There's a reason that the word people comes first in our CCISD guiding principles and our people are really the purpose behind an upcoming podcast series titled CCISD to the Fullest. Here's a preview of some of the rules of the road, so to speak, from CCISD employees who are living or striving to live CCISD to the fullest.
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Speaker 1
There's a reason that the word people comes first in our CCISD guiding principles and our people are really the purpose behind an upcoming podcast series titled CCISD to the Fullest. Hey everyone, it's Lindsey Hunt communications specialist for CCISD Thanks for joining me. As we listen to a preview of some of the rules of the road, so to speak, from CCISD employees who are living or striving to live CCISD to the fullest.
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Speaker 1
Let's start with Kathy Donaho. She's an aerospace engineer by trade and now proudly serves as the administrative assistant to Principal Ashley Orr at Clear Creek High School. Let's take a listen to some advice Kathy had to share with our principals.
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Speaker 2
So one thing that that is always important, I feel for principals and and I tried to do this every day, allow them to rely on their assistants. You know, a lot of times principals and I completely understand and I try to make sure that I don't just say something because that's what we've been doing all along. Make sure you have good communication.
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Speaker 2
A good example was when Jamie took over because he took over in the spring and Mr. Bockart had been principal at first and we had been a team for four years, I think. And so when he came in, I said, I'm going to try not to just tell people the answer. I'm going to try to to make sure that your answer is the same as Mr. Bockart’s
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Speaker 2
answer. But so a line of communication is always important, and it's always good to rely on your assistant, because if they've been there a while, they can help you with things so that would be one. I'll always be honest, it's always important to me. And the third would be try to leave by three on Fridays. No.
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Speaker 3
That's good advice.
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Speaker 1
Is a really good.
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Speaker 2
Gonna have a football game. You're going to have a baseball game, you're going to have a something and you've got a long night ahead. So hopefully they can leave by three on Fridays. That's always our goal.
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Speaker 1
So Kathy's last piece of advice, it's a good one. We all know it's not always possible, but it's a great goal. And one of many of the rules of the road to living CCISD to the fullest. Now let's meet Jordan Pavelik. Jordan is a second year, third grade math, science and social studies teacher at Parr Elementary.
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Speaker 1
She opened up about her unlikely path to becoming a teacher, what her first year was like, and some of the strategies she adopted to overcome some of her first year obstacles. And we're so honored that she did. Here's Jordan sharing some advice on how she prevents burnout and how she works to fill her star bars
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Speaker 3
To prevent burnout. So last year, like I will say, I was extremely burned out because first year teacher, I would love to have counted over time hours I spent at school. The Saturday , the Sundays I spent, and as awful as it sounds, it was worth it. It paid off. And I think that that's one thing I would always tell myself is you are grinding now.
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Speaker 3
So next year it's not as hard. And I'm so thankful I did that because now I can actually clock out at 345. Some days I don't have to sit and prep self because I did it all last year. So as hard as it is that first year to want to stay to do all this, it makes your life so much better in the next years knowing that, Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I made all those stations for math class because now I can just say, Oh, I had those already done, I'm done.
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Speaker 3
And then finding stuff that makes you forget about work, like you have to have an out What’s your out?. What do you like to do? I first I'm a gym girl, so I I like to go to the gym. But also like my weekends are my weekends and I am seldomly in my house on my weekends because that's why I like to call it like filling my stars.
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Speaker 3
Like you have five stars that you need to fill every day. And so my weekends. So even if I guess so, we would start by filling your buckets. But like I like fill my stars every day. So some weeks, you know, you're not going to get your five stars. And I'm like, weekends are my time. I'm going to fill up my star bars, so I am going to go.
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Speaker 3
So it is, it's finding those moments and being able to like decide this is that moment that makes me happy. So I need to make more of it.
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Speaker 1
Awe. Thanks, Jordan. I'm confident in saying that filling your star bars is definitely a rule of the road to help those striving to live CCISD to the fullest. And finally, there's Greg Cruthirds, the director of purchasing for CCISD. Greg is an avid saltwater fisherman and has been his whole life. His love of the water stems from quality time spent with his grandfather every summer while growing up.
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Speaker 1
Although he may not share all of his fishing secrets, Greg has learned some important lessons on the water that translate to his time in CCISD Let's take a listen.
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Speaker 4
I think one of the first lessons that fishing teaches you is patience, because as you mentioned earlier, that the fish are on their own schedule, the tides are on their own schedule. The weather does what the weather's going to do. And so that makes you kind of step back and realize that you're a part of a bigger picture as opposed to having control of everything in your life.
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Speaker 4
You have to let go of some of that control, just let things come to you sometimes. And so that gives me a sense of balance in that way. Another thing I would say is that I've taken more joy as time has gone on and been teaching my fishing skills to my children and my friends. And so I think any time you can you can teach something that you have a level of expertise in and you kind of give that back.
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Speaker 4
Then it comes back to a more ways and more. Yeah. And maybe tenfold with what you so I've as I've kind of indicate, I've caught all the fish that I've ever really targeted in my life at this point. And so now it's more fulfilling to me to see through my kids eyes or through my friends eyes that haven't done that yet.
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Speaker 4
I would say that you need to really enjoy what you're doing and have that sense of being helpful and bringing your best every day.
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Speaker 1
Well, that's all for today. I hope you've enjoyed hearing from a few of your colleagues, and I'm excited to say there's more to come. We'll share more rules of the road and helpful resources on living CCISD to the fullest coming soon. Thanks for listening and stay tuned.