Saturday, June 7, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Reflections
Educators work on a different schedule than most other people. Our calendar year ends around the end of May or beginning of June when school gets out. We are then able to focus on the many things we have been forced to put off for the last 10 months. We also can take time to reflect upon the past year. In a sense, it is almost like having two New Year's seasons. Personally, I even make some resolutions regarding my career and school life for the coming school year.
Last year at this time I sat down for about 45 minutes and wrote out a summary of the school year. I never have shown it to anyone, and I never intended to. It was strictly for me to reflect on what went well, what could have been better, and to make sure I didn't forgot some of the more memorable moments.
One of "resolutions" I came up with last year was that I would take some intentional steps to actively pursue a new position. I purposed to complete my school district's leadership training institute, begin to network with other administrators in the district outside of my building, and to do what I could to increase my name recognition among the movers and shakers of the school district. To one degree or another I have accomplished all three of those things. I completed the training institute. While doing so I was able to meet and get to know not only other future leaders, but also to meet current district leaders and get a broader perspective on what goes on. Hand in hand with this I did get increased name recognition. I cannot take much credit for the name recognition part. I have truly been blessed to work for some excellent administrators that make a point to give me and others opportunities. Specifically, the athletic director at my school, Darin Williams, has gone out of his way to make sure people are aware of me and what I could bring to potential administrative positions.
I need to tell you a little bit about Mr. Williams. He came to my school 3 years ago from a middle school. He came into a bad situation. The athletic department had no discipline and was regularly in the local press for less than positive things. Another staff member at the school had worked closely with the outgoing athletic director and was confident that they would inherit the job. Many staff members at the school thought the same thing. When Mr. Williams was selected for the position he was immediately viewed as the enemy and outsider. Needless to say, he did not come into the most ideal of situations. Mr. Williams did not set out to win over the naysayers. He did not sit back and "get a feel" for the job for the first year or so. He just came in and did what he thought was right from day one. He didn't really care what people thought. He cared whether or not he was making right decisions and doing what was best for the program. Many people thought he was a fool. A number of people purposely tried to sabotage him during his first year. At the end of that first year, the basketball program won its first state title in a long time. Everyone tried to write Mr. Williams off. They tried to convince themselves and anyone who would listen that he had nothing to do with the success. Mr. Williams didn't care. He frankly was not bothered that he received no credit whatsoever. He just continued doing his job and making the difficult decisions that many before him would not make. Year two came around and the boys basketball team again won a state title accompanied by a state track title and a state wrestling champion. This time it was harder for people to be convinced that Mr. Williams had no hand in the success of the athletic program. The difference was becoming clear that ever since Mr. Williams started holding coaches accountable, the various programs quickly rose to meet his high standards. This had trickle down effects in state championship rings. This last school year, we added a third straight basketball title and a football state championship. We were also named 10th most successful high school athletic program in the nation by Sports Illustrated.
Mr. Williams allowed me to play a vital and visible role in the athletic program for these last three years. As the success of the athletic program has gone, so has gone my name recognition. The funny thing is, many people see me at the majority of the sporting events and think I have a larger role to play than I really do. Several have even commented to me that I seem to be more of an athletic director than Mr. Williams. Of course, I appreciate the fact that they recognize that I put a lot of time and energy into what goes on. Yet, they have no clue as to the way things really are. While I get to show up and make sure game night runs smoothly and get seen by parents, students, staff, and district personnel on a regular basis, I don't have to make the tough and unpopular decisions that truly set the course for the program. And, as much as I try to explain to people, they just could never truly understand the full magnitude of this unless they were in my position. I guess that is the way it is for most things. What is seen on the surface is not the whole picture.
So, as I look back and reflect on what I have been able to be a part of and what goals I was able to meet, I am also thankful for the opportunity to work with and learn from one of the best leaders around.
Last year at this time I sat down for about 45 minutes and wrote out a summary of the school year. I never have shown it to anyone, and I never intended to. It was strictly for me to reflect on what went well, what could have been better, and to make sure I didn't forgot some of the more memorable moments.
One of "resolutions" I came up with last year was that I would take some intentional steps to actively pursue a new position. I purposed to complete my school district's leadership training institute, begin to network with other administrators in the district outside of my building, and to do what I could to increase my name recognition among the movers and shakers of the school district. To one degree or another I have accomplished all three of those things. I completed the training institute. While doing so I was able to meet and get to know not only other future leaders, but also to meet current district leaders and get a broader perspective on what goes on. Hand in hand with this I did get increased name recognition. I cannot take much credit for the name recognition part. I have truly been blessed to work for some excellent administrators that make a point to give me and others opportunities. Specifically, the athletic director at my school, Darin Williams, has gone out of his way to make sure people are aware of me and what I could bring to potential administrative positions.
I need to tell you a little bit about Mr. Williams. He came to my school 3 years ago from a middle school. He came into a bad situation. The athletic department had no discipline and was regularly in the local press for less than positive things. Another staff member at the school had worked closely with the outgoing athletic director and was confident that they would inherit the job. Many staff members at the school thought the same thing. When Mr. Williams was selected for the position he was immediately viewed as the enemy and outsider. Needless to say, he did not come into the most ideal of situations. Mr. Williams did not set out to win over the naysayers. He did not sit back and "get a feel" for the job for the first year or so. He just came in and did what he thought was right from day one. He didn't really care what people thought. He cared whether or not he was making right decisions and doing what was best for the program. Many people thought he was a fool. A number of people purposely tried to sabotage him during his first year. At the end of that first year, the basketball program won its first state title in a long time. Everyone tried to write Mr. Williams off. They tried to convince themselves and anyone who would listen that he had nothing to do with the success. Mr. Williams didn't care. He frankly was not bothered that he received no credit whatsoever. He just continued doing his job and making the difficult decisions that many before him would not make. Year two came around and the boys basketball team again won a state title accompanied by a state track title and a state wrestling champion. This time it was harder for people to be convinced that Mr. Williams had no hand in the success of the athletic program. The difference was becoming clear that ever since Mr. Williams started holding coaches accountable, the various programs quickly rose to meet his high standards. This had trickle down effects in state championship rings. This last school year, we added a third straight basketball title and a football state championship. We were also named 10th most successful high school athletic program in the nation by Sports Illustrated.
Mr. Williams allowed me to play a vital and visible role in the athletic program for these last three years. As the success of the athletic program has gone, so has gone my name recognition. The funny thing is, many people see me at the majority of the sporting events and think I have a larger role to play than I really do. Several have even commented to me that I seem to be more of an athletic director than Mr. Williams. Of course, I appreciate the fact that they recognize that I put a lot of time and energy into what goes on. Yet, they have no clue as to the way things really are. While I get to show up and make sure game night runs smoothly and get seen by parents, students, staff, and district personnel on a regular basis, I don't have to make the tough and unpopular decisions that truly set the course for the program. And, as much as I try to explain to people, they just could never truly understand the full magnitude of this unless they were in my position. I guess that is the way it is for most things. What is seen on the surface is not the whole picture.
So, as I look back and reflect on what I have been able to be a part of and what goals I was able to meet, I am also thankful for the opportunity to work with and learn from one of the best leaders around.
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