Category Archives: Education

Some Leaders Need the Drama

04 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in Actions, Context, Conversations, Culture, Drama, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Insecurity, Leader, Leadership

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I had a friend the other day who asked me a “hypothetical” leadership question. Well, I told them there really are no hypothetical questions when they are posed like that, so I asked them to just tell me the situation. They laughed, said, “You’re right,” and went on to explain what was happening. Somewhere in the middle of that conversation, I had my idea for the blog this week.

The details of the situation are not important, and honestly, the situation itself was not all that unusual and was trivial at best. Anyone who has spent much time in education has seen some version of it. There was conflict, there were different personalities involved, there were conversations taking place about other conversations, and there was enough back-and-forth to keep the situation alive much longer than it probably needed to be. Listening to the story, I thought that if I were the one having to deal with all of this, I would just as soon bang my head against the wall and give myself a headache on purpose.

What caught my attention, though, was not really the situation itself, but the drama it created. It was almost like watching a snowball roll downhill. Something that probably should have been relatively small just kept getting bigger as more people, more conversations, and more emotion became attached to it. By the time my friend finished telling me the story, my thoughts had moved beyond the original situation altogether and landed on something much more interesting: the role leadership can sometimes play in keeping drama going.

Man pours liquid onto an office fire while holding a fire extinguisher

That led me to a question that may push the envelope a little: Do some leaders actually like drama?

I think some do, and I also think that, many times, it comes from insecurity.

There is something about drama that can make an insecure leader feel important. When everyone is coming to you with the latest information, you feel like you are in the know. When people bring their disagreements to you instead of working them out themselves, you feel needed. When you know who said what, who is upset with whom, and who is supposedly on which side, it can create a false sense of influence. Before long, the leader can begin to confuse being involved in everything with actually leading something, and that is where it becomes dangerous.

Secure leaders do not have to know everything that is being said in the building, nor do they need to be included in every disagreement. They do not need people choosing sides to determine who supports them, and they certainly do not need to keep a conflict alive simply because it gives them a place in the middle of it. In fact, good leadership should move an organization in the opposite direction. We should be developing people who can talk to one another, work through disagreements, address concerns directly, and move forward without every issue eventually finding its way into the leader’s office.

None of that means a leader should avoid conflict. There are times when leadership requires us to step directly into difficult situations, make hard decisions, and have conversations that nobody particularly wants to have. However, there is a tremendous difference between addressing conflict and feeding it, and I would argue that one of the better tests of our own security as leaders is what happens when everything is going well. Can we allow people to work, succeed, solve problems, and even receive recognition without needing to insert ourselves into the middle of it?

If we are always surrounded by drama, eventually we may need to stop asking why everyone else creates so much of it and consider a much more uncomfortable possibility.

Maybe we like it there.

Want to read a good leadership book on this? Here it is: Upgrade Your Leadership: 8 Foundational Tools to Overcome Drama, Build Trust, and Thrive Under Pressure

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…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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

What Is Your Foundation? For The New School Year?

07 Friday Aug 2026

Posted by in Christian Worldview, Conflict, Conversations, Conviction, Core Values, Education, Educational Leadership, Foundation, God, Jesus, Leader, Leadership, Preferences, Value

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Why Convictions Matter More Than Preferences

Well, the new school year has started for most. Some schools have been in session for three weeks, others have more recently. Colleges are about to kick off.  So, thank you for another year of being an outstanding educational leader…

Most mornings when I arrive at Belhaven, Dr. David Hand is already there. As soon as I open the door to the School of Education floor, I can smell the coffee. I put my satchel down in my office, grab my coffee cup, fill it up in the break room, walk into Dr. Hand’s office, and say, “Mornin’, Chief.”

Our coffee cups are filled and another conversation is about to begin.

Over the past few years, Dr. Hand has become one of those people whose wisdom continually challenges and sharpens my thinking about leadership, faith, and the foundations upon which we build our lives. We rarely have an agenda. Sometimes we talk about leadership. Sometimes it is education, theology, culture, or whatever happens to be on our minds. Sometimes we simply wrestle with ideas. We do not always agree, but we always seek to understand where the other is coming from. Anyway, the coffee gets us started, but it is the conversations that stay with me.

Recently, our conversation centered on the difference between convictions and preferences, and it was a good one. I chased that rabbit for the better part of a week. As I reflected on our conversation, it led me to think about two other distinctions: values versus core values and commitment versus surrender.

During our conversation, I was reminded of something my mentor, the great G, Dr. Gerald Hasselman, often said:

“Values are what you believe in. Core values are where you draw the line in the sand.”

I have quoted that statement for years because I have never heard anyone explain the difference more clearly.

Most people have values, I hope so anyway… Most schools have values printed in a handbook or displayed on a website. Core values are different. They are the beliefs that are not negotiable. They define who we are and establish the boundaries we will not cross. They answer the question, “Where do I draw the line?”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized the same distinction exists between commitment and surrender.

A commitment is important. It represents a promise or a course of action. But a commitment still leaves room for choice. Circumstances change. Priorities shift. A commitment can be abandoned.

Surrender is different.

When someone surrenders, the decision has already been made. There is no backup plan because there is no intention of turning back. Surrender becomes part of who we are.

As I reflected on these ideas, it became clear that values and core values, commitment and surrender, preferences and convictions are all asking the same question.

What is your foundation?

Every leader builds on a foundation. Some build on experience. Some build on public opinion. Some build on what appears to produce the best results. Those foundations may work for a season, but they often shift with culture, circumstances, and changing priorities.

The Christian leader has a different foundation.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

That verse answers the question our conversation kept coming back to.

What is your foundation?

If Christ is truly our foundation, then our leadership cannot simply be based on what works. It must first be based on what is true. Our convictions are shaped by God’s Word, not by changing opinions or cultural pressure. Those convictions become our core values, and our core values shape the decisions we make every day.

As another school year begins, educational leaders will make hundreds of decisions. Most of them will never appear in a board meeting or become part of a strategic plan. They will happen in classrooms, hallways, faculty meetings, and private conversations. They will involve students, teachers, parents, and colleagues.

Those moments reveal far more than our leadership ability.

They reveal the foundation upon which we are building.

As you prepare for another school year, ask yourself a few simple questions.

  • What are my values?

  • More importantly, what are my core values?

  • Where have I drawn the line in the sand?

  • What have I merely committed to?

  • To what have I surrendered?

The answers to those questions will shape the kind of leader you become.

Strong leadership is not built on preferences. It is built on convictions. Convictions become our core values, and our core values guide our decisions. When those convictions are grounded in Jesus Christ, we have a foundation that will remain firm long after the excitement of a new school year has faded.

As educational leaders, we spend much of our time helping students build a foundation for their future. We encourage teachers to build strong classrooms, develop meaningful relationships, and create environments where students can flourish. We work with parents to build trust and strengthen our communities.

Before we can build in others, however, we must first examine the foundation upon which we are building ourselves.

When Jesus Christ is our foundation, convictions replace preferences. Core values replace convenience. Surrender replaces simple commitment. Our leadership is no longer shaped by the culture around us but by the Christ within us. That is the kind of leadership our schools need as another year begins.

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…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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

The Long Game of Teaching: A Teacher Appreciation

01 Friday May 2026

Posted by in Accountability, Advocate, Appreciation, Classroom Leadership, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Encouragement, Leader, Leadership, Respect, Responsibility, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Thankful

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Recently, the Stennis-Montgomery Institute for Public Policy and Administration at Mississippi State University held its 50th anniversary. During the evening, many accolades and comments were shared and given by those in attendance. Most importantly was the keynote speaker (that’s what I’m calling him anyway)… Dr. Dallas Breen, Executive Director. During the final part of his speech, he spoke about the Institute’s legacy, serving the public good, and looking ahead to the next stages. In summary, Dr. Breen spoke on three specific thoughts: 1) Public service is a long game, 2) Partnerships are our greatest asset, and 3) The next fifty years matter even more than the first.

Personal side story… Dallas and I have become good friends over the past five years, beginning when my daughter, Breana, started working with the Institute (and he is still been a valuable mentor to her), and the fact that he actually reads my leadership blogs. So, after the event, we spoke. I told him I needed the last three pages of his speech because I was going to turn what he said into a teacher appreciation blog for Teacher Appreciation Week, which starts next week, by the way. So, with a nod of gratitude to Dr. Breen, here is that message reframed as a charge for us, educators…

Good education begins with good information and an unwavering commitment to serving others.

So before anything else, pause.

Pause to reflect on the teacher who challenged you.

Pause to remember the one who believed in you when you did not believe in yourself.

Pause to appreciate the countless educators who show up every day with purpose.

Because teaching, like public service, is a long game.

Looking Ahead While Honoring the Work

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, it is not just about looking back. It is about recognizing what lies ahead. There are three truths worth holding onto.

First: Teaching is a long game.

The most meaningful impact does not show up immediately. It unfolds over years, sometimes decades, in the lives of students who carry lessons far beyond the classroom. Great educators understand that their success is not measured in test scores alone, but in the character, curiosity, and resilience they help build over time.

Second: Relationships are the real curriculum.

The best learning happens through connection. Teachers partner not only with students, but with families, colleagues, and communities. They listen, adapt, and meet people where they are. These relationships are what turn information into transformation, and these partnerships are our greatest asset.

Third: The future depends on today’s classrooms.

The challenges facing our world are complex and evolving. But teachers remain uniquely positioned to prepare the next generation to meet them, equipped with knowledge, empathy, and critical thinking. The work happening in classrooms today will shape the next fifty years in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Honoring the Legacy, Investing in What’s Next

This week, we honor the educators who came before, the ones who built strong foundations. We celebrate those in classrooms today, the ones doing the daily, often unseen work, and we look ahead to those who will carry this calling forward. The commitment to education has never changed. What has grown is its reach, its depth, and its impact.

To every teacher, thank you.

Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for your persistence.

Thank you for the countless ways you make a difference, often without recognition.

You are part of a legacy that shapes lives, strengthens communities, and builds the future. Here is to you, and to the lasting impact of your work.

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…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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

Recovering the Lost Art of Diplomacy in Educational Leadership…

20 Friday Mar 2026

Posted by in Classroom Leadership, Conversations, Diplomacy, Education, Educational Leadership, Expectations, Experience, Leader, Leadership, Perception, Perspective, Reflection, Respect, Responsibility, Trust

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Recently I came across a piece from Hillsdale College’s Imprimis titled Recovering the Lost Art of Diplomacy. The article reflects on how diplomacy, once considered an essential leadership skill, has gradually given way to something very different. Instead of patience, listening, and relationship-building, we often see speed, reaction, and public positioning. Reading it made me think about how that same shift is playing out in education. So as you can see, I have been a little creative with the title of this blog, calling it Recovering the Lost Art of Diplomacy in Educational Leadership.

Educational leadership has always required diplomacy.

Schools sit at the intersection of community expectations, political realities, family priorities, and student needs. Too often, it feels like a busy intersection where no one is stopping or yielding. Everyone just keeps barreling through. Navigating those intersections well requires more than technical knowledge or managerial skill. It requires the ability to listen carefully, speak thoughtfully, and bring people together around shared goals, even when they approach issues from very different perspectives.

At its best, diplomacy in educational leadership is quiet work. It happens in conversations before meetings begin. It happens in the effort to understand the concern behind someone’s frustration. It happens when leaders slow down long enough to seek common ground rather than rushing to prove a point.

Increasingly, however, diplomacy seems to be losing ground.

The pace of communication today rewards immediacy over reflection. Social media encourages quick reactions rather than thoughtful dialogue. Public discourse often values strong statements more than careful listening. In that environment, the skills that once defined effective leadership, patience, discretion, and bridge-building, can begin to feel outdated.

But they are not outdated. They are essential.

In fact, the more complex our educational landscape becomes, the more important diplomacy becomes as well. Schools today face challenges that cannot be solved by one voice or one perspective alone. They require collaboration among educators, families, policymakers, and communities. That kind of collaboration does not happen by accident. It requires leaders who are willing to build trust slowly and intentionally.

Diplomacy does not mean avoiding difficult conversations. Quite the opposite. It means engaging those conversations with respect, humility, and a genuine willingness to understand others. It means recognizing that disagreement does not have to lead to division. In many cases, it can lead to stronger solutions.

For educational leaders, recovering the lost art of diplomacy may be one of the most important responsibilities we carry. Our schools are places where young people learn not only academics, but also how communities work together. The way we lead models the way collaboration, disagreement, and progress should look.

Leadership in education will always require courage, clarity, and conviction. But it also requires something quieter and just as powerful. It requires the ability to bring people together around a shared purpose.

Perhaps now more than ever, our schools need leaders who understand that progress is rarely achieved by winning arguments. It is achieved by building trust, finding common ground, and doing the patient work of moving people forward together. In many ways, recovering the lost art of diplomacy may be one of the most important lessons educational leadership can offer our communities today.

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…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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

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