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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Jul 16, 2019
- 2 min
How to Use Mantras While Running
Would you like to start a run with a little simplicity and focus? Need to head out with clarity of purpose that helps you be laser focused? Time to use a phrase to inspire your run. And there’s a pretty basic way to do it. One phrase. Your mantra. A mantra is a phrase or a singular word that adds belief and power to get you through discomfort, pain, or even boredom while running. Think of phrases that make you feel strong and focused. Maybe it’s a verse from a song. Maybe it’
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Dec 4, 2018
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Vulnerability
Being vulnerable didn't come easy for me. I grew up in a world of judgment in ways that often felt harsh. Mean. Inconsiderate. In many ways it hardened me to be more sterile to those I didn't know, perhaps in a way to protect myself. It wasn't until I had a heart to heart with a true leader who embodied what I was seeking....missing. It helped me see that my desire to be safe was compromising my ability to connect with others. Its sad to say that my female role models weren't
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Sep 6, 2018
- 1 min
Leading is More than just a Day Job
Check out my latest blog post for the Biofreeze Berkeley Half Marathon - it's all about pacing and helping others with their goals! #assistantsuperintendent #dublinunified #asca #PortolaValley #LisaGonzalesSuperintendent #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #good #lisa #ACSA #knowledge #competent #positive #acsapresident
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Aug 13, 2018
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Standing In Your Truth
This wasn’t the message I had planned for this week, but it is one I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. Did I mention I’ve spent A LOT of time thinking about this? A dear friend and fellow school administrator shared this phrase with me, one he was introduced to while in counseling. (editorial comment – why counseling? because being a leader in public education is freaking hard work and sometimes we need others to help process what we deal with) Standing in your truth. Be
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Aug 6, 2018
- 2 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Time to Be The Change
Happy Monday! I've long been inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." His inspiration for generations has been to help us see our strengths and be further motivated to remake the world. And I try to do this....daily! Sometimes I see it as my role as a parent - be the positive one. Be the role model. Connect with the friends of my teenagers, the other soccer players on their team. And sometimes at work it is all about taking the h
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Jul 12, 2018
- 3 min
Is the Term "Bully" Appropriate?
I've often wondered....are our expectations of female leaders fair? Be it in politics, school leadership or even in athletics? I mean....are we really holding women to the same expectations as men? I've said it before - I wasn't a Sarah Palin fan. But I didn't trash talk about her. Yet the media did. Time and time again. They commented on her suits, her hair, her shoes, her glasses, and her abilities as a mother. I didn't hear those comments made about her opponent or other m
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Apr 6, 2018
- 4 min
Becoming a More Mindful Leader
At a time of smart phones, smart watches, always-on round-the-clock atmosphere, and immediate access to just about everyone and everything, distractions are at a premium. That’s where being a mindful leader is so very powerful. Mindfulness is just this - the act of being consciously aware, of focusing on the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Mindfulness has had a recent surge in popularity, having started back some 2,600 years ago in Buddhist times because of the self-aw
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Feb 28, 2018
- 2 min
Screen Time - Where Does a Parent Start?
Much has been reported in the last couple of months in regards to young people and screen time, especially for teenagers. The debate swirls even higher nationally about the effects of phone time and social media connections. Whether your child is 4 or 14, you are probably conflicted about their habits and how to better influence them without going to war. Screen time can impact social and intellectual development. For example, rapid stimulation affects the brain in that in ta
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Sep 29, 2017
- 2 min
What Did You Let Go Of That Changed Your Life?
I recently happened upon an article that had a very similar prompt....and it made me think. Really think. I read the comments from those who were interviewed, their responses ranging from the poignant "I escaped an abusive marriage" and "alcohol" to the radical (yes, judgment call on my part) "all my possessions" and "television." But when I thought of this question, I reflected back through close to 50 years of living and learning, leading and failing....and it was simple. I
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Sep 6, 2017
- 1 min
Telling Our Stories
It has long been told that the power of our voice is often found in our stories. Stories of leadership. Stories of overcoming challenges. Stories of victories in the face of immeasurable odds. Stories of connecting, of building relationships. And those stories help, inspire, invigorate and give hope to others. Stories can convey great emotion, learning, joy, laughter. They can convey messages that surface conversations miss. Find a way to tell your story. Find a way to link w
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Jul 6, 2016
- 1 min
And You're Not Using PBL in Your School Because....Why?
Four years ago, while a Director at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, I attended a three day Buck Institute training for Project Based Learning (PBL) and I was hooked. Having made my entree into public education as a middle school math and science teacher, the idea of having meaningful, purposeful projects that were aligned to standards while providing both voice and choice for students made me wonder....what took me so long? With the emergence of the Common Core St
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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 17, 2016
- 1 min
The Power of Persuasion
What are your thoughts on the power of persuasion? One of my favorite authors (and speakers) is Daniel Pink and this video by RSA Animate truly hits home the objectives of persuasion, from your boss to a greater audience. Three minutes is all it takes for a few great tips and reminders about positivity, clarity, and explanations. How can you distill information and explain something simply? Worth a look! #lisa #positive #superintendent #not #ACSA
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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
#CUE Super Symposium for Super Superintendents
While Superintendent in the Portola Valley School District, I had the honor of being selected as one of Computer Using Educator's (CUE) Innovative Superintendents, invited to spend two days sharing our stories of innovation in our districts with others at the CUE Super Symposium. “The CUE Super Symposium showcases amazing Future Ready California Superintendents that eagerly shared some of their best, most actionable ideas for other leaders to adopt and adapt,” said Jon Coripp
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