Category Archives: Choice

Yes, Public Schools Should Be Able To Advocate For Themselves…

17 Friday Jan 2025

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Advocate, Agenda, Choice, Communication, Context, Conversations, Courage, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Expertise, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Legislators, Public Schools, Reality, School Choice, Teachers

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 2025 Mississippi Legislative is happening, and educational issues are always on the table.

Let’s go back a week or so and look at a school district in Mississippi that distributed a flyer outlining their stance on various legislative matters, sparking a wave of online discussion. While they received some negative comments, there was also online support, proving their voice was heard.

What was on the flyer, you ask? In summary, they were for… Teacher pay raise, revision of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and increased emphasis on Career and Technical Education. As a district, they were against… Open enrollment/school choice, educational vouchers for private school tuition, and any decrease in retirement benefits of PERS employees.

As a public school educator, I agree with everything they stated. I’m not writing to debate their points with anyone. However, for what general reason do I agree? While public schools have many advocates, and I’m thankful for every one of them, who better to be an advocate than themselves? Which is what I would like to discuss…

Public schools are not just educational institutions; many are the cornerstones of our communities. They shape the educational experiences of our children, who form the future of our society. While other educational options exist, public schools play a unique and vital role. It’s crucial for them to engage in advocacy to ensure that proposed legislation aligns with the needs and aspirations of the students, educators, and families they serve.

Public schools are uniquely knowledgeable in providing valuable insights into the practical implications of proposed policies by articulating their positions on legislative matters, for they are the ones who know what public school education is and is about. The need for public schools to be part of the proactive engagement of self-advocacy should hopefully help legislators make informed decisions that support effective educational practices and promote student success in our public schools. It would seem that legislators would want to give an ear to those who know education.

School leaders who freely open lines of communication with their thoughts on legislative priorities foster transparency and encourage community involvement. That’s why many communities’ strength lies in the fact that they have a strong public school presence. Self-advocacy not only empowers stakeholders, parents, teachers, and community members to participate actively in the democratic process but also ensures that the community’s collective voice is heard in policy discussions, which should make them an integral part of the process. But, as we all know, you have to be willing to listen. Hearing is one thing; listening is altogether another.

It is also worth noting that many elected state officials have outlined their own legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Is there any difference when our elected officials have their own priorities and agendas? Some are valid and good, while some, I do not believe, represent the best for the overall good of public school education and the teachers. In this context, it is pertinent and reasonable for public schools to advocate for their positions on these and other legislative matters that directly impact their operations and the well-being of the public school institution.

But I need to digress. You might be tired of reading, so I’ll close with this…  

“Courage favors the bold,” and it is not only acceptable but also essential for public schools to advocate for themselves in legislative matters. Such advocacy helps pave the way for what should ensure that educational policies are shaped by those who are most intimately involved in the day-to-day realities of teaching and learning, ultimately leading to a more responsive and effective education system. As I have often stated, when we have non-educators making educational decisions and not listening to those who actually know education, education becomes the victim of __________ (you can fill in the blank).

This action underscores the importance of public schools advocating for themselves within the legislative process. It’s a call to action and to advocate, a reminder of the power and influence public schools have in shaping their future. I’m glad this school district took an educational stand and would hope more districts will also. 

If you are interested in other blog posts relating to educational advocacy, click the links…

Are You, As A Teacher, An Advocate For Our Profession?

If Teachers Are Not An Advocate For Teaching, Then Who Will?

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

(T)Issues of Leadership… It’s just one letter away! 

27 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Choice, Circumstances, Conflict, Consistency, Crisis, Culture, Deciding, Decisions, Disaster, Distractions, Education, Educational Leadership, Emotion, Emotional Temperature, Importance, Influence, Insecurity, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentional, Intentions, Issues, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Reality, Transparent, Trust, Understanding, Unity, Useful, Value

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

I love analogies. I believe they are a better part of describing situations and are key in leadership thinking and reflection. So, today’s topic…

Let’s start with a simple yet profound observation: the word “issues” is just one letter away from “tissues.” This clever play on words serves as a powerful analogy for how personal issues can influence leadership.

Doc1

This simple play on words is a powerful reminder of how personal struggles can influence leadership. No leader has it all together, and those who think they do need to quit believing it; others know the truth. By default, I would venture into saying that many leaders carry some form of unresolved issues, good or bad. These issues might be deep-seeded from past experiences and might even be people in your unwanted circle. Still, when leaders carry unresolved issues, they burden themselves first and then affect the emotional and operational well-being of everyone around them. It’s like having the box of tissues ready handy for emotional spills (these can be good or bad also) – except, in this case, it’s needing those tissues to clean up the mess caused by unchecked issues that a leader has caused.

Leaders with unresolved issues often project their insecurities or frustrations onto others. What’s worse is that they make it seem as if you are the one at fault. I hate it when this happens. It’s like knowing a tornado is coming, and you need to run, take cover, at a right angle from that path. Whether it’s stress, poor communication, or unchecked ego (hello!), these personal challenges create a ripple effect. Everyone around becomes confused (for sure), demoralized (yes, it can happen), or even disengaged (probably so) because of the leader’s inconsistency or emotional volatility.

When leaders bring their personal issues into the working environment, they can inadvertently stifle innovation, breed negativity, and weaken the overall culture. This is where it gets serious…

But the sun is always shining behind the clouds… great leadership is about recognizing those issues and addressing them head-on. No leader is perfect, but the best ones are self-aware. They understand that their personal issues can affect their ability to make clear decisions, offer effective guidance, and create a positive culture.

Instead of burdening the team with their issues, emotionally intelligent leaders create an environment where challenges are tackled together—turning potential “tissue moments” into opportunities for growth and connection. Leadership is not about being flawless but about continually striving for improvement and ensuring personal issues don’t bleed into professional spaces. Sometimes, it is worth hearing to get out of your own way… and let’s leave the tissues for blowing our nose instead…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Who do you want leading… A leader who leads by choice or chance?

23 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Choice, Culture, Decisions, Effective, Encouragement, Essence, Influence, Inspiration, Intentional, Leader, Leadership, Opportunity, Passion, Purpose, Respect, Servant, Transformational, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Understanding, Useful, Value, Vision, Whole

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Leadership, call it what you want, but hopefully, you can agree that it is and will continue to be a journey. It demands conscious effort, a vision that is not blinded by self, and a deep understanding of who we are individually…

So, today’s discussion compares and contrasts leading by choice vs. leading by chance. Too many times I see people who are in leadership positions who have earned their way there or thrown into the position. Is there a difference? I believe so, and by the end of reading, hopefully you will discover which is better and why…

Leading by choice…
They are the leaders who embrace responsibilities and challenges with clarity and purpose. Driven by the desire to be a difference-maker for the good of others, inspiring and creating positive change because it is the right thing to do, not because they just think it will be better. They uphold deliberate leadership that is informed and backed for growth for all they lead. They constantly look to refine their leadership, learning from truth without blinders and adapting to challenges. Leading by choice is intentional and fosters trust, collaboration, and a shared vision. They believe in others and understand the impact of aligning actions with values for all to see.

Leading by chance…
They lack the intrinsic motivation required to truly succeed in it for themselves and lack preparedness. They lead from the hip, often finding themselves in leadership positions due to circumstance or out of necessity, without an actual desire to lead. This type of leadership becomes reactive rather than proactive. Purpose and direction lack consistency in decision-making, and opportunities for growth are missed. They struggle to connect on any level and only want loyalty and engagement that benefits a self-sense of purpose. This creates a hollow leadership that causes disengagement and a lack of cohesion.

From a Christian worldview, this aligns with the idea of servant leadership, all day, every day. Such leaders by choice are better equipped to serve others selflessly, making decisions that reflect wisdom and love, embodying the essence of servant leadership that transforms integrity and conviction in and for others.

We see it every day… Those who lead by choice and those who have to lead by chance. One allows you to succeed; the other, well, they give you a chance. You might ask, “Are opportunity and chance the same thing?” I say no. Ultimately, leaders who lead by choice are more effective because they approach leadership with a passion that spills over and over into the lives of others.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Do We Know Who We Are Anymore?

08 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in Agenda, Change, Choice, Crisis, Culture, Deciding, Decisions, Intolerance, Leader, Leadership, Tolerance

≈ Leave a comment

Quick question for everyone… How many of us still watch the news? Our house does not. However, like many, we receive our information, and most updates, for that matter, from phone apps and social media. Now I do love listening to talk radio. It keeps my mind off of having road rage.

Time is one of the issues; I don’t remember the last time I was at home at 5 or 6 o’clock to sit down to watch the news. Another reason is that it is depressing and can irritate you. The other reason is the “news” has already happened, and I cannot do anything about it.

I ask and say all of the above to say this… Every time I watch or listen to the news, I realize that society, in general, is fighting generational and cultural differences to a point at which right vs. wrong is becoming something way more than relative. Blame can be placed on the older generations as much as on the younger ones.

I get it; every generation has its own values, beliefs, and cultural norms that evolve over time. People nowadays often embrace new ideas and challenge existing norms, creating friction. The knowledge and belief gap that exist can make changing or influencing cultural norms difficult. I’m not against fighting the status quo (a lot of good has come from it), but we are flirting and tip-toeing in areas causing future generational ramifications and setbacks we may never recover from.

who_are_we

A few thoughts…

  1. Human beings, by nature, can be resistant to change. Not to say that change is either good or bad, but we are creatures of habit. Contrasting views of cultural norms are usually seen as a threat to one’s own values or traditions, leading to resistance and opposition. We know what happens when people are threatened…
  2. There is a limited perspective of tolerance and intolerance. One side becomes intolerant when the other is not, and vice versa. It almost begs the idea that there is an intolerance of tolerance. Some beliefs do not want tolerance. There are many beliefs that I do not fully understand, appreciate or accept, but at the same time, I have no desire to. This doesn’t make me more right or more wrong, so the context of the belief becomes irrelevant.
  3. There is an identity crisis in the making. It is really hard to determine who people really are anymore. Talk about power dynamics… when disagreements occur, many feel as though their identity is being attacked. Seemingly, we are forced to adapt to their extreme as such.
  4. Who’s the authority? When you feel no one is “in charge,” you can assert your independence and autonomy however you please. Here lies a problem: imposing beliefs creates resistance to authority and an acknowledgment to a moral code ceases.
  5. Incremental change has long been happening. We see it before our eyes, while at the same time, we ask ourselves, “How did we get here so fast?” Slow change creates an absorbing acceptance when enough people encounter a belief system, be it right or wrong, and decide to take stand.

Most of the time, I think I have an answer for almost anything. But, as time moves forward and I grow older, I’m not sure anymore. I’m sure the generations before us worried about the future, and now I agree with them. It will be interesting. Cultural norms are not fixed, and they will continue to evolve.

Where you stand with your beliefs is ultimately your business. I know where I stand with mine. Some will agree, and some will disagree; to each their own. But make no mistake, cultural change is happening, and division will always be among us. Ultimately, we must look in the mirror and decide who we really are, and know that we do not have to walk around with an agenda all the time.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…