Principles of Principals

As a youngster of 9 or 10, I decided that I wanted to join my Dad, and his running partner Steve, on their jogs.  I fancied myself capable, and they were kind enough to indulge me. My Dad, for his bit, had completed the erstwhile running bible by Jim Fixx , and had added the complete Rocky (cue the music) workout wardrobe to his exercise paraphernalia.  Dad was all grey sweats, oatmeal & raw eggs. Committed to personal fitness. I was hooked. Our first jaunt took us outside the Aspen Glen trailer park, down a fairly steep, paved grade, and on to the gravel shoulder of Highway 82 towards Aspen  (more on this in an upcoming post).  I pedaled my stubby legs as hard as they would go in an effort to keep up. Easily distracted by passing traffic, actually afraid I was going to die of a burst lung or at the bumper of an oncoming Chevy Vega , I fell forward - hands out - into the cinders.  The meat grinder of runners and cyclists alike. Barking your han...

I thought I knew how to shoot a rifle.  I mean, I grew up hunting.  I received my first BB gun, a Red Rider , at the age of 5.  I was taught then and there how to shoulder the weapon, raise the site, look through one (dominant eye) and place the front site on the target, squeezing the trigger...and click, the BB ricocheted into my teacher's eye...hence the reminder to wear eye protection. I graduated to a .22 single shot, spring loaded, rifle, then to a .30-06 for deer hunting, always creating a field of vision that focused one eye on the target.  I was a moderate marksman...nothing to brag about, but I could target and shoot. I entered Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, summer of 1999. Hollywood has yet to capture what goes on there, suffice it to say, I was WAY out of my comfort zone .  Anyway... Basic Rifle Marksmanship takes up the bulk of instruction during training.  The Army is good at a lot of things, but perhaps their hallmark is task ...

At present, I'm out of work.  Long story,  and we don't have time for it here.  I've been thinking, a lot, about the things I miss about working in schools, and sort of " if I had it to do again " approach.  I believe I will get another shot - I'm very good at what I do, and I believe in second chances.   Take note... Kindness - being a school leaders is more stressful than you think.  I've been in and out of the mix enough to know the difference between job stress and principal stress.  Be kind to yourself.  Deliberately schedule time out.  Eat the foods that heal your soul and your body.  Breathe. Breakthrough - on the advice of someone I admire, I attended The Breakthrough Coaching lead by Malachi Pancoast.  Changed my whole way of looking at resource management, secretaries, and clarified my role as a principal.  Do yourself, and your colleagues a solid favor, go.  Establish a life & a career . Situa...