Friday marked the end of my tenth year in education and the end of my second year as Principal at Equitas Academy #3. It was an exhausting year, and in many ways was much more challenging than our founding year. Our school doubled in size, we moved to a less than ideal space, and we worked with a far more difficult group of Kindergarteners. Despite all that our team finished the year more united than ever. Our academic results were even stronger than the 2015-2016 academic year. We rose to the challenge. Here are some of my principal life and runner life highlights from the 2016-2017 academic year.
August
Our growing team at Summer Professional Development.
September
Alaina and I with our returning scholars and new Kindergarteners on day one.
I ran the Ventura Half Marathon the Sunday after the first week of school. I won the race in 1:24, a PR at the time.
Later that month we were challenged to recruit families to come with us to City Hall for the public hearing for our permanent facility. Cecilia, our School Operations Manager, recruited 70+ families in less than two days.
Our future home.
October
Our kindergarten class this year was, to put it nicely, needy. October was rough. This is how we deal with challenge. Impromptu love notes in the work room.
Because of how well the Ventura Half went, I decided to go for a sub-3 at Long Beach. I was in disbelief when I crossed the line in 2:58.
Chapter books with our 1st graders.
First batch of rain. Leaking from the light.
Community Meeting had to be moved indoor. It was virtual for the next few months.
Later that month we hosted a Fall Festival at school, planned by the amazing Gabby Vega.
November
This happened. Still not quite over it. A lot of fear and tears in our school community.
Mama and Papa came to LA for Thanksgiving. Here we are driving around LA in convertible.
Staff Thanksgiving Potluck
December
Yup, still not over the political mess.
The rain continued. Ruined our Winter Festival. Commonwealth (our building) was a hot mess, both inside and out. LA is not equipped for rain. Leaky classrooms, outdoor lunch tables, puddles. I love rain, but it was really hard having multiple classrooms out of commission and having kids eat lunch in their classrooms for weeks.
No rain on this day! Won the Santa Monica Christmas Run 10K in 39-something. Spent the holidays in Michigan with all the nieces and nephews!
January
We find out our building won’t be ready in the fall and apply for space at a district school. Telling the families was no fun.
This trip was much needed. Went to Dallas with Alaina and spent the weekend at Deloitte learning all things leadership. Especially loved their treadmill desk 🙂
Running Mom Kathy got married. Of course we went for a run morning of the reception.
Spirit week at school. This kiddo somehow found a way to wear a wig everyday.
Alaina, Cecilia, and I drove to Long Beach in torrential rain for a Chinese Take-out Cooking Class.
Yup, still raining.
February
100th Day of School = 100 Years Old Spirit Day
Ran the Surf City half on Super Bowl Sunday. Ran a 1:23, and finished 3rd.
Women’s March in Downtown LA.
March
Visiting Carmen in Palm Springs.
Kara Goucher at the LA Marathon Expo.
April
We accepted placement at an LAUSD District School, and faced weeks of protests both at our site and the Equitas flagship site.
Spring Break in Michigan and Ohio. Here we are in Magnolia, Alaina’s hometown.
And in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Boston! 2:58. Was hoping for a PR, but the conditions weren’t great. Ran a smooth and controlled run. Loved every minute of the race. Maybe a little too excited at mile 25?
Spending $180,000 on furniture for our permanent facility.
May
NYC for Rexetta’s 1st Birthday
EQ3 Team Retreat in Palm Springs.
Dinner with my Columbia besties!
Joined Excelencia’s Board.
June
Brent runs a 3:40 at the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon!
Mustache Day.
Placed 3rd and ran sub-6 pace at the LA Galaxy 5K.
Last day of school sign language performances.
Erica with a Kindergartener who scored a 200 on the MAP test. Those of you in education KNOW this is a big deal. We ended the year with 91% of our 1st graders and 98% of Kindergarteners reading above grade-level. We surpassed our MAP goals with 93% of scholars meeting or exceeding their math goal, and 84% meeting or exceeding in reading.
I wish I could say I have the summer off. The principal life goes year round. (Although I’m pretty excited about getting to work at 8 instead of 6:30) Summer is a time to reflect and plan. It’s a time to set new goals, to prove we can strengthen as we grow. Happy Summer 🙂