32 suspensions.
One day. One principal.
His name is Bill. There had been a major incident on campus. And by the end of it, Bill had handed out 32 suspensions.
Then came the question.
Nothing dramatic. Just a casual check-in from a teacher:
"So, how do you like middle school?"
Bill had built his career in elementary school. And in that moment, he realized he didn't have an answer he believed.
The passion was gone.
Not all at once. Slowly. The way it goes for a lot of us.
You dread Mondays. Someone asks how work is going and you say "fine."
You're managing the job, but you're not really there for it.
Sound familiar?
You're not alone. 85% of principals report frequent job stress. For working adults outside education, it's about 35%. Yikes!
So what do you do when the joy is gone?
Most principals grit their teeth and wait for summer.
I think you should fire yourself. Then hire yourself back.
Inside, I break down 3 keys to keeping yourself in the game:
Fire yourself.
Hire yourself.
Celebrate your people.
You'll hear how Dr. Chris Jones went from State Administrator of the Year to hitting a wall, and what brought him back. You'll also meet the sixth grader who taught me to never work harder than my students.
If you've caught yourself saying "fine" when someone asks how the job is going, then this one is for you.
Keep Making a Ruckus,
Danny
P.S. Each section of the mini-book ends with a reflection question. Start with this one: What will you no longer do?
