Moving on

It’s been a long time since I’ve had the inclination to put something on my blog. Life has been so hectic and I just haven’t had any real time to put the things I’ve been thinking into print. It’s not that I don’t have topics to discuss or anything but with a new baby arriving 7 weeks ago,  having to replace a teacher at the  beginning of June and deciding to take on a new position, I’ve not been able to take the time to do justice to some of the things I want to discuss.

This post isn’t about any of those things either. Instead, it’s about making the decision to move from my current location to a new job within my present school division. I’ve decided to move from my principal position in the K – 12 school I’m at to a vp position in a larger, 45o student 8 – 12, highschool in the community 45 minutes away which will mean a hole host of changes for me, maybe even changing my life completely.

You see, I’m all about growing and learning, not allowing moss spores to even land, never mind grow. I’m about expanding myself, putting myself in new situations in order to improve. Anyone who has read any of my previous writings knows that I’m a person who is looking to improve myself to be better so that I can help the students. Each day is an opportunity to grow and learn. So, after 5 years at my current location, I decided to go in a different direction.

Location wise, it is about as good as it gets. I only have to commute about 40 minutes. I won’t have to worry about selling my house or all those other things that go with moving. I won’t be living in the same town in which I am an administrator, I’ll be able to have Tim’s coffee everyday and I can enjoy just being a parent in the community in which I live, something I have never been able to do! My own children will not have me as their principal for the first time in many years, some of them the first time ever. My wife won’t be the principal’s wife and we can, in all essence, just live here. But that’s not why I decided to move.

In my present position, I’ve had to do a number of changes, something that has caused some people to be less than happy with me. I’ve come to accept that, being an administrator, I won’t be liked by all nor will people be able to understand the unique perspective I have of how things work or the inter-connectedness of so many things. Feedback from many parents is that things have improved under my time here and the changes have been positive and have helped to create an atmosphere where the focus is on students and their learning and growth. But that’s not the focus of this post either.

Moving on

Taking on new challenges and moving things in a new direction seems to be where people see my strengths. Having not been one to shy away from tackling situations is not a deterant to me. This current move was not, in fact, even in my consideration even when it became available. Instead, I was asked if I would be interested in such a move. At first I wasn’t. But after some consideration and  discussing and listening to what a few select others had to say, I realized that I was hesitant to move because I was more scared of the change than of the actual position. I have grown comfortable in the position that I am in. The mission and vision of the school are becoming more than just words on a paper – they are being lived out each day in the halls and classrooms of the school. I was comfortable and the path I was on was starting to become a rut. When I realized that, I knew it was time. It was time to search out new opportunities and new challenges, to meet new people and engage new parents, students and staff.

Many people have asked how I will handle being a vp instead of being a principal. Truth be told, I’m not sure. However, I do know that I have learned to view leadership as more than a title or position. It is the abilities and strengths one has and how they use them, not what position you happen to have after your name. It’s about how you engage and honour other people and work towards achieving the goals set before you. At times you are the leader while at other times, you are allowing people with strengths different than your own to lead while always keeping in mind the goal.

I’ve come to realize that I have weaknesses that would be determental to progress if ignored. To be successful at achieving the goals and mission of the school, I need to allow others with strengths in those areas to lead. And, when that isn’t possible, as sometimes is the case, I must learn, grow and develop through watching and talking with others who do have those strengths.

Positive Mindset

I’ve  come to realize that having a positive direction and focus is essential to making any type of change. Many times, I have read about the constant negative impact of this or that change, listened to how people are unhappy with how this was decided or how that was done while not realizing that, in fact, so many decisions and events are beyond our control and to be frustrated and upset about that lack of control is, in fact, counter-productive, creating a sense of futility and chaos that incapacitates people to the point of inaction and “ruttedness”! Negative things become self-fulfilling as people create the perfect opportunities to be able to say “See, I told you so!” It’s not that I think all lemons are indeed good enough to be made into lemonade. Instead, it’s realizing we have the opportunity to continue toward our mission and goals only by focusing what is within our locus of control and not wasting energy on what isn’t.

My new assignment has me doing some different things, teaching different subjects and I’m excited about that. I’ll be in a new place, meeting new people and taking on a new role. Being a vp will be a new leadership role for me. I’m hoping to be able to do more with technology integration and working with teachers in that capacity, trying out new things and expanding my own teaching. I’ll also be taking on a few new roles in the division and that is exciting. As with all moves from a place familiar and comfortable, there will be seperation anxiety but the fear is gone. Instead, there is a calmness that has settled in as I know that this new path, although a bit rough, will be filled with adventures for which the worn path I am leaving has well prepared me. Stay tuned as, once again, I go boldly forward into yet another wonderful adventure.