I was recently asked to write a one-a-month editorial for our local newspaper. It is an opportunity I deeply value and highly recommend you try to secure for yourself. In my October contribution to the paper, I addressed a topic that I believe is applicable across the board and would be meaningful on this platform as well, so I decided to use that editorial as a starting point in writing this week’s newsletter entry.
It never ceases to amaze me how much schools mean to a community. People can agree or disagree on the quality of schools, meaning of data, and educational philosophies, but it is hard to argue against the idea that communities rely deeply on their schools, and each tends to take on the personality of the other. I must say, this is part of what makes me love my current job – never before have I worked in a place where this phenomenon rings more true. The schools in my district are clearly the centerpiece of the community they serve.
The job of leading in any community is incredibly special and very important, which in turn makes leading a school an amazing opportunity, but also an awesome responsibility.
Through reflection, I have found that this responsibility is what has made the last 20 months so difficult. Perhaps it was just my distorted perception, but I sincerely believed that my school district was a unifying force in our community. However, over the past two years I have felt that we have been at the center of conversations that are serving to potentially divide our community. Thus, in an attempt to reilluminate the unity that I believe our school district has historically provided, I thought it important to share a message with my community similar to the one that I am sharing here.
Whether you believe that COVID is so dangerous that everything should be locked down or you believe that there should be no regulations at all – we are still neighbors.
Whether you believe in the efficacy of masks or think they are a clear representation of governmental overreach – we are still neighbors.
Whether you are incredibly proud of the science that led to COVID vaccines or believe that they are a bigger danger than the virus itself – we are still neighbors.
I could continue on like this for two more pages of print, but my point is simple. There is so much that unites us, yet we seem to be ignoring those things to instead focus on what could potentially divide us. What I know for sure is that each community deserves an outstanding school system and that the people within the school system are working like crazy to make that happen for our kids throughout this great country.
So, this is my call. It is my hope that as human beings and neighbors we can realize that we want very similar things for our kids and our communities. While people have dramatically different beliefs on what we should do and how we should do it, the tie that binds us is strong. My sincere hope is that we work hard to find the things that unite us and make our community of educators special, and then continue to push forward together – as a community, both as individual communities and as a collective whole – united in our efforts to absolutely do what is best for our kids.
I have also become resolute that if this is going to happen, it is going to take leadership. So, to ask the famous rhetorical question: If not us, who? If not now, when? Let’s start pushing forward.
THE BEST THING I READ/WATCHED THIS WEEK
Daring Leadership Assessment by Brene Brown
As many of you know, I want to be the guy version of Brene Brown when I grow up. So, I was stunned when someone I was coaching mentioned taking this assessment for the fifth time in her life and I had never heard of it. It is, as you can imagine, incredibly well done and informative. I encourage everyone to take this assessment seriously and work through the feedback with a thought partner.
TWO PEOPLE/ORGANIZATIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Two people who have been instrumental in helping me keep my sanity this summer that I would not have guessed in June are Todd Dugan and Dan Cox – fellow Illinois superintendents. Great men working hard to do what is best for their districts. Give them a follow.
Jason Leahy
Jeff Prickett
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME
ON DEMAND – Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You Book Study
ON DEMAND – Communications – MicroCredential Certification through Illinois Principals Association
SPEAKING-CONSULTING-CONFERENCES
November 3rd – CUSD 305 – Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You
November 20th – IASA Joint Annual Conference
MORE OF MY MUSINGS
Dr. Efrain Martinez and I chat around ‘The Journey’ of Leadership
A Keynote turned into a Podcast from IEI Spring Summit in Colorado
MCUSD Staff Room Podcast – End of Year Reflection
Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones (w/ Mike Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak)
Writing
Ed Week – The Best Use of the Last Five Minutes of Class
The bottom line, however, is that it simply is not ALWAYS possible. The most skilled teacher with the best plan occasionally ends up with the structured part of class ending a few minutes early. In those moments, there are a couple of things that typically happen—some good and some bad. Great teachers take the time to build relationships or extend the concept of the day through conversation. Others let the class be self-directed and hope that chaos does not ensue.
This is where the ONE SIMPLE THING comes into play.
Ed Week – Mistakes Districts Made During the Pandemic
My reason for saying all of this is that I think that the biggest mistake made by many district leaders was acting with hubris, certainty, false assuredness or arrogance. The bottom line is that for 99 percent of educational leaders in our country, this was the first pandemic we ever had the opportunity to lead through. Additionally, the rules of engagement changed many times over—and then changed once more—and then once again. It was impossible to be certain of almost any decision.
Illinois Association of School Boards Journal – Money Talk: Three Core Principles to Drive the District Forward
“Having money isn’t everything, NOT having it is.” — Kanye West
I am not positive, but I am pretty sure that I will be the first person to ever quote Kanye West when writing for the Illinois School Board Journal. But, in my experience, there is no comment or quotation that is truer when it comes to executive- and governance-level leadership of school districts.
As the quote indicates, having money will not necessarily make you a successful school district or a successful school board. On the flipside, however, not having the money necessary to do the work, or having had the money and mismanaged it, is almost always the key to being unsuccessful.
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter.
It would mean the world to me if you could share it with one person each week. We all get one chance to live a life of passion and purpose. Help me maximize my one at-bat.