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

Several years ago, I was standing in our school lunchroom watching hundreds of students eat breakfast. Photo by Ryan Tauss – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@ryantauss?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit I was positioned in the middle section of the room, and the front doors of the school were about one hundred feet across the room from me. Dozens of students were entering when I saw one high school boy who caught my attention. He was so far away, I could not see his facial features, but his demeanor and walk gave me a quick pause. I decided to follow my hunch. I walked across the room, and as I approached him more closely, he tried to avoid eye-contact. But I casually stepped closer and asked him if I could talk to him in private for a minute. Once he was in my office, I invited another administrative team member to join me, and my hunch proved accurate. The boy was under the influence of marijuana and was also in possession. Later that morning as we worked through meeting with parents and school discipline procedures, he suddenly looked up at me and asked, “How did you know I was messed up from all the way across the room?” I didn’t know how to explain how I knew. I had been a school administrator for more than ten years, and a lot of my observations came second nature. This summer I enjoyed reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. In the book, he explains the importance of understanding your adaptive unconscious — the small ways we discern situations and make decisions that often happen in a split second. Throughout the book, Gladwell uncovers three main takeaways:  Decisions made quickly can be as important as ones made over a long period.Sometimes our instincts betray us.Our first impressions and snap judgements can be educated and controlled. Slicing Information Gladwell explains that experts often “thin slice” information for quick judgements. For instance, he talks about the ability of experts in ancient artifacts to be able to tell the difference between a fake and an authentic piece of art by just glancing at the work. He describes the work of social scientists who can predict whether new couples will stay together long-term just based on a few minutes of watching them talk and interact. The lesson? Over time, you develop abilities to “think slice” large amounts of data or information that help with decision-making. Instincts That Betray Us But he also explains ways that our unconscious ideas can infiltrate or manipulate reality. One startling example is the way we perceive gender and race. Gladwell cites numerous studies where the majority of people (even people of diversity) will misjudge or assign more negative emotional levels to people of color, men who are shorter in stature, or to women in general.  Gladwell is the child of an integrated family. He shares how he participated in a scientifically designed computer programs that required participants to assign emotions to photos. To his surprise and embarrassment, he inevitably assigned more negative emotions to minorities. These blind-spots in our unconscious can be dangerous if they cause us to make biased decisions we are unaware we are making. In schools, this often happens in the ways we unconsciously pay more attention to the behavior of boys. Educating Our Impressions Finally, Gladwell explains how we have the capacity to train ourselves in the ways we make snap judgements. One example he gives is in police work. He cites research that police who pursue suspects in high speed chases almost always overreact with excessive force. Police academies are now adapting this research to instruct officers against high chase pursuits and against confronting suspects while alone. Officers are also learning to repeatedly mock-play crisis scenarios so that they do not freeze or overreact in real life ones. For school leaders, you may not always think about the power of safety drills, crisis scenarios, or mock-playing uncomfortable scenarios. But what your mother told you is true: practice makes perfect. When it comes to training your unconscious to not overreact, training and education is essential to making better snap decisions. Implications for School Leaders What are some takeaways for your leadership when you consider Gladwell’s lessons? 1. Don’t underestimate your ability to “thin slice” complex situations when you’ve had deep experience in managing similar scenarios in the past. Your experiences significantly inform your ability to make important judgement calls. Decisiveness can be the result of deep knowledge and experience. For instance, as an instructional leader, you will spend a lot of time observing and evaluating teachers. Rubrics and written instruments are an important way to maintain consistency, but these tools don’t replace your good judgement. Even in content areas where you may not be experiences, overtime, you can pretty quickly assess whether or not learning in happening in a classroom.  Yes, you are still required to do due diligence with documentation, but it doesn’t take long to identify good teaching from bad teaching. Students figure this out quickly too. Why? They’ve had a lot of experience being taught by strong or poor instruction. Don’t ignore those basic instincts that come with your own experience either. 2. Don’t overestimate your ability to follow your instincts. Just because you may be good at “thin slicing” in some scenarios, you do have an excuse from consistently reflecting on areas where you may have a hidden bias. Ask others where they may perceive your blindspots. Study your own data on how students are performing in academics and behavior. Do you see tendencies toward some sub-groups struggling more than others? Ask yourself how you are providing equal access to resources, opportunities, and recognition to all students.  I remember once when a 16-year old female student was in trouble for an emotional outburst she had with another girl. After meeting with the girl, I gave her a stern lecture on her behavior and called her parents to explain the school consequences for her misbehavior. While talking to the parents, I realized this girl was on an IEP. When I dug into her file, I saw where her processing abilities were more similar to a 3rd grader than a high school sophomore.  The “light bulb” moment helped me realize why she was having such a hard time responding to my conversation the ways her peers were responding. Needless to say, it changed the way I spoke, responded, and guided her in future situations. Don’t overestimate your abilities in snap-judgments. Consistently look for what may be hidden in a situation. If or when you see areas where you may need to readjust your perspective, do it. 4. Educate yourself so that you have stronger control in good decision-making. Gladwell shares research that shows our tendencies to place too much importance on appearance versus substance. In addition, he shares ways professionals practice scenarios in advance so that they are better prepared not to make wrong decisions.  One example for school leaders is managing difficult conversations. I’ve often seen instructional coaches role-play difficult conversation scenarios with teachers or other administrators in advance. Doing this lowers anxiety and teaches better conflict-resolution skills. Open your eyes to the perspectives of others. This past year, I had an administrator friend point out to me that a very small percentage of minority males serve in school leadership positions. As I looked at my summer reading list, I decided to expand my own reading to better educate myself on perspectives on minority leaders.  Here are a few books I have also enjoyed reading during the past months to help me keep expanding my own thinking on ideas from important leaders with historic and contemporary perspectives: Watching Our Crops Come In by Clifton L. Taulbert The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois  Becoming by Michelle Obama Think about ways you can better inform your own ideas and mindsets so that you don’t become subject to a fixed-mindset in your judgements and perceptions. Let’s Wrap This Up I have probably called it wrong as many times as I’ve called it right in good decision making. That may be a sad commentary on my personal and professional judgement. But the reality is that you always have room to grow.  Gladwell’s book is a fascinating study in how you tend to call it right more often when you have deep experience with a situation or subject. But it is also a good reminder that you may be working with blindspots when it comes to your perceptions and judgements of others. Most importantly, he shares how you can actually grow your abilities through practice and education so that you make better choices when called on to make quick decisions.  Now It’s Your Turn Can you think of a time where a quick judgement has served you well? Can you remember a time where you may have needed longer study of a situation to make a better decision? Don’t be frustrated that both realities exist at the same time. Gladwell’s research shows that we are good and bad at decision-making. Understanding this is one step toward improvement. Is there a book or resource you may need to read to have a better perspective on your students or the people with whom you work? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP165: Three Lessons in Decision Making from Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink appeared first on Principal Matters.

Photo by Trey Ratcliff – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00 These last couple of week, I’ve been on the road a lot visiting schools and principals across my state. For the next couple of weeks, I plan to share some thoughts from the road – literally. This week’s episode I recorded while driving (after safely cuing my recorder before starting a long drive). 5 Takeaways for New Principals I reflect on thoughts I’ve been having while talking to new principals: Building culture as the foundation of your school experienceUnderstanding your past, building new procedures, and maintaining momentum“Chunking” your schedule to prioritize instructional leadership and focus on important vs. urgent tasksExpressing appreciation to teachers in creative ways they help chooseRemembering why your leadership matters to your students, teachers, and community members Normally, I include a longer written summary, but this week, I encourage you to listen to the podcast episode if want more details, examples, and reflections. (Plus, I can’t write as much when driving long road trips.) Finally, I want to give a shout-out to Jen Shwanke’s book, You’re the Principal! Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders, which I reference extensively in these reflection. This book has been a wonderful resource for new principals, and I highly recommend it. Now It’s Your Turn I’d love to hear ideas from you on ways you’ve invested in culture, prioritized your schedule, or planned appreciation for your team members. As always, thanks for learning together, and thanks for doing what matters! Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP164: On the Road – Thoughts for New School Leaders appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, I have been answering questions from listeners on a variety of subjects in school leadership. Photo by Nicole Honeywill – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@nicolehoneywill?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit This week I am joined by my friend, Jethro Jones the host of Transformative Principal Podcast as we tackle three questions together from our listeners. Jethro is an administrator with elementary and middle level experience and currently lives in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2017 he was recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as a National Digital Principal of the Year. I’ve known Jethro for years from connecting online and have had the privilege of meeting him in person. He was first a guest on my program for PMP Episode 74, where you can hear a longer introduction to his work and check out conversations about why it’s important to embed digital practices in your school.  3 Questions from Listeners This week we are tackling three questions that principal listeners have shared with us from our podcasts, covering these topics: What do you do if or when your teachers give you the cold shoulder about learning something new?How do you manage differences in student dynamics within competency-based instruction?What ways can you measure student growth in Social Emotional Learning? Listen-in for the complete conversation, and let’s jump right in… Question 1. My teachers give me the cold shoulder when I try to introduce them to new ways of teaching. What should I do? Jethro and I discuss the following: Modeling for teachersObservation of other teachersWhat is he/she doing well already? Praise first, then instruct.Lead with the question, “Where do you want to grow?”Creating an enviornment where teachers ask for helpCelebrating innovative teachingLearning to say yes before saying no Question 2. How do you make sure that students who struggle don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed that they aren’t working with their peers? When competency-based, what happens? We discuss these suggestions: Defining expecations so that students measure against standards, not other studentsThey are already in different places! Your expectations matter in their perceptions…Help them identify where they are good. And celebrate!It’s not about competition with peers, but competition with themselves.  Question 3. How can Social Emotional Learning success be measured? We discuss several takeaways: Discover the importantce of self-reflection. It’s okay to embrace different standards for everyone. Resilient students don’t really need more resiliency training. They need something else. A student with trauma needs different things than a student without. Creat an environment where you want your own chidrenYou can measure the indicators like discipline, attendance and graduation/completion rates We share examples of SEL through FOMO — karaoke cafeteria — from Principal Kim Coody’s High School in Okahoma and Amy Fast’s emotional learning practices in OregonRecource recommended: Barb Sorrels – http://transformativeprincipal.org/episode269 Let’s Wrap this up The ability to have a fresh start is one of the biggest blessings of being an educator or education leader. You have a fresh start every morning and every new school year. Your ability to grow also requires reflection and practice. One theme that runs through this week’s questions from principals is the theme of continual improvement – improvement with teachers, students, and culture. You will not grow perfectly in any of these areas, but when you reflect with others, grow together, and move forward, you build momentum toward continuous improvement. And over time, you reap the benefits of hard work as well as the positives that come from modeling the behaviors you expect in others. Now It’s Your Turn What is one new method or strategy you could model for your teachers or team? How can you instll in others the freedom to believe it’s okay to try and fail and in learning? And how can you celebrate the wins along the way? Mastermind Update I wanted to give you a heads up that I have opened applications for a mastermind community and am receiving and setting up phone interviews with interested listeners. If you want to be a part of an exclusive community of other school leaders who meet on a weekly basis for leadership discussions, book studies, and hot-seat opportunities, you can learn more by visiting williamdparker.com/mastermind or email me at will@williamdparker.com. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP163: Encouraging an Environment of Growth – Questions and Answers with Jethro Jones appeared first on Principal Matters.

Author David Weinberger once said: “The smartest person in the room is the room itself.” Photo by redcharlie – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@redcharlie?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit In other words, the collective power of our thinking is always more powerful than working in isolation. By connecting with others, we can stretch our thinking and be motivated to take new actions. This week I’m thrilled to bring back Danny Bauer to the podcast to discuss the power of community building for leaders. A former Chicago and Houston school administrator, Danny Bauer has dedicated the past five years to building resources, interviewing leaders, and facilitating Masterminds for school leaders. He is also the author of The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap: Small Ideas That Lead to Big Impact. Danny was a guest in episode 71 of Principals Matters Podcast, and you can hear that previous episode here.  In this week’s episode, we discuss why connecting to a community of other leaders is essential to your growth. We talk about the growing online community platform he has launched for school leaders and cover several topics. Listen-in to learn more of the following: What is your superpower? Discover how this school leader has turned his superpowers of community building into full-time support for other leaders. What is your main struggle? Reflect on the common struggles or themes Danny’s hear from men and women leading schools all over the world.Why is leading in isolation so dangerous? Discover how Masterminds can be your place to discover authentic, vulnerable, courageous conversations about yourself and your leadership.Where can you find a safe place for school leaders online? Explore Danny’s new online Go-Community for a confidential, exclusive social community of like-minded school leaders.What is your number one priority this school year? Listen to what Danny thinks is the most important priorities principals should consider when starting this school year. (His answer will surprise you!) Here’s a summary of offerings included in the new Go! Community: Go! Community Danny calls it the “Greatest Place on the Internet for School Leaders” … and you’re invited. The Go! Community is an online community for school leaders to level up. Connect with other school leaders from around the globe in this private, elite membership community. Here is what you get: General Discussion on Topics You Care AboutOnline CoursesThe World’s Best Virtual Book ClubWeekly PromptsPodcast TranscriptsExclusive Webinars & Coaching OpportunitiesPitch Free ZoneA Safe Place to Practice For a reasonable monthly fee, you can join an exclusive online community for access to conversations, video-tutorials, and other recommendations for Go! Community members-only. Go here for more information on Go! Community Subscriptions. Mastermind Opportunity You may also be interested in checking out the new Principal Matters Mastermind openings. This is an opportunity for focused, weekly online meetings with other like-minded leaders in a community of school leaders who want mutual accountability for personal and professional growth. Check-it out here. Let’s Wrap This Up If you are ready to grow your capacity for school leadership, consider investing in deeper growth through more learning. Two options you may want to consider could include Masterminds or Go! Community. You can check out both offerings on my website. Now It’s Your Turn What ways are you investing in your own growth this year? What steps are you taking to be involved in collective sharing with other leaders? Even if Masterminds or Go! Community are not options that fit your needs, don’t lead alone. Reach out to other leaders and refuse to lead in isolation. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP162: Go! Community – How to Harness the Power of the Room with Danny Bauer appeared first on Principal Matters.

Last week Jen Schwanke and I answered questions from podcast listeners. Listen to Part 1 here. Photo by Helloquence – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions  https://unsplash.com/@helloquence?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit 1DE-9D20-806E6F6E6963} This week we take three more questions from principals on parenting, women in leadership, and professional growth. Here’s our feedback, or you can listen to the entire conversation on the podcast: Question 1: How do you manage being a parent and a principal both? I had a serving principal tell me “It’s impossible!” Jen and Will’s responses: Nothing is impossible! Principals are known for managing a lot and being an education leader and parent is possible with planning and forethought. Let’s get practical. There are several Life Hacks you can use to help. For me (Jen) that includes making meals ahead, living by a calendar [with down time scheduled!!], and asking for help. Focus on efficiency, not perfection. If possible, use others for help. Some principals hire out extras like cleaning to free up time for other tasks. If grandparents are near, rely on them. Think of what’s making it impossible and remedy that area (commute, impossible professional self-expectations, Netflix binges, for instance.) Find joy by embedding both worlds of leading a school and parenting children. When you do, you’ll be a more compassionate leader for others on your team doing the same. Question 2: How do I most effectively lead as woman admin? Jen‘s response: I’ve never made my identity about a woman administrator.  I’ve made it about being a good administrator. At times, I’ve felt it was an issue, but I tried to really think about why and put that “why” in a zone. Never, ever let being a woman be an excuse or an explanation. Go where you’re wanted and don’t lose your purpose.   Will’s response: As I travel to other schools, I’ve noticed men still outnumber women in many leadership roles. But as someone who has served under several women leaders, I echo Jen’s statement. The women whose leadership I have respected have been persons of integrity, consistency, courage and compassion. These are important qualities in every leader. Serve with those qualities and you will earn the respect of others. If those around you can’t follow that kind of leader, you may want to consider finding a place where you will be more appreciated. Question 3. I’m so busy. How do I maintaining professional growth? Jen’s and Will’s responses: Identifying needs you have (i.e. data, assessment, Title) and focus your learning on where you want to learn as you don’t have time to read everything others recommend. It’s important to remember how your personal balance and professional growth coexist: when you are personally growing, you’ll find yourself sharper professionally. Learning hacks listen while commuting: listen to podcasts of other leaders or education leaders. Build a social media following of like-minded leaders and check out their recommendations. Pick up the phone and call another principal or eat a meal together. The professional ideas you can share face-to-face are powerful! Reflect on what you learn in leadership, and write it down or share with others. Every day you are learning something that could someone else grow.calen Let’s Wrap This Up You’ll never lead perfectly, but when you reflect on your practices and apply lessons learned, you will consistently see personal and professional growth. A big thanks to Jen Schwanke for co-hosting these series together! Now It’s Your Turn What’s an area where you would like to see personal or professional growth this school year? As you think about the challenges of school leadership, what other ideas or suggestions would you add to these questions? Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP161: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 2 appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, several questions came from Principal Matters community members. This week, Jen Schwanke, principal and author, joined me to answer several questions from principals or aspiring principals. Photo by John Schnobrich – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@johnschno?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit Here are a three questions we take time to discuss and respond to: Question 1: Finding my first principal position… Hello! I have just completed my masters program to be an administrator for a school and I was curious what your advice would be on how I can be noticed more during the application process. I’ve applied to quite a few places and never heard anything back. So all in all, what would your advice be to any teacher leaders seeking out their first admin job? –Question from an aspiring school leader  Jen’s ideas: Do the math. Schools only have selected openings for administrators. Just because you haven’t been considered may be a reflection on the limited number of openings availalbe.Apply and network. Don’t stop reaching out and applying. And connect with other school leaders. Those relationships pay dividends later when openings occur.Go where you’re wanted. You want to be in a place that is a good fit and where you will be valued. If your current district is not that place, consider a move.Don’t let desperation lead you. Make the right choice for you and your family. A bad leadership position is worse than no position at all. Think of your negotiables and non-negotiables (moving, grade level switch, pay cut) and don’t waver. Will’s ideas: Lead where you are. Don’t forget the best way to interview for a future opening is by leading and excelling where you are right now.Be an incredible teacher/teacher-leader. Principals are not made, they are developed. And your actions as a superb instructor and leader among teachers sets the tone for your future work as an administrator.Get the word out. Tell others your looking. My first opening came when a friend saw a post for an assistant opening in a neighboring district and told me about it.Interview anyway. One of the best ways to train for a future opening is interviewing – even for positions you may not get. When I moved from assistant principal to principal, I interviewed in locations where I was not offered the position before I found the right fit. Question 2: Student discipline… I’m struggling to want to stay consistent in disciplining students largely because I know that they are acting out due to what’s going on at home. I find that my heart is going out to these kids, and I want to show them some grace. It’s draining having to suspend the same kid yet again when you know there’s no follow through at home. At the same time, I can’t overlook these behaviors. I also feel like teachers come to me regarding my “frequent flyers” expecting me to be able to “fix” them. I guess I’m still searching for my magic wand. Any suggestions or words of advice? Does discipline from the AP role ever get easier? –Question from an Assistant Principal Jen’s ideas: I don’t think it gets easier, and if it does, that’s because you’ve stopped caring, or gotten numb.Just do the next right thing. Follow your relationships (with kids, families, teachers).Think of alternatives. You should be working on a menu of options for student discipline, not just a one-size fits all approach.Teach teachers. Sometimes discipline can begin and end in the classroom. Teachers may need instruction in how to do this so issues don’t escalate to office referrals.Explain without wavering. It is still your responsiblity to implement policy. You can do this in a compassionate way and still be consistent. Will’s ideas: Embrace the tension of consistency and compassion. They go hand in hand. But you can’t have one without the other.Consider student contracts. With frequent-flyers, it is sometimes helpful to draft an agreement that spells out ahead of time the consequences and rewards for behaviors.Bring a team together. Don’t manage student behavior alone. Invite a counselor, teachers, or parents to the table. You’ll find more creative solutions when you do.Sometimes it’s as simple (or hard) as asking yourself, “What would a great leader do?” And do that.Follow policy. It’s your responbility to be consistent. This actually allows you to be creative and nuanced within the parameters of your policies. If policies are too stringent, work on changing them for the next school year. Question 3: Managing teacher and parent conflicts… How do you handle the following scenario? You are asked to step into a parent teacher conference that you did not plan for and have no background information. You have both parent and teacher with you, and even the involved student at times. The parent brings legitimate concerns to the table. The teacher might not be flat out wrong, but could have handled the situation better. However, the teacher is adamant they are in the right and even asked you to attend as “backup”. How do you handle this without the parent leaving mad, or the teacher feeling unsupported? –Question from a Principal Jen’s ideas: I would step into the meeting only to pause said meeting. It is perfectly fair to say you don’t have enough information and you would like to meet again later. Assure that the child is going to have a good experience tomorrow and we’ll get back together with more information at _____ time. Your number one goal is supporting students. Will’s ideas: Jen’s advice is very wise because this may not be a situation where anyone can win. If you choose to hear both parties in the moment, be a good listener, and be honest with how you see the situation, but try to model the behavior you want to see in this situation. If the teacher or parent is upset, be the one who remains calm and patient.Also, as you lead a school long-term, you begin to understand the people on your team and when a teacher may need to be coached toward more flexibility or if a parent needs to be coached towards stronger support. Let’s Wrap This Up Whether you’re pursuing your first admin opening or managing the complexities of student discipline, you benefit when you reflect with others. Reach out to others around you for from for input. Just like in student learning, the goal in leadership is not perfection, but it is growing and improving. Now It’s Your Turn What advice would you add to the questions asked by other leaders? Feel free to add comments to this post or send an email to will@williamdparker.com with your own feedback or questions. Sign-Up For Free Updates and Ebook You can automatically receive new posts and a free Ebook, 8 Hats: Essential Roles for School Leaders. Let’s keep learning together! The post PMP160: Answers to Principal Matters Questions, Part 1 appeared first on Principal Matters.

Jesse Haynes is one of those rare people you meet in life who has dared to make his dreams come true. Photo by VooDoo Works – Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License https://www.flickr.com/photos/66549102@N04 He is a recent graduate from the University of Tulsa who has reached audacious personal goals, published multiple books, and created podcasts with millions of downloads – just while in high school and college. In this week’s podcast episode, Jesse shares some of his own story as a high school student with a dream to publish his first book. Since then he has signed a book-deal for four upcoming novels, he has published his own podcasts, and he’s finished his first college degree in media studies.  Schools are full of young people, like Jesse, who have untapped creative ideas. How do we give them the support and point them to the resources they need to take risks? Jesse shares the challenges he’s faced in becoming a published author, the rejections and struggles along the way, and then the practical steps he has taken to move forward and reach goals. Free Resource for Leaders Jesse also shares an excellent resource for any growing leader (or leader of leaders) in his latest free-ebook, Leaderphors, where he provides the essentials for a mindset of leadership. In addition, he shares practical group exercises and questions so others can immediately explore, discuss and apply the lessons learned in six areas: Leaders Build Bridges – When you see a goal to be reached, you can either perceive the end as unattainable or takes steps to reach your destination. Leaders Sow Seeds – Just a farmer sows and grows plants, the small steps and actions you take are what create bigger results later.Leaders Score Points – Every situation provides you with the opportunity to take risks. When you take risks, you have the potential to “score points” and build momentum toward your goals.Leaders Stay Connected – Relationships matter. Never underestimate the power of those people around you to help you achieve goals.Leaders Quilt – Leaders involves looking for the odd or unique attributes in others that can lead to their success; it also involves helping others take incremental steps “patched together” to turn ideas into creative outcomes.Leaders Fall – Taking risks means you will fail and succeed. You cannot have one without the other so embrace the fact that you’ll skin your knees along the way. You can check out his “Leaderphors” publication to share with your teachers or student leadership groups. It also includes lesson and hands-on actives for group discussions with students on each leadership metaphor.  In our podcast conversation, Jesse also unpacks the processes he has followed to tackle big projects: the steps he takes when writing books or creating podcasts. Most importantly, he shares thoughts for school leaders who want to encourage students to reach big goals. Listen in to this week’s entire podcast episode and be inspired! If you want to connect with his free ebook here or find more resources at his website. Connect with Jesse via Twitter @realjessehaynes. Let’s Wrap This Up When I asked Jesse for a parting word of advice for principals, he said, “Never count out a student. Sometimes it’s the quietest kid in class — lean into those moments, listen to them, embrace them, and help students be creative.” Now It’s Your Turn This generation of students has access to more opportunities than ever before. What’s one step you can take to encourage students to take risks with their creative ideas? How can you incorporate creative expressions like publishing, podcasting, or video creation for students to communicate lessons learned? 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! The post PMP159: Engaging Students in Shaping Their Own Stories with Jesse Haynes appeared first on Principal Matters.

In 2017, Justin Baeder, from Principal Center Radio, invited me as a guest on his show to talk to me about my book Messaging Matters: How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities. Photo by Joe The Goat Farmer – Creative Commons Attribution License  https://www.flickr.com/photos/132604339@N03 Justin was gracious enough to allow me to repost the interview with my readers and listeners. This week I want to share that encore episode with you. Why is messaging so important? https://www.solutiontree.com/messaging-matters.html In every setting of school, amazing learning and moments are happening every day that not a lot of people know about. In the humility of our service as educators, we are often hesitant to brag about our schools. On a national scale, this has created a crisis with a political landscape that now assumes many schools are failing. Many school leaders have decided to take back the narrative. When you are talking about policies and resources that schools need to matter, then your messaging matters on how elected officials and the general public perceive whether schools are worth supporting. Instead of telling educators to “stay out of the newspaper,” we should do the opposite. How do we increase our messaging with students, teachers, and our communities? We must adopt new habits of looking for moments of celebration and then embedding practices to consistently share that out. School leaders must be first in making a commitment to celebrating the positives so often that those moment drown out the negative ones: You are the astronaut! Messaging first begins with mindset. Just like you can only see one side of the moon from the surface of the earth, others can only see a limited perspective of your school. As a school leader, you often have a wider perspective of what’s happening in school because you have access to so many locations, classrooms, and conversations within the school. Since you can “see more of the moon,” you have a responsibility and a privilege of sharing out that perspective with the rest of the world. 7 Ways to Maximize Messaging Commit to a daily and weekly broadcast of amazing moments. As you walk through your school, look for moments to celebrate. Capture these moments on your phone and then share them out. It’s that easy. But it begins with a mindset of looking for the positives that are outshining the negatives. Encourage teachers and students to adopt that mindset as well. Practice and schedule messaging so that you build momentum around those messages. Your students can take positive messaging further than anyone else. One year some of my students decided to begin a movement of kindness at our school. Their decision to share positive notes on a girls’ bathroom mirror, for instance, became a story our school shared on Facebook and was shared on TV news. Positivity is contagious when you encourage it.Be present and mindful when you are with students. Instead of just doing walkthroughs or observations by using a tech tool, look into the faces of students and teachers and identify what kind of learning is happening. “Being in the moment” means actually watching, listening, and feeling the relationships and learning around you. This mindset will help you connect with others, and you’ll find lots to celebrate.Include teachers and students in communicating what learning is taking place in school. No one understands better than students and teachers what learning is happening in classrooms. Whether you are bringing a team of teachers to board meetings or encouraging students to demonstrate what they’re learning, let people hear from the products of our educational environments— the students and teachers themselves.Give teachers permission to share out their best ideas. If you have a teacher with some best practices others can learn from, encourage them to share about it. Also, find your “techy-teacher”, the one who likes to blog, podcast or create videos, and invite him or her to share what they’re doing with others. Commit to a weekly newsletter. Whatever format you choose, reach out to parents and community members so they have an image-rich summary of awesome happenings. Give parents a positive context for your schools so that problems or conflicts are always in the context of positive conversations you’ve already initiated.Don’t be afraid to oversaturate your audience, parents or community with positive moments. People want to be a part of something they are proud of. And most people need to hear a message several times before it sticks in their minds. So duplicate information: if you share something in a newsletter, also place in your social media feeds or other mediums you use for messaging. Let’s Wrap This Up At the end of the day, we celebrate our schools because they deserve recognition for the great achievements, connections, and learning that make them a school community. Or another way to say it: you celebrate them because you love them. Would you consider giving yourself permission to celebrate how much you love your school? I know you already do, but show that love by the commitment you will make to celebrated, highlight, and broadcast those student and teacher achievements with the rest of the world. Principal Center Radio Thanks to Justin Baeder for allowing me republish this podcast episode. You can check out Justin’s amazing resources for school leaders at PrincipalCenter.com. 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! The post PMP:Encore076 Messaging Matters – How to Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students and Reach Communities appeared first on Principal Matters.

A few nights ago I was sitting in a theater with my wife watching the movie, Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Lily James. Photo by Oana-Maria Sofronia – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@oanamariaphoto?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I do want to say I was completely affected by the nostalgia and its focus on the legacy of Beatles music. In fact, it brought back some vivid memories of two great men I admire and whose love of music influenced me – both who died prematurely. One was my oldest brother, Harvey, and the second was a veteran teacher colleague, Brooks Walton. I’d like to share some reflections and memories from their stories that may influence how you think about your own story: Memory #1 : Learning Guitar There is a scene in the movie where the main character, Jack Barth (played by Himesh Patel), is given a guitar as a gift after his was destroyed in a bus accident that almost killed him. When Jack opens the guitar case and pulls out his gift, he begins playing the iconic single, “Yesterday.”  It’s a poignant moment in the movie, but it also brought reminded me of my first guitar lessons. When we were boys, my oldest brother, Harvey, found a guitar that had been gifted to another sibling who had never used it. He tuned it without knowing how and taught himself make-shift chords. One day a friend of his heard Harvey playing and taught him how to correctly tune it, and he learned chording all over again. Later my brother taught me to play, and music has been one of the most important constants in my life. Even in junior high, I remember thinking if I had to lose a limb, I’d prefer not walking to the loss of my hands because of how much I enjoy playing piano and guitar. In 2009, my oldest brother died of a heart attack. He was only 46-years old. The morning after his death, I was sitting at the old piano in my parents’ living room. I tried to pick out a melody but the sound of the notes reminded me of all the music we had played together: the long nights of jamming with friends, sitting around with family for sing-alongs, listening to one another share songs we had written. It was the moment when I cried the most bitterly that he was gone – not because I didn’t believe I’d never see him again in eternity – but because the world still seems lonelier and less spectacular in his absence. Memory #2 : Using Music to Teach History The second memory that came to me was of a teaching colleague, Brooks Walton, who passed away shortly after his retirement while I was principal at Skiatook High School. Mr. Walton was a legend among students and the entire community. He taught U.S. History, and for several years, he taught an elective on the 1960’s that was one of the most popular classes in the school. Brooks Walton taught students that history has meaning, and he introduced many of them to that meaning through the songs of the Beatles. Each year he took students on a field trip to Dallas, Texas, where they toured the 6th Floor, a museum located on the very corner of the place where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. At his retirement party, Mr. Walton hired a live band. I’ll never forget seeing him in his T-shirt and jeans, hands in the air, leading the entire room in “Hey, Jude.” When he died two years later, our school board changed the name of our newest building to the Brooks Walton Activity Center. His funeral was a standing-room-only event with friends and students whose lives he had so richly influenced. As I was watching “Yesterday,” I kept thinking about these men: these important mentors in my life. Music has a way of drawing us together. In a world that often seems so disconnected and hostile, it is good to be reminded that people still make a difference when they share their best with others. Photo by Jonathan Weiss – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@jweiss?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit The Haircut Image: What You Cannot Delegate Last week, I was reminded of this same lesson when I heard a talk from Dr. Tim Elmore, the Founder of Growing Leaders and author of several books on generational trends. During his talk, Dr. Elmore shared an image of boy having his hair cut. He asked the question: Is a haircut something you can delegate to another person? The obvious answer was no. Then he asked a follow-up: What are some important areas in your life, like a haircut, that you should take responsibility for because no one else should own those areas for you? Here are some answers shared by others in the room: 1. Your attitude. No one can control your attitude as you can. When you choose your response to people and situations, you become a person who sets the temperature of the room you’re in instead of reacting to the temperature set by others. 2. Your marriage (or significant relationships). Your most intimate relationships only thrive when you are present. Time spent equals relationships built. You want to be the one your partner relies on as your soul-mate. You can’t delegate that to anyone else and still have a healthy marriage. 3. Your parenting. Parenting requires intentionality. If you’re a parent, that means targeting (and scheduling) time for your children. This also means being emotionally present so they trust you when they need you most. There is one other response I wanted to add to the list: 4. Your story. You have been given a unique perspective, experience, personality and expression. To hold onto that experience and not share it with others is selfish. And you’re the only one of you who can share your unique story and expression with others. Why is this important? I think it’s important because I so often see others, even school leaders, “selling themselves short” on the value they are providing for others. Most work involves processes, functions, deadlines, and outcomes. That’s the nature of work. But the longer you work, the easier it is to believe you are simply accomplishing tasks – checking items off your to-do list and reaching goals. But for work to be meaningful, it must also involve providing others with your own unique perspective, gifts, insights, creativity and skills. In other words, the way you work, not just the outcome, makes a huge difference in the effect it has on others. Let me give you an example. In the book Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell, the author provides data on why doctors are sued for malpractice. Gladwell explains:  “The overwhelming number of people who suffer an injury due to the negligence of a doctor never file a malpractice suit at all. Patients don’t file lawsuits because they’ve been harmed by shoddy medical care. Patients file lawsuits because they’ve been harmed by shoddy medical care  – and something else happens to them.” He continues… “What comes up again and again in malpractice cases is that patients say they were rushed or ignored or treated poorly.” In other words, people care as much about the solutions you provide as much as they do about the attitude and attention you provide in the process. The “human element” you provide – the unique signature you place on moments with others – you cannot delegate. Let’s Wrap This Up When the movie “Yesterday” ended, I had a difficult time gathering my emotions. When I finally made it to the car, I began crying. It was a long time before I could finally talk. When I did, I told her the memories that were coming back to me of my brother and my old friend. I’m not sharing that experience with you for sympathy.  I want to make a point. It is the unique, one-of-a-kind, poignant moments that people create in our lives that stay with us for years to come. My brother and Mr. Walton were both teachers. But it was not the act of teaching, their work, that I remember most about them. It was their unique flavor – their own stories that inspired others and me.   They did not delegate those stories to anyone else. Perhaps that’s another reason I love music so much. Music requires you to see life from the perspective of someone else’s story. When you serve and lead others from the heart, you give them a part of yourself.  So don’t be afraid to be yourself in your relationships, your work, and your leadership. When you do, you may be creating music for those around you that they’ll be singing for years to come. Now It’s Your Turn What is one way you can reflect on your attitude as you serve others? How can you provide meaningful outcomes and meaningful experiences at the same time? Who is someone whose story has touched your life in an important way? Can you reach out to them or celebrate them with others as an act gratitude? P.S. Principal Matters Update: We keep growing! Photo by Jungwoo Hong – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@oowgnuj?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As I wrap up this week’s post, I wanted to share some Principal Matters “family” updates: As this school leadership community learns together, we have thousands of readers and listeners, not only around the states, but also in countries around the world. These are women and men who teach or lead in schools of all grades, sizes, and demographics. Here are some quick stats as of July 2019: To date, 2,497 readers subscribe for weekly emails updates (These include educators in North America, Australia, Africa, Asia and European nations).More than 3,000 podcast episodes are being downloaded each week (3,871 podcast episodes have been downloaded by listeners this week alone).280,791 podcast episodes have been downloaded in total since launching in November 2015. Even though we have a relatively “small” online community compared to other platforms, think of this for perspective:  5,000 Principal Matters readers/listeners are regularly listening, reading, learning and growing in school leadership each week.These leaders serve students, teachers, and communities. Assume this represents schools of 200 students each (although many of you serve thousands).At least 1 million students are being touched right now by our collective work! Share the Learning! It’s exciting to think of the collective experiences we all share. Do you know other education leaders who would benefit from these lessons? If so, please forward along this post and invite others to subscribe for this free content. In fact, if you know any education leaders in South America or Antartica, I’d love to include then and cover all 8 continents! New Offer: Masterminds for Education Leaders Photo by Headway – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@headwayio?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As I think about the 2019-2020 school year, I am planning on offering a Mastermind for Education Leaders. What is a Mastermind? This would be an exclusive weekly virtual meeting for school leaders who want to have one-hour of focused learning, feedback, and mentoring. Each member will be hand-picked to join the mastermind community. To participate in a Mastermind, you would commit one hour a week to our online group meeting and another hour a week to personal development and leadership exercises. If you’re interested, applying is the first step. After reviewing applications, I will reach out to qualified candidates for an admissions phone interview. There is also a monetary commitment to be a part of this exclusive community. Interested in a Mastermind? Before launching this portal or application on my website, I wanted to hear from any listeners or readers who may be interested. If that’s you, please email me at will@williamdparker.com. Just include the subject line, “Mastermind”, with your contact information. You’ll be the first to know when this option is live and available for application. 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! The post PMP158: Why Telling Your Own Story Matters appeared first on Principal Matters.

Jenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job which keeps her up late most nights. Photo by JESHOOTS.COM – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@jeshoots?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit When she arrives late to school, she has already missed breakfast and she’s tardy. She stands in a long line at the counseling office until she is given her class schedule. She reads it quickly: First hour, Mr. Samuels, room 125, Algebra II. She doesn’t recognize the name. Maybe he’s one of the new teachers.  She heads down the hall. She’s flush with frustration but holds her head high, turns the corner and steps into the classroom. She finds an open seat in the back of the room. As she glances around the room, she does not see the teacher’s name anywhere. By this time, she’s too embarrassed to ask, and the teacher is so involved in his first-day-of-school speech that he hasn’t paused to ask Jenny for her name, schedule, or given her any other leads. As he talks on, she realizes this is Language Arts, not a math class. She must have entered the wrong room or misread her schedule.  Jenny endures the discomfort for the remaining minutes. Then she rushes from the class as quickly as possible, frustrated and hoping the rest of her first day of school is not this confusing. Keeping students in mind As important as it is to keep your responsibilities in mind as you start a new school year, it is even more important to keep the end-goal in mind: serving students. You have students returning from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. You also serve teachers, staff and parents with questions and concerns. How can you be ready for all of them? Questions every student is asking on the first day As you know, how we prepare for students can either help or hurt their first-day experiences. Harry Wong, author of The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher, reminds us of seven questions every student asks about his or her teachers: 1. Am I in the right room? 2. Where am I supposed to sit? 3. Who is the teacher as a person? 4. Will the teacher treat me as a human being? 5. What are the rules in this classroom? 6. What will I be doing this year? 7. How will I be graded? Questions every teacher and staff person asks on the first day But students aren’t the only ones who need clarity. Your teachers and staff also want to know some questions that only school leaders an answer. So I’ve re-written Harry Wong’s questions to reflect what your teachers and staff will be asking: 1. What is my schedule? 2. What extra duties, assignments or activities might I expect? 3. Who is my administrator as a person? 4. Will he/she treat me as a human being? 5. What are the expectations, procedures, policies in our school? 6. What am I expected to accomplish this year? 7. How will I be evaluated, mentored, graded or coached? Tips for school leaders preparing for school With those thoughts in mind, this week’s Principal Matters podcast co-host Jen Schwanke and I share six ideas to keep in mind when preparing for your start of school. (Listen to the podcast version for even more stories and takeaways.) 1. Build and re-build relationships. As teachers, staff or parents return to your building, how are you reconnecting with them? Whether it’s hearing about summer trips, family updates, or meaningful moments in their lives, these conversations are important for building trust. They also open questions your teammates may have that are important for you to answer before school begins. 2. Use technology and social media. Jen likes to schedule several reminders to her community through social media that she posts throughout the summer. Whether you are using your school website, school-wide communication apps, or social media — share out important announcements and reminders various times throughout the summer to set expectations for the new school year. 3. Organize and manage– Remember everything!  Obviously, no system is perfect, but as you move into a school year, it is important to keep a list of to-do’s for your team and yourself. One way to do this is to maintain a list as you start the year that you can use again the following year(s). Go through last year’s calendar to see if you’re missing anything.Rely on a team (secretaries, assistants, lead teachers) who can help you stay on track 4. Define responsibilities. Sometimes principals have well-defined expectations for teachers but forget about non-instrucational staff. Consider working with each staff member on well-defined key responsiblity areas. (You can learn more and see samples in previous posts). With teachers and staff, don’t be afraid to say what is expected and providing it in writing. 5. Manage high anxiety. Everyone is anxious (in good or bad ways) about the start of school. And they are looking to the principal to set the tone. So manage the high anxiety by demonstrating a sense of calm and reassurance. One way to do this is by including celebration in your welcome-back. Provide lunch, give them a gift, communicate positivity, reassure them again and again that it will be a great year and all will be well. 6. Host orientation meetings. New teachers, old teachers, new students, returning students, new parents — you will have several groups who need to be welcomed in orientation meetings. Each group will have different needs, but the goals are the same: communication expectations, be positive, and be available to answer questions.  Additional Checklists for the School Leader’s First-Days of School Here are some additional questions to ask as you start the school year: ·      Have you posted “Welcome Back” signage? ·      Have you included maps of your school for new students? ·      Is signage clear and visible throughout the building? ·      Have you shared master schedules in advance with teachers? ·      What are your established arriving/departing routines? ·      Did you update and plan for consistently implemented policies and procedures? ·      Have parents and students been invited to an orientation or open-house before school? ·      Is your school website updated with current calendars and a welcome back message for parents and key information they should know? ·      Have you updated and shared duty-rosters, activities and/or game calendars for teachers? ·      Does your own calendar include dates for state reports, observations, evaluations, and team-meetings? Let’s Wrap This Up Think through your school-wide processes from the fresh perspective of a student, parent or teacher, and then decide what steps to take moving forward so that everyone in your school or organization has clarity on what to expect. Most importantly, remember that creating the best “first days” for students and staff is also realizing your school members need many of these questions answered every day. Now It’s Your Turn Take time to reflect on the above questions, tips, and checklist. What are some steps you can be taking right now to prepare for a great school year? How can you keep the perspective of your students, teachers, staff, and parents in mind in each part of your preparation? Don’t do this alone. Who can you include on your team in accomplishing these goals? Reference: Wong, Harry and Rosemary T. Wong, THE First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher, 2018. P.S. Principal Matters Update: We keep growing! Photo by Jungwoo Hong – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@oowgnuj?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As I wrap up this week’s post, I wanted to share some Principal Matters “family” updates: As this school leadership community learns together, we have thousands of readers and listeners, not only around the states, but also in countries around the world. These are women and men who teach or lead in schools of all grades, sizes, and demographics. Here are some quick stats as of July 2019: To date, 2,497 readers subscribe for weekly emails updates (These include educators in North America, Australia, Africa, Asia and European nations).More than 3,000 podcast episodes are being downloaded each week (3,871 podcast episodes have been downloaded by listeners this week alone).280,791 podcast episodes have been downloaded in total since launching in November 2015. Even though we have a relatively “small” online community compared to other platforms, think of this for perspective:  5,000 Principal Matters readers/listeners are regularly listening, reading, learning and growing in school leadership each week.These leaders serve students, teachers, and communities. Assume this represents schools of 200 students each (although many of you serve thousands).At least 1 million students are being touched right now by our collective work! Share the Learning! It’s exciting to think of the collective experiences we all share. Do you know other education leaders who would benefit from these lessons? If so, please forward along this post and invite others to subscribe for this free content. In fact, if you know any education leaders in South America or Antartica, I’d love to include then and cover all 8 continents! New Offer: Masterminds for Education Leaders Photo by Headway – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@headwayio?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit As I think about the 2019-2020 school year, I am planning on offering a Mastermind for Education Leaders. What is a Mastermind? This would be an exclusive weekly virtual meeting for school leaders who want to have one-hour of focused learning, feedback, and mentoring. Each member will be hand-picked to join the mastermind community. To participate in a Mastermind, you would commit one hour a week to our online group meeting and another hour a week to personal development and leadership exercises. If you’re interested, applying is the first step. After reviewing applications, I will reach out to qualified candidates for an admissions phone interview. There is also a monetary commitment to be a part of this exclusive community. Interested in a Mastermind? Before launching this portal or application on my website, I wanted to hear from any listeners or readers who may be interested. If that’s you, please email me at will@williamdparker.com. Just include the subject line, “Mastermind”, with your contact information. You’ll be the first to know when this option is live and available for application. 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! The post PMP157: Preparing for the Start-of-School Year appeared first on Principal Matters.