Leadership Matters! by Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

In our world today, many students are faced with barriers that clearly inhibit them from finishing school.  Barriers such as Socioeconomic Status, Education of Parents, and even Gender all work toward pushing our students out of school and into the world ill prepared to work and contribute successfully to our communities.  However, one cannot disregard the critical role that we all play as leaders in our communities.  

 Leadership does matter, and we need to make no mistake about that.  In order to make a true difference in the education of our youth (and the development of our community), we all need to refine our skills of self-awareness, foresight, and persuasion.  

Self-awareness – This refers to knowing our own emotions and the effect they have on us and others.  In addition, self-awareness describes being confident in our abilities while, at the same time, recognizing our limits.  Most importantly, as leaders in our homes, communities, and work, we cannot wait for dissent and conflict to come to us, we must actively go seek it out in order to create an environment where we can thrive. We must all offer personal invitations to others, requesting their opinions, ideas, and alternative viewpoints to solve the problems of educating our youth and developing our communities.  The mere existence of passive leadership constitutes a substantial barrier to candid dialogue and debate and will encourage our students to give up and leave school.

Foresight – Individuals do not usually conduct an extensive, detailed analysis of statistical information each and every time prior to making a decision.  Instead, we all rely on readily available information and past experiences to make decisions in a timely manner.   
 
This available information and experiences usually serve us well as we make decisions, however, in some cases, easily recalled information is not always relevant to the current situation and may cause us to make an error in prediction and judgment.  We must be conscious that we need a balance between gathering all pertinent information concerning a decision to be made and making the decision based on our intuition.  

Persuasion - How effective are you in influencing and persuading other people?  The best way to get control of educating our youth is by learning to be effective in influencing and persuading others.  Credibility is part of effective influencing and persuasion.  It is important to tell the truth, even if it hurts.  Honesty is a cornerstone of persuasion and is a necessary characteristic of an effective leader. 

Persuasion can be understood as a power of affecting a person, thing, or course of events, and is the power to produce a desired result.

Leadership does matter and we all have the ability to be great leaders!

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a wife, mother, and educator living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the President of the Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC. and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the author of Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   

For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com , visit www.leadershipempowermentgroup.com, or follow Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC. on Facebook.

Earnest Pugh 'Rain On Us'

Enjoy this jewel! Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!!!

King Day is an Opportunity to be Better by Sharon D. Watkins-Jones

The King Day weekend approaches and Houstonians have many options for commemorating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including two parades, the MLK Grande Parade and the MLK “Original” Parade.  There will no doubt be many religious and civic ceremonies, speeches and concerts.  Many children will recite the I Have a Dream speech and political figures and celebrities will usurp every photo opportunity available to them all weekend long.  Everyone will have a chance to get a piece of the MLK pie, including shoppers looking for deep discounts on anything from a mattress to a Bentley.  Well, maybe not the ride… but you get the picture.

For one long obligatory weekend every year, Dr. King’s Dream lives on in our hearts and minds.  

But what will we do on the Tuesday after King Day?  What will YOU do?

Wednesday night, President Obama invoked memories of the fallen and hopes for the survivors of the Tucson shooting, providing consolation to some and inspiration to others.  He simply and effectively said, “We can be better.”  Those words should also serve as motivation to those of us with great reason to reflect on Dr. King this weekend, and perpetually.  We.  Can.  Be.  Better.

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Sharon is a community college administrator, former special education teacher, wife of 17 years and mother of two school-age children in northwest Houston. Her primary interests are family-inclusive culture and arts, travel, politics, historical literature, Texas Longhorns and all things Disney.  She writes for the Houston Examiner as a featured columnist.  We have been friends since ‘the crib days.’

What If YOU Could Solve the Dropout Problem? By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

It has been shown that the drop out problem affecting our youth is an issue that calls for action.  The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in the fall of 2009, about 75.2 million people were enrolled in American schools and colleges. 

About 4.7 million people were employed as elementary and secondary school teachers or as college faculty, in full-time positions.  There are about 5.4 million professional, administrative, and support staff in educational institutions.   

They also report that there has been a 26% increase in public school enrollment since 1985.

In other words, there are now about 49.8 million students enrolled in public schools. It is interesting to note that there was a decline (12.4% to 10.5%) in 2009 in elementary and secondary students enrolled in private schools. The 2009 statistics are anticipated to forecast an 8% increase in public secondary school enrollment between 2009 and 2018.

For the 2008-2009 school year, it was projected that a little over 3 million high school students are expected to graduate (receive diplomas). The 2009-2010 projection will see a lower number graduating.  An alternative to graduating is the obtaining of a GED (General Educational Development).  As of 2008, 469,000 passed the GED test which is an increase from 2002.

High School Dropouts are 5-8 times more likely to become incarcerated.

Despite numerous articles and reports concerning dropout rates, the 2009 National Center for Educational Statistics reports that percentage of dropouts among 16-24 year olds has decreased over the past 20 years.  Although there was a decline in dropout rates for Blacks and Hispanics, they were still higher than rates for Whites.

The lack of a high school diploma can be the cause of various social problems such as poverty, unemployment, higher suicide rates, higher dependence on government assistance and participation in criminal activity.  In order to remedy this problem, changes in policy along with changes in educational cultures and expectations regarding has to take place.

The following recommendations are made to address the drop out problem:

•      What would happen if the drop-out age was increased from 16 yrs. to 18 yrs of age?

•      What would happen for those students who are identified as “potential drop-outs” or “at risk”, be offered a different or flexible or a more challenging curriculum that best suit their needs?

•      What if school districts would hire counselors who actually had time to counsel students and school social workers who could work with students and their families? 

•      What if in the freshman and sophomore year, teachers, counselors, and social workers would work more closely with students? 

•      What if school leaders would unite and challenge leaders who are making decisions for schools concerning “drop outs”? 

•      What if schools would have reduced classes so that students would pay more attention and receive more assistance?

•      What if school leaders would reduce the workload requirements of freshman and sophomore teachers so that they could dedicate more time and attention to “at risk students”?

 Thank You for Reading and Sharing!

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a wife, mother, and educator living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the President of the Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC. and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the author of Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com , visit www.leadershipempowermentgroup.com, or follow Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC. on Facebook.

Why I love the Black church by Sharon Watkins-Jones

I am so grateful to have been raised in a southern Black baptist church. I am anxious to enter the sanctuary every Sunday morning--nattily dressed, family in tow and ready to get my praise on.

Whether I am at my Houston church, which has a metropolitan vibe (and four “standing room only” Sunday services), or if I am visiting my parents in Waco, (where the congregation is often comprised of less than 50 worshipers, including the choir), I am able to find nurturing for my soul.

The church pew is equivalent to the therapist’s couch for me. If I have had a good week at home and at work, my gratitude flows in the form of tears. If my week has been trying or too hectic, those same tears signify relief, as I lay my burdens at the altar and leave them there. When I miss (or skip) Sunday services, I feel out of whack…there’s no glide in my stride, no pep in my step. A weekly dose of good ol’fashioned Black church does my body and soul good. I probably won’t need Xanax, Valium or whatever happy pills are in vogue, as long as I can find my way to the sanctuary and lift my hands in worship.

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Sharon is a community college administrator, former special education teacher, wife of 17 years and mother of two school-age children in northwest Houston. Her primary interests are family-inclusive culture and arts, travel, politics, historical literature, Texas Longhorns and all things Disney.  She writes for the Houston Examiner as a featured columnist.  We have been friends since ‘the crib days.’

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Proverbs 6 - Warnings on Laziness, Co-Signing a Note and Adultery? Yes, they are in there!

Wow! Can you believe it's already Day 6??? 

Let's get started.  At first, I was listing only the verses highlighted in my personal study. After thinking on it and praying about it, I’ve decided that only doing this is ‘So two thousand ten!’ So, I have gone back and added all of the verses for Chapter 6 for both reading pleasure and spiritual growth.

I recognize that this cartoon comes from Isaiah (my favorite prophet) yet it's all about food for the soul, which means it's applicable. Enjoy! 

Welcome Artist Jeffrey Smith, Creator of Prayer Pups! See amazing work at: www.prayerpups.com! Thank You, Jeffrey!!!

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Proverbs 6

V1 Son, if you endorse a note for someone you hardly know, guaranteeing his debt, you are in serious trouble.

V2 You may have trapped yourself by your agreement.

V3 Quick! Get out of it if you possibly can! Swallow your pride; don’t let embarrassment stand in the way. Go and beg to have your name erased.

V4 Don’t put it off. Do it now. Don’t rest until you do.

V5 If you can get out of this trap you have saved yourself like a deer that escapes from a hunter, or a bird from the nest.

V6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy fellow.  Learn from their ways and be wise!

V7 For though they have no king to make them work,

V8 yet they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

V9 But you- all you do is sleep. When will you wake up?

V10 Let me sleep a little longer!” Sure, just a little more!

V11 And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor.

V12-13 Let me describe for you a worthless and a wicked man; first he is a constant liar; he signals his true intentions to his friends with eyes and feet and fingers.

V14 Next his heart is full of rebellion. And he spends his time thinking of all the evil he can do, and stirring up discontent.

V15 But he will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond hope of healing.

V16-19 For there are six things the LORD hates,-no, seven:

Haughtiness

Lying

Murdering

Plotting evil

Eagerness to do wrong

A false witness

Sowing discord among brothers

V20 Young man, obey your father and your mother.

V21 Tie their instructions around your finger so you won’t forget. Take to heart all of their advice.

V22 Every day and all night long their counsel will lead you and save you from harm; when you wake up in the morning, let their instructions guide you into the new day.

V23 For their advice is a beam of light directed into dark corners of your mind to warn you of danger and to give you a good life.

V24 Their counsel will keep you far away from prostitutes with all their flatteries.

V25 Don’t lust for their beauty. Don’t let their coyness seduce you.

V26 For a prostitute will bring a man to poverty, and an adulteress may cost him his very life.

V27 Can a man hold a fire against his chest and not be burned?

V28 Can he walk on coals and not blister his feet?

V29 So it is with the man who commits adultery with another's wife. He shall not go unpunished for this sin.

V30 Excuses might even be found for a thief, if he steals when he is starving!

V31 But even so, he is fined seven times as much as he stole, though it may mean selling everything in his house to pay it back.

V32 But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul.

V33 Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot.

V34 for the woman’s husband will be furious in his jealousy, and he will have no mercy on you in his day of vengeance.

V35 You won’t be able to buy him off no matter what you offer.

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Knowing the "What God hates" list is a great place to start for anyone seriously committed to self improvement.

We exercise and eat right and that blesses our physical body. That is our container.  By studying God's Word and then applying what we study, we develop our content and that blesses our spirit.

In my 20's and some of my 30's, I was more concerned with my container.  Now, strengthening my content has a much greater priority!

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