Principal's Message

May 11, 2009

Leading several public schools, since 1994, has been a bit like "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride". The principal has many masters to serve. There are the parents, the teachers, the taxpayers, the Superintendent, community and special interest groups, the Board of Education, but most importantly the students. Maintaining a clear focus on what is important is not easy. Creating some sense of balance and perspective is of critical importance. School leaders, if they are to be successful, must "weather" daily "storms" and survive the occasional "hurricane". I am constantly reminding myself to determine if something is urgent vs. important. Successful principals are quite capable of differentiating between the two.

I am now completing my 14th year as a Principal. I have learned so much about myself and about others along the way. Teaching is truly an art. It is at the foundation of what I do. Good principals are many things and have many attributes and skills. The most successful principals have also been great teachers. I am much like my Dad in that I am goal oriented, a hard worker and determined to lead my life based on a set of core values that are unwavering. From my Mom I inherited her love for children, family, and good friends. She modeled for me the importance of perseverance, patience and care for others. One should never underestimate the importance of a parent.

Core values are the critical signposts of life. If you don't figure out what is at your core, what you stand for, what you won't compromise, and what ultimately motivates you, you will always be struggling and out of balance. You will lack direction. You'll always have regrets. Uncover your core values and use them as a template to guide your life and your decisions. Understanding your core values makes decisions much easier. When you know who you are, you can make confident decisions with fewer sleepless nights.

I am a lucky man. I have parents who modeled for me the value of honesty, kindness, responsibility, trust, commitment, and love. My parents had friends from all walks of life. There were Jewish friends, priests, nuns, young, old, rich, poor, gay, Academy Award winners, "blue collar" and CEO's. My parents, grandparents and many close family friends created for me a foundation of values for the man I have become and for what it is I have been able to accomplish.

A successful principal works days, nights and weekends. The demands of this profession are never ending. I have always worked hard to involve others. A smart principal is smart enough to know that he/she needs lots of help. Nothing significant is achieved without commitment. And it is shared commitment that makes the difficult possible. And don't forget motivation because it will make the difference every time. You may have graduated from Stanford, live in a big house, and have lots of money, but you can always be out-played and out performed by someone with more motivation than you.

Principals that think they have all the answers and can do all things with out involving others are mistaken. It takes every person on campus to create a great school. No matter how lofty your goal, take the time to encourage others to participate. Everyone has a role. And roles often change based on the circumstances at hand. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow.

Shared goals and understood roles - defining these are the keys to success. If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. And if you don't know what you are doing, you'll never get it done. The key is to discover what you and the others do best, and maximize those skills when the opportunities arise. Create a team. Identify common goals. Support one another. Be kind and be generous with praise. You meet the same people on the way down as you meet on the way up.

In life, it is our attitude that either makes or breaks us. This is the factor that determines the ability to achieve ones goals. Children will listen and children will watch. It is not so much what we say but it is what we do that teaches them the most. It is not usually our successes that creates the adults we one day become. I think we learn the most from our failures. This is why it is so important for parents to allow their kids to fail, to endure consequences, to fall down and then pick themselves up. A failure is an opportunity for success. Not unlike a student who strives for a 4.0 GPA, my interest in creating a more balanced life has taken me years to create. With many challenges and failures along the way I am now approaching a time when my "success" is more tangible. I am now in the downshifting mode - at least as far as working 60 hour weeks are concerned. I am so looking forward to working less and enjoying life more.

If you don't have a change of pace, you will perish. You have to take holidays, do physical activities, meditate, and take long walks with the dog. The job is important and there are things you have to get done. But few, if any, of us can go full tilt all the time in the job without paying a terrible price in health, in family, in well being and in personal relationships. Sometimes you have to let somebody else do it. Even though you're the teacher, the principal, or the parent, someone else may be more capable. Don't try to be a hero. Let the most competent person do what has to be done.

A wise man once said, "A one legged stool will never stand. You need several legs to support a life - health, career, family, personal growth, friends... the list can be long. Decide what's important to you and what proportion of your life you'll devote to each element. Time will change the proportions, but if you don't establish and articulate your priorities, you'll always be unhappy, second-guessing yourself, regretful...out of balance."

This will be my last official Principal's Column for Panther Tracks. I hope I have made a positive impact on this great school. If my initiatives continue I will have been successful. If the teachers I have worked closely with continue to positively impact the lives of JLS students I will have been successful. If parents and students see me in the grocery store and smile and then say "we miss you" I will have been successful. If our Character Education Program and Panther Camp inform students and make them feel welcome I will have been successful. If students come to school and feel safe then I will have been successful.

There are too many people to thank so I will not attempt to do so individually. Many of you have helped create and sustain a great middle school based on a variety of objective measures. I leave JLS with many fond memories and a true sense of accomplishment. I hope you will continue to support JLS and it's new principal Sharon Ofek. Ms. Ofek is a very bright and committed educator. Most importantly, she is a good person who truly cares about kids and what is best for all of them. Your support of her work will be essential as JLS moves forward. You are being left in very good hands.

Here's wishing each of you sustained health, happy families, a sense of purpose, a balanced life and much love.

Fondly,

Don Cox

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