Transformative Principal Podcast: Who You Are is More Important

April 29, 2018

In April, Tom was on the podcast Transformative Principal with Jethro Jones.

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Here are some bullet points from the interview:

• 14 years principal connection column in Educational Leadership.
• The principal job is so hard.
• There’s always more to be done, no matter how good we do it.
• Who you are is more important than what you know.
• Prepare kids for success in life, not just success in school.
• Been a principal long enough to see who kids became as adults
• There are five qualities we need to develop in students: Empathy, Self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit.
• But how am I going to get my students’ kids to embrace this?
• At back to school nights and parent meetings throughout the year.
• [8:20]: Write down the initials of people you know who you consider to be successful.
• Turn to your neighbors in groups of three or four.
• Remind parents of what is truly a success.
• Strategy for focusing teachers on what we want them to pursue.
• 3×5 card, write down the initials of 2 or 3 teachers you’ve had that are most important in your life. What did they do to make you love them?
• What can you do with your class that will encourage your kids to put your name down in 30 or 40 years?