I think my hope and dream to become a school leader started before I even knew that I wanted to be involved in education. My desire to be a leader started as a junior high student when I had a man who would become my lifelong mentor tell me that I was a leader. He believed in me so much, he got me out of bed some random school morning when I was in 7th grade at 6 a.m. and drove me to Des Moines to a leadership conference for students. I distinctly remember thinking, "Why me? Why does he think I'm different?" To this day, I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know I was inspired to attempt to live a life where I could help lead and influence people. It's incredible to think of the difference those simple words made.
My journey took me to a place where I would eventually get involved in education and I knew from the first time I worked in a school building I eventually wanted to be a principal. My first "boss" was someone whom I've blogged about before and she instilled in me the passion it takes to help every single student in your building succeed. It means you're up late, you wake up early, people talk about you behind your back and sometimes your ideas make zero sense to anyone but yourself. As I began in education I learned through reading that principals, second only to teachers, have the most dramatic impact on student achievement. (You can read more about this here ---> Principal Impact). Some research puts them on equal footing, if a principal can create a culture and environment where kids love coming to school and learning.
The challenge of being a great principal, and doing it differently became something that ate at me daily.
Eventually, the dream became real and my goal had the possibility of becoming reality after a colleague told me about a leadership program based in Omaha through Doane College. Early on, I thought pursuing my goal meant I needed to have various types of professional experiences and I had to have my life carefully planned out and I was in charge of it all. It wasn't until recently I learned how wrong I was. (More about this later.)
As I began working towards my goal I feel like I got "lucky" in finding and participating in the most incredible experience of my life. The last 2 years of my life in the Educational Leadership Program through Doane College changed me. I've grown, changed, learned and had more sleepless nights in this program than I'd care to admit. It was intense, life changing, organized, individualized and frustrating all in one. I've many times shared with my wife, I'd pay triple for this experience because of the things it has taught me. I can't say enough great things about Jed Johnston and Doane College for this journey (but DON'T triple tuition :) ). As the end was drawing near on my master program I began to wonder what was next and how should I plan my future?
As a couple of opportunities arose in the winter of 2015, I began to work on "my plan" and decide where it is I should be. During this time I had a conversation with someone who was first my boss, later a mentor and finally a friend and he shared with me that, "There is a plan for you & you're not in control of it and once you can accept this; life will make much more sense". This conversation caused me discomfort for days as I didn't know what it meant. Sure I got the words, but the deep meaning didn't make sense until later. Eventually it did - eventually things fell in place and I know that my plan fits with my ultimate goal...
So in a couple of words? Why the change?
"To continue my dream of helping all students find success socially, emotionally and academically"
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