Waking Up To Conflict As school administrators, we’re often prepared for the unexpected, but sometimes, the challenges are straight out of a “You Can’t Make It Up” playbook. This weekend reminds us of the complexities of managing a school district and its wider community during turbulent times, and many are waking up to new levels […]
Media Storms – You Can’t Make It Up Read More »
In my last post, I reminisced about those early days of a brand new principal position, and today’s post is another You Can’t Make It Up! moment from that same time. It involves a trip to the local big-box store, a persistent child, and a surprise encounter with a colleague at the most unexpected moment.
Hot Wheels and a Meltdown in Aisle 5! Read More »
It’s That Time of the Year! If you’re gearing up to start a new administrative job on July 1st, you’re likely feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The transition can be a whirlwind whether you’re stepping into your first principal position or another leadership role. To ease your mind, let me share one of
Clueless and Complaining: Welcome to Your First Principalship! Read More »
If You Ask… Ah, the end of the school year. The time when students and teachers are both counting down the days, hours, and minutes until summer vacation. As an educator, we expect the unexpected, but every now and then, a moment comes along that You Just Can’t Make Up. Take, for instance, our sweet
One Little Finger Really Packs a Punch! Read More »
Packing Up The Year It was the end of the school year, and like many teachers, I was busy packing up my classroom, which now included a new, unexpected member—Josh Peterson, the guinea pig. Josh was all set to spend the summer in my laundry room, and neither of us was overly thrilled about it.
Home For The Summer Read More »
And someone found it in the dumpster… Hello, You Can’t Make It Up enthusiasts! Today’s tale from the high school basement turns a routine summer cleanup into a saga of historical proportions that even Paul Revere couldn’t have predicted. As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure—or in this case, another
Freedom Has Left The Building Read More »
Every year, as predictable as the changing seasons, comes a surge of last-minute pleas and “special” requests that test our decision-making, our policies, and our patience. One memorable instance involved a request concerning a student’s science course options in middle school. The email request began typically enough, with a citation straight out of our district
Parents, Policies, and Pleas Read More »
The Importance of Debriefing At the end of every school year, I do an important activity with my administrative team. I did it when there were 10 people on the team, and I’ve done it when there are more than 110 on the team. We gather in small groups, talk through a simple set of
Ending the Year With A Little Less Stress Read More »
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 »
