School Developer Dream
Donation protected
As many of you know, my wife and I are spending this year out in Cambridge, MA as I finish my master’s in school leadership from Harvard. What I’ve learned so far
-you can’t go to a bar expecting happy hour out in Boston(No Happy Hour deals on drinks…absurd)
-when the trains shutdown, the entire city shuts down
-the best clam chowder is actually out in Newport, RI
-when going to a Harvard football game, people spend more time throwing paper airplanes onto the field than they do watching the game…
More reflections from Boston…
-I have the best wife around…what woman packs up, moves completely cross country, and uproots from her family?!?! Jamie has done so and I’m thankful and appreciative of her love and support
-Life is lived in forward but understood in reverse…we rarely take time to reflect on our own practices and come to terms on how we would better ourselves. This approach is taught far too late in schools—the reflective practice of engaging in deeper learning conversations that allow you to effectively coach/support/give feedback to your peers. This thought will become a core belief within my school as we work to empower and inspire scholars in the Twin Cities
-Your own level of vulnerability with colleagues and staff adds to their sense of trust and psychological safety; what are the specific/calculated steps taken so that in an authentic way you are building a culture of collegiality and not solely congeniality?
Of course I have learned many more things but these are a few of the key takeaways.
Unfortunately in my experience, I’ve hit an unforeseen roadblock. My macbook pro laptop that I have had since 2007—has taken the trip to the “Upper Room”(Movie “Life” reference meaning up to heaven…check out the movie if you haven’t seen it J)
That said, the process of engaging and supporting my own learning has hit a crossroads. I’m reaching out to you all for support. I’m hoping that through my networks I can get enough support to be able to purchase a new laptop. Investing in this cause represents a few symbolic gestures in my mind:
· You appreciating my long term vision of being able to start a truly democratic and radically different charter school in the Twin Cities---one that affirms and develops students’ unique identities while empowering them to be leaders within the community
· Understanding that by supporting me in this ordeal, you are helping to change life outcomes of scholars in the Twin Cities
· Becoming an advocate and an integral part of my life’s work—not letting our children fail; leaving their life outcomes to chance; investing in their lives from day one so they become future leaders of our communities
So, what am I asking…
· Providing any sort of financial support so that I can purchase this laptop, stay on my grind out here, and come back to positively affect change in the Twin Cities
· Could be any amount(whatever would be considered a meaningful amount to you)
What will the money go for…
Purchasing an Macbook Air 13”-with the Apple Care($1425.24 Grand Total)
Putting a smile on my face and helping me complete my program
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU???
· Personalized video shoutout sent to your email or phone…just a small token of my appreciation
· We(Jamie and I) will throw a big THANK YOU PARTY when we return to MN in July
o Fulton Brewery/Sociable Cider Werks are a few locations on the table...just a few of my favorites
o Please let us know if you have other spots that we could/should explore
With not working this school year, having any sort of financial support for necessary purchases is greatly appreciated. With that, I’m asking that you consider any amount of financial donation no matter the amount. As always, thanks for your support thus far during this undertaking, and I am looking forward to connecting with you all soon.
All the best,
James Ewer
-you can’t go to a bar expecting happy hour out in Boston(No Happy Hour deals on drinks…absurd)
-when the trains shutdown, the entire city shuts down
-the best clam chowder is actually out in Newport, RI
-when going to a Harvard football game, people spend more time throwing paper airplanes onto the field than they do watching the game…
More reflections from Boston…
-I have the best wife around…what woman packs up, moves completely cross country, and uproots from her family?!?! Jamie has done so and I’m thankful and appreciative of her love and support
-Life is lived in forward but understood in reverse…we rarely take time to reflect on our own practices and come to terms on how we would better ourselves. This approach is taught far too late in schools—the reflective practice of engaging in deeper learning conversations that allow you to effectively coach/support/give feedback to your peers. This thought will become a core belief within my school as we work to empower and inspire scholars in the Twin Cities
-Your own level of vulnerability with colleagues and staff adds to their sense of trust and psychological safety; what are the specific/calculated steps taken so that in an authentic way you are building a culture of collegiality and not solely congeniality?
Of course I have learned many more things but these are a few of the key takeaways.
Unfortunately in my experience, I’ve hit an unforeseen roadblock. My macbook pro laptop that I have had since 2007—has taken the trip to the “Upper Room”(Movie “Life” reference meaning up to heaven…check out the movie if you haven’t seen it J)
That said, the process of engaging and supporting my own learning has hit a crossroads. I’m reaching out to you all for support. I’m hoping that through my networks I can get enough support to be able to purchase a new laptop. Investing in this cause represents a few symbolic gestures in my mind:
· You appreciating my long term vision of being able to start a truly democratic and radically different charter school in the Twin Cities---one that affirms and develops students’ unique identities while empowering them to be leaders within the community
· Understanding that by supporting me in this ordeal, you are helping to change life outcomes of scholars in the Twin Cities
· Becoming an advocate and an integral part of my life’s work—not letting our children fail; leaving their life outcomes to chance; investing in their lives from day one so they become future leaders of our communities
So, what am I asking…
· Providing any sort of financial support so that I can purchase this laptop, stay on my grind out here, and come back to positively affect change in the Twin Cities
· Could be any amount(whatever would be considered a meaningful amount to you)
What will the money go for…
Purchasing an Macbook Air 13”-with the Apple Care($1425.24 Grand Total)
Putting a smile on my face and helping me complete my program
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU???
· Personalized video shoutout sent to your email or phone…just a small token of my appreciation
· We(Jamie and I) will throw a big THANK YOU PARTY when we return to MN in July
o Fulton Brewery/Sociable Cider Werks are a few locations on the table...just a few of my favorites
o Please let us know if you have other spots that we could/should explore
With not working this school year, having any sort of financial support for necessary purchases is greatly appreciated. With that, I’m asking that you consider any amount of financial donation no matter the amount. As always, thanks for your support thus far during this undertaking, and I am looking forward to connecting with you all soon.
All the best,
James Ewer
Organizer
James Ewer
Organizer
Cambridge, MA
