This week, we’re stepping away from the normal abnormal to chat about the end-of-year chaos that seems to be part of our lives in the final weeks of the school year. Whether it’s dealing with last-minute staff changes, handling tricky student discipline, or the just plain weird stuff that makes you think, “You really can’t […]
End of the Year Crazy Read More »
In our latest journey into the less glamorous aspects of education, we’re exploring the turbulence and confusion caused by fictional—and sometimes anonymous—social media posts. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this reality is all too common. Here’s what happens when digital dramas spill over into the hallways of our schools. The Situation: An anonymous parent posts a harrowing
Navigating “You Can’t Make It Up” Social Media Storms Read More »
Sometimes reality trumps fiction, and a simple issue can evolve into a memorable, almost unbelievable moment. Here’s a true “You Can’t Make This Up” story from a subscriber about how a disruptive playground prank led to an unexpected partnership. The Situation – Flying Rocks It all began when a group of 5th-grade boys repeatedly threw
The Unbelievable Dive That Turned Foes into Friends Read More »
Emergency Broadcast Alert: Nature’s Fury Unleashed Hello to my subscribers. Today’s blog post veers from our typical topics to tackle the here and now: natural disasters. Last night, a catastrophic series of tornadoes swept through Nebraska and Iowa. As someone who grew up in Nebraska and has connections with the affected school districts, the magnitude
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Blog: When Mother Nature Wreaks Havoc Read More »
Welcome back to our ‘You Can’t Make It Up’ series! This week, we’re sharing a memorable incident from an elementary school courtesy of one of our subscribers! Real names have been changed to protect the innocent – and sometimes not so innocent! The Situation: In Ms. Johnson’s third-grade classroom, a day that began like any
The Fizz Tablet Fiasco: A Classroom Mishap You Can’t Make Up Read More »
The Situation: It was supposed to be a simple dinner downtown with my son. As the city lights began to twinkle, I hesitantly let him take the wheel—not because I doubted his driving, but because I feared motion sickness might spoil my appetite. The streets were bustling, forcing us to drive up to the top
Facing Trauma: A Night at the Parking Ramp Read More »
In my first month as a superintendent, the blaring sirens from the nearby fire station became a familiar backdrop to my office. Little did I know that those wailing sirens would soon signal a tragedy that would blur the lines between professional duty and personal emotions. The Situation: Lights, Sirens, Suicide Before stepping into the
The Siren and The Saxophone: The Sounds of Stress Read More »
Imagine this: You’re settling into a salon chair, ready for a blissful hair appointment, when suddenly, you’re face-to-face with a recently terminated employee. It’s a scenario straight out of a sitcom, yet for many administrators, encountering current or former employees in social settings—especially those under disciplinary action—is an unavoidable reality. The Situation: Let’s Try the
The Salon and the Secretary – Navigating Hiring and Firing Read More »
Stepping into a new superintendent role is no small feat, especially when it involves uprooting your family and immersing them in a new community. As my family and I set off on our journey to explore our new surroundings, little did we know that a simple lunch outing would serve as a crash course in
Smile! Welcome to the fishbowl! Read More »
Welcome back to “You Can’t Make It Up Education,” where humor is key, and the stories are as real as they come. Today, I’m peeling back the curtain to share a personal experience—a “You Can’t Make It Up” moment from my own journey in education. Buckle up for a tale that involves a kindergarten round-up,
“Where It Started: An Early ‘You Can’t Make It Up’ Moment” Read More »
