Journals-A Key to Insight These journal entries were written by Leadership Academy participants while they worked in their districts as superintendents, principals, teachers and school board and central staff members. OCTOBER 8th      As a part of my plan to include more people in the decision-making process, I established a retreat that included the top people in the administration. The first two years I was superintendent in the district I generated the [plan] to jump start the district. My direction and a number of programs were started. Personnel were redirected and changed. I felt it was now time to begin to solidify changes made and to develop depth. I brought more people into the loop. The area most criticized in my evaluation by staff was the tendency to unilateral decision-making. I will try to overcome this. A district superintendent MARCH 3rd      We had the superintendent’s evaluation this month. Things did not go well. I do feel that we gave one of the most fair and accurate accounts that we have given in years. Unfortunately, our good intentions left him upset and somewhat disturbed after hearing the results. Two meetings and a few phone calls later, he was able to sit down with the board and acknowledge his complacence of this past year. We were all very honest. A school board member FEBRUARY 9th      After reflecting on this incident, I wish that I had been more forceful when talking to this PTA parent/volunteer. I felt sorry for her due to the fact that she was sobbing. I wish that I had clarified in more depth her role and responsibilities as a parent so that this situation would not occur again. Hence, I would have reiterated what our PTA co-president had stated during our PTA Executive Board Meeting the previous day. In addition, she would have clearly known that there were several people (PTA officers, assistant principal, teachers, etc.) whom she had offended. Due to some negative publicity I am sometimes overly concerned with how others perceive me. A teacher NOVEMBER 18th      I have mixed feelings about spelling bees and similar competitive events. I don’t like the look of dejection which some of the non-winners have when they are eliminated. I sometimes question my own role when I reward the “winners” with a cash award. I’ve even contemplated giving each participant at least a dollar. On the other hand, we must try and help youngsters come to grips with the world as it is. We should help them to develop a sense of strong positive self-worth at the same time recognizing that they may not be “first.” One of the strengths of cooperative learning when appropriately conducted is helping youngsters learn how to cooperate while engaged in competitive endeavors. I enjoyed being among the students and their parents and teachers. They were all so proud of what they had accomplished. A principal JUNE 15th      Another year has passed. Are we any closer to making our schools more competitive, more able to perform in the new world? I hear the comments that kids graduate who cannot read or write. These kids can [read], but can they think at the level needed for the future? I don’t believe we are adapting fast enough. We have to do more, and we have to do it faster to meet the new demand. This is our/my challenge. A central office staff member JANUARY 26th      In retrospect, after having moved the student, I feel I should have pushed harder to have the parent and teacher meet. On that day, at that time, I saw the situation as a “no win” matter for all involved. With the same options as before, I feel I would make a different call. I apologized to the teacher and explained the rationale for my decision. He deserved a chance to face those who did not agree with his teaching techniques. A principal Next—Profiles