As you read this article from Director Horn, remember that we all are all leaders and when he uses the word leader - he is speaking to anyone with leadership authority - that includes all of us. This is Roark's last year as SAI Director and this edition is from a few years back. Great read.
"Although the following request may be a little more difficult for some than others, I am going to ask you to engage in a little nostalgia for a moment and think back on your K-12 school years. What first comes to mind? Is it time with friends? That special teacher who inspired you? The game-winning shot? In other words, is your first thought a good memory? Or was it something bad that happened to you or someone you know? Maybe a bullying incident? Or the time you tried to invent the 104th element, putting your classmates at risk? A difficult romantic breakup perhaps? The direction your mind went will likely have been influenced by how you are feeling at the moment I asked you to reflect. Either way, I suspect the memory, and possibly the flood of memories that accompany it, are probably quite vivid to you.
The reason I asked you to engage in this exercise is to help remind you that as a school leader you are largely responsible for creating students’ memories. Matching them with the adults who can inspire them, providing resources needed to maximize their learning, assuring that instructional practices are of the highest quality—these are all actions you take to invest in the future of your students. And to assure that their memories are largely positive.
What made me encourage you to go down this path was my own journey of nostalgia that happened to coincide with my daily dose of inspiration. A few weeks ago, we had a roomful of folks in the office taking advantage of Dana’s mentor training. Although she likes me to stay far away during those times, I can’t help myself and often wander down during lunch. This satisfies two needs of mine: one, interacting with as many great leaders as possible, and two, eating.
In this instance, I had the chance to eat with two principals; which gave me the opportunity to compliment them on the unique efforts of creating videos to welcome their students at the beginning of the year. I was so impressed with their efforts, and of course their overall efforts throughout the year, that as we chatted, I made this observation: I wish I were a student in their schools.
Now that is in no way meant to disparage Central Decatur Schools of the 1970s. I loved almost every minute of my time there, and when given the chance to graduate early (I assume because they wanted to get rid of me), I emphatically said no! I believed, with the conviction of a 17-year-old, that elusive 104th element was still within my grasp, and I was enjoying the whole CD school experience far too much.
But what leaders—and you—are doing today comes from a different and far better core philosophy: let’s always remember why we are here and make our students feel welcomed, honored and valued. Let’s attend to their needs, focus on providing outstanding learning opportunities and prepare them for their life ahead.
Today’s students are lucky to have you leading their schools and classrooms. And when some random person in their future encourages them to reflect on their school experiences (like that would ever happen), what you are doing will help to ensure that their memories are positive ones. Just remember to keep an eye on those students in chem lab!"
- Roark Horn, SAI Executive Director
