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LEsson #8: The wet shoe

8/11/2019

Written by: Jennifer Appel
Based on the stories told by: Paul Dowdy

I am sad to say that this is the last story of the summer. I have loved telling my father’s stories and learning from them again. I am excited to start a new school year with this renewed energy that these stories have brought back into my life. I hope that you have learned as much as I have and take some of these ideas with you as you enter a bright new school year!

“Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.”
Mother Teresa

My dad was one of the only men in his school so he was frequently called upon often to check on the boys restroom. On one occasion, he received a call from a teacher who was concerned about a student who had gone to the bathroom and had not returned. He had been gone for about 20 minutes and they were concerned that he was causing mischief in the bathroom or was really sick. So my dad headed to the classroom and told the teacher he would go to the bathroom and see if he was okay.

As he entered the bathroom he noticed the student was standing at the urinal and was singing as he relieved himself. You could tell he was taking his time and enjoying his time in the bathroom. The young boy obviously didn’t hear my dad enter the bathroom, so he wanted to make sure that he knew he was behind him. He walked closer to the student and called him by his name. As I said, the student had no idea my dad was there, he was having too much fun singing. He was so startled when my dad said his name that he suddenly spun around to look at my dad but unfortunately was not finished with his “business”. So when he turned, he didn’t stop peeing and it landed all over my dad’s shoes.

This is a situation that my dad learned a valuable lesson from, it is best to show PATIENCE when confronting a student. If you don’t show PATIENCE you may have wet shoes and a lot of clean-up!

Do you REACT to a situation instead of showing PATIENCE?

How can we show PATIENCE for students who demonstrate avoidance or insubordination?

What have you learned from an Award Winning Principal that you can apply to your school this year?

About the Author

Jennifer Appel is a teacher at Enterprise Middle School. She has been teaching for 20 years. Her passion for education comes from growing up in at education driven family (4th generation) and wanting to help and serve others. She is now driven to create an environment where all students are able to learn and become passionate about serving others. Jennifer can be contacted through email at awardwinningculture@gmail.com. You can follow her on twitter at @jennifermappel. Follow AWC @awculture on instagram @awardwinningculture. Follow Wildcat Nation on instagram @emsleadership. #WildcatNation #AwardWinningCulture

Paul Dowdy is a retired elementary school teacher and principal. Paul was in education for more than 40 years. Paul created cultures of excellence at every school he taught at or lead. Paul was also an adjunct professor at 3 different universities in the state of Washington and a regional director for Heritage University. Paul has shared his stories all around the state of Washington in the form of presentations. He's passionate about children and that reflected in all of his work as a reading specialist and his study of the brain and how that drives instruction. Paul is not on social media...but can be reached near any body of water that's conducive to shadow casting! #FlyFishing

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Lesson #7: Scattered sagebrush

8/5/2019

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Written by: Jennifer Appel
Based on the stories told by: Paul Dowdy

“The time is ALWAYS right to do what is right.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Some days being the head principal is difficult you have to make decisions that affect a lot of people’s lives. You have to support students, parents, and the community. You have a challenging job and have to deal with a few things you are not expecting! This was one of those situations that I am talking about, my dad was very surprised to deal with this one.

One day as my dad sat in his office he had a patron that lived across the street from the school come in to visit. He could tell that she was really distressed and needed to talk to him immediately. On this particular day the wind was blowing very hard (we should probably be called the “little windy city”) We also live in a dessert, so there are leaves and sagebrush that blow all over the playground and into the neighborhood.

So the woman began to yell and vent that sagebrush was gathering in her front entry by her doorway and that it was all his fault and coming from his school. My dad kindly showed her RESPECT, by letting her explain why all of this was the schools fault and he was to blame.

She continued to explain her reason for believing it was the liability of the school. She stated that they had open fields of sagebrush just beyond the fence line on the back side of the playground. The sagebrush was being blown over the fence, which was only 4 feet high. It was then blowing through the playground area onto the street and then into her yard. So, with her logic on the sequence of events, it was the school that was responsible for her front door being blocked by sagebrush.

“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT, she barked?”

My dad showed the woman respect by discussing the problem and trying to come up with a solution. This was a delicate problem, because sagebrush was very common in the area and was everywhere. My dad thought to himself, maybe he could build a huge netted area that would catch the sagebrush or try to redirect the wind to blow away from her house; but, he ultimately knew none of those ideas would work. He was very nice and told her thank you for stopping by and bringing this to his attention.

So what now…

Now some leaders mights just forget about this and chalk it up to a crazy person that just wanted someone to clean up her yard. But an award winning principal takes the time to really care about his community as he/she demonstrates respect and validation to their concerns. And if at all possible...correct them. My dad contacted the grounds crew and gave them the concern, they laughed a little at this idea, but respected my father enough to take it seriously. Eventually, they contacted the woman that lived across the street, cleaned up the area (including her yard), while implementing a solution that made everyone happy.

Award Winning Culture listens to everyone and gives them the RESPECT that they deserve.

After all, What might not be a concern for you, could be something very important to them...

Do you always respect concerns from your community?

How does your influence with district personnel allow you to truly support and serve your community?

How are you creating a safe environment where all are welcome to come in and see you?

About the Authors

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LEsson #8: The wet shoe

“Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.”
Mother Teresa

About the Author

Lesson #7: Scattered sagebrush

“The time is ALWAYS right to do what is right.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

About the Authors

About AWC

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LEsson #8: The wet shoe

“Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.”​Mother Teresa

About the Author

Lesson #7: Scattered sagebrush

“The time is ALWAYS right to do what is right.” ​ Martin Luther King Jr.

About the Authors

About AWC

Archives

Categories

We'd love to hear from you!

Subscribe to Award Winning Culture

“Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.”
Mother Teresa

“The time is ALWAYS right to do what is right.”
Martin Luther King Jr.