Recently I dropped my son off at college. While this rite of passage typically occurs in the Fall, we delayed placing him in the communal cesspool of COVID germs until Winter term. While this mom is still not convinced living in close proximity to communal housing is the safest choice, we wanted him to have a true college experience. Thus we packed him up, delivered him to campus, and left him, praying he doesn’t share too many red solo cups. 

As we were leading up to the days of him bounding out of the nest, with maybe a little too much exuberance for his mother’s liking, I thought about all the lessons this mama bird could give him. It got me thinking how parallel the advice is between sending your child off to college vs. preparing for educational leadership. Flashbacks of the poem “All I Need to Know I Learned From Kindergarten” flew through my mind, and I started to connect the dots between all I need to know about going to college with all I need to know about leadership.

 Lessons:

· Work Hard/Play Hard: The balancing act is hard, and often people think you have to choose to either have high academic achievement or a fun and vibrant culture. You can do both! In fact, these two things go hand in hand. We have an enormous responsibility to prepare our students for a successful future, and this includes both the academic foundation and the ability to connect and collaborate with others. It is imperative that you are examining your data often and researching and implementing best practices. However, it is equally important that you are creating systems for connecting with others, building relationships, and having fun. Achieve an A+ by both hitting the books and being the biggest cheerleader. 

· Unapologetically Be Yourself- We are inundated with Snaps, Tweets, Posts, and Tik Toks that can dictate what is normal and accepted and what is shunned and ignored. Resist the urge to be like everyone else. You be you! You have unique strengths that add so much to your community. Capitalize on your individual talents, all while honoring the people around you who have their own strengths. Lean in to authentically being yourself and blaze your own path to success!

· Clean Out the Dryer Lint: Avoid damp results and clean things out before you add a new load. We have a tendency to add new strategies, materials, meetings, and committees without dropping something off. We can easily suffocate our communities in the lint trap of initiatives and frustrate the people on our teams. We have to realign our priorities from time to time and dissolve things that are not directly related to our why. A good rule is if you add something, you need to take something else off. Demonstrate this practice publicly when you introduce something new. You will efficiently optimize your time and tumble your way to a healthier and happier community.

· Learn from Your Mistakes: It is inevitable that we will make mistakes. There will be missed deadlines, days that you aren’t quite as organized since you woke up late, and times that you unintentionally say something that offends someone. There may even be bigger mistakes like ignoring egregious behavior or recognizing that someone needs help, and turning a blind eye. Mistakes can lead to embarrassment, defensiveness, or guilt. These feelings may tempt us to ignore, cover-up or blame others. Resist the urge and vulnerably embrace your misstep. Acknowledge your feelings and start growing. Some of my greatest growth opportunities have arisen out of my own blunders. Trust me, I’ve had a lot! It is all in how you navigate the mistake.  

Own it, Reflect on why it occurred. Sincerely apologize. Commit to getting better. Make a plan. Grow from the experience. Move on. Get out there and make mistakes! And if you do end up making a mistake that lands you in the hospital, make sure you have on a clean pair of underwear.

· Find Your People: People are your lifeline! Avoid being the wallflower at the back of the class who waits for people to approach them. Show your confidence (or fake it if you have to) and put yourself out there. Place yourself in situations where you are meeting people, learning about new interests, and embracing various experiences. Find a common network that has the same interests, goals, or passion projects. Seek out mentors who celebrate your greatest accomplishments and lift you up on your darkest days. We never want you to feel alone, so go out and make a few friends.

· Remember Your Roots: As you traverse through the chapters of your life, never forget how you got there. Never underestimate the power of a thank you. Reach out and appreciate those that helped you along the way. No matter how many times you are promoted or the number of awards you receive, remember to stay humble and grounded in your why. Your community will appreciate your steadfast commitment, and ultimately you’ll feel better too. And, if your priorities go sideways and you lose your way, undoubtedly, your mom will call and talk some sense into you whether you are 18 or 53. She’ll leave the phone call with an “I love you” and send you a care package the next week with your favorite soup (yes, true story, my mom sent soup in the mail) with a note that tells you she believes in you. 

Through tears of pride, I left my son at the doors of his dorm, hoping that my lessons were enough to launch him out of the nest and guide him on a pathway to success. My wish for all of you is that you have the courage, the strength, and the confidence to embrace the lessons you have learned to impact your leadership journey. If you would like additional strategies on how to lead your community to amazing outcomes, I invite you to pick up a copy of our book Principaled: Leading the Leadership Learning Curve which I co-authored with fellow educators, Kourtney Ferrua and Rachael George. I invite you to visit our website HERE or my personal website at KateBarkerConsultant.com. You can also follow our hashtag #PrincipalEDleaders on Facebook and Twitter. Remember, you are not alone on this leadership journey! 

Warmly, 

Kate Barker

Thank you, friend. We are so honored to publish your manifesto, PrincipalED!

If you don't already, follow the authors of PrincipalED, Kate, Rachael, and Kourtney, on Twitter by clicking their names above.

Also, check out PrincipalEd: Navigating the Leadership Learning Curve right HERE! There is even a ready-made book study right HERE--just scroll down to the book cover or click HERE. Don't forget to visit Kate's website KateBarkerConsultant.com and the PrincipalED website for even more incredible resources right HERE.