Hello Dynamic Leaders,

I had an opportunity to reflect on an awesome experience afforded me by founder of The LeadHERship Roundtable, Dr. Dionne Cowan. Dr. Cowan had the foresight to create a platform for women in leadership that allows unobstructed access to leaders who share their leadership journey. I was asked to be the inaugural speaker for this effort and I was honored to participate. The atmosphere created in the "suite" was one of safety and inquiry where women in leadership could exchange backstories and learn from the collective experiences. In my 28 plus years in education and 22 years in leadership, it often boggles my mind the lessons (good, bad or indifferent) that I've been able to learn. It is our leadership responsibility to pay the lessons forward to those who are currently in the work or those who "have next" so they can soar even higher than we were able. What I most appreciated were the questions that pushed me to think deeply about my leadership challenges and solutions, devoted mentors and their impact, my contribution to the field and my thoughts on how to determine your next steps. We move so quickly through this life that we sometimes miss the chances afforded us to reflect and gauge where we are in our pursuit of self actualization. Hours after the exchange, I found myself still pondering my responses and also celebrating the dynamism of women in leadership. I see how our vulnerability, compassion and care, undaunted pursuit of excellence, and fortitude, will continue to thrust us even higher in our leadership pursuits.  I applaud, Dr. Dionne Cowan for birthing such a forum and for the opportunity to pay my story forward. I was blessed richly by the exchange and I hope all women in leadership will accept the charge to surround yourself with women who will mentor, cover, encourage, uplift, breathe life, speak truth and support you as we move to our divine destiny. I am humbled and thankful to have been a part of such a DYNAMIC group of women. 

Dr.Emily Abrams Massey

Dynamic Leaders,
As principal, I often asked my teachers a simple question: How do you want to be remembered? Although simple, the question necessitated and required teachers to reflect on the relationships forged with students and parents and whether they would be remembered as a help or a hindrance. Recently one of my former teachers, Thomas Gumes, called me to express that almost 9 years after a student left our care, the student had written an essay for entry into Princeton University. He wrote about his 3rd grade experience and how this teacher helped him to quell his overwhelming fear of mathematics and consistently encouraged him to give his absolute best effort in all content areas. Mr Gumes stayed in contact with this student for years and attended football games and other school events to continue his mentorship. He immediately called me to share that he now knew why as principal I always asked that question and why I required teachers and all staff to treat our children as they would expect their own to be treated. He was also vulnerable in saying that it was such an emotional moment when he read the Princeton University essay because he had a tangible indicator of what impact, care, compassion and mentorship really meant.  Life truly is a boomerang and the laws of reciprocity are real and inevitably experienced. 

As we proceed with supporting our students, parents and teacher teams how will we be remembered? Did we breathe life into all who are in our care and help them reach their highest level of potential?  Our impact will resonate with our students and teacher teams for decades to come. The picture attached is my mom, Johnnie Mae Abrams and an amazing tribute from one of her 1st grade students 50 plus years after being in her classroom. Her student vividly remembers her care and impact and references her in speeches he makes all over the state.  My mother is 81 years young and still recalls her students by name and reaches out those she has contact information. Has your INFLUENCE on your constituency resulted in success evidenced by achievement and fond memories of caring culture of support and high expectations?

​I challenge all dynamic leaders to ask yourself this simple question: How WILL you be remembered? 

Emily A. Massey, Ed, D.

Earlier this year, I had the charge of creating an experience for our district's Aspiring AP Program participants and the AP mentors. I knew the importance of having an experience that would allow for them to apply the knowledge they received from district experts on the key performance tasks that leaders must how competence as it relates to Managing Operations. The aspiring APs and mentors were blown away with the magnitude of dependency on all departments to make sure systems work together to support schools. As we all prepare for Day One 2018, it is imperative that we fine tune and create all needed systems, process, protocols, and procedures needed for a seamless day one. Always remembers, if we fail to build systems, we will spend an entire year running to create systems. Have a great Day One 2018.

Dynamic Leaders,

 The STEP UP Foundation had  its inaugural conference in Atlanta at the Arthur Blank Foundation this weekend.  The conference theme was " I Dream To....Turning Dreams into Reality." Walking into this beautifully appointed space,  I had no idea that I would receive a mentoring epiphany and experience the reciprocity I  needed for recalibration and reset of my role as associate superintendent, mentor and as a woman.   I was fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as one of five panelists who would kick off the event and set the imperative for the importance of mentoring young women. I was also surrounded with mentors from all backgrounds and professions that ranged from pediatricians, ER doctors,  to educational consultants, attorneys,  elected officials, stay at home moms, COOs, and senior management of top corporations. As each of us told our stories of how mentoring impacted us, it was clear that we can not make this journey in life without appropriate mentorship. As we engaged the 60 ninth and tenth grade students from South Atlanta HS, Washington HS, and Banneker HS, you could see that that the uniqueness of our stories resonated at some level with all of them and created a connection that would forever become etched in their very being. One panelist, Lydia Glaize, elected official and co-chair of the Aerotropolis Education collaborative, spoke on the "indirect and direct mentors" that will come into your life and mentees have to be able to take all "crumbs" and nuggets of wisdom dropped and turn it in to something to impact our lives positively. The Mayor of East Point, GA, Deana Ingraham, spoke on the how her law professors gave her mantras that she always carried with her like  the three P's for success being preparation, preparation, and more preparation. Linda Brigham spoke on the importance of her mother as her first role model and mentor Nancy Flake-Johnson, CEO of the Urban League, thanked Linda for mentoring her and giving substantive advice and guidance in securing corporate support for the Urban League. As I stood to speak, I could not help but take the girls through my extensive listing of women who saw something in me that I didn't see in myself, what laid dormant and needed to be ignited and what skills and traits that needed to be developed in me.  I spoke of my mother's 49 year requirement of me to be strong, yet sweet and kind, I was also able to speak to several dynamic woman that kept me on a positive path. I spoke the names of Mrs. Everett and Mrs. Coleman, two of my elementary teachers, Deloris Bryant Booker, Brenda Bridges, Barbara Grainger, Jeanne Wood, Gwendolyn Miller-Smith and Barbara Naylor Hill, Pamela Hall, and Meria Carstarphen all women that put and kept me on the path to leadership. As panelists, we were clear to point out that mentors would come in both genders and we have to be able to recognize mentors through their confidence, influence, compassion, and desire to help you achieve what is BEST for you. After we hugged all of the mentors and mentees after the panel, we met in the hallway for a quick picture and a moment to say how in awe we were of each other. At that point of epiphany, I saw that every positive influence and mentor had led me to this amazing moment and I would be forever changed by it. I saw that exposure, access and representation matter tremendously. It also validated that paying it forward is not an option, it's the imperative.  I thank APS partnerships, the StepUp team and the OATH Foundation for such an awe-inspiring event. I will forever do my best to STEP UP! #iStepUp @SUWN

@Principaldynami @DrEmilyAMassey
I recently had the honor and pleasure to attend the Scholastic Literacy Summit. Karen Mapp, Author and Harvard Professor, was one of the keynote speakers and she emphasized that no longer can we allow generational disrespect of our families to prevail, instead  there must be an enduring partnership where parents learn how to support their student's mastery and growth. The data she expressed on attendance and academic performance was compelling. What resonated and stayed with me after the presentation was that family engagement is not an add-on but a key factor in student learning. Dynamic Leaders, How do you engage your families?

This week the principals of the Jackson and Douglass Clusters hosted our first TweetMeet and it was awesome! Please take a moment to go to #PrincipalDynamiChat and contribute to the conversation. I want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and great dialogue. Have a great week! Reply below if you have feedback on the TweetMeet2.
Again, thank you! Emily Massey

The Principal Dynamic @PrincipalDynami
Continuous Improvement Cycle/Model
Dynamic Principals must understand that the change they seek must be strategic and well tracked. A cycle of improvement must move from recognition of gap to the action plan to address the gap. A clearly articulated plan must be reviewed and tweaked as data is reviewed. I am so proud of the efforts of principals in using DataWise to support their continuous improvement. Kudos to Dunbar ES for a great review of their assessment and instructional strategy inventories!  Emily Massey

The Principal Dynamic @PrincipalDynami
Dynamic Leaders,
This quote by Paulo Coehlo is everything. We can not expect our teams to do as we say and not as WE DO. Our example will set us on a positive or negative trajectory. The power of your influence and example will help to set the course for many students, current and aspiring leaders, and teachers to have as our Dynamic Superintendent, Dr. Meria Carstarphen states, CHOICE-FILLED LIVES and opportunities. I challenge you to think deeply about the example you set daily. Have a great week!  Dr. Emily Abrams Massey

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