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As an urban school one of the difficult aspects of leading is preventing summer slide and competing with the resources and activities available to our more affluent colleagues’ schools. As schools of choice, charter schools and perhaps an impending voucher system for every state proliferate standing out and competing becomes more difficult. Helping to prevent summer slide is one way we can help our students stay even with their neighbors. These three etools can help you stay connected with your families and give them the power to compete. My guess is your school already has a Facebook account. If it doesn’t start one. According to Facebook stats,Facebook has the largest number of users between 25 and 35. That is a prime age for beginning families. Use FB Live to remind families to read to their kids. Have your students “friend” your school page so you can consistently deliver messages and challenges to them. Use the comment section to provide links to articles students may find interesting and have them leave their own comment. If you’re really brave and you’re at a high school engage in discussions around social justice and community politics. Principal Blog What is it that you do particularly well. It might be playing ball or chess or maybe you like playing the drums or gardening. Whatever it is write a blog post or an article highlighting your hidden talents. Basically you want to give your students something to read. You have an email list. In marketing this is one of the most valuable commodities because it give you direct access to your families. Use that list to share your content. Parents often don’t know what to get their kids to read. It’s probably no surprise to you how interested your students would be in you as a person. YouTube Channel With a Youtube channel you are once again providing an opportunity for students and families to engage with and learn from you. Create one or two minute video shorts where you’re discussing something as simple as current events. Use the opportunity to ask questions. If you’re an elementary principal you could use this time to read to your students. Again use that valuable email and phone list and let your parents know where you are on social media. If they don’t have time to read to their children maybe you do. The best part about this is you can create a little storytime video library for your students. With the power of etools you have the ability to impact student learning during the summer. Using these etools in a systematic way will expose your students to new learning opportunities that they may not otherwise have access to. Not only that, for those parents that are working two and three jobs you’re taking something off of their plate and giving them what they need. What are some other ways to support educational leaders prevent summer slide in economically challenged schools? Share your tips in the comment section below. If you’re a principal make sure you check out the new grant/scholarship available that honors the hard work you put in on a daily basis. K12 principals click here to learn more For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my other blogs at the http://www.theprincipalentrepreneur.com/ and/or pre order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, new episodes weekly. To join the podcast as a guest email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group.
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In this episode I get a chance to talk with elementary Principal, Motivational speaker, Author, and CEO of Jackson Consulting Dr. Marcus Jackson. Dr. Jackson is the author of children’s book Because My Teacher Said I can. We dive into the inspiration for that particular book a few minutes into the conversation. But before we do so we tackle is origin story and learn how a negative teacher powerfully impacted his decision to get into education.
Dr. Jackson also describes his challenges as a principal and how he overcame them. In addition gets into the key resources he used that helped his team go from a two star school to a five star school and the book that helped inspire the transition of the high school he lead out of priority status. Three keys to success that he gave include:
Part of figuring out how to be a great principal is balancing the demands of the job with your family. This is something that, admittedly, I’m still working on. The reason I’m bringing this particular topic up is my wife recently asked me why I never invite her to anything. My answer, “Why would I do that?” didn’t go over very well. Especially when I followed up with, “I wouldn’t want to go to your functions”. Needless to say I immediately invited her to the next school function. :-) The following 3 tips may keep you out of the dog house and off the couch.
Shut if off You know this might be the hardest tip to follow. With the laptops and tablets that some districts are giving to administrators (as well as our cell phones) the upper administration, our staff, and students have constant access to us. In fact this has become a norm. However, it’s okay to shut it down once you leave the office. I’ve found that staff, students, and even upper administration are okay waiting until the next business day to get a reply. I have yet to get a repercussion for not responding to an email or text message after 6pm. Once you’ve shut it off make sure you’re fully engaged with your family. Schedule it One of the tips that helped me was actually scheduling time to be involved with my wife and children. One night of the week is date night. Sunday and Monday are typically family dinner nights as neither my wife nor I work. Tuesday and Thursday I try to make sure I’m spending some time with the kids while mom is at work. Friday is a free for all where everybody is kind of fending for themselves. I’ve found that when I do stick to the schedule everything else falls into place and I’m actually more productive at work because I know nothing will be going home. Show’em off This is the latest tip I’ve added and it ties into the anecdote I mentioned in the opening paragraph. I didn’t realize that my wife was feeling excluded because I have no need to attend her functions. I was basing my choices on my own perspective and personality instead of focusing on her. And essentially this is what I needed to change. Not only does including her in after school activities help her be part of other aspects of my life I’m also hopeful it demonstrates the high regard with which I hold her. One of the aspects of being a great principal is figuring out how to intertwine all aspects of your life. Turning off electronic communication after a set time, scheduling family time and showing off your significant other are great ways to connect and reconnect with what’s important. What are some other strategies you use to make sure your family continues to feel like a priority? Please share your ideas in the comment section below. If you’re a principal make sure you check out the new grant/scholarship available that honors the hard work you put in on a daily basis. K12 principals click here to learn more For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my other blogs and/or pre order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, new episodes weekly. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. To be a guest on The Principal Entrepreneur podcast email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com.
Dr. Craig Boykin's Books
In this podcast episode of the principal entrepreneur we get the honor of talking with nationally recognized keynote speaker and author Dr. Craig Boykin. His keynote GED to Phd is an inspirational talk focusing on his journey from drop out to doctorate. And more importantly the strategies educators can use to overcome and reach at risk youth. Dr. Boykin is the author of My Life Your Inspiration, College Success 2.0, and Right Motives Wrong Methods: Teaching with Poverty in Mind.
In this short 25 minute conversation Dr. Boykin touches on his rough child hood and his journey from drop out to doctorate. During the conversation he also offers advice to educators on working with "at risk youth" and the inspiration for his book Right Motives Wrong Methods that has even more strategies than we had time to get into. He also suggests a couple of books that had a strong impact on him; anything by Principal Kafele and Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges
I land on the introverted side of the Myers Briggs personality test. I find large gatherings of people and the social interaction needed in those moments exhausting. Especially if the event is purely a social function. I do much better if there is a purpose that I set out to achieve in large group settings. Which means that as the principal at dances, graduation, or other after school activities where I know that I’m going to be interacting with the community, I must mentally prepare myself to be welcoming, friendly, and engaging.
I was worried about this when I first started as a principal but have come to realize that being introverted, while not as exciting as some of my more extroverted colleagues, doesn’t hinder my impact as a leader. The following three characteristics of introverted leadership have helped me support my staff and students in an authentic way. Introverts are great Receptors Just like a receptor organ that responds to outside stimuli an introverted leader is more likely to accept and respond well to outside input. When working with a great staff an introverted leader is able to listen and take the expertise of that staff with an open mind. According to an article from the Harvard Business Review titled The Hidden Advantage of Quiet Bosses “groups with proactive followers performed better under an introverted leader”. I have a great staff and they consistently have good ideas that help move the school forward. Because I don’t feel the need to be front and center they have the space necessary to grow. Authenticity leads to greatness As I researched this topic I came across an article titled Are you an Introvert? You can still be a great leader. One of the strengths that struck a chord with me was the idea thatintroverts like to authentically connect with people in small group or one on one situations. This is absolutely true for me and is why I really like being the leader of an alternative high school. While there are certainly stressors, I truly enjoy the close connections I can make with staff and students. Still waters run deep The third way introverts leverage their natural tendencies is when we do eventually speak up. I’ve found that when I finally do have something to say everybody stops and listens and then seems to take a second to process what I’ve said. Whereas those who speak more often, sometimes their ideas or viewpoints are dismissed because they are always chiming in. According to an Entrepreneur.com article 6 Truths on why introverts make great leaders, “[I}ntroverts leverage their power of presence: they “own” the moment by speaking calmly and deliberately, which translates to a positive perception.”. When introverts speak people listen. Introverts while not as flashy as extroverts can still be and are great principals. They are receptive to others’ ideas, authentic in their relationships and have the power to leverage conversations that matter. What are other strengths or introverted principals? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection, please follow me and click share so your friends and colleagues can benefit as well. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. #theprincipalentrepreneur #leadership #principal #secondaryprincipals #nassp #massp #maesp #edchat #educhat #edadmin #sharedleadership #howtobeagreatprincipal #jonathanroyce #principallife
I recently made $500.00 revive and renew grant available for K12 principals. I know how important it is to make sure we take care of ourselves. One of the common themes we deal with as principals is the never ending work, be it meetings, corresponding through emails or simply staying late to get the day to day paperwork done that accumulates because we’re out in the halls, at lunch, and in the classrooms.
The reason why this grant is available is because it provides a couple of benefits. One of those is, I can help a colleague get the relaxation they deserve. Taking time off actually increases productivity. It gives your brain time to relax and make connections you can’t see when you’re continually grinding. According to Scientific American, a wandering mind unsticks us in time so that we can learn from the past and plan for the future. This is important for us as we finish up our school year and begin planning for the next. The other benefit is part of the stipulation for applying for the grant is the agreement to be interviewed on my podcast. On the podcast I’ll get the opportunity to discuss that particular principals’ innovative leadership, their area of expertise or their area of passion and share it with the larger educational community. By leveraging this grant I get the opportunity to learn from the best in the business and spread the word about the great things other leaders are doing. Taking a break is essential to being an effective school leader. Often times we feel guilty for taking that time even if we know logically that we should. Our gut and self-identity is tied up in what we do. Finding time to uncouple ourselves from our work can relieve stress, lower blood pressure and actually increase our productivity when we come back. Killing yourself with the daily grind of work reduces your capacity to be an effective school leader. Give yourself a break. The work will be there when you get back. How do you find time for yourself in a busy school year? Share your best tips in the comment section below. If you’re interested in learning more about the $500.00 revive and renew grant for k12 principals click here. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my other blogs at the http://www.theprincipalentrepreneur.com/ and/or pre order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, new episodes weekly. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. |
AuthorI'm a Principal and an Entrepreneur. I'm the former owner of a food venture Hustling Hoagies, the author of the children's picture books Detective Dwayne Drake and the Alphabet Thief, Detective Dwayne Drake and The Case of the Mathematical Misfit and the ebook Making it as a Male Model in Michigan. I've worked professionally as a model and commercial actor...... Archives
May 2020
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