Summary: <br> During the summer, several principals from across the nation joined me for a Re-Opening Mastermind to collaborate, explore, brainstorm and support one another during the difficult days of planning for a new school year. <br> <br> <br> <br> Photo by Ben White – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit<br> <br> <br> <br> As I was wrapping up the final content for my newest book, I shared an advance copy of my new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1734890843/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=connectedd07-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1734890843&linkId=4b7f0b7a1d04c0af639dbee54ffb2bf1">Pause. Breathe. Flourish.: Living Your Best Life as an Educator</a>. Sonia Lopez-Morales was a Mastermind member kind enough to write an endorsement for the book. This week, Sonia joined me to reflect on ways she is applying those lessons to her own school leadership. We also explore the unique ways her school is serving the children and families of a diverse community with many immigrant families:<br> <br> <br> <br> Meet Sonia Lopez-Morales<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Sonia Lopez-Morales is Assistant Principal at Charles Graebner Elementary in San Antonio Independent School District. Her bachelor’s degree is in music education. She earned her master’s degree at Texas A&M International University. She and her husband of 32 years live in San Antonio and are the proud parents of three adult children. Sonia began serving as an administrator in 2008. The last three years, she has been serving urban, inner city school students. Charles Graebner Elementary serves 660 PK-5 students with over 95% economically disadvantaged. It is a dual-language school in the southwest part of the city. <br> <br> <br> <br> WDP: Welcome to Principal Matters! You were a part of the Principal Matters Reopening Mastermind and read the early edition of my book. I remember when you began school, you shared with me the important lesson from your first week. What was that lesson?<br> <br> <br> <br> Sonia Lopez-Morales: Yes, the most important thing we can do is build relationships with students. Nothing is more than important than making connections with students. Students want someone who will be authentic with them and know where they are coming from. We are still living it and do not have history yet to tell us all we have done right and wrong in this new blended model. But in all of it, relationships must be there.<br> <br> <br> <br> WDP: You are in a part of the country that saw soaring numbers of positive Covid cases near the start of school. What has the start of school looked like for your community?<br> <br> <br> <br> Sonia Lopez-Morales: We began August 16 in distance learning. September 8, we began opening schools with 10% of our student body across the entire district. By September 21 we added another 10% of our students. We are cautiously doing well and providing simultaneous in-person and virtual instruction. Our metrics are looking better across the city as we’ve taken this cautious approach.<br> <br> <br> <br> WDP: So many leaders I’m talking to are managing weariness. How do you even find time to recharge your batteries?<br> <br> <br> <br> Sonia Lopez-Morales: If you are not disciplined with your time, this time will force you. But you must still be pausing for your family and person connections. It means adjusting your time for personal reflection and exercise. It may mean cutting your 30-minute routine to 15 minutes. I have a running checklist in my head and on my phone on a daily basis. <br> <br> <br> <br> WDP: You serve in a border community. Several weeks ago, I interviewed Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj is an Associate Professor in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education ...
