C4T April

The Principal's Principles

Mr. Bernia, a middle school principal who strives to make the world a better place, one day at a time. Prior to serving as the Principal, I was an Assistant Principal, Teacher, and School Custodian. I’m currently in my 9th year as an educator, and think it is the most important job in the world.

April 10, "The Era of One has Begun"

In Linchpin, Seth Godin argues that in today’s economy, there has never been higher demand for artists; people that are creative and make goods that are one of a kind. Godin talks about increased demands for customized items and the need for producers to develop goods and services that are tailored to individuals. Corporate America is calling for indispensable workers (Godin’s term) who will reimagine industry. In a manufacturing economy, bells to announce when to move from one class to another or school policy that demanded conformity was virtuous. Schools mass produced students who, as adults, mass produced items in an economy. Technology has changed all of that. Individualism is the new mass production. Are schools preparing students to meet this challenge? I feel part of an over all educational problem is we reward students for correct answers and punish them for wrong answers. What some educators do not do, is encourage critical thinking at all times, even if the student is wrong. This causes students to be more focused on a reward rather than learning.

April 24, "Whatever it Takes"

Mr. Bernia believes going to extra miles for his students. One of his students was having a crisis and explained to him that she lost her cell phone. She remembered having it before lunch, but not after. When talking with friends, one said that she remembered it being in her hand when she went to throw her trash away after eating. After she said that, she uttered the words, “Mr. Bernia, I think I threw my phone in the trash by accident.” She went on to explain that her parents are out of town and that she was participating in the Washington DC trip that weekend. If ever there was a time not to lose a new cell phone, it was then. They grabbed rubber gloves before heading outside to the school dumpster. Midway through my third bag of garbage, Mr. Bernia stumbled upon a pink and white polka dot phone case, and recovered her lost item. After a careful scrub with several antibacterial wipes, her phone was returned, still in working order. It was one of those whatever it takes moments that is a good reminder of how invested we have to be in our students every day. This shows how much the little things matter. This small gesture meant the world to his student.