We Didn’t Know What We Didn’t Know: First Year Superintendent, First Year Principal

By Dr. Chris Reuter, Superintendent, Germantown School District and Jessica Gieryn, Principal, Kennedy Middle School, Germantown School District

The excitement of a new administrator role, new district, and new school year is unmatched. You know you’re doing important work and that staff and students are counting on you. You’re ready for it. Then, as the year proceeds, you realize that the phrase, “You don’t even know what you don’t know,” is the truest definition of your first year. Challenges come at you fast, and the pressure whirlwind of the daily demands will wear you down. You must believe that you have what it takes and your enthusiasm for the work must be ever-present. Chris and Jess learned a few things in their first year and wanted to share them with you. Do they have it all figured out? Definitely not. But, at the end of the first year, they know they’re doing great work with great people for one of the greatest professions on earth. Here’s what they have learned..so far.

Stay Positive

CR: I spent much time in my first year listening and learning about my district as a first-year superintendent. One thing I realized quickly is that many people rely on you to be positive. In the documentary, “The Last Dance,” which chronicles the Michael Jordan Bulls of the 1990s, Michael Jordan himself says, “My father taught me that you always need to find the positive in any situation.” That statement from the acclaimed documentary has stuck with me this past year, as every day’s new adventure brought forth challenges and opportunities to become negative or remiss. Every instance of adversity brought forth the opportunity to find the positive in the situation so that we could improve as a school district. 

JG: This is very important! And like all things worth doing, it’s easier said than done. I was stressed a lot of the time in my first year and I often had to rely on my friends, family, colleagues, and my Smile File* to keep me positive. At the end of an exhausting, yet rewarding, first year, a young teacher said to me, “You never look stressed.” I remember that because it was a win for me. This career is challenging in so many ways. Students, families, staff, community members, school board, and district office all count on the principal to do the right thing for the village. It can completely overwhelm you. However, they will also look to you to be positive and enthusiastic for the work, even when it’s hard. You need to find a way to build your emotional strength back up. Know how to fill up your cup and then hold yourself accountable to do it - especially when you think you’re too exhausted and stressed. That is when it is most important.

And while keeping yourself positive, remember to intentionally build others’ positivity, too. Notice when others shine and let them know. This can be in the form of a conversation, email, or post-it note. It’s simple and important for the culture you’re trying to build and the positive energy you’re trying to maintain for yourself, as well. 

*A Smile File is a paper or email folder that holds your happy feedback and kind notes. As educators, and humans, we tend to give a lot more weight to the negative feedback than the positive. A Smile File helps you remember the positive. If you don’t have a Smile File yet, start one!

Long Story Short: Positivity is contagious, so spread it around.

Communication

CR: I learned quickly that you can never communicate too much internally and externally. Developing protocols for communication and strategies to inform, consult, and collaborate was the foundation of my first year. Whether it be district updates monthly, timeliness of school closings and the reasons why, or communicating the great work happening daily, internal and external communications are essential skills for a leader. Communicating with your Board, staff, and community in a strategic manner allows for a foundation of trust to be built in your first year with all stakeholders. 

JG: Communicate, communicate, communicate. Strong communication starts with listening first and talking second. Work with your team to find that perfect balance of what and when to communicate with your staff and families. You want your staff, students, families and community to hear it from you. Your future successful leadership will benefit from consistent communication in your first year. Build that trust by listening and sharing what you know. You’ll create a culture that is safe, positive and empowering. 

Long Story Short: Find out who needs to know and ensure they have accurate information as quickly as possible.

Trust Yourself & Trust Your Team

CR: The internal voice in your head is almost always right. Following that voice is what got you to the leadership spot you are in; sharing that voice for feedback from your team is what will accelerate you and your district to the next level. Be authentic with who you are with your team, so they understand who you are as a person and leader. People trust you when you are your real self. Show your competence, and admit when you don't know something. People trust you when you are logical. Finally, show your care for all people on your team and that you care. Empathy drives trust amongst your team. 

JG: When Ted Lasso was asked if he believed in ghosts, he answered, “I do. But more importantly, I think they need to believe in themselves.” Believe in yourself. You’re here because you trusted yourself to apply and then a team of people chose you for this important work. Believe you can do it and remember that you don't need to have all the answers. Reach out to your mentors, district office, trusted colleagues from other schools, and your staff. I cannot thank these people enough for helping me in my first year and continuing to help me to this very day. 

Get to know your staff and let them get to know you, too. The best thing I did in my first summer was have One on One Chats before the hustle of the new year. I invited the entire staff and had close to 80% reach out to chat. The questions: “Tell me about yourself,” What is great about our school? “What could be better? What do you want from your principal?” I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the staff and finding out more about them as people. These chats helped me build trust and create goals to help me be a better first year leader.

Long Story Short: Be authentic, caring, and logical with yourself and your team. 

Set Goals and Be Flexible

CR: Progress monitor and be informed. Creating a plan, and understanding the success of the goal is contingent on your ability as a leader to be nimble and informed on when and why to audible. Be involved in the plan. Merely setting goals and expecting others to execute is not leadership. Understanding your role, responsibilities, and the support you provide others are leaderful actions that will allow you to be flexible when the plan does not happen as drawn up. 

JG: You may set a goal to meet with a certain team once a week. Then, as the school year gets going, you know that it was an unrealistic expectation for that team to meet every Friday. Eventually, you learn that no recurring meetings in middle school should ever be on Fridays. Be willing to evaluate the purpose of your goal and update the plan. Communicate your rationale with your team and ask them for some ideas to meet the goals while respecting the time and energy of all involved.

Long Story Short: Leaders need to be focused, but nimble when executing goals. 

Show Up

CR: Visibility, visibility, visibility. Talk to everyone. Office staff, custodians, food service, teachers, students, PTAs, the Chamber of Commerce, community partners, and parents. Don't get stuck behind a keyboard. Go talk to people, in person, in the public, in your office, on their terms. You can never show up enough. Attend events, and not just your favorite sporting events. When at events, talk to people. Be in the community. Thank people for their service and care to make your community what it is, great!

JG: Show up and be there to support your students and staff. It is extremely busy in the office, and it always will be. You will never get all the work done in a 24 hour day. Take time throughout the day to be in the hallways and go into learning spaces. The classrooms are where the awesome action is taking place, and it’ll revive you fully to remember who you are doing all of this for. You’ll also decrease the number of emails you get because as you walk around, you’ll hear, “Oh hey! I was just about to email you, but since you’re here, can I ask you a quick question?” Inspiring yourself and reducing emails is definitely a win-win strategy.

Long Story Short: Build connections by being present and showing up. 

Take Care of Yourself

CR: Mind and body performing as one are essential as a human. Stress is inevitable, but you must tamper your stress by taking care of yourself. Exercise daily, drink water, talk to people, and don’t let things ruminate in your mind. Stress is caused by not taking action when we know we have to, as leaders. 

JG: On one of my more overwhelming days - chiding myself for not doing things perfectly the first time (see lessons learned: forgive yourself) - my friend said, “Don’t you always take walks in the woods with your dog when you’re stressed? Why aren’t you doing that?” Sometimes when we get so bogged down in our own emotions, we either forget or don’t think we have the energy to do what we know helps us. Whether it’s music, exercise, time with friends, sitting alone at a favorite coffee shop, or anything that fulfills you, find that time for yourself. You’ll be a better leader and happier person when you take care of yourself.

Long Story Short: Pay attention to your physical/emotional state and give yourself the care you need and deserve.

Forgive Yourself

CR: Handle hard better! If you are waiting for things to be perfect you will be waiting forever. You will never arrive as a leader. The constant learning and mistakes you make only help with improvement if you learn from them and forgive yourself along the way. 

JG: A lot of us in this profession want to do everything right and never make mistakes. I know you know what I’m talking about. However, you and I both also know it’s completely unrealistic. You will not always be perfect and that’s ok. A powerful statement to your students, staff or families is “I apologize. I made a mistake. This is how I’m going to fix it and learn from it.” It lets them know you’re human and gives them the freedom to take risks and make mistakes themselves. Making mistakes is how we learn. Next year, it’ll still be hard and you’ll still make mistakes. However, like the Coach of Duke Basketball, Kara Lawson, advises, it won’t get easier, but you’ll handle the hard better.

Long Story Short: Make mistakes, apologize for them, learn, and move on.

Bring the Excitement

CR: A smile is as contagious as a yawn. So hopefully as a leader you are bringing the smile daily. I often end my emails with, “Make someone smile today.” The level of passion and authentic excitement you bring to a meeting, training, conversation, is contagious. The same can be said for the counter attitudes and actions. 

JG: This year is a brand new opportunity to do what’s right for kids! Bring that awesome energy from the first time you stepped into a classroom with your first class of kids. Your enthusiasm and passion for the work will be the light that you use when the days are darker and the chocolate in your desk is the only thing keeping you hanging on. Give yourself 30 seconds to enjoy a handful of Junior Mints and then walk around your building to take in all the wonderfulness your staff and students are doing. Take a deep breath and get back to it. 

Long Story Short: Love the work and share your enthusiasm with others.

What’s Next?

CR: Focus, care, accountability, and humility are the four words that sum up my first year as a superintendent, and I have a feeling these words will continue to be variables of the future as a superintendent. 

JG: I can’t wait to start another year with our staff and students. I will look back on my lessons learned and continue to grow in my role as principal. I know it’ll be hard. I know it’ll challenge me. I know I’ll make mistakes. And I know I’ll learn a lot - again. But I also know that I can do it. My commitment is unwavering and I am excited to welcome another year of challenges, mistakes, lessons, and smiles. Bring it!

Long Story Short: Keep learning and loving what you do. You got this.