Jane Stavem

The Unbelievable Dive That Turned Foes into Friends

Sometimes reality trumps fiction, and a simple issue can evolve into a memorable, almost unbelievable moment. Here’s a true “You Can’t Make This Up” story from a subscriber about how a disruptive playground prank led to an unexpected partnership. The Situation – Flying Rocks It all began when a group of 5th-grade boys repeatedly threw […]

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We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Blog: When Mother Nature Wreaks Havoc

Emergency Broadcast Alert: Nature’s Fury Unleashed Hello to my subscribers. Today’s blog post veers from our typical topics to tackle the here and now: natural disasters. Last night, a catastrophic series of tornadoes swept through Nebraska and Iowa. As someone who grew up in Nebraska and has connections with the affected school districts, the magnitude

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The Fizz Tablet Fiasco: A Classroom Mishap You Can’t Make Up

Welcome back to our ‘You Can’t Make It Up’ series! This week, we’re sharing a memorable incident from an elementary school courtesy of one of our subscribers! Real names have been changed to protect the innocent – and sometimes not so innocent! The Situation: In Ms. Johnson’s third-grade classroom, a day that began like any

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The Siren and The Saxophone: The Sounds of Stress

In my first month as a superintendent, the blaring sirens from the nearby fire station became a familiar backdrop to my office. Little did I know that those wailing sirens would soon signal a tragedy that would blur the lines between professional duty and personal emotions. The Situation: Lights, Sirens, Suicide Before stepping into the

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The Salon and the Secretary – Navigating Hiring and Firing

Imagine this: You’re settling into a salon chair, ready for a blissful hair appointment, when suddenly, you’re face-to-face with a recently terminated employee. It’s a scenario straight out of a sitcom, yet for many administrators, encountering current or former employees in social settings—especially those under disciplinary action—is an unavoidable reality. The Situation: Let’s Try the

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“Where It Started: An Early ‘You Can’t Make It Up’ Moment”

Welcome back to “You Can’t Make It Up Education,” where humor is key, and the stories are as real as they come. Today, I’m peeling back the curtain to share a personal experience—a “You Can’t Make It Up” moment from my own journey in education. Buckle up for a tale that involves a kindergarten round-up,

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From Alone to Together: Navigating the You Can’t Make It Up Moments of Our Careers

Welcome back to “You Can’t Make It Up Education,” where the stories are real and the journey continues. Today, let’s take a step back and delve into the moments that started it all—the “You Can’t Make It Up” moments that defined the early days of my career and, quite possibly, resonate with yours. In the

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Embracing Reality: The Power of “You Can’t Make It Up” Moments in Education

Welcome to “You Can’t Make It Up Education,” a dynamic space where educators come together to explore the unpredictable and, often, downright unbelievable moments that define our shared journey in education. Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way. In the field of education, these moments are often too bizarre, too perplexing, or

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