A Reader Writes... (Interview Prep - Part 1)

In response to the posts on interview prep, a reader writes:

“As a twist to Cain's excellent advice, there is yet another scenario. You interview and the school thinks it needs a Brown / Brezina / Cain type leader because it is in deep trouble. The school may have earned an unacceptable state rating, missed AYP, or most likely both. As Cain often reminds us, this type of school trouble is the final sign of total system failure.

The school hires you and district leadership and campus staff tell you they will do anything to get out of trouble. So you fix their school for them. But once the school “leaders” who hired you can breathe a sigh of relief, very likely they will allow the district to creep back to its old, total system failure way of doing business. In this scenario, you are the cancer and they will do everything possible to hasten your exit.

SC Response:
Spoken like someone who has been there, more than once. I wish I could tell the LYS Nation that this is never the case, but often it is. Many in our profession honestly believe that it is possible to “arrive,” and in the short-run they are willing to do the things necessary to facilitate that forthcoming “arrival.”

The most difficult part of what I do is when I break the hearts of hard working educators in struggling schools. These are the staff that have been there for a long time. They are vested in the students, the school, and the community. They know that they are in trouble. They will look at me and say, “We will do whatever it takes. We will work after school and on weekends. Just tell us when we will be done.”

And I have to answer, “You won’t be. There will be some of you who will be motivated be the constant change and will embrace the journey into the uncharted territories of teaching and learning. And some of you will quit. Our profession has changed, somewhat for the worse, but mostly for the better.”

If you find yourself as the initial change leader in a turnaround situation, here is your survival checklist:

1. Go in with your eyes wide open.

2. Remember Brown's law - The only pure advocate for all students is the principal. You volunteered for the role, so you have to step up – no one else will.

3. Know that the more imminent the crisis, the more likely that the required leadership skills required to save the organization will not translate through the transition to sustainable operations (See: Churchill).

4. Know that part of your job is to make sure that the next principal is set up to take the campus to even higher levels of performance.

There are “Bad to Good” principals, sustaining principals, and “Good to Great” principals. Their skill sets are dramatically different. Know who you are and embrace it.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…

Book Recommendation - How the Mighty Fall

This past week, I spent five hours in an airplane on what was supposed to be a 45 minute flight. The best thing about the trip was that I got to use the unplanned for free time to read Jim Collin’s new book, How the Mighty Fall. A book end to his previous book, Good to Great, I recommend this book to every current and aspiring school leader.

The book provides a warning list of the beliefs and practices that set your organization on the path of ruin. It also provides timely advice on how the path, once recognized, can be reversed.

The notes and highlights in my copy of the book are extensive, but here are two statements that I found compelling.

Statement one, which I believe addresses the disconnect between campuses and central office that many districts are dealing with and can serve as a reminder for all central office administrators. Leaders who often wield tremendous power, yet generally do not have to deal with the day to day ramifications of their decisions.

“Arrogance inflicts suffering on the innocent.”

Statement two, which I believe all campus level leaders and teachers should write down and refer too frequently, is a quote by Winston Churchill. To paraphrase, he said,

“Never give in.

Be willing to change tactics, but never give up your core purpose.

Be willing to evolve, but never give up on the principles that define your culture.

Be willing to embrace creative destruction, but never give up on the discipline to create your own future.”

When you get a chance, read the book, and if you have not yet read Collin’s other works, put them on your reading list also.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Just a reminder for existing LYS readers and an invitation to new LYS readers, Sunday is advice day. Send me your favorite piece of advice and why, along with your mailing address. If I post it, I’ll send you a world famous Lead Your School can koozie.

Your turn...