Having a boat as the logo is something that I wanted from the start.

In the dictionary, the word, Administrator, is defined as someone with the talent to manage. sml-logo-schooladministrato

This is what many school administrators are good at. They are talented managers. They keep the school running. They make sure the bills are paid and the reports are in order. They spend much of their days putting out this fire or that fire, dealing with discipline and making sure the stakeholders are satisfied. It’s managing.

I believe (and I’m not alone) is that we as school administrators can do so much more.

We can be more than just managers. We can be leaders.

What is a leader?

I love how Simon Sinek defines a leader in his book, Starts With Why.

Simon says that “Great leaders must have two things: a vision of the world that does not yet exist and the ability to communicate that vision clearly.”

So what does a boat have to do with being a leader?

I’m glad you asked.

I see the school as a big boat. The school administrator is the captain of the boat. If I’m a manager, I’m just keeping the boat afloat. I’m making sure we don’t sink. Being above water is good enough.

If I’m a leader, however, I’m communicating a vision of a school that doesn’t yet exist. It’s that school where all students are successful, where all the teachers are excited about what they do, where students enroll with gaps in their education, and graduate with those gaps filled.  I’m trying to row the ship toward that school. Knowing that I can’t do it alone, I have to inspire others in the ship to grab an oar and help me row.

 

My hope is that this site will provide a place where school administrators can learn from each other to inspire their staff to grab an oar.

Thank you,

Sam