Listen. I have to tell you this story. It’s one you may not have heard before, except in bits and pieces. And they are all important pieces, believe me, but they will make more sense once you see the whole picture. The toddler came through the main entrance of the apartment complex and out intoContinue reading “The Rest of the Story, Pt. 1”
Author Archives: jdprickett
Simple Thoughts
I wonder about the impact I’m having. Seriously. I think about it every day. I crawl back into what is simple, into what is easy, and I try to rationalize with myself. I try and tell myself that I am doing the best that I can. That what I am doing is working. As IContinue reading “Simple Thoughts”
Delegate. Drop. Empower.
One of the things I don’t do well is delegate. I have to admit that I am really quite bad at it, and that this has been on my mind a lot lately. Probably as a result of my Accountability partners – those people with whom I speak multiple times a week, if not daily.Continue reading “Delegate. Drop. Empower.”
Becoming Principal (Part 6)
IF I HAD REACTED BADLY IN THIS SITUATION, rest assured everyone within earshot would have been telling all of their friends that I had lost my temper and was not very approachable. I’m not sure I changed this parent’s mind about me that year, but the real issue, I knew, had nothing to do withContinue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 6)”
Becoming Principal (Part 5)
If there is anything I have learned over my years of experience as a school leader, it is this: stand by your people, take care of your people, LOVE your people! If you’ve ever heard the saying, “Feed the teachers, or they will eat the students,” and thought that it was just a funny phrase, you’reContinue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 5)”
Becoming Principal (Part 4)
As you find yourself in situations where you don’t know what to expect, it can be easy to simply let life happen to you, to roll with the punches and react when things happen. “After all,” you may ask, “How can I prepare for the unexpected?” And the answer is that you can’t. Not really.Continue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 4)”
Becoming Principal (Part 3)
MY OFFICIAL START DATE WAS JULY 1st, BUT I’M PRETTY SURE I was in that building the very first chance I could get. I was a hot mess, really – filled with anticipation, excitement, dread and fear – but mostly I was just humbled and feeling very blessed to have gotten this opportunity to serveContinue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 3)”
Becoming Principal (Part 2)
THERE IS NO TRAINING FOR WHAT TO EXPECT YOUR FIRST YEAR AS PRINCIPAL, BUT I THINK THAT’S ON PURPOSE. Once the school year prior to my first official principal role was complete, except for a couple of introductory meetings, I was pretty much left to myself as I officially began the transition to my newContinue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 2)”
Becoming Principal (Part 1)
BECOMING TAKES TIME. It takes patience, and it takes the cultivation of one’s mind and body and soul. It cannot be sought out. It happens naturally. Like becoming a parent. You can work at it once it happens, but to Become is a bit of a mystery in itself. I did not see myself BecomingContinue reading “Becoming Principal (Part 1)”