Principle+1+-++Master+the+Courage

"If you're drilling for water, it's better to drill one hundred-foot well than one hundred one-foot wells."

This was definitely me early in my career as an administrator, and I still have to make sure that I don't avoid tackling the tough challenges by softening the blow with too many pillows (paraphrasing Ms. Scott). I used to mistakenly think that those few teachers who need their behavior to change would simply need a nudge, a slight push in the right direction, or a kind word. Little did I realize how wrong I was. I had assumed that, like me, all teachers would be CRUSHED by a remark by the principal that something was not quite right in my classroom. Seventeen years into administration, I've learned that a forthright approach is the best. I still have to plan my words and take a deep breath before entering the conversation, but the goal is to get the job done right the first time.