Category Archives: Students

Don’t Be a Leadership Turkey This Thanksgiving Season…

14 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in Actions, Effective, Gratitude, Leader, Leadership, Rest, Students, Teachers, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

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Let’s be honest, this time of year can roast or fry even the best of us. The stretch between Reformation Day (aka Halloween) and Thanksgiving often feels like a sprint to the Christmas break finish line in sight. Evaluations, budgets, conferences, holiday events… and somehow, we’re all still smiling or plastering a smile through it (mostly).

But here’s the truth… leaders get tired, too. And when we’re tired, we start making “turkey” decisions… reactive, rushed, and more about survival than purpose. So, before you end up flapping around in exhaustion, here are a few reminders to help you lead with grace (and a little gratitude).

1. Don’t Gobble Up Every Task

Not every email needs a same-day response (unless it’s from someone you know you need to answer, or your mom, but she would have just called). Not every initiative needs your personal touch right now. Hand off a few side dishes so you can focus on the main course. Nobody wins when the leader tries to cook the whole Thanksgiving dinner alone.

2. Season Your Leadership with Gratitude

A quick thank-you can change the flavor of your entire culture. Send that email. Write that note. Tell the people you work with they’re appreciated, not just for what they do, but for who they are. Gratitude spreads faster than burnout, and it sticks around longer, too (kind of like all that food you just seasoned).

3. Step Away from the Stove

Model what balance looks like (kind of like your plate should look this Thanksgiving: a little bit of everything, and at least some green food). If you never unplug, your team won’t either. Breathe. Leave on time once this week. Don’t take your work home (your family will appreciate it more than you know). Go for a walk (you’ll need it after all that food). Read something non-work-related. Schools don’t just need strong leaders; they need healthy ones (especially after Thanksgiving). 

4. Lead from a Full Heart, Not an Empty Plate

As the semester winds down, remind yourself why you started in education. Visit a classroom. Laugh with a student or a teacher. Celebrate a small win someone has. Your presence needs to be seen as grounded, grateful, and human, and it will speak louder than any email or meeting agenda ever will.

So, this Thanksgiving season, don’t be a leadership turkey. Be the calm at the center of the chaos, the gratitude in the room, and the reason everyone around you moves through the rest of the semester inspired instead of exhausted.

Because true leadership isn’t about doing more, it’s about leading well, living whole, and making sure the people around you know they matter.

And if things still get a little crazy? That’s okay. Even the best turkeys need a break from the oven once in a while. Step out, cool off, and come back ready to serve, with heart and maybe a little leftover pie.

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.

The Educational Need To Return To Educating The Whole Child…

28 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by in Educational Leadership, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Purpose, Students, Teachers, Testing, Useful, Value, Whole, Wisdom

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This might be a controversial blog post, depending on where you land with the following thoughts, and that’s ok…

Education was once about cultivating the whole child, nurturing intellect, creativity, character, and critical thinking through a well-rounded liberal arts approach. However, this vision has been overshadowed by overemphasizing standardized testing in recent decades. The goal was to produce workers and cultivate virtuous, thoughtful citizens who could engage the world with wisdom and integrity. Schools now prioritize data-driven performance (which is neither wrong nor bad) over holistic development, often at the expense of creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning, by narrowing the focus to what is easily measurable rather than truly meaningful.

Educating the whole child recognizes that education is not just about producing test scores but about shaping individuals to be well-rounded, who can think critically, communicate effectively, and contribute meaningfully to society. Subjects like music, art, philosophy, and history were once considered essential in developing a student’s ability to analyze, innovate, and understand the world. In today’s educational setting, these subjects are frequently marginalized as schools spend more time and resources preparing students for high-stakes tests in various subjects.

The educational shift that we have now embraced has consequences. Many teachers feel pressured to “teach to the test,” limiting the depth and breadth of instruction and missing out on many teachable moments. So much of education now has students who experience anxiety and burnout, seeing education as a series of hurdles rather than a discovery journey, leading to creativity and problem-solving. The journey of discovery highlights intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social growth, each essential to the definition of educating the whole child. When education neglects these essentials, it fails to prepare students for a life of service, leadership, and moral responsibility, where in an ever-changing world, these vital skills to function in society are taking a backseat to memorization and test strategies.

Education, now and in the future, needs a teaching environment that can complement the shift we have now gone to in education. A shift that can ensure students they are not just test-takers but also promote and encourage them to become thinkers, creators, and lifelong learners. A balance is needed where we continue to provide opportunities for students to engage in lessons that promote the arts, explore humanities, and develop emotional intelligence. Returning to whole-child education does not mean that education must abandon accountability; it allows redefining it.

Is education more than test scores? I believe it is. Education should be about shaping individuals who can engage meaningfully with the world, to become productive citizens in a society that needs some resemblance of what is right. Students are not just future employees but whole persons with souls that need nurturing.

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.

What Should Educational Leadership Be About?

28 Friday Feb 2025

Posted by in Classroom Leadership, Educational Leadership, Empower, Leader, Leadership, Respect, Students, Teachers

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Under the signature of my personal Gmail account, I have this statement… “Passionate for Educational Leadership.” The other day, a friend of mine asked me what I would tell someone who asked, “What does that really mean?” As I thought about it and we started having a conversation, I figured this is what it meant…

Educational leadership is more than just managing; things are managed, people are not, and schools should definitely not be; they should be led. It is about inspiring, guiding, and fostering a culture of continuous growth for students, teachers, and communities. True leadership in education goes beyond administrative tasks and policies. It should be about vision, impact, and transformation.

At its core, educational leadership must prioritize students. Every decision, policy, and initiative should be designed to enhance student learning, well-being, and success. Educational leadership should create an environment that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.

Great educational leaders recognize that teachers are the foundation of student success. They invest in their professional development, encourage collaboration, and provide the necessary resources to help educators thrive. Most importantly… they recognize that teachers have a life outside of the school building. I really believe supporting teachers results in better instructional practices and, ultimately, improved student outcomes.

A positive and inclusive school culture is essential for success, where academics, arts, and athletics complement each other. Student and teacher success happens when all three are met at a high level. Educational leaders should foster an environment of respect, equity, and collaboration, empowering all stakeholders to be contributors. When value and support are felt, engagement and achievement increase.

Remember, education does not exist in isolation. The educational landscape is constantly evolving, and it is an ongoing working definition that gets harder to define every year. Effective leaders must have a clear vision for the future while remaining adaptable to change.

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.