The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast | The #1 Downloaded School Leadership Show

Irreplaceable Leadership

Sep 13, 2023

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Irreplaceable Leadership

Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th - 11th grade working in an urban setting. A portion of this was spent opening a high school division for an expanding charter school. He has just finished his 14th year as a building administrator. Currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts, Chris is also the President-Elect of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA). He is the author of SEEing to Lead, a book that provides strategies for how modern leaders can and must support, engage, and empower their teachers to elevate student success. Chris vlogs weekly and is also the host of the podcast SEEing to Lead as a way to amplify teachers', students', and leaders' voices in an effort to improve education as a whole. His Just cause is to continuously improve the educational experience for all those involved by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character. Chris is passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process. Chris is a teacher centered principal and his beliefs around the importance of a positive work environment, continuous growth, and a healthy family work-life integration can be seen in the presentations and workshops he has given for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA), Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE), Massachusetts Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD), the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); and his participation in the Better Leaders Better Schools Mastermind group. A finalist for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association's Principal of the Year award and named the 2022 Massachusetts School Counselors Associaltion's (MASCA) Administrator of the Year, Chris is described by his past Superintendent as being "...wholly invested in the success of the school…a creative problem-solver who is able to deliberate yet be decisive, be creative yet accountable…calm and clear-headed even under the most trying of times…has built a strong collaborative and collegial school culture…he is a positive influence on teachers, teaching, and learning."

Chris' education includes a BA from Bridgewater State University, an MA from Salem State University, and a Doctorate from Northeastern University. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his wife, Mary (Bella) and two boys, Tommy and Scotty.

Show Highlights

Take a tiny step and turn it into a big change. No more finals!!
Success minimized critics. Take inventory and turn your enemies or critics to cheerleaders.
Stop running your schools like politicians and focus on what's most important.
Innovation Career Pathways Curriculum knocks down roadblocks in learning.
If your school needs bumpers and floaties you're not bringing out the best in your community.
Stop making your staff dizzy and create a beautiful trail of improvement.
Pull off the band-aids and stop educating children for the fake world.
The most frustrating part of public education is people stop you from fear and being uncomfortable.

"In public education, this is one of the most frustrating parts. People stop you from fear and being uncomfortable. And I'm not gonna sit here and talk about the idea of people being uncomfortable with any kind of change, because everybody knows that. But it comes down to people wanting to know where they fit into that change. They can become much more comfortable when they realize that it's not disrupting them so much that they're gonna have to just adjust slightly. And it's a smaller ask. And before they know it, they're pulled into it."

-Dr Chris Jones

Get the episode transcript here!

Dr Chris' Resources & Contact Info:

Read my latest book!

Learn why the ABCs of powerful professional development™ work – Grow your skills by integrating more Authenticity, Belonging, and Challenge into your life and leadership.

Read Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader today!

Apply to the Mastermind

The mastermind is changing the landscape of professional development for school leaders.

100% of our members agree that the mastermind is the #1 way they grow their leadership skills.

Apply to the mastermind today!

SHOW SPONSORS:

HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.

TEACHFX

How much student talk happened today?

When classrooms come alive with conversation, learning improves, students feel a sense of belonging, and teachers feel inspired.

The TeachFX instructional coaching app gives teachers powerful insights into their student talk, student engagement, and classroom conversation.

With TeachFX, teachers see how much student talk happened, the moments of students sharing their brilliance, and the questions that got students talking.Learn how to pilot TeachFX with your teachers. Visit: teachfx.com/betterleaders

ORGANIZED BINDER

Why do students struggle? I'd argue that they lack access to quality instruction, but think about it. That's totally out of their control. What if there was something we could teach kids there was something within their control that would help them be successful in every class? It's not a magic pill or a figment of your imagination.

When students internalize Executive Functioning Skills they succeed.

Check out the new self-paced online course brought to you by OB that shows teachers how to equip their students with executive functioning skills.

Learn more at organizedbinder.com/go