"I BELIEVE..."

It wasn’t long ago in one of my weekly/bi-weekly blogs I wrote about the importance of collaborative leadership. Leadership is the topic about which I am most comfortable writing or speaking. My last installment addressed the impact of principals, nay any leader, gathering input from all of their followers before making any sweeping changes or declarations. Without that input, and most importantly, exchange of ideas or beliefs, the leader might find himself/herself with the very lonely, very uncomfortable realization that no one is following.

As I wrote today’s blog, I thought of a principal I coached in one of my first years in my position as Executive Director of Campus Administration. I don’t believe I have ever met a more sincere, a more honest or finer gentleman. There are many equals, but no one is able to display stronger qualities than those I have described. However, (I hate that word sometimes; here it comes.) I first had the opportunity to work with him after he became Principal of one of our large high schools that serves a challenging community and a challenging student body. I thought there was no person better suited for the position because of his heart. As I sat in an office of more senior, more experienced colleagues, I listened to his plans for his arrival on his campus, and his first opportunity to address his faculty. He had prepared an excellent presentation and, on one of his slides, he listed and explained very clearly his basic, non-negotiable beliefs for “Smith” (a made-up name) High School. These beliefs included:

1. “We believe that all students at Smith High School can learn.”

2. “We believe that the teachers at Smith High School bear the

greatest responsibility for student success.”

3. “We believe that in a very short time, every student at Smith

High School will be prepared to attend the four-year college

or university of his choice or prepared for military service in

the branch of his/her choice.”

4. “We believe…”

5. “We believe…”

6. “We believe…”

The reason this week’s blog jumped ahead of some others in the que, was an event that made this memory come flooding back to me as I watched yesterday’s coverage of the worldwide protests, and especially the statement issued by the Commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell. He stated:

“We, the National football League, condemn racism and the

systematic oppression of black people.”

“We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for

for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to

speak out and peacefully protest.”

“We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter…

and the protests around the country are emblematic of the

centuries of silence, inequality, and oppression of black players

players, coaches, and staff.”

These words are eloquent and they are no doubt heartfelt and likely the result of a long period of self-examination. There are many people who feel the statements do not go far enough; that they fall short because of two words that appear nowhere in the document. That is not for me to decide, and it is not the topic I wish for you to consider. My thoughts and Goodell’s words took me back to Smith High School. After my friend and principal previewed his presentation, my first question was, “Tim (also a made up name), what was the source of your list of beliefs? Whose ideas were they? Tim’s response was that they were his beliefs and the writing was his. I don’t know Roger Goodell and I am certain he cares little about what I think, but in both situations, my questions were similar:

“Do your assistant principals believe that all students

at Smith High School can learn? Do all of your teachers

believe that?”

“Do all of your counselors believe that all students at

Smith High School will be college ready as seniors or

that they will be prepared for military service?”

“Mr. Goodell, were the owners of the NFL teams given the

opportunity to provide input regarding the beliefs you

listed?”

“Do all of the owners and head coaches believe they

were wrong?”

“Do all of the constituents who make up the National

Football League believe black lives matter?”

What happens if any or all of the answers to any of these questions is, “No?’ What do we do with an assistant principal, teacher, counselor, owner, trainer, or coach who doesn’t agree with any of the beliefs my friend or Roger Goodell outlined?

I am reminded of the timeless, timeworn cliché, “It’s lonely at the top.” However, with the right amount of preparation, it doesn’t have to be!

KW