Hamish Brewer in “The Skater Principal Making Education Fun Again” gives us a glimpse into his schools, Occoquan Elementary and Fred Lynn Middle School.Discuss 3 things you saw in this video that you would like to see at your school.
1. The Energy that Mr. Brewer was amazing and I would love to have that type of energy everyday! I think he led by example and the other teachers also took it upon themselves to be more energetic. 2. The Positivity and creativity that he had was also very contagious and the students responded very well to that. I would love to see more of that in my school and in myself. 3. Be Yourself and don't care what others think. I felt that Mr. Hamish acted outside the box and when he greeted the community by standing on the table, the people were not used to that. Were they in for a big surprise! I have always felt it is ok to be a little goofy as most people connect with that or it makes them smile.
One thing I would love to see at my own school is the emphasis on relationships. Brewer is constantly present with students, greeting them, encouraging them, and celebrating even their small successes. That level of intentional visibility and connection helps students feel seen and valued, which I think is essential for creating a safe and motivating learning environment. Too often my coworkers are in their rooms, not address students and just complaining in the hallways. We need to make the students feel special and wanted within the building.
A second aspect I appreciated was the focus on joy and engagement in learning. His schools clearly work hard to make education exciting rather than routine or transactional. Whether through creative lessons, murals, or enthusiastic school-wide events, students seemed to genuinely want to be there. I think bringing more of that energy into schools helps students associate learning with curiosity and pride rather than stress or obligation. I lived in previous chapters that their ISS is working and preparing the school for other things. Pride and ownership, I think would change the mindset of the schools...even painting the bathroom stalls as an art project...maybe less graffiti?
Finally, I loved the sense of shared purpose and belief in students. Brewer repeatedly emphasizes high expectations paired with strong support. Staff talk about refusing to give up on students, no matter their background or challenges. I would like to see that mindset strengthened everywhere: the idea that every student is capable, worthy, and deserving of adults who advocate for them persistently. It cannot be a one man job but the purpose of the whole department, school and district.
The first thing I saw was how engaged the students were during his assemblies and how they respond to him. They use manners, they are excited about what he is saying. I feel like right now most teachers dread assemblies because students don't pay attention and are messing around. This would be an exciting thing to see a change in.
The next thing is how visible Hamish is to the students. The video showed him outside the school, by the buses, in the neighborhoods of the students, in the community, in the hallways of school, the classrooms, and lunchrooms. He is present to be positive with the students. Most of the time when principals are present, they are on their way to take care of an issue or behavior. This is huge, the students loved seeing Hamish in all the environments.
The third thing was seeing the buy in from the community. I would say even at open house night for students, there are many families who skip it and the student just shows up on the first day of school. It would be great to see parents, students, and community members to be excited about school starting and to be present. This would be huge for kids and parents to be excited and set that example for the beginning of the school year.
One of the things I noticed in the video is how Hamish Brewer emphasizes the importance of keeping his word and being a consistent, caring adult for his students. I love how he talks about being “the constant” in a child’s life. As a School Counselor, I see the impact of consistency and trust, and I want to continue building those strong, reliable relationships with students so they feel safe and supported. I would love to see this emphasis on consistency expanded across our school, where every student has at least one adult they can rely on and feel supported by every day. We have heard multiple times over the years how having one trusted, supportive and consistent adult in a child’s life can literally change their life. Another thing I appreciated is how he challenges the traditional, and in my opinion outdated educational processes right from the start. He is willing to disrupt the norm to make learning relevant and meaningful, focusing on experiences rather than scores or tests. I would love to see more of this at my school by collaborating with teachers and all staff to create more hands-on, engaging learning opportunities and magical as, he states, experiences for students. Helping school feel exciting and valuable for every child is so important. I also hope to bring this mindset into what we do as School Counselors. Creating experiences, lessons and programs that are interactive, student-centered, and build both skills and confidence is a way we could continue and work towards doing that. Finally, I was inspired by how much he values the school environment and its impact on students. He highlights how the actual building, the surroundings, energy, and attention to detail can unlock the potential in our students. I would like to work on helping students feel inspired and supported in our space, making our school feel like their home and welcoming, through our school counseling program, during classroom visits, or in continuing to create areas that feel welcoming and nurturing in our School Counseling Office. I would love to see these principles reflected schoolwide, where classrooms and common spaces are intentionally designed to spark curiosity and positivity. His energy, excitement, and focus on putting kids first are qualities I admire and aim to bring to my own role.
When watching this video, I can feel how much these kids and this school means to him. His passion resonates and that is felt throughout the school. My first would be the energy level. Positive energy is essential for teachers and staff. This cultivates a supportive, engaging classroom atmosphere boosts student motivation. As he does, this positive atmosphere will build relationships among the students. 2nd thing that stuck to me was the statement "we aren't defined by a letter grade, but we are defined but what we do..." Being defined by what you do- your actions, skills, projects, work ethic- rather than the grade itself encourages a growth mindset. While grades can serve as a measure, they often discourage risk taking and fails to capture true competence. My last is how Mr. Brewer was so visible and hands on. This is so crucial for building trust and a sense of belonging. By 'visible learning', teachers can provide real time feedback and students feel seen. This also allows for opportunities to be approachable for students who might be reluctant to ask for help in class.
1. The Energy that Mr. Brewer was amazing and I would love to have that type of energy everyday! I think he led by example and the other teachers also took it upon themselves to be more energetic. 2. The Positivity and creativity that he had was also very contagious and the students responded very well to that. I would love to see more of that in my school and in myself.
ReplyDelete3. Be Yourself and don't care what others think. I felt that Mr. Hamish acted outside the box and when he greeted the community by standing on the table, the people were not used to that. Were they in for a big surprise! I have always felt it is ok to be a little goofy as most people connect with that or it makes them smile.
One thing I would love to see at my own school is the emphasis on relationships. Brewer is constantly present with students, greeting them, encouraging them, and celebrating even their small successes. That level of intentional visibility and connection helps students feel seen and valued, which I think is essential for creating a safe and motivating learning environment. Too often my coworkers are in their rooms, not address students and just complaining in the hallways. We need to make the students feel special and wanted within the building.
ReplyDeleteA second aspect I appreciated was the focus on joy and engagement in learning. His schools clearly work hard to make education exciting rather than routine or transactional. Whether through creative lessons, murals, or enthusiastic school-wide events, students seemed to genuinely want to be there. I think bringing more of that energy into schools helps students associate learning with curiosity and pride rather than stress or obligation. I lived in previous chapters that their ISS is working and preparing the school for other things. Pride and ownership, I think would change the mindset of the schools...even painting the bathroom stalls as an art project...maybe less graffiti?
Finally, I loved the sense of shared purpose and belief in students. Brewer repeatedly emphasizes high expectations paired with strong support. Staff talk about refusing to give up on students, no matter their background or challenges. I would like to see that mindset strengthened everywhere: the idea that every student is capable, worthy, and deserving of adults who advocate for them persistently. It cannot be a one man job but the purpose of the whole department, school and district.
The first thing I saw was how engaged the students were during his assemblies and how they respond to him. They use manners, they are excited about what he is saying. I feel like right now most teachers dread assemblies because students don't pay attention and are messing around. This would be an exciting thing to see a change in.
ReplyDeleteThe next thing is how visible Hamish is to the students. The video showed him outside the school, by the buses, in the neighborhoods of the students, in the community, in the hallways of school, the classrooms, and lunchrooms. He is present to be positive with the students. Most of the time when principals are present, they are on their way to take care of an issue or behavior. This is huge, the students loved seeing Hamish in all the environments.
The third thing was seeing the buy in from the community. I would say even at open house night for students, there are many families who skip it and the student just shows up on the first day of school. It would be great to see parents, students, and community members to be excited about school starting and to be present. This would be huge for kids and parents to be excited and set that example for the beginning of the school year.
One of the things I noticed in the video is how Hamish Brewer emphasizes the importance of keeping his word and being a consistent, caring adult for his students. I love how he talks about being “the constant” in a child’s life. As a School Counselor, I see the impact of consistency and trust, and I want to continue building those strong, reliable relationships with students so they feel safe and supported. I would love to see this emphasis on consistency expanded across our school, where every student has at least one adult they can rely on and feel supported by every day. We have heard multiple times over the years how having one trusted, supportive and consistent adult in a child’s life can literally change their life.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I appreciated is how he challenges the traditional, and in my opinion outdated educational processes right from the start. He is willing to disrupt the norm to make learning relevant and meaningful, focusing on experiences rather than scores or tests. I would love to see more of this at my school by collaborating with teachers and all staff to create more hands-on, engaging learning opportunities and magical as, he states, experiences for students. Helping school feel exciting and valuable for every child is so important. I also hope to bring this mindset into what we do as School Counselors. Creating experiences, lessons and programs that are interactive, student-centered, and build both skills and confidence is a way we could continue and work towards doing that.
Finally, I was inspired by how much he values the school environment and its impact on students. He highlights how the actual building, the surroundings, energy, and attention to detail can unlock the potential in our students. I would like to work on helping students feel inspired and supported in our space, making our school feel like their home and welcoming, through our school counseling program, during classroom visits, or in continuing to create areas that feel welcoming and nurturing in our School Counseling Office. I would love to see these principles reflected schoolwide, where classrooms and common spaces are intentionally designed to spark curiosity and positivity. His energy, excitement, and focus on putting kids first are qualities I admire and aim to bring to my own role.
When watching this video, I can feel how much these kids and this school means to him. His passion resonates and that is felt throughout the school.
ReplyDeleteMy first would be the energy level. Positive energy is essential for teachers and staff. This cultivates a supportive, engaging classroom atmosphere boosts student motivation. As he does, this positive atmosphere will build relationships among the students.
2nd thing that stuck to me was the statement "we aren't defined by a letter grade, but we are defined but what we do..." Being defined by what you do- your actions, skills, projects, work ethic- rather than the grade itself encourages a growth mindset. While grades can serve as a measure, they often discourage risk taking and fails to capture true competence.
My last is how Mr. Brewer was so visible and hands on. This is so crucial for building trust and a sense of belonging. By 'visible learning', teachers can provide real time feedback and students feel seen. This also allows for opportunities to be approachable for students who might be reluctant to ask for help in class.