TOMMIE SAYLOR: School leaders prove their worth daily

“Leadership is relational.  It is something you do with people, not to people.”  

From “Authentic Leadership:  Excite Others to Exceptional

Performance,” by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

Some say that adversity builds character. I disagree. 

I believe that adversity reveals character, showing the world the true person that lies within, the true person that we work so hard to hide from others – and often from ourselves.

With this is mind, and given that the Taylor School District’s condition has been challenging over the last few years, I believe our leaders characters have been laid bare for all to see.

I am rather impressed with what has been exposed.  Supt. Diane Allen and Asst. Supt. Teresa Winnie attack each day with a single-minded devotion to simply do the right thing – the right thing for students, teachers and support staff.  Though often their “hands are tied,” they consistently drive forward each and every day attempting to make things just a little better than the last.  They are the foundation upon which our district rests.

A good example: Just the other day Ms. Winnie and Ms. Susan McCausland, director of Food Services, came to Kennedy High School to speak with the Principal’s Advisory Committee, a council of students representing the student body with the intent of advising the principal concerning student matters.  This Principal’s Advisory Committee wanted to speak with Ms. Winnie and Ms. McCausland regarding the lunch program.

Needless to say, they had some concerns. 

What impressed me most, was that not only were these two leaders willing to take precious time out of their day to listen to student concerns. They knew coming into the meeting that they would be facing disgruntled students regarding an issue that is very dear to them. Yet without hesitation they accepted the invitation and arrived with care, concern and compassion. 

Ms. McCausland explained the federal and state standards to the students with expertise, and took careful notes regarding the students’ likes, dislikes and suggestions for improvement. I must say, Ms. McCausland’s professionalism was inspiring. It was easy to see that she honestly cares for the students at Taylor Schools, and we are very fortunate to have her working in our district. 

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, both Ms. McCausland and Ms. Winnie went to lunch with the students so that they could evaluate the program first hand.  What a remarkable sight, seeing the assistant superintendent and the director of Food Services sitting at a lunch table with students answering questions and discussing concerns.  I was so proud to be part of the administrative team and to see leaders of the highest order spending time with students in this capacity.

As an administrator, it is understood that you will fight every working day.  You fight to uphold standards, to make sure your teachers have the materials they need to teach, to keep everyone safe, to maintain order and proper decorum.

You fight, fight and you fight some more.

Every morning you don your armor, pick up your lance of righteousness and spend all day long “tilting at windmills.” As a result, you become a moral compass, the indicator of what is right and what is wrong. You become the wise one, the staunch unwavering leader. 

Administrators are held at a higher standard and watched very closely by all for signs of weakness. If one is found, it is discussed, analyzed and publicized.  In addition, administrators are surrounded every day by negativity, people bringing you problems that you must solve.  Some days it is like living in a swirling abyss of chaotic despondency.

This being said, we must never forget that though administrators are held in a higher regard, they are still human with all the same frailties as everyone else, and in just as much need for the occasional pat on the back.

I would like to tell Ms. Allen, Ms. Winnie and all the leaders in our fine district that their efforts are greatly appreciated and have not gone unnoticed. 

Kudos, you are making a difference in the lives of kids, and you have proven yourselves to be fine examples of educational leaders, a model for us all to emulate,

What starts here, changes the world. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.