There's Something There

Being a school principal has it's challenges.  Everyday is a battle, sometimes big and sometimes small.  Unless you have walked in the shoes, you really don't know.  While it is exhausting and full of unexpected situations, the connections you can make with kids is indescribable.

A teacher pours their heart and soul into a group of students every year.  On the first day of school, the teacher is very limited in what they know about each child.  Through the year, they begin to learn strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and an understanding of the child.  On the last day of school, teachers wish their students well and they hope the students take with them at least a few things from the year in their classroom.

An administrator (and a few other positions) has a different relationship with students.  This is mainly because they see the student over a number of years.  My experience with students isn't limited to one year.  I am able to learn about kids differently.  Through their classwork, of course, but also through their interactions with others on the playground, in the cafeteria, at the pick up doors and over several years.

This type of relationship is special.  By pouring into kids over a span of multiple years, we invest in the students in all aspects of life.  Living in the community helps too, especially when you catch them off guard at church, the store or in a neighborhood.  I am reminded by our amazing students that you don't have to have a conversation to know what they are thinking.  And most of them know me well enough to know what I am thinking when I make eye contact with them.

As we speed into our final month of school, I want to remind myself of a few things.  Kind words are important to build trust and relationships.  But more than that, actions are the most important.  This week I saw a student outside of school that I haven't talked to recently in school.  We didn't have a conversation when we saw each other, but he looked to me for guidance and acceptance more than once.  This simple thing reminded me that kids look up to us even when we aren't paying attention.  We need to carry ourselves with pride and integrity.  We need to model actions that we hope those looking at us use as examples.  We need to remember that every single interaction is important.

Be the light for a kid.  Be the light for a person.  Be a leader, an example and remember that what you do, makes a difference.