The first installment in a series of readings from Lead. Learn. Change., the book, read by the author. This episode includes the Dedication, Table of Contents samples, Preface, Acknowledgments, the book's overarching quote, and a short tribute in memory of Dr. Allene Magill. All profits from the sale of the book support the Allene Magill Memorial Scholarship fund, helping paraprofessionals pursuing their dream of becoming classroom teachers.
SHOW NOTES
Dedication page
Table of Contents samples
Preface
Acknowledgments
One (quote)
One (Dr. Magill)
David Reynolds (00:12):
My first book, Lead. Learn. Change. while sharing the same title as this podcast is not simply a written version of this podcast, even though the same concepts are highlighted in both. Starting with this episode, episode 41, there will be periodic installments highlighting selections from Lead. Learn. Change. the book. Today some material from the beginning of the book will be shared, and subsequent episodes will include stories, information about PAGE, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, along with quotations and questions for reflection. We'll kick it off with the book's dedication and wrap up this short segment with some excerpts from the table of contents. The preface acknowledgements the book's overarching theme as captured in a single quote in an expanded yet brief dedication to Dr. Allene Magill, reinforcing the theme of the quote with an additional nod to her influence. You may be interested to know that all profits from the sale of this book support the Allene Magill Memorial Scholarship Fund.
(01:16):
A link for the book is available in the show notes, or you can simply search for the title in the Amazon bookstore. Let's get started. In memory of Dr. Magill. She got a kick out of the fact that I would never call her Allene, but she knew that I was proud and honored to call her my mentor and my friend. She made great things happen for children, for educators, and for our page family, and to Marta Walker, without whom this book could not have been completed, and to my Debbie, the most wonderful person I have ever met, and to Jackson, the greatest son ever, and to Elizabeth. I'm so happy you've joined our family. I love you all and to you, the reader. Thanks for reading. Add to the thinking, share your story as opposed to reading the entire table of contents. A few excerpts just to pique your interest. How to use this book. Who's on first, the Narnia Principle, Farmer's Market, seafood line, segment of influence, stand up, eulogy, obituary in the blink of an eye, 34 across, and Mama Grayson
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Preface.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
What's more important teaching or learning? Does learning drive change or does change drive learning? Who learns the most? The student or the teacher? Is everyone a leader, a teacher, a learner? There are no simplistic answers to these good questions yet you shouldn't view them as rhetorical. Thinking about such things as a worthwhile endeavor. Lead. Learn. Change. will help you reflect on your work regardless of the sector in which you serve. As you read, you'll be constantly reminded that you have many choices when it comes to the work that you do and the relationships you form, and you can truly make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. You will be challenged to reconsider how you and your team approach problems, generate solutions and make commitments. This book provides a framework for you to confront and transfer practices, improve communication, and maybe flip the status quo on its head.
(03:39):
Conversation starters and meeting agenda fodder can be found on almost every page, and what you discuss just might result in a complete transformation of the way you interact with colleagues, clients, customers, classmates and students. Classmates and Students. What do you think of when you consider these two terms? Do they make you remember school, your teachers? Is there a difference between school and education? Should there be? What's the purpose of school? Who decides who has a voice? What about other endeavors? Are you a medical professional, philanthropist, artist, scientist, homemaker, religious leader, parent, first responder, or do you serve your fellow man in some other way? What do you know now that if you taught it to someone else would change their life for the better? What do you want to learn that if you learned it would improve your life in some area? We all have the potential to create positive change, take advantage of the opportunity to do so. Great teachers do this all the time, every day, year after year. Teachers are leaders, learners, and the ultimate purveyors of change. They literally change hearts, minds and lives. Teaching and learning are the essential themes that run throughout this book, but remember, those facets of life appear in every corner of your workplace. You can teach, you can learn, and you can lead. Go make a change.
(05:05):
Acknowledgements almost everything that any of us does. Anything with any lasting value is achieved because we had the help. Wisdom, blessings, or encouragement of others. Agreed. Some people do possess raw talent and that helps. Yet hard work and the support of others is always a prerequisite for success and significance. The same is true for this book. It was not written alone, not even close. Many people are responsible for its completion. Thus, acknowledgement takes a place of priority in this book. First, I must thank my amazing and beautiful wife, Debbie, my first and forever true love and my best friend. The day since we met in 1979 have flown by and it's sometimes hard to imagine life before us. I'm looking forward to the next 40 years and then some with the two of us side by side. Debbie has read virtually everything I have ever written and has offered her candid opinions about my work.
(06:00):
I love her anyway. Also, first I must acknowledge Jackson, our son, an unbelievably talented writer, insatiable autodidact, skilled musician, a medical resident, and my other best friend. We've had some amazing times together. Debbie and Jackson have been exactly what real family is supposed to be. Patient, kind, honest, and always there for me, naturally, a resounding thank you goes out to each brother and sister in my professional association of Georgia Educators, page family, including past and current leaders in the organization. I would not be where I am today without you. Each person whom I have come to affectionately identify as a rough reader has been a true Godsend, big G to who I am most eternally grateful. These fine people have donated their time and expertise and have gift wrapped their observations in candor, delivering proofreading feedback, editing suggestions, guiding questions and personal reactions to the book during various stages of development. They are Amanda Shung Blot, Cindy Fujimoto, Craig Harper, Diane Wiska, Elizabeth Rossini, Felicia Mayfield, Hannah Talley, ISEL, Cal Elli, John Corwin, Karina, dea, Katie, Doug Leash, Kristen Hatcher, Maria Zou, Mark Garrison, Marta Walker, Nadine Pagano, Nadine Kelly, Nancy Ratcliffe, Philip Brown, Randy Walker, Robbie Swale, and Scott Creative. On Purpose. Perry.
(07:43):
There are others whose talent, experience wit, insight, or benevolence have benefited me tremendously. I have done my best to list them in the credit section at the end of the book. A lot of people have their fingerprints on this book. I'm humbled that they found value in sharing their wisdom and ideas for this project. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Malala use of SI one as an early draft of this book took shape. An unexpected and sad event took place on Saturday, January 27th, 2018. PAGE's executive director, Dr. Allene Magill, passed away. Her death came as a shock to everyone and the subsequent emails, text messages and phone calls exchanged among her colleagues and friends attested not only to the dismay of our sudden loss, but to the reality of the impact she had on our lives.
(08:41):
One person, Dr. Magill, saw the potential in everyone when they sometimes could not see it in themselves. She actually listened to people. She loved her family dearly. She was always talking about Charles, the husband she adored, and Steve and Tim and Kim, and all the grandchildren and her sisters and Mama Grayson. She also loved her colleagues. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in our organization who couldn't produce a story about a time when Dr. Magill made him or her feel valued. Our official roles or positions were irrelevant. We were working on behalf of educators and students, and therefore we were part of her family. She was candid when it mattered, and she was equally quick to dole out praise, recognition, credit, and appreciation. One person. Countless lives changed. As the author I'm saddened that my friend did not live to read this entire book about PAGE and its work, her work and our work, but I am happy that she had read the dedication back when it was written in present tense, and when she reviewed an early draft.
(09:41):
This book is dedicated to her anew, to her memory, and to her influence. Her approach with people was characterized by, I always have time for you, and her approach to work was always, we have no time to waste. Dr. Magill's final written message to me in response to an email exchange about our work and about this book specifically was two words long get busy. That captures well how she wanted us to
support teachers, students, and learning. Get busy, go make a difference. Dr. Magill is the most ardent supporter of teachers you could ever know. It's impossible to describe the reach she had and the changes she helped usher in during her time with us. What we do know is that her work and her vision will have a lasting impact on the culture of PAGE and on the face of education in our state and beyond. What a difference one person made and continues to make one person. That's all for now. Thanks for listening. The next episode 42 features the conversation with Robbie Swale from the UK who offers some great insights to the world of learning as observed through the lens of a blogger, podcaster, and coach. We will return with more selections from the book in episode 43, reading The Forward, which was written by Hannah Talley, who was the first guest for the first episode of the Lead Learn Change podcast and will review the outline of the book's, themes and structure.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
You can email me at leadlearnchange@icloud.com. Thanks for listening today. Find the Lead Learn Change podcast on your search engine, iTunes or other listening app. Leave a rating, write a review, subscribe and share with others. In the meantime, go Lead. Go learn. Go make a change. Go.