The Dock School Leader Podcast

1. Why do we exist? 2. For what results are we accountable? 3. Who are we serving–primarily? 4. What are our values? 5. What is our plan? These are five questions that according to Steven Brubaker are essential for every school leader to help his school to answer clearly and to communicate relentlessly to everyone involved with the school. When God has work he wants done, he looks for a person fit for the job. Obviously, there are many different positions that God fills when he forms a community of faith. School administrators and leaders are among them. Drawing from Ezekiel 22 and from his observations over 30 years in the conservative Christian school movement, Steven Brubaker identifies school leadership as one of the wider gaps in our communities and one that we’ve had trouble filling. Steven reflects on his experience as a teacher and administrator from the day he accepted his first job at a school at age 22. There he was tasked with both teaching and administrating. That first year he learned that he liked teaching. In the decades since he has developed a passion for administration as well. Clear and thoroughly communicated answers to these questions will go a long way to turning this gap into a strong part of the wall. Like other speakers on this show, Steven warns us about the shallowness of a negative answer to the question of why we exist born out of our departure from the public schools. And if we do some hard work on that first question of existence, we are primed to form clear and powerful answers to the rest. God has sustained our schools with his grace. The questions that Steven unpacks here lay out a way for us to steward the tremendous resources that God has entrusted to us.   Links * [book] The Five Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization – Peter Drucker: https://a.co/d/f4pNlWc [https://a.co/d/f4pNlWc] * [book] Good to Great – Jim Collins: https://a.co/d/eUuL3la [https://a.co/d/eUuL3la] * [this show] Episode 14: Why Administrators? – Steven Brubaker: https://administratorspodcast.podbean.com/e/why-administrators/ [https://administratorspodcast.podbean.com/e/why-administrators/] * This recording was first published on The Dock as “Loving our Work:” https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/loving-our-work/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/loving-our-work/] * More Recordings from Administrator’s Conference and Retreat: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/administrators-conference-and-retreat/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/series/administrators-conference-and-retreat/] * Details about Administrators Conference: https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/administrators-conference-and-retreat/ [https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/administrators-conference-and-retreat/]

What makes education distinctly Christian? Is this more a question of what it is or what it isn’t? But whatever we make of those questions, how do educators remain passionate about their mundane, sometimes thankless, often discouraging role in carrying this work forward? Anthony Hurst, who has over 25 years of experience in Christian Day Schools and currently works as school representative for Christian Light, offers valuable insight on these perennial questions. School leaders, you’ve likely experienced just how quickly your own vision and motivation can fade. You are also in a prime position to renew the passion of the teams that you lead. Join Anthony in reflecting on what keeps the fire burning. As you listen to his ideas and insights, take note of memories and experiences this brings to mind. How could you and your team tap into the experiences of the past year to renew your commitment for the next one?   Links * * This recording was first published on The Dock as Why I am Passionate About Christian Education: https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/why-i-am-passionate-about-christian-education/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/why-i-am-passionate-about-christian-education/]  * More Recordings from Pacific School Leadership Institute 2021: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/psli/pacific-school-leadership-institute-2021/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/series/psli/pacific-school-leadership-institute-2021/] * More Information about Pacific School Leaders Institute: https://psli.info/ [https://psli.info/]

How do children develop? How do we give them the best chance of healthy development? The fact of the ocean of ink spilled on this question has not lessened the actual wonder of this process or the reality of its mystery.   In a presentation filled with stories and examples, Brandon Mullet explores the basic needs of children. Brandon speaks as an administrator, teacher, and parent.   He discusses themes such as: * Laboring for what is right and fulfilling for children without regard for own reputation and recognition * Ministering sacrificially to children * Walking with Christ so we can minister in his love * Letting children know that we love them and enjoy them and like being with them   This presentation was given over 25 years ago which highlights the reality that these issues are timeless. May you find them illuminating and orienting as you head into the summer and engage with the children in your life as well as reflecting on this past school year. Links * Child Development Workshop 1998: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/child-development-workshop/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/series/child-development-workshop/]  * Opening comic: https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1962/02/04 [https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1962/02/04] * This was first published on The Dock as "Child Development: Biblical Orientation:" https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/child-development-biblical-orientation/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/child-development-biblical-orientation/]

How are your teachers’ root systems? If you have the opportunity, ask an arborist talk about root systems and about the tree planting and care process. From root hairs to mycorrhizae, it’s a fascinating world. But one that is mostly invisible to us and that tends to fall prey to our drive to control and manipulate what is visible to us. Melvin Lehman employs the metaphor of roots as he reflects on nearly four decades of teaching.   He did his first teaching back in the early days of the Christian school movement when he observed much rapid planting driven by the need to quickly fill the empty spaces in all the new classrooms. We have better opportunities for cultivating strong and healthy roots today. But of course, this is not automatic and there are plenty of pressing reasons for ignoring our root systems. As a school leader, you are in a position to model the development of healthy roots and to care for those of your team. Without them, as Melvin says, we will be unable to access and appropriate the resources around them, however rich and abundant they may be.   Here are some of the main recommendations that Melvin makes in his talk: 1. Develop of the discipline of meditation and prayer 2. Be wholesome (and holy) 3. Accept new or challenging assignments 4. Read widely and with a plan 5. Teach in diverse situations 6. Pursue stimulating and productive hobbies 7. Master new and essential skills 8. Surround yourself with stimulating and challenging people 9. Take advanced courses of study This episode was first published on The Dock as "Intentional Growth:" https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/intentional-growth-melvin-lehman/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/intentional-growth-melvin-lehman/]  More from Teachers Week 2012: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/fbep-teachers-week/teachers-week-2012/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/series/fbep-teachers-week/teachers-week-2012/]

Does your school have mission, vision, and values statements? Who knows about them? We’re probably all familiar with these three terms and in this episode, Merle Burkholder offers simple definitions and provides clear examples of each one to refresh our usage. He also suggests a variety of means to communicate these guiding statements so that they can become second nature for you and your people. Merle brings many years of experience in church and organizational leadership including his work at Open Hands and Servant Institute. After working through definitions and examples of guiding statements Merle explains four elements of an organization that can be used to measure its health and life-stage from birth to death. It’s a useful grid for evaluating the health of a school. On that note, this episode echoes our last episode on evaluation. Merle proposes that, “People produce what you measure.” Clear guiding statements, particularly core values, give you an effective basis to evaluate your school. Merle was addressing leaders of different types of organizations. Where Merle discusses the responsibilities of a leadership team and CEO in carrying the vision, I think we can insert the school board and administrator. You might consider going back to episode 14 by Steven Brubaker outlining the role of an administrator who works at the intersection of the various parties involved in a school. Finally, it is possible for a school team to share a vision that is sufficiently vivid and understood to occasionally take away your breath and consistently guide your decision-making. May this strengthen your gains here or guide your steps in that direction. Links * Why Administrators? on The Dock School Leader Podcast: https://administratorspodcast.podbean.com/e/why-administrators/ [https://administratorspodcast.podbean.com/e/why-administrators/]  * This recording was originally published on The Dock as "Clarifying Mission Vision and Values": https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/clarifying-mission-vision-and-values/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/clarifying-mission-vision-and-values/]  * More recordings from REACH 2017: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/reach/reach-2017/ [https://thedockforlearning.org/series/reach/reach-2017/]