Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Leadership lessons I learned from my seat on the bench #9

We wins!

Just yesterday a colleague of mine posted on her social media the following quotation: “Teachers rarely quit because of the kids. They quit because adults make their jobs harder than it should be.”

Of course, as a former principal and superintendent, I took this personally because I viewed this as a subtle, yet consistent dig at administration. Although my skin is thick, one should never forget that words hurt. (Words that hurt is a topic for another day.) I viewed that comment as clearly divisive and anti-administration.

After having a moment to reflect upon this statement, I must admit that I agree with it. Principals and other administrators leave for the same reason. I know some of my former teachers woke up every day looking to make my job harder than it should have been. Schools would be great if it weren’t for the adults. I have heard that joke before, but as we all know, a lot of truth is spoken in jest.

I know as an administrator I had to deal with some intrusive board of education members who felt it was incumbent upon them to help me do my job. They showed this by incessant and sometimes nonsensical, endless phone conversations and arriving unannounced, to plant him or herself in my office for the day. Somewhere, they lost their way and forgot what their job was.

I could say the same for parents. How many ways can you say no? I know I have tried probably one hundred different ways and still they do not get the point. And yes, before you criticize, I was abrupt, candid and direct.

And it is not my purpose today to throw stones at teachers. Although some may see my viewpoints as anti-teacher, I think I really focused my viewpoint on those adults who use the schools for all the wrong reasons. I am convinced most teachers come to work daily and overcome insurmountable obstacles to do his or her job. These folks care immensely about the children and it shows. Kudos to you! A small percentage of teachers come to work daily, trying to figure out how to do as little as possible for the day. And yes, I know I can say the same of some administrators.

Perhaps that is the problem. We have set schools up as a “we versus them” mentality. Many teachers and administrators have drawn up sides and for some people, they need a constant warring tension. And this warring mentality drives the school’s culture right into the toilet. Please never forget, in successful schools, it is always about a positive school culture and climate. That includes teachers and administrators agreeing and all pulling their oars in the same direction. Successful schools just get it.

It is not that hard. Everyone in the school contributes to the culture of the building. It is not the principal’s job, nor does it fall at the teachers’ feet. Building culture is an “us” and “we” job. Schools have to be about “them,” the kids.

We can change it if we try!