Year 33... Into the Great Wide Open

Seems like yesterday in some ways, but it obviously is obviously far from that. Thirty three years ago I walked into my first classroom as a middle school humanities teacher at Mattson Junior High in Kent, Washington. I had taken all of the required university courses, had a successful student teacher experience, and came from a family of educators. Despite that experience I really didn't know what to expect when the first group of 8th graders walked into my classroom. As I sit here thinking about the coming year that will begin in just over a week many of those same feelings are coming back to me. As I walked my dog this morning and listened to my playlist I was struck by how appropriate the words of the Tom Petty song "Into the Great Wide Open" seemed to be for the start of this particular year:

Into the great wide open

Under them skies of blue

Out in the great wide open

A rebel without a clue

COVID 19 has impacted almost every aspect of life and schools are no exception. In my 33 years as an educator, I have developed a pretty good toolbox to draw from. Despite that experience I am not really sure if any of those experiences will provide a great deal of comfort as the curtain raises on the coming school year. Instead of spending time working with teachers on "normal" preparations for the school year we are spending a great deal of time discussing masks, social distancing, hand washing and embracing the ambiguity of the current environment.. As I think about my role as a high school principal my thoughts are mainly focused on how I can I calm the "rough seas" created by COVID 19 and instead help to provide the most positive environment possible for our students. There is no guide book for situations like this and certainly nothing in my "toolbox" is providing me much to draw from. That being said I understand the responsibility I have as a leader to help everyone stay focused on the task in front of us (providing a quality experience for our students) without becoming overwhelmed or distracted by the challenges that surround us.

I have spent a fair amount of time contemplating the coming year and for good or for bad I have identified some "compass points" that I will use to provide the best possible leadership for our students. The big challenge is that I really won't know if I have chosen the right "compass points" until the journey is completed in June. Much like a European explorer during the age of exploration who charted a course for unknown territories I am about to chart my own course. My primary "compass points" for the upcoming year are as follows:

Focusing on what I can count on and not the variables beyond my control: I have to acknowledge that their are factors that I just have no control of (ie government directives, actions of people while off campus) and instead focus on those that I can directly impact. Of primary importance is my own temperament and attitude, which means I must embrace the fact that I must remain positive and focus on solving problems not simply identifying problems. Despite living in an uncertain time the attitudes of leaders can provide either stability or instability and it will be important for me to provide a consistency in my attitude each and every day.
Dedicating time to my own wellbeing: With so many variables and changes facing us, our work life can become all encompassing. As a result finding time for some "space" to allow ourselves some stability will be more important than ever. This year I will once again make exercise and reflection time a priority. This means that even though my "to do" list may be long, I have to be committed to setting aside time to ensure that I take care of my own well being so I have the necessary energy available to support others.
Allowing myself to consider new and different viewpoints before simply returning to past practice: If ever there was a time to consider alternative ideas this is the time. Following past practices can provide a great deal of familiarity in a time of uncertainty, but it can also cause us to miss an opportunity for positive change. Even if we end up reverting to what we did last year, it is of great benefit to also pause for a moment and ask ourselves "I wonder if..."

With these three compass points as my target I am ready to sail off into the unknown of the 2020-21 school year. I am fully aware that we will encounter some "rough seas" as we sail into the great wide open, but I am hoping these compass points help me to calm the waters to the greatest extent possible. Here's hoping your voyage is as smooth as possible as well... bon voyage to you all!

Be safe... be healthy... and be well.

====================================================================== “The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers"

-Erich Fromm