Lately, many days have felt like being in a pressure cooker. And more times than not, I feel as if I put myself in the cooker without the aid of anyone else. Being the principal of a large suburban/urban high school comes with a certain level of political pressure, social concerns, and moral conflicts. Add these to the daily struggle to make sure every student is given opportunities to grow and learn, and it is easy to see where the stress comes into play.
A few days ago I took a step back and decided I needed to relax. The rate in which I am pushing myself and others around me isn't good leadership if it is merely pushing. You have to push with purpose AND support. Trust me, I am not saying to lower your standards, but instead I suggest that a little patience and a few smiles are needed to get a school to grow and change. Now, if I can maintain this attitude and not revert back to the pressure cooker, then I think I can make some positive gains with myself and my staff. After all, it is the people in the classroom that make the biggest difference, and if they are not happy with their jobs, we all lose.
