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Sevenzo invites all educators and school staff to take part in The Gratitude Experiment mini challenge to create a school community focused on gratitude and appreciation. Find out more and how to accept the challenge at Sevenzominichallenge.org

In this chat, Superintendent Houston Barber and CAO Ron Chi of Frankfort, KY lead a conversation among administrators and educators about strategies for building a culture of understanding, belonging and appreciation for all our students.

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Next Live Chat: The Gratitude Experiment: Real Teacher Results

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Next Live Chat: The Gratitude Experiment: Real Teacher Results

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How can simple acts of gratitude improve outcomes for students and school communities alike?

This month, Sevenzo invites educators and school staff to take part in the #GratitudeExperiment to create a school community focused on gratitude and appreciation. Join Kentucky teacher Rebecca Reynolds in a live video chat on Monday, May 1 at 8:00pm Eastern to learn more!

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sevenzo live chat: the gratitude experiment: real teacher results

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sevenzo live chat: the gratitude experiment: real teacher results tickets

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Sevenzo Live Chat: The Gratitude Experiment: Real Teacher Results

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How can simple acts of gratitude improve outcomes for students and school communities alike? This month, Sevenzo invites educators and school staff to take part in the #GratitudeExperiment to create a school community focused on gratitude and appreciation. Join Kentucky teacher Rebecca Reynolds in a live video chat on Monday, May 1 at 8:00pm Eastern to learn more!

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Recommended Reading | The Butterfly Effect

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Recommended Reading | The Butterfly Effect

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How do teachers' interactions with students help them change the world?

Superintendent Houston Barber invited his administrative team to read and discuss the Butterfly Effect to create a systemic and purposeful culture of appreciation. He reflected on the importance of recognizing individuals and how they contribute to the broader community.

A 15 minute read!

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the butterfly effect: how your life matters

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self-help / motivational & inspirational

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The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters

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The decisions you make and the way you treat others have more impact than you may ever realize. Speaker and New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews shares a compelling and powerful story about a decision one man made over a hundred years ago, and the ripple effect it's had on us individua...

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The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters
Product by HarperCollins Christian Pub. ~ Andy Andrews (author) More about this product

List Price: | $15.99
Price: | $7.13
You Save: | $8.86 (55%)

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- Geneva Stark, Human Resources at Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky on why appreciation for teachers belongs at the forefront.

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Principal Diane Hatchett collaborates with teachers and students each year to celebrate school staff through written thank-you notes and creating a presentation celebrating teachers.

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New teacher induction and professional development are opportunities for early and ongoing support for teachers and recognition of their contributions to the school community. 

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New teacher induction and professional development are opportunities for early and ongoing support for teachers and recognition of their contributions to the school community. 

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Geneva Stark reflected on how she thinks about growing leaders in her role at Human Resources at Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky

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How do you build trust with teachers as an administrator?

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How do you build trust with teachers as an administrator?

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Trust your teachers
Thank and recognize them for what they do well
Provide them with resources and support for their growth

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If you have teachers that never have their voice recognized, how are they going to make individual students feel like their voices are valued?

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If you have teachers that never have their voice recognized, how are they going to make individual students feel like their voices are valued?

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Ron Chi reflected on the importance of a system that recognizes all voices.

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Tune in
Be present
Respond
Acknowledge
Do something

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- Ron Chi on recognizing the magical things that are happening at every level in a school system.

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When teachers share their voice, what can administrators do next?

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When teachers share their voice, what can administrators do next?

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Appreciate the response
Formalize next steps
Presentations
Connections
Support from a network
Policy change

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The students are watching what we do and not just what we say.

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The students are watching what we do and not just what we say.

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Geneva Stark shared the importance of modeling a positive, supportive  environment between the adults in a school, even if it's as simple as a warm greeting in the hallway.

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When the school has celebrations, personally invite school staff who might not be included. Bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, crossing guards-- you never know who is going to touch a student's life.

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Inspired by this book, Houston Barber replaced his daily to do list with a gratitude list.

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They also witness the most remarkable transformation that takes place when Spark finally chooses to adopt an orange way of life. Not only does his own personal satisfaction and productivity increase, these same results slowly start to ripple out to the other frogs in the pond.

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Idea to Try | The Gratitude List: Ditch the Deficit

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Idea to Try | The Gratitude List: Ditch the Deficit

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Every day, make a list of what you are thankful for that day. Instead of a to-do list, think about what progress you've made and who helped you reach your goals.

Houston Barber swears by it! As a goal-driven superintendent, he loved how it helped him stop thinking about the deficit and instead reflect on the positive progress he was seeing in his community.

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Houston Barber reflects on how other countries recognize teachers through systematic support for their learning and growth.

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We have the best and the brightest right there in our building. We can learn from each other.

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We have the best and the brightest right there in our building. We can learn from each other.

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Dr. Diane Hatchett of Hancock County Middle School in Kentucky gives her teachers the floor to lead professional development for their peers.

During weekly PLCs and early release days four times a year, teachers lead planning and professional development. They also have a day to take turns sharing present their best practices and ideas in their classrooms.

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Administrators reflected on how recognizing the individual contributions of teachers helps them build stronger teams.

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A culture of improvement -- not defend and deny

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A culture of improvement -- not defend and deny

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Houston Barber shared how a culture of gratitude resulted in teachers sharing expertise with each other and having a platform to invent

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How do you give teachers a platform to invent?

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How do you give teachers a platform to invent?

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Time for collaborative peer learning opportunities
Regular home visits with a district social worker
A summer institute where teachers share their best practices

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It's amazing to see the progress that students are starting to make.

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It's amazing to see the progress that students are starting to make.

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Teacher leader Stephanie Starkey discussed the transformation she saw in her school as a result of a culture of appreciation. The sense of community amongst the staff and support through targeted resources made all the difference.

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There used to be this divide. Everyone was scared to share what they were doing in their classroom and shut the door. Now, it's: what can we do together to make sure that every single child in this building gets as much as possible?

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There used to be this divide. Everyone was scared to share what they were doing in their classroom and shut the door. Now, it's: what can we do together to make sure that every single child in this building gets as much as possible?

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Stephanie Starkey shared the refreshing shift she's seen in her 14 years as a teacher in Frankfort, Kentucky. When a mental health crisis arises, she knows her team is there for her.

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A culture of gratitude is beneficial to mental health for students -- and teachers

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A culture of gratitude is beneficial to mental health for students -- and teachers

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When administrators and teachers work together as a team, schools are a better place for everyone to feel safe and thrive.

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Superintendent Houston Barber has implemented an initiative for our district: 3:1 supports. This means every student in the district will receive academic supports, social/emotional supports, and access to opportunity.

Various academic programs are utilized in our district such as Benchmark to Literacy and Summit Schools.

Our district has partnered with a local counseling center who has offices in our K-8 building that offers counseling for all students, staff and families. We are also starting to work with My Life My Power in our schools.

For access to opportunity, students are partnered with a community mentor in an area of interest and high school students have internship opportunities at local businesses in their area of interest.

Because of the 3:1 supports, each and every student is important. Each has value; each is worthy of all opportunities.

- Heidi Givens

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There are administrators walking the individualized walk, and we're telling them -- join us! We really can impact systems and ultimately impact children. 

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There are administrators walking the individualized walk, and we're telling them -- join us! We really can impact systems and ultimately impact children. 

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Ron Chi called on administrators to continue learning about what's happening in Frankfort and across the country.

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