With all of the different roles and responsibilities we have as administrators, I have to say that one of the meetings I had today is a great example of my absolute favorite part of my job. It wasn't the kind of meeting where everyone sits there and listens to one person pontificate or the kind where you feel like you're just meeting to meet. Neither was it the kind of meeting where everyone shows up physically but few are engaged mentally. Nope. Not that kind of meeting.

So what was so great about it? It was cooking--the energy was flowing and everyone was actively engaged. Two principals, a guidance counselor and me, the superintendent, talking about one of our programs. Evaluating what we do now. Examining how we make decisions. Identifying areas of strength and those of weakness. Solving problems and making improvements. Answering every question I threw at them without hesitation.

How did it happen? Everyone knew ahead of time what the topic was and what I needed from him. Everyone came ready to work, we were in and out in 60 minutes, no wasted time. I asked questions that got to the heart of our practices and questioned why we do things the way that we do. And every time we realized that we did it that way because "it's the way we've always done it", we reevaluated and planned a better approach. We reviewed everyone's role moving forward before we left and clarified what we'd decided.

Sounds good, right? But what really made it work? I've finally been here long enough to establish trust on this particular team. The three men in the room with me all know that I'm just asking to ask; I want solid answers based on data; I don't want everyone to agree with me just because I'm the "boss"; I love a good argument; and it's okay to uncover mistakes. It's how we learn and grow. I love that I've reached this with this team in six months. I don't take it lightly because I know it takes time for us to understand one another and for them to trust me enough to share openly.

Too often people are afraid to have that open exchange of ideas about where we are because they don't want to be blamed for it. If we can just take an approach that says "it is what it is" now "how can it be better?" we'll be able to brainstorm and IMPROVE. Fear of reproach is how we end up closing the doors to our classrooms and offices and doing the same things year after year--fear of reproach for doing it the only way we knew how in the first place.

The best part of this job is taking the time to watch people work through all of the analysis and come out on the other side with a better plan than the one we walked in with--and then empowering them to make it happen. Asking the right questions. Once we leave our egos outside and trust one another, now that's when we can really get cooking and make real change in our schools. Change that's so slow so often because so many people are afraid of exposing the problems. Unless we get messy and really look at the parts that aren't working--bring them out into the light and evaluate them--how does anything ever get better?

That's the part that makes being an administrator such a blast in the first place--the chance to make something better than it was when we got there. Otherwise, what the heck are we here for?

Loving this job--Kimberly Moritz

Posted by LeaderTalk Contributor at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Here it is. I've become completely and utterly consumed by my new job as superintendent of schools. The entire rest of the world is passing me by. I meant to turn on the TV to watch the inauguration, I really did. I thought about buying a few magazines that showed pictures and reported on it, but remembered the pile of educational journals and newspapers waiting for me to read. I know the Steelers are playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, but only because my mom and dad are lunatic Steeler fans (I'm from Pittsburgh) and every email from my mom says "Go Steelers!" in it.

At a BOE meeting last week, a BOE member said something about checking with our cafeteria manager to be sure we were addressing any potential problems with peanut paste. I smiled politely and took notes. The next morning I had to ask our business official what was going on to which he exclaimed, "several people have DIED Kim!" It's embarrassing and hard to explain.

I am absolutely immersed in this job, thinking about it 24/7. Hey, it's a weighty responsibility! When considering the tasks at hand, how can I not be on target every minute? Consider the risks at hand. I'm making decisions about people's jobs, their possible increases, the capital project, the possible next capital project. I'm studying the budget, where we have to cut now, where we may have to cut depending upon our final state aid, and how we can sustain our current fiscal picture without squandering any and all fund balance within the next two years.

I've got running lists for everything from BOE meetings to admin meetings to school attorneys to union representatives. Then I've got lists for short term and long term projects, KSM notes, items to communicate to the public, and general "to do". (My family would note that I've got lists for everything but groceries, which have been in short supply.)

If I read the papers, it's the local one to see if there's any news of our school or athletes. Instead of reading about local and national news, I'm thinking about how to communicate with our community and posting to my school blog. Trust me, this blog post is not a complaint, I'm loving the work. It's more an acknowledgment of just how single mindedly and deeply I've fallen into this role.

What makes matters worse is my blackberry funnels email to me 24/7. My husband is as irritated with my attachment to the blackberry as I used to be with my teenage son's constant texting. I may turn on the morning news but only if it's to watch the weather on a morning when I'm considering a delay or school closing.

Attend a meeting to talk about the calendar with other superintendents? Are they crazy? I can't afford the time to drive two hours to the meeting, plus the time at the meeting. What about my commitment to spending a day per week walking through classrooms in each building? I'm in the buildings, visiting on a limited basis, but nothing like I'd planned for "my superintendency".

I seriously need to find some balance. To turn off my head. To stop thinking about the job. I need to unplug from time to time. Someone tell me, will it always be like this?

Kimberly Moritz

Posted by LeaderTalk Contributor at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)