A View from the Now-Retired Principal's Seat

"David, are you sure you don't need my help?  I won't be gone long, and I can help you when I get back." "No, I'll be fine.  It's not that big of a brush pile." "But, you never know what can happen.  Why don't you wait and burn it when I get back?" "I have the permit.  It just rained yesterday.  The hose is set.  I have an extra bucket of water, and I have a couple of shovels.  I'm sure everything will be OK." "Are you sure?" "Yes.  It'll be fine." (You probably know where this is going.) My wife, daughters, and I live in a relatively rural area where we collect quite a bit of brush each year.  We also have space to have small burn piles as long as we have an annual fire permit as issued by our township. I have a tendency to want to handle things by myself, be efficient, and just get things done.  I suppose this makes me more of a stereotypical "guy" than not, but I've...

I was 15 and with my father.  We were sitting on grass amongst a large group of people.  The crowd was getting ready to watch a parade.  Dad stood up.  I didn't know why he stood up, but I followed his lead.  A man behind us rudely yelled that we should sit down so everyone else could see the parade. My father turned around and calmly stated, "That's the American flag coming towards us.  I'm teaching my son to stand and respect all that flag stands for.  I was in Viet Nam the day my son was born, and I don't take any of those rights, responsibilities, or liberties for granted.  Perhaps you should do the same."  The entire crowd stood. As we prepare for Memorial Day, a day our country stops to honor our fallen soldiers, I know the greatest lesson I ever learned about respect and our country did not come from school.  My greatest lesson came from that moment. To be fair, Dad has faults.  I have faults.  Our country ha...

Our 4th grade students share "Words of Wisdom" every morning over the announcements.  Each piece is usually three to four paragraphs long, and they include themes ranging from responsibility to kindness, from empathy to gratefulness.  It's a nice way for the entire school to hear a common message and to start our day with a little inspiration. Last week one message caught my interest.  I won't recount the entire piece, but the quote at the end was, "Shoot for the moon.  If you don't make it, you'll be heading for the stars." I really like this image.  Set high goals.  Have high expectations.  Reach farther than you think you can reach. Our district, under the direction of our superintendent, has adopted four goals: The Novi Community School District will ensure that each student will make no less than one year’s growth in one year’s time. The Novi Community School District will ensure that all students achieve at a high level. (There ...

It's lawn-mowing season. My family and I have lived in our house for 17 summers which means I have spent quite a bit of time "mastering" how to mow our lawn.  We have a pretty large lawn, and I've developed an efficient routine for where to go, when to turn, and how to make patterns that I like to think make our lot look like a Major League baseball field.   Almost as soon as we moved in, I "proclaimed" to my wife that she should not worry about mowing the lawn.  (In actuality, she let's me mow the lawn so I won't mess with her flowers.) Now back to those Major League baseball fields...  I think they're awesome.  Have you ever taken time to watch a baseball game on television and seen the patterns?  The parallel lines, swirls, and even logos make for professional ballfield artistry.  Unfortunately and even under the best of circumstances our lawn...my lawn...is absolutely not a professionally landscaped work of art, but Major Leage art...

Teacher Appreciation Week in our district starts on Monday.  I am grateful to work in a supportive community where students, parents, and families do so much to appreciate our entire staff.  Of special note, each PTO is remarkable.  Staff luncheons and special, small gifts are so nice.  Our PTO arranges for kids to write notes to each staff member.  Those notes mean more than anything.  I recently shared on morning announcements the best appreciation any student can ever offer is to smile, work hard, ask good questions, and be a great leader.  That's why we do what we do. While I am preparing ways to personally "appreciate" my staff, I'm also making Mother's Day plans.  I am fortunate beyond belief to be able to purchase cards for my wife, my mother and mother in-law, and both of my grandmothers.  I wish I lived closer than seven hours away from my mother and grandmothers, but I make sure to call them and see them as much as possible....