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December 20, 2006
Do You Follow Me?
Jack McCall, one of PEP's finest teachers and friends, remarked during his conversation with 65 principals in PEP's Leadership Program for Experienced Principals, started off his conversation with the assertion that he is nutty about principals. One of his key points is that principals are principal TEACHERS. He strongly urged principals to spend your time with teachers.
This was a terrific combination with Mike Rutherford's (another PEP alumni) session the previous day on leveraging leadership time by working with teachers. Both of them noted that the more time you spend with those who get the work done, the better the quality and quantity of the work.
Mike called it a leverage point. Jack said that education was not filling a pail, it was setting their hair on fire with the thirst for learning.
Jack's other comment was that every decision a leader makes leaves a footprint.
Jack had an engaging way of making sure that we got the message-he kept asking "Do you follow me? Does that make sense to you?
Yeah, Jack and Mike-you both make terrific sense. Thanks for reminding us of the key points.
Posted by chitch at December 20, 2006 4:24 PM
Comments
Chris Hitch... I am honored to be co-blogged with the great Jack McCall. Jack has made such a powerful contribution to educational leadership. Count me in as one of his great admirers and students. One more point... during the Christmas season, I am reminded what a gift it is to be in the people development business. Where else can one spend his time and energy working to develop others and in the process end up developing himself?
Posted by: Mike Rutherford at December 20, 2006 4:51 PM