#portola

Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Nov 18, 2019
2 min

I Believe in Human Kindness

I believe in human kindness. I do. And I try to consciously act in a way that leaves the world a better place, one person at a time. And I model it for my daughters. Maybe its because so much of me wants to leave a better, more compassionate and supportive world for them. It might be because I've put my trust in humanity during very trying situations and humanity has cared for me and kept me safe. Maybe its because its the way to do right rather than be right. And then I pond

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

May 2, 2018
2 min

Need a Mentor?

Are you looking for a mentor? Look no further (no, I'm not offering my services but I am offering some tips). Over the years I've had many mentors and been part of formal mentoring programs through San Jose State University, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), and the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA). And along the way, I've learned a thing or two. Know what you want. When seeking a mentor, look to those who y

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Jun 29, 2016
2 min

PR Time - Let's Go, Educators!

Do we need to promote ourselves as educators? Absolutely. Do we do a good job of it? Absolutely not. Welcome to PR 101, that's for Public Relations 101. Back when I started teaching, it was not common for anyone to toot their own horn. As a matter of fact, sharing any of our successes as individual teachers was taboo at the site where I worked. Sad, isn't it? Face it. As educators, we don't do a great job of telling our stories....not even a good job most of the time. Why do

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Jun 24, 2016
2 min

Here's to the Grads!

Now that most schools are out of session for the summer, the celebration of graduations and promotions is about over. And certainly, those on the higher ends of education have received their fair share of unsolicited advice. They’ve been exposed to the useful messages, the not-so-useful. They’ve heard the stories and the ramblings of those who turned speeches into political statements (not a criticism, just an observation). Have you ever stopped to consider what you might wan

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 16, 2016
1 min

A Clear Vision - with Dewitt Jones

Dewitt Jones is one of America's top professional photographers. Twenty years with National Geographic photographing stories around the globe has earned him the reputation as a world-class photojournalist. As a motion picture director, two of Dewitt's films were nominated for Academy Awards. In the business community, Dewitt's work is also well known. He rose to the forefront of creative marketing by photographing national advertising campaigns for organizations such as Dewar

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 15, 2016
1 min

An Activist for a Better World

Having recently read and blogged about John Maxwell's newest publication, Intentional Living, I'm even firmer in my commitment to the concept of making a difference. Yet, I've put a bit of a twist on it. It's more than just wanting to make a difference in the world but focuses on being a leader who makes a difference. Maxwell's book focuses on four main concepts: - want to make a difference - do something that makes a difference - with people who want to make a difference - a

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 14, 2016
1 min

A Day Made of Glass Inspires

I've always loved this video. Whether used in its entirety or in small segments, the ability to think big and dream bigger is what always draws me in. But what I love most of all is the exploration of the world around us, or going back in time to what feels like the reality of dinosaurs, in a way that does nothing short of completely engaging students. As I watch the students on the field trip, I think of my own 10 year old, 5th grade twins and what learning environments like

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 13, 2016
1 min

How to Make Stress Your Friend

Find me a profession where I can love my work, make a living in the Silicon Valley, and be stress free. My gut tells me that may not be possible, regardless of my background and experience. Thus, if I really want to overcome stress, maybe I just need to learn better to deal with it. At the ISTE Conference a few years ago (International Society for Technology in Education) hosted researcher Kelly McGonigal as a keynote speaker. She spoke about the psychology behind gaming and

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 12, 2016
1 min

The Power in Asking

Success isn't always based on skill, talent or experience. Sometimes it is simply based on opportunity. And often that opportunity came about because of the art of asking. There really is something about putting oneself in a position to advance simply by seeking out opportunities and asking the question - can I do this ? Can I try that approach? What if I help out with (fill in the blank)? The challenge with many of us is that we don't ask. We don't ask because we are fearful

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Feb 10, 2016
1 min

We All Get "Stuck" - Tips to Get "UNstuck"

Let's face it. We all get stuck. We're human. Challenges get us down. Criticism gets us down. Experiences with mistrust get us down too. Alison Ledgerwood, a psychologist from the University of California, Davis, let's us know how people think...so we can begin to see how getting stuck is real and what steps we can take to get unstuck. What I took away from this video was how to harness our own positive thinking and the relationships with those around us to get beyond our per

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Dec 15, 2015
3 min

Positive Affirmations Start Here

Let's face it. As a leader, sometimes it's hard to be positive 24/7. The work load, the challenges, the office politics, the dramatic rollercoasters ridden by others, and then intermix the daily intricacies that our personal lives add to the equation, and even the most optimistic leader can feel like falling off the positivity train. Have you considered positive daily affirmations? Whether recited in the shower, written on a post-it on one's desk, or in the car on the way to

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Dec 8, 2015
3 min

Move Up? Or Play It Safe?

At some point in each of our careers, we approach that fork in the road - stay in a position of comfort or take a risk, and then take that next step. Moving further up into that "leader of leader" role can provide great challenges, and often those situations are those where we expand our skill sets, take us to that next level, bring great satisfaction. But that journey into the next level of senior management, whether in a business setting or in a school district, also means

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Oct 27, 2015
1 min

#IAmNotJust

Thanks, Lady Gaga, for launching a campaign that many of us can get behind. A campaign we can relate to. Launched on Instagram over the weekend, Lady Gaga reminded us of what is so imperative about knowing ourselves in this ever-so-busy world...that while we can be many things, they do not define us. Granted, she has struggled with what many do - depression, anxiety, judgment, knowing who we really are inside, and I'm sure a great deal more that will be unveiled as this campa

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I Walked the Kids to School Today - The World is Our Classroom

Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Oct 20, 2015
3 min

I Walked the Kids to School Today - The World is Our Classroom

Had a little free time this morning so I walked the girls to school. No, the picture isn't of me. But it is of another twin mom who clearly had more time to get ready for that fateful walk down the streets in the neighborhood (thanks Sarah Jessica Parker). As our steps through the neighborhood wound their way to Horace Mann School in downtown San Jose, the girls and I encountered the typical hustle and bustle of a large urban area....buses whooshing by, dried leaves crunching

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Out & About - Making Classroom Time a Priority

Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Oct 1, 2015
2 min

Out & About - Making Classroom Time a Priority

Ever heard of management by walking around? This is a well-worn strategy used by teachers to monitor and mold student behavior in the classroom. And it works for adults too. One of my favorite parts of being a superintendent, particularly in a small district, is spending time walking around and observing students in classes. The sitting in my office responding to emails, prepping for meetings, and doing paperwork just doesn't hold a light to observing the magic that great tea

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Sep 22, 2015
2 min

Time to Invest in You!

Chances are good that you're surrounded by others at work (and in life) who believe in your abilities, your leadership and the special and unique qualities that make you you. But do you believe in you? Let's face it. If we don't believe in ourselves and the skills we bring to the table, it's doubtful that, in the long run, others will either. But how to we believe and truly invest in ourselves? Develop Yourself Is there something you've wanted to learn? Is mentoring available

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Sep 14, 2015
1 min

Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?

I've learned over the years that working in public education is a passion. Too many have tried it and realized they really weren't in tune with the work - it wasn't a passion. They didn't have the fire in their belly that pushed them out of bed each morning and off to face the kids, both young and small. And those in public education who are in the classroom generally become those who do the leading. But do you ever wonder why teachers move up into leadership roles? Why are t

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Aug 22, 2015
2 min

Do You Give Effective Feedback?

Feedback goes beyond evaluations. Do you take the time to give regular feedback to your employees? Maybe it’s a good time for a “New Year’s Resolution” since a new school year is upon us. As leader, we can all help our team members, at all levels in the organization, to be more successfully and meaningfully connected with feedback…not to mention an areas that has the greatest potential for personal improvement. Furthermore, a lack of feedback or recognition is one of the top

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Jul 11, 2015
2 min

Why I Lead - the Heart of the Matter

I love it when parents ask..."how is your summer" or "how is your vacation"...I just have to laugh. What summer? What vacation? An administrator's work is never done. But I'm not complaining. I love what I do. At the heart of my work, I'm a learner. Each and every day. I liken my job to my first year of teaching. New starts. Exciting opportunities. Challenges abound, yet with a role in leadership, it is often working with others to explore solutions and work through them as a

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Dr. Lisa Gonzales

Jun 21, 2015
3 min

Words Your Staff Need to Hear

So much has changed with the advent of developing technology that pushes us to do more, work more effectively, and automate as much as possible. Unfortunately, as I often find myself with a device and not focusing 100% of my attention at all times on those around me, the technology has come at a cost. We've become more focused on the "doing" and less on the "how" in a personalized manner than it generations past. Thinking about technology and the lack of as much of a personal

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Dr. Lisa Marie Gonzales

#brandher