Category Archives: Encouragement

A Sacred Work Prayer

22 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Christian Worldview, Education, Educational Leadership, Encouragement, Gift, Grace, Jesus, Kindness, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership, Respect, Sacrifice, Servant, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Thankful, Value

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Well, the start of school is here. Many are in full swing of five weeks now, a few a couple of weeks, and colleges just started… So, I wanted to wait until everyone was back to start sending out blogs again. I hope you had a great, restful summer, and you school year has started well.

For my first blog of the new school year, I thought I would write a prayer of sorts to get us thinking about the role of what we do, who we do it for, and why. Yes, what we do is a sacred work. I hope you enjoy. If you want a printable copy, click here: A Sacred Work Prayer

A Sacred Work Prayer

It is a privilege to speak,
of the work educators do.

For the lives enriched and challenged,
by their hands, their voices, their countless prayers.

Lord, give us wisdom, give us courage,
to stand beside those who educate.

As they lead in their schools,
for the betterment of society.

We pray for our schools,
let grace dwell among all who shape the future.

Day after day teachers give of themselves,
yet they are not alone…

For we walk with Jesus, the Master Teacher,
the One who never leaves, never forsakes.

Remind us daily this work is sacred,
a testimony to the power of education to change lives.

We remember those teachers who have gone before us…
who encouraged us, supported us, shepherded us.

Now strengthen us to serve,
to be salt and light in our schools.

That families and children,
may be profoundly blessed.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of teaching,
may we not squander what You have entrusted to us.

Thank You for making us part,
of the ministry of Your grace.

As we model Your love,
to those we educate.

© J Clay Norton, 2025

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.

“Asset-based narrative” – It’s what we need in educational leadership for our schools…

25 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Accountability, Achieve, Actions, Advice, Appreciation, Attention, Choice, Culture, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Emotion, Emotional Temperature, Empower, Encouragement, Expectations, Idealist, Importance, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership, Students, Teachers, Trust, Value

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I was sitting in on a dissertation defense a few weeks ago, and the phrase “asset-based narrative” came up. This phrase, it got my head tingling, and I began to think about a connection to educational leadership. So, here’s what I came up with…

In education, leadership is not about what we meant to do, it’s about what we actually do. Good intentions are noble, but outcomes are what matter. Our schools, communities, and students live in the reality of our actions, not in the shadows of our intentions. That’s why we must begin to define leadership through an “asset-based narrative,” one that sees strength, not deficiency, and leads through what is possible rather than what is lacking.

Society often pressures leaders to control the narrative. Headlines, social media, and political climates push school leaders to respond quickly, to spin, to protect optics. But real leadership resists this impulse. True leadership defines the narrative… rooted not in fear or reaction but in clarity, purpose, and evidence of care. It says: “Here is who we are, what we value, and how we’re building something better.”

An “asset-based narrative” invites us to lead through celebration and contribution. It shifts our focus from what educators or schools “aren’t doing” to what they are accomplishing against real odds. It sees teachers as resilient, students as capable, and communities as partners. It reframes setbacks as opportunities to grow, not indictments of failure.

When we define the narrative, we move from defense to offense. We stop chasing reputations and start building legacies. And we do so by aligning our actions with what we say we believe. Because in education, as in life, leadership isn’t measured by the stories we wish had been told, it’s measured by the stories we choose to write with courage, consistency, and hope.

The question is not, “What did we mean to do?” The question is, “What did we do, and how did it build a better story for those we serve?” I think it’s worth taking a look at to see if we can find and define more of what we do in education based on the thought of “an asset-based narrative.”

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.

Knowledge by acquaintance leadership – Boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up, get in the trenches, and get dirty…

02 Friday May 2025

Posted by in Acquaintance, Actions, Christian Worldview, Classroom Leadership, Description, Education, Educational Leadership, Empathy, Encouragement, Inspiration, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Teachers, Trust, Uncategorized, Understanding, Value, Wisdom

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This past week, I finished reading The Beauty of Divine Grace by Gabriel N .E. Fluhrer. In chapter five, Fluhrer cites Bertrand Russell’s famous distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description with the following thought by Fluhrer…

“If we know God’s providence, only by description, if all we possess is a secondhand knowledge of it, we will acknowledge His providence but we will not fall in love with it. If, on the other hand, we know God’s providence by acquaintance, we have fallen in love with the God of the sun and the storm, we will not have just intellectual ascent to his providence. We will also have a deep affection for the incomparable, glorious, sovereign God.”¹

Fluhrer’s quote should be a great perspective for our Christian Worldview, and Russell’s distinction is so simple and profound for leadership. Knowing something through description is entirely different from knowing it through personal experience, and that’s where I believe we have a problem with leadership today, and it got me thinking…

In a world overflowing with topical books, theoretical knowledge, or secondhand “expertise,” many leaders operate solely with knowledge by description. They make decisions based on what they have read or seen, reports, analytics, someone else’s summaries, or better yet – what they have been told. While this type of knowledge is valuable and needed to make informed decisions (think data-driven decision-making), it can never replace the deep understanding that comes through direct engagement.

Strong leadership requires knowledge by acquaintance. I call it “boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up, get in the trenches, and get dirty leadership.” Leaders must be familiar with the real dynamics of their leadership roles, how they transcend to the team they represent, and their assigned tasks. It’s a contrast between the true challenges of any organization and the difference between a manager/boss who reads about what the mission is and a leader who spends time alongside their teams, listening, learning firsthand, and working.

Here is what experience does… it helps others, it builds credibility, it shapes judgment, it fosters empathy, it creates understanding. Leaders who only rely on knowledge by description risk becoming detached, making decisions that sound good on paper but fail in practice because they have never been in the trenches with those they lead. Those with direct acquaintance, however, lead with wisdom rooted in reality.

It seems that most people today want and reward quick knowledge over deep understanding. But enduring leadership, the kind that builds trust and achieves lasting success, comes from leaders willing to engage personally, take risks, and learn through experience. They get dirty in the practice of acquaintance.

True leadership isn’t about knowing of the path; it’s about walking it and helping others do the same.

¹Fluhrer, G. N. E. (2022). The beauty of divine grace. Ligonier Ministries.

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.

Seeking a Thrill in Leadership? It’s Scary…

01 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Actions, Culture, Educational Leadership, Effective, Empathy, Empower, Encouragement, Humility, Influence, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Servant, Transformational

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With yesterday being October 31st and Halloween. Many people dressed and wanted to create a scare and possibly a thrill. A purposeful thought, nonetheless, reasoned for whatever. But here’s a thought: do we ever wonder if those who seek a thrill actually scare people?

DALL·E 2024-11-01 07.12.03 - A thought-provoking image illustrating the theme of thrill-seeking versus responsible leadership. Show a leader standing on a dimly lit stage, wearing

I believe it happens more than we realize in leadership every day…

At its core, leadership is about responsibility and should not be thrill-seeking. When individuals chase, want, and advocate for leadership roles for the excitement or the ego boost, it often leads to dangerous outcomes. Most of the time, that danger is hidden. Leadership is not inherently glamorous; it comes with pressures, accountability, and the weight of guiding others toward shared goals; this in itself should humbly scare. However, when leaders pursue the role for excitement or a desire to be in control, it can lead to impulsive behaviors that make decision-making and risk-taking harmful to any established positive culture. This is a danger we must be cautious of.

True leaders (and it’s unfortunate that we have to put “true” in front of leader(s)) find satisfaction not in the thrill of power but in fostering growth mindsets, collaboration, and positive change. Leadership requires vision, patience, and sometimes empathy; all of which can be diminished when someone is drawn to leadership simply for the excitement it provides. Thrill-seeking leaders may overlook key processes, undervalue teamwork, and make decisions that prioritize short-term excitement over long-term success, especially if it benefits them first.

Leadership is ultimately about being a servant and then empowering others. Leaders are entrusted with the well-being, development, and performance of those they guide. When leadership becomes a pursuit for personal excitement, it creates a disconnect between the mission and vision and from the needs of those who provide for the stability of the culture. Leaders who approach their roles with a sense of duty and responsibility rather than thrill-seeking inspire trust, loyalty, and respect.

Leadership is also a stewardship given by God. An opportunity to influence others in a way that reflects His character. A servant-based approach turns the pursuit of leadership upside down, challenging a thrill-seeker to let go of personal ambition and instead focus on uplifting others. The excitement in leadership should come from seeing positive transformation and growth in those we serve, not from the prestige of the position.

Should we be scared by those seeking a thrill in leadership? I say yes. Thrill seekers who obtain leadership positions are more than likely wearing a mask anyway. Seems fitting since yesterday was Halloween…

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…

©2024 J Clay Norton

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

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