Comments on: The Purpose Of A Personal Mission Statement http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:07:56 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-1709 Joel Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:53:38 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-1709 Update: I was looking through the blog and realized I never posted my personal mission statement on here. It will be coming soon. Hang in there! :) Update: I was looking through the blog and realized I never posted my personal mission statement on here. It will be coming soon. Hang in there! :)

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-115 Joel Sat, 28 Jul 2007 21:38:34 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-115 <p>Tour Marm:</p> <p>That is awesome. You've inspired me. I will try to work on a succinct mission statement either tonight or tomorrow. I seem to be slowly starting to feel a little better. Just keep resting...</p> Tour Marm:

That is awesome. You’ve inspired me. I will try to work on a succinct mission statement either tonight or tomorrow. I seem to be slowly starting to feel a little better. Just keep resting…


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]]> By: Tour Marm http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-114 Tour Marm Sat, 28 Jul 2007 19:52:59 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-114 Dr. Leon Meade was my favorite teacher in high school. I enjoyed him so much, I took four different classes taught by him (two were electives). Dr. Meade's dissertation for Columbia University in the 1930's was on the importance of primary and secondary education and why more teachers holding advanced degrees should consider teaching at that level rather than university. Dr. Meade could have been an outstanding college professor, but instead, he was dedicated to introducing critical thinking skills to his high school students. He not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. In addition, each class we had with him followed his personal mission statement: To Improve the Dignity of the Common Man. Everything we discussed and debated was measured against this. Even today, when I watch the news or study history, I pause and think how it affected the everyday person. It helps me put things into perspective. Obviously his mission lives on through his students. So yes, I think a mission statement is important to both you and your students. Keep it simple and consistent. Dr. Leon Meade was my favorite teacher in high school. I enjoyed him so much, I took four different classes taught by him (two were electives).

Dr. Meade’s dissertation for Columbia University in the 1930’s was on the importance of primary and secondary education and why more teachers holding advanced degrees should consider teaching at that level rather than university. Dr. Meade could have been an outstanding college professor, but instead, he was dedicated to introducing critical thinking skills to his high school students. He not only talked the talk, but walked the walk.

In addition, each class we had with him followed his personal mission statement: To Improve the Dignity of the Common Man.

Everything we discussed and debated was measured against this.

Even today, when I watch the news or study history, I pause and think how it affected the everyday person. It helps me put things into perspective.

Obviously his mission lives on through his students.

So yes, I think a mission statement is important to both you and your students. Keep it simple and consistent.

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]]> By: Miss Profe http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-112 Miss Profe Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:23:40 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-112 I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. Strep throat - what a bummer! Rest, and take care of yourself. We'll be here when you return to writing.:) I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. Strep throat – what a bummer! Rest, and take care of yourself. We’ll be here when you return to writing.:)

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-110 Joel Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:34:42 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-110 <p>We'll see what happens. Strep throat seems to have gotten the best of me and I really don't feel like doing ANYTHING right now. I guess I'll see how well this medicine works and how industrious I get this weekend.</p> We’ll see what happens. Strep throat seems to have gotten the best of me and I really don’t feel like doing ANYTHING right now. I guess I’ll see how well this medicine works and how industrious I get this weekend.


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]]> By: CaliforniaTeacherGuy http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-109 CaliforniaTeacherGuy Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:26:33 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-109 I'm looking forward to the fruit of your weekend's labors: the mission statement. I’m looking forward to the fruit of your weekend’s labors: the mission statement.

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]]> By: Kymberlyn http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-108 Kymberlyn Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:00:23 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-108 Now Joel.... I suppose I could come up with something else. Perhaps the Jazzy Joel Award. Tell your people to get with my people, and we'll get this worked out. Now Joel….
I suppose I could come up with something else. Perhaps the Jazzy Joel Award. Tell your people to get with my people, and we’ll get this worked out.

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]]> By: Mimi http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-107 Mimi Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:41:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-107 I have to check out that book...I'm actually embarrassed to admit that I haven't read it yet (working on my doctorate has drastically cut into the reading-for-me time!!). And I think I'm going to encourage my husband to read it too- he wants to open his own bar some day and I really appreciated your anecdote about your friend and his auto-shop. Thanks, Mimi I have to check out that book…I’m actually embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read it yet (working on my doctorate has drastically cut into the reading-for-me time!!). And I think I’m going to encourage my husband to read it too- he wants to open his own bar some day and I really appreciated your anecdote about your friend and his auto-shop.

Thanks,
Mimi

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]]> By: Eric http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-106 Eric Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:05:27 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/26/the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement/#comment-106 Great minds think alike. I've been considering the same the past couple of weeks as well. In the military each unit is different, but each unit has a mission statement and each person has an annual evaluation. Part of that annual evaluation is a job description which is something of a mission statement, and it can get down into the weeds. From Private to General, they all have duty descriptions. Additionally, each evaluation lists areas that are of particular focus. Furthermore, each soldier (and officers) receive a periodic counseling. This is dependent on rank. For lower enlisted soldiers, it's every month; for NCOs (Sergeants), it's quarterly; and for officers, it's biannually. Within the counseling for enlisted and NCOs there is a place for areas that need emphasis or improvement (it's been a while since I've seen one so I've forgotten the correct titles). I had one boss who really had us go the distance on this quarterly evaluation (he evaluated everyone quarterly - including the officers). He had us come up with an excel spreadsheet of what are individual mission was based on guidance he gave us. He then wanted us to separate it down to individual sub-elements and then we had to list exact ways we were going to achieve each sub-element and thereby achieve the end-state goal. He also wanted to see a five year plan, which he would help us achieve if possible. He was the best boss I ever had. I never had someone give such good guidance in all my 21 years. I wish I still had that spreadsheet around, I'd email it to you to show you what I mean. Great minds think alike. I’ve been considering the same the past couple of weeks as well. In the military each unit is different, but each unit has a mission statement and each person has an annual evaluation. Part of that annual evaluation is a job description which is something of a mission statement, and it can get down into the weeds. From Private to General, they all have duty descriptions. Additionally, each evaluation lists areas that are of particular focus.

Furthermore, each soldier (and officers) receive a periodic counseling. This is dependent on rank. For lower enlisted soldiers, it’s every month; for NCOs (Sergeants), it’s quarterly; and for officers, it’s biannually. Within the counseling for enlisted and NCOs there is a place for areas that need emphasis or improvement (it’s been a while since I’ve seen one so I’ve forgotten the correct titles).

I had one boss who really had us go the distance on this quarterly evaluation (he evaluated everyone quarterly – including the officers). He had us come up with an excel spreadsheet of what are individual mission was based on guidance he gave us. He then wanted us to separate it down to individual sub-elements and then we had to list exact ways we were going to achieve each sub-element and thereby achieve the end-state goal. He also wanted to see a five year plan, which he would help us achieve if possible.

He was the best boss I ever had. I never had someone give such good guidance in all my 21 years. I wish I still had that spreadsheet around, I’d email it to you to show you what I mean.

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