My Super Bowl

My Super Bowl

At my age, it’s safe to say that the window of opportunity to play professional sports has expired. I did, however, have a meeting today with a student that will forever equate to winning the Super Bowl. Although this particular student has by no means yet reached her potential, she certainly will someday.

When she finished the seventh grade in 2006, she moved from our school district. It was unfortunate for us that she had to finish her middle school career in another state since she brought so many tears of joy to us during her three years here. Everyone who knew her grew fond of her personality and her will to succeed.

Everything did not come easy to her. She was born with a birth defect, cerebral palsy. Over the years, she had many barriers but she also had successes because of her determination to achieve. Because of her physical obstacles, she periodically needed surgery to correct some of her ailments.

As building principal, each year I set a goal of teaching at least one leadership lesson to every student in our school. When this particular student was in seventh grade, I can remember exactly where she sat in her language arts class and exactly what the lesson was about. As a matter of fact, we talked about it today.

One common connector to every leadership lesson I teach is goal setting. At the time, she had just finished a major surgery. After that lesson, she became a goal setter and a leader. Because of her surgery, her early goals were simple: smile, tie her shoes, and walk across the room. Most of us take those types of things for granted.

Over the years, we’ve kept in touch as she progressed through high school, applied to college then got accepted to a college as an education major. She is now in her sophomore year at Queens University. Since the seventh grade, she continued to set goals and move forward no matter what the obstacle. Her best is yet to come.

Because she was in town for Thanksgiving, she came to visit. I told one of the classes I would bring her in when she came to our school. Today, she spoke to a sixth grade class about goal setting. She reiterated the stories I told them about her. She also told the students about the value of service.

When we were walking back to the front of the building, she said, “I don’t know if I ever told you Dr. R. but you really made a difference in my life.” That statement is my Super Bowl, World Series, Nobel Prize, Stanley Cup, and Principal of the Year.  Thank you, Julie!

As an educator, that has always been my goal, to make a difference in the life of a student. And as Julie told me those words, I thought of all the other educators in our building that continue to make a positive difference and touch those kids that will allow us to have a positive future. For all those times you hear those words, keep in mind that there are thousands of times you never hear those words but those words are said about you.  If you are an educator, thank you for entering the noblest profession on earth (and beyond). If you are a person, thank a teacher!!

Be A Grateful Leader

Be A Grateful Leader, Have A Grateful Day

I don’t know where to begin except to say that I am grateful. I am a middle school principal in New Jersey, and our school only closed for three days until the power was restored in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. We are located about ten minutes from our closest Jersey shore town, Ocean City. Our city, Linwood, is surrounded by back bays and estuaries but we survived this one. During the summer we were closed for four days during Hurricane Irene. Most families lost power for a week. Again, I am grateful.

All around us, schools are still closed as administrators and town officials try to sort this thing out. Ten miles away in Atlantic City the casinos remain closed for five days as most of the city was still without power. We have a lot of our families that depend on the Atlantic City economy for their livelihood. Many of our staffulty (faculty and staff) were affected directly at their homes or the homes of loved ones. Selflessly, they put the less fortunate ahead of themselves as we re-aim our service learning resources. Again, I am grateful.

In classes, we are shifting our service learning platform to raise money for the cleanup and restoration from the hurricane and to step up our food drive. Ironically, before the hurricane, our service learning platform consisted of raising money for soccer balls that double as generators for lamps and charging stations to distribute to those places that do not have power or play things.

Now we must put that on the backburner and focus on more immediate, local needs and accept a leadership role and pay forward any previous kindness that has been bestowed on us. We are trying to explain to the students what is going on as this is the second time in a few months a lot of them were without power or displaced. Try to imagine the enormous loss for people that totally lost their homes. Again, I am grateful.

As crazy as it sounds, these are opportunities and experiences we must now embrace. We must embrace them for the opportunity to serve and the opportunity to learn. We must embrace these opportunities for the chance to lead. With all of the directives, reform, and bureaucracy in education, these are leadership and teaching moments.

As we rearranged our school calendars and lessons and redirected our resources and initiatives, we are coming together to make a difference in ourselves and in our community.  At the end of last week, we were looking for direction as people were starting to get back to their shore homes and some sort of normalcy. Again, I am grateful.

I viewed pictures, videos, and visited some areas. It was devastating to look at and more emotional if it was yours. There was a plethora in the media about the American Red Cross and their need for monetary resources. I visited the closest Red Cross site to us to try and fill a void.

There were people there not as lucky as we were. There was a group looking for relocation that made any barrier I had pale in comparison. When it was my turn, the first thing the Red Cross lady said, “I am tired.”  I asked what she needed then she told me they were inundated with volunteers and couldn’t disperse them where they needed to be. She said the most effective contribution would be money. She also urged us to donate to local food banks. Again, I am grateful.

At the time of this writing, we have connected with a few schools that need assistance. People that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy are looking for direction just as the people looking for service. If you have done anything to help, you are a leader. If you haven’t, become a leader.

Leadership is not popularity or recognition but the most effective leadership begins with service. Our school is going to be that example, and I’m sure your organization will, too. I am positive that our students will change the world in a positive way. They lead by example. Individually, we can surely make a difference. Collectively, we can make a synergistic difference, and we will.

Peace.