Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

This week I had the privilege of capturing a few minutes with Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri.  Photo by Amelie & Niklas Ohlrogge – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@pirye?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit The state of Kansas has closed buildings for the rest of the school year, and like principals around the world, Chris is learning what it means to still connect with his teachers, students, and families while isolated during the COVID-19 crisis. In the introduction to this week’s podcast episode, Chris shares how his school is responding to distance learning for their students. Listen for feedback, and think about how your service to students is matching the unique needs of your own school community. Principal Reboot, Maintaining Balance Continued Later in the show, Principal Jen Schwanke and I discuss finding balance, with thoughts inspired from her new book, The Principal Reboot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. Here are some takeaways: Where are you finding inspiration? * How can you stay inspired so that you can inspire others?* Jen shares a story on riding horses as a reminder of her own free, wild, delicious childhood. Her horse stories introduced her daughter to caring for a horse and passing on the inspiration.* What ways are you finding balance by doing things way outside professional world?* Think about things you loved as a child – how can you reconnect?* Take inspiration from the people involved in your world/process.* Consider activities like photography, fitness, music, dance, movies, books, coaching (athletics or otherwise), pets, animals…. whatever it is, pick one thing! Let’s talk about health: * How can you eat right, sleep, and walk away from email/texts?* Learn how Jen loves “hot yoga”.* Discover Will’s love for running with his dog.* Understand not beating yourself up for missteps. Give yourself grace!* Purge and clean out…* Set limits of what others can take from you.* Learn to ask for help if needed. Ask: what needs updated? * Re-imagine your actual workspace – understand how to make your place somewhere you want to be.* Update your resume in order to battle the “imposter” syndrome. * Dust off your relationships, and embrace the concept of value added. * Learn Jen’s husband takeaway: ‘What value does this person bring?’ Let’s Wrap This Up In their book, Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice, Pete Hall and Alisa Simeral share how educators must embrace the “Continuum of Self-Reflection” if to keep growing. These stages include: * Unaware Stage – recognizing we all have areas we don’t even know where we need to grow.* Conscious Stage – becoming aware of the process and learning happening in front of us.* Action Stage – taking steps based new knowledge and taking risks.* Refinement Stage – reflecting on what we’ve learned in order to tweak, then try again for improvement. Life-long learners realize and repeat this cycle anytime you want to learn from an experience and improve. When you dig deeply into what you are learning from your experiences,

As schools across the nation continue closures because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this week’s episode includes an update from listener, Terrence Simmons, Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada. Photo by UW-Colleges / UW-Extension – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License https://www.flickr.com/photos/95808258@N00 Their team has already launched distance learning for their students, and the district website serves as a great resource for parents wanting guidance and digital tools. Nye County educators reached out to every parent to determine distance learning options, which include both online services for those with access and lesson packets for those without digital access. Floyd Elementary Staff are providing curb-site pickups for parents whose students did not have access to digital learning. The district is also serving meals through pickup locations as well as bus deliveries to locations around the county. Listen-in to the first 7 minutes of this week’s podcast for Terrence’s update and some encouraging words he shares for other leaders facing these same challenges. Maintaining Balance in Leadership In the remainder of this week’s podcast episode, Principal Jen Schwanke, from Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, discusses her newest book, The Principal Reboot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. We talk about how school leaders must reflect on their motivations as they lead others by considering the following: *  Why are you here in the first place? Understanding your ‘why’ must be more than a paycheck, position, or power.* Instinct – recognize the possibilities you have through your natural abilities.* Desire to lead – embrace your desire to help others improve.* Desire for change – learn to embrace your abilities to influence others.* It’s okay to cultivate your natural prowess for learning, leading, getting along with others.* Recognize the complexity of the work, and learn to lead people through it. * Choose joy in the work.* Laughter – It’s therapuetic!* Celebrate the silly.* Connect with students, staff, and community.* Jump on a committee… or start a new one (no, not kidding). Learn about Jen’s motto-mascot committee which turned into a new school song and motto, “What begins here will change the world.” This also led to a new logo and marketing for the school.* Do something brave and bold. Try the six word memoir. Instead of one book, one school, Jen tried a school-wide writing project that inspired all students to participate.* Travel with students – Use these opportunities to connect, learn and have fun.* Equanimity – Cultivate your mental calmness, composure, possession of self so you can model these behaviors for others. Let’s Wrap This Up Talking about balance in leadership may seem unrealistic during crisis management or while implementing major changes with your school, but you must keep taking care of yourself in order to have the motivation to keep taking care of others. Now It’s Your Turn What are some ways you’re taking care of yourself even in the midst of managing difficulties? How would you describe your own motivation for leading?

Throughout the world, schools are managing the challenges of school closures in response to news of the spreading corona virus or COVID-19. Photo by Chris Benson – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@lordmaui?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As a school leader, you are expected to manage difficulties, but sometimes you are managing in uncharted territory. Also in the midst of helping others, what can you do to make sure you’re caring for your own mindset in leadership? As you consider solutions for your school, let’s stay connected and share best practices. I’d love to hear your ideas and encourage you to email me at will@williamdparker.com with ways your school is supporting learning and services to students. This week’s post, however, is not specific to the current crisis. Instead this week, I’m sharing an interview with Jen Schwanke about her newest book, The Principal Reboot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. In this first in a new series of episodes together, Jen and I talk about how school leaders can reinvest in their own abilities to be “lead learners.” Questions to ask as a Lead Learner: * What content are you taking in on a regular basis through reading, audio or podcasts? Suggestions include…* Focus on issues reflecting struggles of people we work with.* Use reading as way to stop, slow-down, and reflect. * Focus on books that describe experiences other than your own. * Look for books on issues you don’t understand. * What on-going professional learning are you engaging in? Keep in mind…* Learn to really listen to others.* Tour neighborhood schools and look for evidence of best practices.* Talk to colleagues about ways they solve problems you’re encountering.* Attend workshops or professional development* Start a podcast or begin a webinar series.* Teach a graduate level class. Ask yourself: What ways can I be sharing with others and stretching myself? And take time to advance others in their growth and learning staying connected with your tribe. Discover what amazing groups of other people are doing the same work, and learn from them! Let’s Wrap This Up One of Jen’s goal each day is complimenting others with true, authentic feedback. All of us want feedback and to feel valued. Mindsets like this help you to stay a life-long learner and model the kind of curiosity you want to encourage in your own learners. No matter what you are managing the days ahead, stay committed to supporting others, building them up, and discovering ways to keep learning in the process. Listen to this week’s entire podcast episode for many more take-a-ways, and pick up a copy of Jen’s book that comes out this week! Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive my newest posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together!

What stories have shaped your own leadership journey? Photo by photo-nic.co.uk nic – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@chiro?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit I recently finished reading, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Tara Westover grew up in a rural Idaho with parents who embraced radical ideologies, including not giving their daughter a birth certificate, not vaccinating her, and not providing her with any formalized education. It wasn’t until she decided she wanted to attend college in her late teens that she began to teach herself so that she could pass the ACT with high enough scores to qualify for entrance. To her surprise, she made it into college, and her university experience revealed a world of new revleations, including hearing stories of the Holocaust, exposure to classic literature, and the opportunity to study abroad. Eventually, her studies led to her to a Ph.D. in history from Cambridge. But her formal education came with personal cost. Her relationship with her parents would not survive her newfound freedom nor would they acknowledge the neglect, trauma and abuse she had experienced growing up. Even as her eyes were open to a world of knowledge through education, her ties to her parents crumbled. As I finished the story, I was struck by Tara Westover’s deep sacrfices. To gain understanding, she also had to reconcile with the brutal realities of her past. And even though much of her childhood involved trauma, there were also moments of beauty and poetry in the rugged landscapes that shaped her youth. I was also touched by the deep loss she experienced.  As I’ve thought about her story over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of how our stories shape us. Do you ever wonder what others would think of your story if it were in ink the way Tara Westover told hers? What I’ve discovered about most people is that their stories don’t seem unique or novel to them. Their stories are familiar. But when you take time to share your story with others, they find a new perspective that is not their own. At that moment, they have the privilege to see the world through another set of eyes or experience, and that provides perspective. The truth is that you have a unique story. It may seem familiar or unintersting from your perspective. But to others, it may provide insights into life that help them see their own story better. 8 Stories Shaping My Journey This week I’ve decided to share a few stories from my own journey. Perhaps it will give you a glimpse of my own past and provide some perspective of the world that may influence your own leadership. Sharing personal stories always comes with a risk of vulnerability or being misunderstood, but we don’t grow without risk, so here it goes: Story 1: Free and Reduced Lunch Kid I’m waiting for my bus at the end of the gravel driveway with my older brothers and little sister. A storm had blown over trees by the road, and the twisted roots of a large root has left a large mound of dirt. So we decide whoever stands on that mound will be King of the Hill. I am the youngest boy, so my attempts to be “king” mean I end up on my backside in the wet dirt and grass. That morning Mom packed a lunch for me, including my favorite chocolate oatmeal cookies in a plastic baggie. For some reason, I have decided to carry that baggie in my back pocket. During the bus ride to school, I pull out the baggie and look at the flat, dark,

Why is hiring such an important part of your responsibility as a principal? Photo by Jony Ariadi – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@joniastin?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit First and foremost, because the students, teachers, and community members deserve high quality education experiences. And secondly, because the people in your school often reflect on your own leadership.  Although we cannot judge ourselves by the way others behave, school leaders are responsible for how others behave under their leadership, and hiring plays one of the most crucial roles in the kind of culture and environment a school provides. Part 2 of Hiring & Retaining High Quality Teachers This week we dive into Part 2 of Hiring & Retaining High Quality Teachers. You can check out Part 1 here.  As my guest Jen Schwanke and I share in this week’s podcast episode, there are several important ideas to keep in mind. Listen to the podcast version as we unpack the following: 3 Tips for Hiring & Retaining Talented Educators * Know the difference between talent and skill.  You can teach skill. You can’t teach talent.  Enough said (but you can listen to the podcast episode for more).* Value your candidates. The way you treat candidates reflects on your leadership, and you never know when someone may be re-applying for a future position if this one isn’t offered. So remember: * Show respect, kindness, and professionalism (Show the same courtesy you’d want to receive.)* Remember others are out there talking about the experience* Be open to working your schedule around candidates, not vice-versa.* Keep in mind a number-2 candidate may later come back as a number-1. So treat everyone with dignity and respect.* When possible, follow-up by phone with every candidate so that even those not chosen feel honored.* Showcase your school’s vision, culture, and offerings. This IS a sales job for hiring the most excellent candidates.* When the candidate pool is shallow, be creative: visit job fairs, go online, use social media, be open to interviewing remote candidates via video-chats. 3. Keep them on your team. * Check in often (but don’t hover!) – New hires deserve your attention but also the autonomy to learn and make mistakes.* Morale/culture – Fostering positivity is an important part of attracting and retaining talent.* Support new teachers and watch out for exhaustion, confusion, loneliness.  Give them a break when need.  * Remember seasons that come with life – raising children, new marriages, caring for older parents, experiencing a crisis — all these times can be tough seasons, so be supportive.  * Create a cadre of friends/colleagues for new hires. Then get out of the way.* Provide resources (many teachers leave because they had illusion of what it was like…then they find it was harder/lonely/etc.) Make sure they have the resources they need.* Act quickly when there are problems. Following-up shows you are paying attention and care.* Teach and model balance. Your teachers don’t need emails from you at 10PM. Model a good work/life balance.* Let them go, fly, and succeed. Everyone has a different personalities, gifts, and ideas. Encourage these unique talents.* Foster leadership. Allow new hires to develop skills in serving others, and look for potential future school leaders among them too.* Provide key responsibility areas or helpful lists of key people, resources, and information so new hires aren’t left to guess where to find help.

One day the teachers at Indian Run Elementary, in Dublin, Ohio, organized a “Flash TACO bar” – a spontaneous buffet meal where they shared great food and fun together. Photo by rawpixel – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@rawpixel?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As principal of the school, Jen Schwanke reflected on the joy and creativity of her teachers: they not only love teaching but they also enjoy working together. How do you attract and build strong cultures of educators who find joy in teaching and just being together? In this week’s encore episode, Jen Schwanke, author of You’re the Principal, Now What! Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders, and I discuss the importance of hiring high quality teachers. Across the nation, principals are facing teacher shortages. In my state for instance, Oklahoma has felt that burden especially strong. The reasons vary: Whether it’s lower teacher pay in some states or the stress that comes with compliance or class sizes – fewer people are choosing education as a college major and career. This means that more than ever principals also have a competitive field in recruiting and retaining excellent teachers. We first discuss reasons hiring teachers is a huge responsibility, including: * The implications of your hires that go on for years and years (decades), either positive or negative* How your hires represent your school (beliefs, philosophy, attitude, etc.) Applications & Interviewing Takeaways Next, we talk about some important hiring priorities to keep in mind: * Depending on the size of your faculty and staff, your strategies for outreach may vary, but it’s important to determine ahead of time what your application process will look like and ensuring it is easy to understand. This means your district or school website must be updated with easy-to-locate applications.* Consider soliciting applications before openings exist. In other words, if you keep general applications available, you may already have applicants available when openings occur.* As you have openings, dig through applications and resumes looking for the qualities you want in a candidate. Open up applications inside and outside your district.* Spend time on social media investigating possible candidates as you want someone who would be the right fit for working with students.* If possible, it is best to interview by committee. Include a small group of teachers, administrators, or counselors so that you have a diverse representation. Clarify roles, and if your district allows you the responsibility, let the ultimate decision be yours.* Remain open to changing your mind as your colleagues may have different perspectives from you. Determine what you are looking for, and remind committee members that feelings/emotions are not hiring criteria: “I really like her! She’s so fun!” cannot be the driving-force of whom you hire. Common Missteps to Avoid Hiring is not necessarily about being “right” or “wrong” in your choices, it is about “fit.” As you’re looking for the right fit, keep these pitfalls in mind: * Don’t fall for a beautiful resume: just because you see a great resume doesn’t always mean you have a quality candidate.* Don’t fall for versed, rote answers: Universities train candidates in how to interview.  Avoid robotics and explore answers for motivation and practice.

It goes without saying that in order to lead you must have followers. Photo by Luke Porter – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@lukeporter?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit But taking others to a destination doesn’t just mean accomplishing all the to-do’s on your checklist. Leadership requires relationships. And meaningful relationships do not happen by accident; they are intentional and purposeful. Part of building meaningful relationships involves understanding yourself and the core values of those whom you are leading. How can you cultivate those kinds of meaningful relationships so that you have the right conditions for healthy teamwork? Meet Jeremie Kubicek Jeremie Kubicek is CEO of GiANT – the leader in Scalable People Development. He is the best-selling author of several books that focus on effective leadership including Making Your Leadership Come Alive: 7 Actions to Increase Your Influence. He has co-authored two books with Steve Cockram: 5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There is Never Enough Time and 5 Voices: How to Communicate Effectively with Everyone You Lead. And his latest book is the 100X Leader: How to Become Someone Worth Following. His other accomplishments include creating the Leadercast global simulcast, partnering in several current start-up organizations, former CEO over the national Catalyst conferences, former CEO over the John Maxwell brand, and developer of The Prairie at Post, a, modern niche real estate development in Edmond, OK. When I reached out Jeremie Kubicek after reading his book on 5 voices, he was generous to provide the following feedback for Principal Matters listeners. Here’s a summary of our Q & A, but listen-in for even more takeaways! Can you give a quick overview of the 5 voices and how they have helped you and others lead teams? 21st Century learners require different styles because we are now more visual. If our content is not scalable, it is not usable. The secret of the 5 voices is simplifying how to understand the wiring of yourself and other people into five categories. They are: * Pioneers* Connectors* Guardians* Nuturers* Creatives If you know yourself, you can lead yourself. You can know your strenghts and your weaknesses. The Golden Rule can be used or mis-used, but to lead, you must do to others as they would want to be trea...

“When is a time you have used grit, and what lesson did you learn?” Photo by Adrian Pereira – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@adrianluisp10?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit This is just one of 100 questions you find included in the Table Talk Cards that come as a bonus with the book Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population by Dr. Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak. In Part 2 of our interview, Andrew McPeak and I discuss this question and more as he unpacks the nine challenges faced by today’s students, which include: * Empowerment without Wisdom * Stimulation without Ownership* Privilege without Responsibility* Involvement without Boundaries* Individualism without Perspective* Accessibility without Accountability* Fluidity without Integrity* Opportunity without Resilience* Consumption without Reflection* Individualism without Perspective In the second half of this conversation, Andrew unpacks the last area in that list: Individualism without Perspective. First, he explains how most people today are experiencing a lack of community. Even with the dawn of technology connecting us, people are spending more time alone than ever in human history. In fact, we have an epidemic of loneliness. As a result, we see two negative trends among our youth: * Selfishness or narcissicm * Polarization This is not their fault, Andrew explains. Our youth have adapted to a world we’ve created for them. For instance, adults often schedule every minute for students.  One solution is to create margin for students in their day like spending more time outside, taking time for reflection, engaging in unscripted play, etc. Generation Z research is also seeing a growth of “ego-centralization”. This results in focusing more on internal than external identities. Family, school, religion, work are being replaced by hobbies, interests, gifts, experiences. Egos are being influenced then by “me” rather than “us.” McPeak explains that social scientists describe what is happening as a “tribal switch” –a phenomenon that often happens to survivors: when someone is forced into a group, he or she will always first act to protect those in their perceived tribe, even if their actions are sometimes immoral. Instead of “flipping switches” to protect the good of all, we are prone to protect those most like ourselves first. What are some solutions? Individualism must come with perspective. Andrew uses examples from the book The Road to Character by David Brooks, which describes Resume virtue vs. Eulogy virtues. Resume virtues are outside accomplishments that demonstrate our accomplishments. Eulogy virtues, however, are how you really want to be remembered by others; how others were influenced by you; how your life was a service to the ones you love. He also discusses the importance of “Learning to Draw Larger Circles”: spending time knowing people unlike ourselves, instead of excluding other; finding what we have more in common with people than differences. What is the virtue that links us, not separates us? How are we more similar than different? This creates the grounds for more civility.  Go here for Part 1 of this inte...

Students today face newer and different challenges than students of the past. Photo by Joaquin VillaverdePhotography – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlikeLicense  https://www.flickr.com/photos/46078235@N03 Although many of the skills or values they need to be successful remain the same regardless of time and place, they also have unique challenges that make them one of the most anxious generations in history. If we “take the filters” off our students, what would they really tell us? How can school leaders understand these unique challenges while also finding strategies for guiding students? Meet Andrew McPeak Andrew McPeak is a next gen researcher, speaker, and curriculum designer for Growing Leaders, in Atlanta, Georgia. He works with schools, universities, and sports teams on implementing Habitudes, teaching tools for life and leadership skills. He is also the co-author of two books, including his newest one written with Dr. Tim Elmore, Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population. In this interview, Andrew shares a story from his own background and why he is passionate about generational research. During college, he read Tim Elmore’s book, Generation iY: Secrets to Connecting With Today’s Teens & Young Adults in the Digital Age. That book caused him to fall in love with the concepts of generational trends in leadership. Fast forward five years later, and he is now the Vice President of Content for Growing Leaders. (Andrew was a guest on PMP, Episode 089, if you want to check it out for more information on his work and background.) Here are questions and takeaways from our conversation: What background research and info did you find for writing this book? Andrew: We used focus groups of young people across the country, including sponsoring two Harris polls, one in 2017 and another in 2018. These were surveys of students born since 2001, most of them 17, 18 years old. What makes them distinct? As we removed the “filter” from kids, here’s what we found… Nine Challenges Youth Face Today * Empowerment without Wisdom* Stimulation without Ownership* Privilege without Responsibility* Involvement without Boundaries* Individualism without Perspective* Accessibility without Accountability* Fluidity without Integrity* Opportunity without Resilience* Consumption without Reflection Can you unpack one of those for us? Let’s talk about “Stimulation without Ownership”: Andrew: We were interested in both the problem and solution. And we were committed to making this book “Prac-ademic” – practical strategies that fit student needs. One problem we are seeing is a lot of pre-scriptive goal-setting. By giving students both the goals and exact steps to young people, we rob them of individuality, discovery and ownership.  What’s the outcome? Students tell us they don’t feel like they are in control of their own lives. This leads to a condition or term called “moral hazards”… I, the student, can make riskier decisions because an adult will rescue me.  What’s the solution? We must move to de-scriptive leadership. This means helping them identify goals and encouraging them to discover and design their ow...

I am digging into the archives of Principal Matters to bring you an episode from January 2018, when I had the privilege to interview Dr. Judi Barber. Photo by Craig  Whitehead – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@sixstreetunder?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit First, let me tell you a story. During the previous Christmas break of 2017, I had taken my family to see the newest Star Wars movie. In the opening scene, Jedi-in-training, Rey, has journeyed to the planet where the retired Luke Skywalker, has hidden himself away from the universe and its troubles. She climbs the heights to his hidden village and finds him meditating on a cliff overlooking the sea. Rey introduces herself: “I’m from the Resistance,” she says, “Leia sent me. We need your help.” To her surprise the elder Luke refuses to help and walks away. And thus, begins the most important conflict of “The Last Jedi” as Rey must find a way to convince Luke to train her and help her save the Rebellion. Thankfully, Luke finally begins training her and then takes the steps necessary to save the universe. You can see the movie for yourself, but I had that opening scene when I traveled two hours from Tulsa to the backroads in Grove, Oklahoma, in January 2018, on my way to see a Jedi-master-in-education. I wound my way up a long driveway to beautiful home nestled on a bay above Grand Lake. After greetings on the front porch, we moved into the house for a cup of coffee and some catching up. This was her 50th year as an education leader, and I had sat under her teaching and coaching in my early years of school admininstrator. Dr. Barber had agreed days before to letting me capture an audio recording of our conversation. Meet Dr. Judi Barber Judi Barber has just finished her 50th year as an educator. She has been a Teacher, CurriculumInstructor, Arts-in-Education Coordinator, Principal, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, in Norman Public Schools. Since her retirement she has continued work as a Special Instructor and Adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma and the President of her own school district consulting company, Collaborating for Results, Inc. You can also see her bio as an Oklahoma Education Hall of Fame Honoree in 2005. Asking for Excellence Here is a summary of the questions and takeaways from our talk. Listen to the entire podcast episode to unpack these bullet points: What would say are timeless truths that apply to education just as much today as at the start of your career? * Parents love their children.* A strong education in the basics of reading and mathematics are essential AS ARE science, social studies, and the arts to build the capacity of curiosity. The 9 essential elements of school are the rubric of effective schools * Curriculum* Evaluation and Assessment Strategies* Instructional Strategies* Learning Communities* Family and Community Connections* Professional Development* Leadership* Organizational Structures and Resources* Comprehensive Planning What ways do school leaders need to be adapting with the changing times? * Understanding digital communication* Becoming open-ended thinkers* Applying shared leadership If you could go back in time and talk to yourself as beginning school leader, what advice would give? * Be consistent in the way you follow the 9 essentia...

This week I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with a team of new assistant principals. Photo by Matteo Vistocco – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@mrsunflower94?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As we talked about their first semester, they shared the lessons they’ve learned in time management, communication, and problem solving. They are finding their unique places on new teams, understanding their new roles for the first time, and learning new lessons every day. Being a school leader involves an overwhelming number of daily tasks, requests from teachers for help, and situations with students that require thoughtful intervention and assistance. It’s no easy task. And it’s certainly not one for the faint of heart. At the same time, it is not one you can accomplish alone. No amount of self-determination or grit will accomplish as much as what happens when you understand the power of others on your team.  Lessons from Rowing Champions As I talked to these new leaders, I was so impressed with their courage and determination. But I was also reminded of lessons in teamwork I’ve been learning from the book, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown (2013). Brown follows the life of one rower, Joe Rantz, whose struggles match the difficulties of so many during the Great Depression. Rantz led an especially difficult childhood, losing his mother at a very young age, and being left on his own for much of his youth and teenage years. His older brother helped him finish school and enroll in Washington State University. But the only way he could afford to attend college was if he could make the rowing team, which would allow him to work a part-time campus job as a janitor at the YMCA.  Throughout his training, Joe was noticeably talented. He was strong, intelligent and tenacious. But he was also a loner. As a result, he and his team struggled to find just the right chemistry to be a champion rowing team.  Brown describes the ultimate goal of any rowing team is to experience what rowers call “finding their swing”.  But this only happens when rowers understand and execute their own individual roles while also relying on the other rowers to execute theirs with such trust and precision that they reach optimal rowing efficiency and speed – discovering the ultimate beauty, joy and glory of rowing. Why is developing teamwork one of the most important, but difficult tasks of school leadership? How do you learn to execute your own role as a leader while building a climate where others are willing to rely on each other to use their combined skills toward accomplishing something beautiful?  What Makes a Great Rowing Team? In Chapter 10 of the book, Brown gives a description of the teamwork required in rowing that is so poignant, I want to quote a couple of paragraphs in full: “…the greatest paradox of the sport has to do with the psychological makeup of the people who pull the oars. Great oarsmen and oarswomen are necessarily made of conflicting stuff—of oil and water, fire and earth. On the one hand, they must possess enormous self-confidence, strong egos,

What does it take for small actions to produce big results? Photo by Blake Lisk – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@blakeliskphoto?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Over Christmas break, I listened to the audio-version of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and learned some value lessons we can apply to our schools. Let me quickly summarize by saying that Gladwell painstakingly details the phenomenon and players involved in what happens when products or ideas become social “epidemics” – in the best sense of the word. Why do certain shoe brands, books, or companies find success in such extraordinary ways? And what, you may be asking, does this have to do with school leadership? I’d like to connect those dots in this post. First of all, products, ideas or companies become social phenomena by starting with something worth promoting – something Gladwell calls a “sticky” idea. Whether it is a great book, a fashionable shoe, or a line of plastic accessories for unique car brands — people (or customers) have needs that someone (creators or innovators) provide.  Those ideas must be “sticky” enough for others to want to adapt and participate. This is where Gladwell’s descriptions of certain types of people may be helpful to discuss because turning sticky ideas into social phenomena frequently involves the following players:  Mavens– These people identify or adopt a new trend and have the influence to model and teach others how to adapt and apply those same ideas. They are early-adapters and innovators who recognize new trends emerging; they buy-in first or are willing to take risks in testing out new ideas. Connectors– These types understand sub-cultures and new trends and have relationships within various social spheres in order to bring new ideas and larger audiences together. They love to be the glue between new ideas and groups of people who can benefit from them. A connector may not be the creator of a new idea or product, but he or she becomes a champion for it. Sales Persons– People who watch mavens and connectors and decide not only to adopt their ideas but become the story tellers for that idea. Sales persons can tell the stories of what’s trending in such convincing ways that others want it for themselves; they help growing numbers of people become consumers of the new product, trend or action. When you combine a sticky idea with a community of mavens, connectors and sales persons, it will often begin a movement, a tipping point, when a small idea grows into something contagious and transformational.  Can School Leaders Have Tipping Points? Let’s apply that to school and assume you understand the mission and purpose of your own. Your mission may be to educate and equip a future generation with the ideas, tools, values and social capital necessary to live full lives.  Having a vision for a great school and actually nurturing that kind of community, however, is where good ideas must become “sticky” actions. And for ideas to become actions, you must convince others to share those values and act on them too. 

Last week my family and I traveled back to Tennessee to see my parents and extended family. Photo by Kelly Sikkema – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit My parents both turned 79 this past year. Life has slowed down a lot for them now. One of my mother’s favorite past times, for instance, is walking the woods — gathering treasures like small rocks or interesting plants. When my fourteen year old son, Jack, joined her for a stroll during Christmas break, they found their way to a leafy spot above a natural spring and talked so long the rest of the family thought maybe they were lost. Later that night, Jack told me, “Dad, sometimes I’m jealous of Grandma.” “Why?” I asked. “She finds so much joy in the smallest things,” he explained. “Today she found a small leaf, and held it up saying, ‘Oh, look how beautiful and fragile it is.’ I wish I could be more like that.” “Me too, Jack,” I said. As I think back over the past year and look at the year ahead, I want to stay thankful for the small things. For instance, I’m thankful for another year of marriage. This was the twenty-sixth year my wife and I am grateful we’re still crazy about one another. I’m thankful for our two daughters who are successfully completing college: one junior and one freshman on the same campus. I’m thankful for weekly dates I’ve had with my two kids still at home during 2019: Watching sunsets with my sixteen year old daughter, Katie. She’s obsessed with sunrises and sunsets. One morning, I woke up early and saw the front door open. As I headed down the stairs to see what was wrong, Katie came bustling back in the door. “You won’t believe the sunrise!” she exclaimed. “It was so beautiful I had to run out into the front yard for a better look.” I’m thankful for the quiet moments with my son Jack. When he decides to talk, it can be worth the wait. A few weeks ago, he began telling me about the book he’s reading in English class, Night by Elie Wiesel – how it has convinced him that all of us are capable of allowing horrible deeds if we refuse to listen to the experiences of history. It is these small moments throughout the year that remind me of what is really important. And I’m sure, you have your own small moments that have built your most important memories this past year. I’d also like to tell you that I’m thankful for you. Whether you know me through my posts or in person, I’m thankful that you trust me with your time. You have a lot responsibilities in your work and families, and I value the opportunity to share ideas and learn along with you each week through these posts. In the lines that follow, I want to celebrate some of the small wins I’ve seen in the Principal Matters community with a quick re-cap of 2019. And as a token of gratitude for you, I want to provide you with a free professional development resource (at the end of this post) – something that may help you lead your team with more focus on their mission, vision, and goals for 2020. Another Year of Growth In 2019 the Principal Matters Podcast topped 345,000 unique downloads! It excites me that each episode averages more than 2,000 listens. Although this audience is modest in comparison to other nationally known podcasts,

Just like you, I can think of many reasons to worry about the future or raise concerns about trends that have developed over the past decade. Photo by Kelsey Knight – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions  ://unsplash.com/@kelsoknight?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credithttps Whether that includes increases in school shootings, soaring health care costs, rises in the costs of education, the number of children experiencing trauma, growing concerns in climate change or global and domestic political unrest — the list of negatives can be pretty overwhelming and depressing.  At the same time, as important as it is to confront the harsh realities of the world with possible solutions, I want to keep the dangers of this world in perspective with the amazing achievements of this last decade. As we draw 2019 to a close and officially end the 2010’s, I’d like to pause for a moment and celebrate 10 remarkable changes that have taken place in our world – and the lives of those whom we educate: 1. Technology has connected more of the world. Although Facebook began as a clunky social media website for Harvard students in 2004, and the first iPhone was introduced to the world in 2007, these technologies have only exponentially grown during the past decade. Pew Research estimates that 5 billion people around the world now have access to a cell phone. With the world’s population estimated at 7.7 billion, consider the implications of 65% of the world connected through technology. Never before have more people had the opportunity to interact, discover, and influence others with such speed and accessibility.  2. Access to information has increased learning potential. Just as the printing press revolutionized the modern world during the 15th century, we have opened new territories of learning with access to information in the past ten years. Khan Academy, which began in 2008, for instance, has now become a staple for young people around the world who need immediate examples of lessons and examples in most major subject areas of school. In addition, self-starters use YouTube for example, to access lessons or tutorials everything from repairing plumbing to installing camera systems. Since its start in 2005, YouTube’s first video to ever hit a billion downloads happened in 2011. This has also been a game-changer for education as schools have introduced blended learning options, 1-1 devices, and more virtual options for student learning. In many ways this has flipped the roles of educators from experts in conveying information to facilitating and guiding students in how to interpret information. 3. Innovation has changed the job market and our work. According to Alice Murray from Jobbio.com, new jobs during the past ten years now include App developers, Uber drivers, social media managers, user-experience designers, Airbnb hosts, drone operators, data scientists, genetic counselors and anything involving cryptocurrency.

A few weeks ago, I was sharing with a group of principals one of my favorite video-clips from the movie, The Incredibles. It’s the scene where Lucius, aka the superhero, Frozone, is watching as his city is under attack from his apartment window. He pushes a button on his remote control to open a wall in his living room. When the secret compartment opens, the space is empty where his supersuit should be hanging. Thus ensues the following dialogue: Lucius: Honey? Where’s my super suit?Honey: What?Lucius: Where – is – my – super – suit?Honey: I, uh, put it away.Lucius: Where?Honey: Why do you need to know?Lucius: I need it!Honey: Uh-uh! Don’t you think about running off doing no derrin’-do. We’ve been planning this dinner for two months!Lucius: The public is in danger!Honey: My evening’s in danger!Lucius: You tell me where my suit is, woman! We are talking about the greater good!Honey: ‘Greater good?’ I am your wife! I’m the greatest *good* you are ever gonna get! After watching this clip, I then asked the principals to reflect: How does this scene remind you of the tension you sometimes feel between your school responsibilities and your home life? After we talked about their responses, I then shared three ideas for them to keep in mind as they feel the tension of managing crisis while also managing all the other important duties of their school leadership: 1. Staying mindful: Really seeing the great learning moments happening around you even as you take care of business.  2. Staying intentional: If you don’t schedule and prioritize what’s most important, it probably will not happen. 3. Moving the needle: At the end of everyday, reflect on one step you took toward reaching your targets or goals. And make sure you’ve done at least one action to move in that direction. I then asked them to repeat back to me the three takeaways. Based on their responses, I summarized and reminded them that school leadership allows involves a balance of putting out situational fires while also focusing on the many other important tasks of building a school community.  And then I asked an important follow-up question: Now, can you unpack the instructional methods I just used in this short mini-lesson with you? They were quick to respond: We began with an attention grabber. They had given feedback and input. We engaged in reflection and dialogue. We discussed three actions to consider in their leadership. I had checked for learning. We summarized our learning. After this quick lesson, I reminded them that the cycles of learning happen in every setting. Whether you are leading a faculty meeting, a small group discussion or covering a classroom lesson, this cycle is important for us to model for our teachers as much as it is for us to encourage them to use it in their own teaching. How Do You Make Learning Stick? As you think about the ways to make learning meaningful, I am excited to introduce you to this week’s podcast guest, LeAnn Nickelsen, as we discuss her newest book co-authored with Melissa Dickson, Teaching With the Instructional Cha-Chas: Four Steps to Make Learning Stick. In her book and our discussion, LeAnn unpacks the learning cycle and provides practical ways for educators to increase learning for all students. LeAnn’s Bio LeAnn Nickelsen LeAnn Nickelsen is the Founder and CEO of Maximize Learning, Inc.