needed spaces for improvement. This is when I learned the terms, “data-driven instruction” and “subgroups.” To be more strategic and focused, principals were urged to understand their data and make instructional decisions based on it.
Looking back now, I felt like I was doing more admiring of the data versus using it to create and develop innovative action planning. I also learned that numbers in fact do NOT tell the full story and can be easily manipulated to tell any type of story you want to tell. I needed the combination of the numbers as well as the stories behind the numbers to create a plan targeted toward my students who needed it the most.
Last week I visited a series of lawmakers in Washington, DC to advocate for increased spending to support K12 education and educators. Also last week, the Texas state exam results (known as STAAR) were released to superintendents. As we talked to lawmakers we were encouraged to leverage data with stories to ask for more money. Texas superintendents are currently doing the same story crafting.
From the classroom to the capital, numbers rule everything around us. The question is what we do with those numbers and how we continue to bring to light all aspects of the story.
What action are you taking as a result of looking at your numbers?
#mondaymotivation: “Number rules the universe.” — Pythagoras
Interview with a Leader of the Global Majority:
Jeremy was the Director of Language, Culture, and Equity of a medium-sized district in Colorado for over ten years. Another part of my interview with Jeremy is in Issue 18- Language. The comments below are Jeremy’s and do not reflect the opinions of his district.
Mary: I'm curious, what would you say is one thing you’ve learned or unlearned since being in the role?
Jeremy: And the one thing I've learned is that I refuse to have people enjoy the stories without committing to the action.
Jeremy: And so I always tell people, "Yeah, I'm happy to get a group of people together once you've committed to the action. So act first."
Jeremy: "Be in community later. But I told you what you need to know. I showed you the data. I've told you the stories. What are we going to do about it?" And then once the commitment's followed through, then I know people are serious, and that's an ally. An ally isn't a story time with Jeremy.
Jeremy: That's performative and I had to learn the difference.
** **HELP! HELP! Please let me know if you would like to be interviewed and/or recommend someone to be profiled in this section. I need new interviews! ****
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To:
READING: Come and Get It by Kiley Reid is an interesting commentary on college life and the dynamics that happen when various cultures are forced together in a college dorm room. Warning: This is a character-driven story with little plot and few fully likable characters. You can find a full list of my book recommendations here. Please note that I am an affiliate with Bookshop.org and receive a small compensation for your purchase when you use the book links provided.
WATCHING: I finally finished the 3rd session of Abbott Elementary. This show continues to make me laugh OUT LOUD while being an honest representation of the everyday life of staff in a public school and now that Janine is working at the district, the district-school dynamics make the storyline even better.
LISTENING TO: The link between hair relaxers and health disorders in Black women has been building for decades. This New York Times Magazine article can be read or listened to providing some insights into the harms and asking the question of why these products are still being marketed despite the health risks.
How to Continue to Support Leading-Within:
Go to Amazon and rate or review the book there! Reviews are a great way for others to see that this book is worth the time to read.
Post about the book on social media using the hashtag #leadingwithin. Even better if it includes a picture of you WITH the book!
Host a book club with your affinity/ERG group. Two study guides are also available on the ASCD website - one for leaders of color and one for white co-conspirators that are perfect for starting a group conversation. For book clubs with participants who have purchased and committed to reading the book, please reach out to me so I can support your journey!
Connect with me to speak to your organization or group about topics covered in the book, like ‘practicing love and rage’, ‘building a coalition’, and ‘taking a stand’.
If this is your first time reading, please go back and read my Introductions post.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. If you like it, please share it with your network!