Over the seventeen months that the House of Shine has been sponsoring the Yellow Envelope Project, we have gotten very good at recognizing hard working teachers who go above and beyond and who, in turn, make their corners of the world a better place.

As we should. Teachers play a special role in cultivating the future of our nation and most do it with a lot of passion, but not a lot of pay. Just last week we flooded the mailbox of Marcus, a teacher from Louisville who is committed to shining and helping his students shine.

Yet, today might be the first time we have recognized that behind most teachers who shine is an administrator who shines.

It is probably the same with an acclaimed orchestra. Behind every beautifully played concerto is a conductor who shines.

Or, behind every championship team is a coach who shines.

Or what about your favorite t.v. show, magazine, or movie?  I bet behind everyone of those is a producer, editor, or director who shines.

And if you are a parent, I know you will agree that behind every child who shines is a committed parent trying to shine.

Why should it be any different with high performing schools? Today we honor Sarah, an Associate Principal who, like Oz, is busy working her magic and making sure her school shines. Take a look at what her nominator had to say:

"Sarah, is the Associate Principal at our school and she is masterful at uplifting everyone she encounters, whether it is students, staff, or parents. She greets everyone with warmth and a cheery smile and takes the time to listen thoroughly to their concerns. Her responsibilities require difficult conversations, such as holding teachers accountable for their professional responsibilities, and she is able to maintain high expectations while showing value to the person. She takes the time to let parents know that she is listening and understanding their concerns.  Last week she listened to a parent for a 3 hour meeting, and absorbed her anger, even though it was not a result of her personal actions. That's taking one for the team!  Whenever a staff member goes home sick, or has an emergency, Sarah immediately volunteers to be the one to cover their class or supervision duties.  She recently called every parent on our volunteer list to fill jobs for our upcoming Spring Carnival."

Our timing will be perfect. It is April and Sarah, along with every other school administrator, is probably exhausted. Let's surprise her with a rush of adrenaline that is sure to get her through the school year.

Here is how to flood Sarah's mailbox with anonymous letters of gratitude. It is simple, but trust that when your one letter is combined with letters from countless others, the impact is big. Very big.

Write Sarah a short note letting her know you think she shines. Acknowledge how much work must go into making an elementary school run seamlessly, with all of its moving pieces and targets.  If you are an educator, consider sharing a story about an administrator who has helped make your job easier.  Say thank you on his or her behalf. Let Sarah know that her work shines and people are noticing.

Once written, seal your letter in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers and stickers) and address it to the address listed below.  Remember to keep your note anonymous by printing the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in place of the return address. One last step. Agree to mail your letter sometime before next Saturday when we meet here to recognize our next worthy recipient.

Shining off until tomorrow...

P.S.  Attention to all the people who participated in this morning's focus group: If you were holding lucky bag #4, you have won the additional prize. Just send me an email at cbeeny@ckbgroup.com and we will put it in the mail to you.  Thanks, again, for helping to Power the Planet With Shine!