WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:03.974 --> 00:00:05.794 Welcome to the Catholic School Leaders Podcast. 00:00:05.824 --> 00:00:08.274 My name is John Mahalio, president and founder of 00:00:08.284 --> 00:00:10.014 Elementary Advancement Solutions. 00:00:10.244 --> 00:00:13.414 The goal of this podcast is to connect Catholic school leaders Bye. 00:00:13.554 --> 00:00:16.424 from across the world to grow Catholic education. 00:00:16.954 --> 00:00:18.994 Visit us at www. 00:00:18.994 --> 00:00:20.444 elementaryadvancement. 00:00:20.454 --> 00:00:24.684 com to see how we can help you make advancement seem elementary 00:00:24.714 --> 00:00:25.994 at your Catholic school. 00:00:26.984 --> 00:00:30.684 Well, today I want to talk to our new Catholic school leaders out there. 00:00:31.259 --> 00:00:35.569 Now that might mean a Principal, an Assistant Principal, an Advancement 00:00:35.569 --> 00:00:40.879 Director, a Dean, Recruitment Directors, Athletic Directors, any leadership role 00:00:40.909 --> 00:00:43.019 in your school, talking to you today. 00:00:43.609 --> 00:00:46.749 Now maybe you've been hired to lead a school for the first time, maybe 00:00:46.749 --> 00:00:50.879 you're shifting to a new school, maybe you're leading a Catholic school for 00:00:50.879 --> 00:00:53.829 the first time after spending a lot of time in a public school setting. 00:00:54.329 --> 00:00:58.399 Whatever your story is, you're now in charge of a Catholic school, or a 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:02.199 particular area of a school, and all the responsibilities that come with it. 00:01:02.199 --> 00:01:03.949 So we're going to be talking about those things today. 00:01:04.489 --> 00:01:07.809 Before I get into this, I want to say, please, please, please, a quick favor 00:01:07.809 --> 00:01:12.459 to ask you, if you enjoy this podcast, if you benefit from this podcast, Please 00:01:12.459 --> 00:01:16.879 be sure to like it, subscribe, leave a review, share it with other leaders. 00:01:16.909 --> 00:01:20.679 Maybe you know a principal who is just starting out this year, or 00:01:20.679 --> 00:01:24.229 an Advancement Director, somebody who's in a new role to Catholic 00:01:24.229 --> 00:01:26.759 education, and uh, share it with them. 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:30.759 By doing this, it helps us reach other Catholic school leaders just like you, 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:35.049 which helps us to grow Catholic education together, and that's a win for everybody. 00:01:35.049 --> 00:01:36.699 So I can't say thank you enough for this. 00:01:37.129 --> 00:01:40.099 Uh, if you know somebody, like I said, please share it with them, like it, 00:01:40.109 --> 00:01:44.669 and if you have 30 seconds to drop a quick review and, uh, let others 00:01:44.669 --> 00:01:47.819 know how much you enjoy it, it just helps us reach a wider audience, 00:01:47.839 --> 00:01:49.779 and that's an amazing thing to do. 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:54.529 So, you're new in your role as a Catholic school leader, and I want 00:01:54.529 --> 00:01:56.299 to first and foremost say this. 00:01:56.569 --> 00:01:57.259 Congratulations! 00:01:58.479 --> 00:02:01.649 Taking on a leadership role in a Catholic school is a vocation. 00:02:02.284 --> 00:02:06.774 It's more than just a job, and you said yes to this vocation to lead the 00:02:06.774 --> 00:02:09.364 future of your school, which is amazing. 00:02:09.374 --> 00:02:10.604 It shouldn't be taken lightly. 00:02:10.764 --> 00:02:12.894 So first and foremost, let's celebrate for a minute. 00:02:12.894 --> 00:02:16.874 Congratulations as you step into this new role in your school. 00:02:17.684 --> 00:02:19.124 Second, I want to say thank you. 00:02:19.744 --> 00:02:24.454 Uh, by saying yes to this vocation, saying yes to this new role, you 00:02:24.454 --> 00:02:27.864 are taking on that challenge of Catholic education to keep that 00:02:27.864 --> 00:02:30.374 light shining for future generations. 00:02:30.434 --> 00:02:35.774 And so Thank you for saying yes to this vocation and your new role at 00:02:35.774 --> 00:02:37.184 the, at the school that you're at. 00:02:37.399 --> 00:02:41.641 I'll be praying for you for nothing but success, uh, and just, to just 00:02:41.641 --> 00:02:46.611 have Christ's light shine through you and, and just to keep that light of 00:02:46.611 --> 00:02:48.931 Catholic education alive and well. 00:02:50.011 --> 00:02:51.691 So, congratulations. 00:02:51.961 --> 00:02:52.491 Thank you. 00:02:52.541 --> 00:02:56.621 That's the first thing I want to say to you because I know that the 00:02:56.751 --> 00:03:00.151 business is going to pick up really quickly for you if it hasn't already. 00:03:00.328 --> 00:03:03.428 and so let's just take a minute to congratulate and to say 00:03:03.428 --> 00:03:04.968 thank you first and foremost. 00:03:05.548 --> 00:03:09.063 So here's some things that as I look back, I've led three different 00:03:09.063 --> 00:03:13.873 schools, things that I learned from stepping into a new leadership 00:03:13.883 --> 00:03:16.573 role that I hope will benefit you. 00:03:16.683 --> 00:03:19.793 And I'll try to make these so that they are applicable to 00:03:19.833 --> 00:03:21.473 no matter what role you're in. 00:03:21.803 --> 00:03:25.673 Uh, but please know that my responsibility and my vocation, my 00:03:25.673 --> 00:03:27.613 job was as a building principal. 00:03:27.893 --> 00:03:30.293 And so the reflections I'm going to give here are kind of going 00:03:30.293 --> 00:03:31.763 to be from that perspective. 00:03:32.183 --> 00:03:35.523 But I will incorporate it into some of the other roles within the school community. 00:03:35.533 --> 00:03:39.853 So here's some things I learned from taking over a school and from leading 00:03:39.853 --> 00:03:42.903 a school that I think are going to really help you in your new role. 00:03:43.653 --> 00:03:47.093 Number one, get to know the culture of your school. 00:03:47.348 --> 00:03:50.328 First and foremost, get to know what your school community is all 00:03:50.328 --> 00:03:53.688 about because By now, you've gone through the interview process, you've 00:03:53.688 --> 00:03:56.468 answered all the questions, you've met with the committees and the search 00:03:56.468 --> 00:03:59.791 committees, and they've told you what a great place their school is, and 00:03:59.791 --> 00:04:02.121 it, and it likely is an amazing place. 00:04:02.531 --> 00:04:05.679 But you're going to learn that, what's important in the culture could 00:04:05.679 --> 00:04:08.699 either be something that's really, really great, or something that 00:04:08.709 --> 00:04:10.619 really needs to be improved upon. 00:04:10.715 --> 00:04:15.025 and so getting to know the culture of the school is something that, I can't 00:04:15.025 --> 00:04:18.434 stress to you enough, asking people, sitting down with people, talking to 00:04:18.434 --> 00:04:20.814 people, just asking a lot of questions. 00:04:20.834 --> 00:04:25.164 And so, I would recommend getting to know the culture, Make yourself 00:04:25.184 --> 00:04:29.327 accessible and available to people, that, that want to sit down with you 00:04:29.387 --> 00:04:34.557 and that want to talk to you and ask them lots of questions and then listen. 00:04:34.707 --> 00:04:40.077 If there's one piece of advice I can offer you, it's listen, listen, listen. 00:04:40.607 --> 00:04:42.907 God gave you two ears and one mouth. 00:04:43.087 --> 00:04:46.407 Do twice as much listening as you do talking when you're 00:04:46.407 --> 00:04:50.067 learning about the school and the culture at your school right now. 00:04:50.067 --> 00:04:52.752 Learn So that you can know where those areas of focus are going to 00:04:52.762 --> 00:04:56.822 be, and so it helps you get caught up to speed as quickly as possible. 00:04:57.239 --> 00:05:02.309 Identify some easy wins as you're walking into this, as you're meeting with people, 00:05:02.659 --> 00:05:05.469 as you're asking a lot of questions, as you're doing a lot of listening. 00:05:05.889 --> 00:05:09.759 I'll bet you that you're going to have some repeating and reoccurring themes. 00:05:10.039 --> 00:05:13.579 that keep coming up over and over and over again. 00:05:14.119 --> 00:05:17.089 Maybe it's something like, hey, our carpool's not real smooth. 00:05:17.119 --> 00:05:19.959 Maybe it's something like, hey, our master schedule isn't real great. 00:05:19.969 --> 00:05:22.999 Maybe it's something like, nobody's ever here on time. 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:25.889 I don't know, whatever the case might be, but I'll bet you that 00:05:25.889 --> 00:05:30.039 you're going to find some reoccurring themes over and over and over again. 00:05:30.069 --> 00:05:33.839 Now, certain ones might take you some time to get to. 00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:37.033 you know, hey, we need to build a new gym and that's going to take, 00:05:37.073 --> 00:05:39.383 I don't know, 25 million dollars, whatever the case might be. 00:05:40.103 --> 00:05:44.613 Obviously, unless you have somebody that's a really generous donor on day 00:05:44.613 --> 00:05:48.703 one, it's probably going to take you some time to get that 25 million for that gym. 00:05:49.383 --> 00:05:54.153 But, I'll bet you that there are some easy wins out there and low hanging fruit out 00:05:54.153 --> 00:05:56.083 there that you can jump on right away. 00:05:56.573 --> 00:06:00.963 To get yourself some wins to show people that, hey, I'm listening, I'm 00:06:00.963 --> 00:06:05.363 taking these things seriously, and I'm looking to improve our school 00:06:05.393 --> 00:06:06.973 to make it better for everybody. 00:06:07.203 --> 00:06:11.183 Now, one thing I want to caution you on is make yourself available, 00:06:11.203 --> 00:06:12.613 make yourself accessible. 00:06:12.873 --> 00:06:17.173 But, something I will caution you on, and it's not to, uh, look at the negative 00:06:17.173 --> 00:06:20.243 or anything like that, but I guarantee you that you will have somebody who just 00:06:20.253 --> 00:06:24.073 has to get your ear right away They just have to talk to you about something. 00:06:24.093 --> 00:06:26.563 They just have to come see you to tell you everything that was 00:06:26.563 --> 00:06:28.343 wrong with the school before. 00:06:28.495 --> 00:06:31.363 be weary, listen, respect their opinions. 00:06:31.363 --> 00:06:35.143 But, uh, sometimes that's somebody that is looking to create drama 00:06:35.143 --> 00:06:37.733 within your community and somebody that you need to be wary of. 00:06:37.733 --> 00:06:40.653 Not always, but I have found that sometimes that's the case. 00:06:40.653 --> 00:06:43.493 And so, uh, just know that you're going to do a lot of listening. 00:06:43.523 --> 00:06:47.756 You're going to want to do a lot of asking questions, but you want to make sure 00:06:47.756 --> 00:06:52.716 that you're So, protecting yourself and not listening to the wrong person right 00:06:52.716 --> 00:06:56.446 off the bat, uh, that's why I say make yourself available and spending time with 00:06:56.446 --> 00:06:59.826 a lot of different people, because that's going to give you a lot of different 00:06:59.826 --> 00:07:04.906 perspectives to hear what themes keep coming up over and over and over again. 00:07:05.384 --> 00:07:08.318 Now, I mentioned earlier in the podcast, the website, www. 00:07:09.878 --> 00:07:10.558 elementaryadvancement. 00:07:10.568 --> 00:07:10.958 com. 00:07:11.128 --> 00:07:15.018 If you go there, you can get a free download, our six keys to create 00:07:15.068 --> 00:07:17.048 a successful Catholic school. 00:07:17.238 --> 00:07:18.238 Uh, it's yours for free. 00:07:18.448 --> 00:07:19.888 Um, hopefully it'll help you. 00:07:19.908 --> 00:07:24.418 I think it's a really great tool because it really gives you, uh, Some areas 00:07:24.418 --> 00:07:29.228 to focus on the six characteristics that I believe every strong Catholic 00:07:29.228 --> 00:07:35.298 school has, but also allows you to look at some questions, maybe to, uh, some 00:07:35.298 --> 00:07:39.618 key questions to evaluate where your culture is in that particular area. 00:07:39.618 --> 00:07:42.008 So, um, if you go to www. 00:07:42.048 --> 00:07:43.258 elementaryadvancement. 00:07:43.268 --> 00:07:47.098 com, uh, you can click on the, the link there, it's a little pop 00:07:47.098 --> 00:07:48.408 up, it'll say, Hey, receive this. 00:07:48.668 --> 00:07:50.308 you can, you can get that for free. 00:07:50.318 --> 00:07:53.658 Again, uh, I think it's really helpful to you, especially new, being new to 00:07:53.658 --> 00:07:58.415 your role, as a leader, no matter what it is, because no matter what area 00:07:58.415 --> 00:08:02.035 you're focusing on, whether you're a principal, president, uh, advancement 00:08:02.035 --> 00:08:07.645 director, assistant principal, these things going in, in these key areas 00:08:07.645 --> 00:08:12.285 that you have as a school, make your school a stronger place, which is then 00:08:12.285 --> 00:08:13.599 going to make your job a lot easier. 00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:17.031 and your role within the school, be more effective. 00:08:17.121 --> 00:08:21.921 Um, if your school is doing a great job in these six areas, your job as 00:08:21.921 --> 00:08:25.581 an Advancement Director is going to be to tout those areas, those things 00:08:25.581 --> 00:08:26.761 that you're doing in those areas. 00:08:27.071 --> 00:08:30.341 Uh, if you're recruitment and you're trying to recruit new students, 00:08:30.701 --> 00:08:33.401 knowing where you sit in these areas is going to be something that's 00:08:33.401 --> 00:08:35.201 really, really beneficial to you. 00:08:35.551 --> 00:08:37.811 Because it's areas that you can tout to new families. 00:08:37.821 --> 00:08:39.901 So check it out, elementaryadvancement. 00:08:39.931 --> 00:08:41.823 com, and you can get that for free. 00:08:41.823 --> 00:08:44.653 It's something I think you'll be really helpful and really a great 00:08:44.653 --> 00:08:46.083 tool to have in your back pocket. 00:08:46.819 --> 00:08:48.959 the other thing I would say to you, or the next thing I guess I 00:08:48.959 --> 00:08:54.304 would say to you is, Don't assume that all the schools are the same. 00:08:54.631 --> 00:08:58.961 chances are that you may have come from a different school. 00:08:58.991 --> 00:09:01.081 Maybe you've spent time in another school. 00:09:01.081 --> 00:09:02.951 Maybe you were leading a different school. 00:09:02.981 --> 00:09:04.031 Maybe it was a public school. 00:09:04.031 --> 00:09:05.121 Maybe it was another Catholic school. 00:09:05.121 --> 00:09:06.101 Maybe it was a private school. 00:09:06.471 --> 00:09:08.191 Uh, maybe you were an assistant principal someplace. 00:09:08.221 --> 00:09:13.391 Whatever the case might be, But you know what your culture was all about there. 00:09:13.741 --> 00:09:15.971 Don't assume everybody's culture is the same. 00:09:16.841 --> 00:09:21.291 Don't assume that, uh, everybody's experiences are the same. 00:09:21.421 --> 00:09:24.381 that's where that listening piece of things come in, and really 00:09:24.381 --> 00:09:26.471 hearing what others have to say. 00:09:27.066 --> 00:09:31.766 to know where your strengths can really lend itself to making 00:09:31.766 --> 00:09:32.906 the school a better place. 00:09:33.256 --> 00:09:37.116 It also kind of gives you that opportunity to identify the areas that maybe you're 00:09:37.126 --> 00:09:42.116 not, you don't necessarily have the strengths in so that you can try to get 00:09:42.126 --> 00:09:45.776 connected with others who can give you some perspective on those strengths. 00:09:45.776 --> 00:09:47.416 You know, that's a great reason. 00:09:47.476 --> 00:09:49.886 Our mastermind groups that we do are a great reason for that. 00:09:49.886 --> 00:09:52.206 Hey, I know how to do this, but I don't know how to do this. 00:09:52.206 --> 00:09:53.296 And I'm being asked to do this. 00:09:53.916 --> 00:09:55.346 Does anybody have experience with this? 00:09:55.356 --> 00:09:57.256 It's a great way to get connected with people. 00:09:57.746 --> 00:10:00.576 Maybe you have a support system within your own diocese that 00:10:00.576 --> 00:10:01.766 you can ask questions to. 00:10:02.346 --> 00:10:07.056 Whatever the case might be, but don't assume that all schools are the same 00:10:07.066 --> 00:10:10.716 and don't assume that every school is dealing with the same issue. 00:10:11.226 --> 00:10:16.221 You may have come from a school that had Uh, high tuition rate and, and 00:10:16.221 --> 00:10:19.971 no, uh, student assistance being given for tuition to a school where 00:10:19.981 --> 00:10:23.871 75 percent of your families are, are dealing with tuition, uh, assistance. 00:10:23.871 --> 00:10:27.141 And so, each school has its own unique challenges. 00:10:27.352 --> 00:10:30.722 as I've always said, that when things are, are great, they're probably 00:10:30.722 --> 00:10:31.832 not as good as you think they are. 00:10:31.862 --> 00:10:34.882 And when things are not great, they're probably not as bad as you think they are. 00:10:35.262 --> 00:10:38.462 Um, know that the, somewhere in the middle there, and something that you're always 00:10:38.462 --> 00:10:42.579 striving to get better, you're but don't assume that all of the schools are the 00:10:42.579 --> 00:10:46.229 same, uh, in terms of the challenges, in terms of what it is that they're 00:10:46.239 --> 00:10:50.189 dealing with because those preconceived notions that you have, maybe, uh, those 00:10:50.189 --> 00:10:52.719 scars that you're carrying from your last school, bringing them to your new 00:10:52.719 --> 00:10:56.259 school immediately could put you behind the eight ball and, and, and almost 00:10:56.269 --> 00:10:59.789 present as, as making you unapproachable, which is certainly something that you 00:10:59.789 --> 00:11:01.509 don't want to do in this new role. 00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:05.964 If there's one partnership that I can tell you. 00:11:06.184 --> 00:11:09.904 to make sure gets off on the right foot immediately. 00:11:10.074 --> 00:11:14.014 Uh, and chances are that in this new role, uh, and especially for 00:11:14.014 --> 00:11:17.638 principals, I'm going to talk to you, especially for principals, is that 00:11:17.638 --> 00:11:21.788 relationship and that partnership that you have with your pastor. 00:11:22.623 --> 00:11:26.113 That is something that the two of you should be lockstep on 00:11:26.183 --> 00:11:27.263 everything that's happening. 00:11:27.693 --> 00:11:32.423 Uh, making an opportunity to sit down each week with, with this person to, 00:11:32.716 --> 00:11:36.179 just talk about what's going on with the school and, and, and how things are 00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:37.969 going, challenges that you're facing. 00:11:38.414 --> 00:11:42.594 Insights that they may have, um, what direction do they want to see? 00:11:42.594 --> 00:11:44.864 What's the vision that they want to see for the school? 00:11:45.184 --> 00:11:48.934 Um, but just creating that open partnership, those open 00:11:48.934 --> 00:11:50.804 lines of communications early. 00:11:51.284 --> 00:11:55.434 I guarantee you, if you show me a school that is succeeding, I will show 00:11:55.434 --> 00:11:59.054 you a pastor and a principal that are walking lockstep with one another. 00:11:59.425 --> 00:12:03.665 Establishing that partnership with your pastor is one of the most important 00:12:03.695 --> 00:12:06.075 things you can do as a building principal. 00:12:06.695 --> 00:12:10.675 If you're in a role of assistant principal, dean, development director, 00:12:10.675 --> 00:12:13.405 advancement director, recruitment officer, whatever the case might be, 00:12:13.885 --> 00:12:17.855 establishing that partnership with your building principal or your building 00:12:17.855 --> 00:12:20.465 president is equally as important. 00:12:21.015 --> 00:12:23.595 They are the person that's going to be supporting your goals. 00:12:23.685 --> 00:12:25.305 They're the person that's going to be supporting the 00:12:25.305 --> 00:12:27.065 initiatives that you're doing. 00:12:27.075 --> 00:12:27.135 Thank you. 00:12:27.595 --> 00:12:31.155 as well as you're going to be bringing forth the initiatives that 00:12:31.165 --> 00:12:33.805 they want to see you, uh, doing. 00:12:34.035 --> 00:12:35.135 Maybe it's an enrollment goal. 00:12:35.135 --> 00:12:36.565 Maybe it's a development goal. 00:12:36.565 --> 00:12:37.815 Maybe it's a fundraising goal. 00:12:37.977 --> 00:12:41.960 maybe it's a, putting a new sport into play, whatever the case might be. 00:12:42.870 --> 00:12:47.600 Establishing that partnership with either your principal or your pastor is something 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:53.830 that cannot be stressed enough that doing that early to establish trust, to build 00:12:53.830 --> 00:12:58.520 that partnership, not a relationship, but a partnership between your role and 00:12:58.520 --> 00:13:02.460 that leadership role is something that will pay off for you in the long run. 00:13:03.140 --> 00:13:04.330 But get on that early. 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:08.796 Don't wait for things to get rocky and things to, problems to 00:13:08.796 --> 00:13:10.876 exist before you start to do that. 00:13:10.936 --> 00:13:11.686 Get on it early. 00:13:11.686 --> 00:13:13.076 Get on the same page early. 00:13:13.466 --> 00:13:14.616 Create that time. 00:13:14.916 --> 00:13:19.556 Uh, for me, as a principal, I would want to meet with my development directors, 00:13:19.556 --> 00:13:23.809 advancement directors, recruitment directors, at least once a week for a 00:13:23.809 --> 00:13:27.569 minimum of a half hour to 45 minutes so that I could be supportive of them. 00:13:27.989 --> 00:13:30.589 But they would also be able to keep me in the loop of the things that 00:13:30.589 --> 00:13:33.559 we were working on together to meet the longterm goals of our school. 00:13:33.569 --> 00:13:37.457 So that really comes into play of what you want your schedule to look like each week. 00:13:37.457 --> 00:13:41.127 And we can do a whole other episode on time management and things like that. 00:13:41.147 --> 00:13:45.957 But the bottom line is establishing for our principals, establishing that 00:13:45.977 --> 00:13:48.487 partnership with your pastor right away. 00:13:49.042 --> 00:13:52.622 And for those other school leaders, establishing that partnership 00:13:52.622 --> 00:13:55.372 with your principal right away is something that's only going to 00:13:55.382 --> 00:13:57.462 help you be better in your job. 00:13:57.905 --> 00:14:04.315 I think one of the biggest things for new leaders is that they are sometimes 00:14:04.315 --> 00:14:06.785 afraid to invest in themselves. 00:14:07.145 --> 00:14:10.985 And they're afraid to admit that they don't know everything. 00:14:11.355 --> 00:14:15.472 And so my next piece of advice to you is, don't be afraid to invest in yourself, 00:14:15.542 --> 00:14:20.132 and don't be afraid to get better in the areas that you want to get better in. 00:14:20.488 --> 00:14:22.108 there's a lot of opportunities out there. 00:14:22.108 --> 00:14:23.198 There's conferences. 00:14:23.228 --> 00:14:27.128 There are, I had the chance to attend the NCEA conference this past year. 00:14:27.128 --> 00:14:29.848 I know the next one is, I think it'll be in Orlando this coming year. 00:14:29.848 --> 00:14:31.388 It was in Pittsburgh this past year. 00:14:31.928 --> 00:14:35.309 If that's something you're able to do, to, to attend something like that, 00:14:35.309 --> 00:14:40.267 to make connections and to, um, hear some first class speakers, all about 00:14:40.267 --> 00:14:44.628 Catholic education, uh, invest in yourself, make yourself better in areas 00:14:44.628 --> 00:14:46.568 and continue to grow and to learn. 00:14:46.928 --> 00:14:49.398 Uh, I mentioned before about the mastermind groups that, 00:14:49.408 --> 00:14:51.648 uh, I run for principals. 00:14:51.668 --> 00:14:55.138 We have one starting here in the fall for new principals that we're going to 00:14:55.138 --> 00:14:58.498 have where you're able to just to connect with other new principals and really 00:14:58.498 --> 00:15:02.578 get a network going across the country to help you be better in your job. 00:15:02.637 --> 00:15:05.257 your development director, advancement director, coming together to learn 00:15:05.267 --> 00:15:07.347 new strategies, uh, from others. 00:15:08.032 --> 00:15:13.382 Getting connected with people to make yourself better and investing in yourself 00:15:13.842 --> 00:15:17.612 is going to be an investment in your school community which is only going 00:15:17.612 --> 00:15:21.482 to make your school better, which is going to make you better as a principal. 00:15:21.642 --> 00:15:24.592 And so, don't be afraid to put on your oxygen mask. 00:15:25.332 --> 00:15:28.912 Don't be afraid to invest in yourself because when you invest in yourself, 00:15:28.942 --> 00:15:33.692 it says to others that it's okay for them to invest in themselves. 00:15:34.052 --> 00:15:37.042 But that's just going to make your school a better place for your students, 00:15:37.082 --> 00:15:38.622 for your families, for your faculty. 00:15:38.892 --> 00:15:40.472 It's going to grow Catholic education. 00:15:40.472 --> 00:15:42.072 So Get better. 00:15:42.462 --> 00:15:43.892 Don't be afraid to invest in yourself. 00:15:43.892 --> 00:15:47.522 And just because you say, Hey, I need to get better in this doesn't 00:15:47.522 --> 00:15:48.992 mean you're not good at your job. 00:15:49.072 --> 00:15:53.202 It just means that you want to get better in areas and we all have them. 00:15:53.392 --> 00:15:54.342 We all have them. 00:15:54.422 --> 00:15:56.392 And so, uh, invest in yourself. 00:15:56.392 --> 00:15:57.362 Don't be afraid of that. 00:15:57.801 --> 00:15:59.741 like I said, there's a lot of opportunities out there. 00:15:59.761 --> 00:16:05.994 So, I think another one is identifying the core values of your school. 00:16:06.364 --> 00:16:10.414 Now I'm going to say this so that I'm going to slow down on this one 00:16:10.414 --> 00:16:14.924 and say what are the core values at your school versus what do 00:16:14.924 --> 00:16:17.594 you want the core values to be. 00:16:18.114 --> 00:16:24.648 Okay, for example, a core value at your school might be that everybody 00:16:24.648 --> 00:16:26.068 comes late and everybody leaves early. 00:16:26.318 --> 00:16:26.548 Okay. 00:16:26.588 --> 00:16:29.448 That's not one that you really want to, to have. 00:16:29.728 --> 00:16:32.558 maybe it's not a core value, but it's a, it's a trait, I guess I should say 00:16:32.598 --> 00:16:37.078 of, of teachers, but maybe the core value that you want is to establish 00:16:37.078 --> 00:16:40.918 professionalism and that trait that everybody is having of leaving early, 00:16:40.918 --> 00:16:43.748 cutting their late, whatever the case might be, is something that you've 00:16:43.748 --> 00:16:49.018 identified as something that is a problem with professionalism or something that's 00:16:49.018 --> 00:16:51.348 a core value maybe in a negative way. 00:16:51.828 --> 00:16:54.718 So when you're looking at your core values and you ask people, what 00:16:54.718 --> 00:16:56.458 are our core values at our school? 00:16:56.728 --> 00:17:00.018 be sure to get clarification of is that a core value or is that what 00:17:00.018 --> 00:17:02.048 you want the core value to be? 00:17:02.198 --> 00:17:05.258 It's going to tell you something either way about your school community. 00:17:05.278 --> 00:17:08.068 If it's something everybody says, Yeah, we'd really like this to be it, 00:17:08.098 --> 00:17:09.478 but it's just not there right now. 00:17:09.963 --> 00:17:12.963 It's going to tell you just as much as if you say, listen, this 00:17:12.963 --> 00:17:14.093 is a core value of your school. 00:17:14.153 --> 00:17:16.843 And, and I'm going to say this when it comes to core values, 00:17:16.843 --> 00:17:20.953 and I'm not saying this to upset anybody or anything like that. 00:17:21.638 --> 00:17:25.318 If your core value is we all love and care for each other because we're a Catholic 00:17:25.318 --> 00:17:27.438 school, to me, that's a Catholic school. 00:17:27.988 --> 00:17:30.608 That's what you're expected to be as a Catholic school. 00:17:30.968 --> 00:17:32.608 That better be part of your core values. 00:17:32.648 --> 00:17:36.468 But to me, that's like saying we teach the faith in our school. 00:17:37.048 --> 00:17:38.408 That's an understood for me. 00:17:38.618 --> 00:17:40.668 What else do we have that's a core value? 00:17:40.708 --> 00:17:44.508 And if that's not one of your core values, put that on your list as something that 00:17:44.508 --> 00:17:49.200 you need to take note of and bring to your school community is making sure the 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:54.210 faith is something that's very much a part of your school and making sure that your 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:58.710 community cares about their kids, that your kids know that you care about them. 00:17:58.810 --> 00:18:00.720 So, identify those core values. 00:18:01.280 --> 00:18:04.200 What are they versus what you want them to be? 00:18:04.704 --> 00:18:09.182 As a new, uh, administrator, as a new leader walking into a school, I remember 00:18:09.182 --> 00:18:12.842 one of my assistant principals used to tell people when they were coming 00:18:12.842 --> 00:18:14.562 in that you gotta earn your stripes. 00:18:15.007 --> 00:18:20.687 And I think this is so true that sometimes we walk in and maybe we've 00:18:20.697 --> 00:18:22.747 been a principal for 25 years somewhere. 00:18:22.787 --> 00:18:25.477 Maybe we've been a principal for 15 minutes. 00:18:25.487 --> 00:18:28.167 Maybe we've had a lot of success as a teacher somewhere. 00:18:28.167 --> 00:18:31.367 Maybe we've had a lot of success in another role as a coach or 00:18:31.367 --> 00:18:32.667 whatever the case might be. 00:18:32.667 --> 00:18:36.927 And And we're bringing this success, that we've had in our previous roles to 00:18:36.947 --> 00:18:39.747 our new, uh, vocation and our new job. 00:18:40.257 --> 00:18:43.147 But you still have to earn your stripes as a new leader. 00:18:43.647 --> 00:18:46.407 And so that's great that you can rely upon that. 00:18:46.417 --> 00:18:49.487 That's great that you can build upon those experiences. 00:18:49.497 --> 00:18:53.417 You can rely upon those experiences to, uh, help you through your new role. 00:18:53.757 --> 00:18:57.767 Um, but, you know, people might not know you all that well. 00:18:57.962 --> 00:19:01.352 And, you know, sometimes within a school community, maybe you were 00:19:01.352 --> 00:19:05.692 the, a great teacher who's now been assigned or now been promoted to 00:19:05.692 --> 00:19:06.852 be the principal of the school. 00:19:06.952 --> 00:19:10.102 you were a great teacher, but now you've got to earn your stripes 00:19:10.102 --> 00:19:11.292 as the leader of that school. 00:19:11.642 --> 00:19:13.152 Uh, and there's challenges that come with that. 00:19:13.192 --> 00:19:17.662 Now you're responsible for overseeing and, and managing and leading 00:19:17.662 --> 00:19:19.132 people that were colleagues before. 00:19:19.232 --> 00:19:21.937 And, and that's, It can be great and there can be some 00:19:21.937 --> 00:19:23.117 challenges that come with that. 00:19:23.487 --> 00:19:26.847 Um, but either way, you're going to have to earn your stripes as a new leader. 00:19:26.957 --> 00:19:30.427 maybe you're moving into a role of a, of an advancement or development 00:19:30.427 --> 00:19:32.117 director or recruitment director. 00:19:32.467 --> 00:19:34.237 Uh, and people are looking at you going, well, why did that 00:19:34.237 --> 00:19:35.697 person get the job and not me? 00:19:35.817 --> 00:19:40.300 Um, and, and there's an immediate, uh, Black Cloud over your, your office from 00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:43.080 somebody in the school because they didn't like it that they didn't get that job. 00:19:43.520 --> 00:19:47.380 you gotta earn your stripes, you gotta show results, and I think by, again, 00:19:47.390 --> 00:19:50.710 going back to partnering with the key leadership people within your school 00:19:50.710 --> 00:19:54.723 community, whether it be your pastor or your principal, is only gonna put Those 00:19:54.723 --> 00:19:59.363 things to rest and it's just going to show how good you are and how what an 00:19:59.363 --> 00:20:01.323 amazing choice you were for this job. 00:20:01.497 --> 00:20:05.097 but also help you to overcome those things quickly by forming that partnership. 00:20:05.177 --> 00:20:07.337 Um, the naysayers are going to be the naysayers. 00:20:07.337 --> 00:20:08.647 You can't do anything about that. 00:20:08.977 --> 00:20:13.577 Uh, there was some great advice that Kirby Hasselman gave on a marketing podcast. 00:20:13.587 --> 00:20:15.657 They did a few weeks ago a few months ago. 00:20:15.911 --> 00:20:17.601 talking about how to deal with those kind of things. 00:20:17.921 --> 00:20:21.817 Uh, it's a great listen so recommend that but You you, you do you. 00:20:21.907 --> 00:20:26.117 Partner with your principal, your leadership, your pastor in moving 00:20:26.117 --> 00:20:29.947 and advancing the goals of the school forward, um, which is just going 00:20:29.947 --> 00:20:31.167 to make the school a better place. 00:20:31.411 --> 00:20:34.121 I said this one before, and I'm going to say it one more time 00:20:34.121 --> 00:20:36.161 because I think it bears repeating. 00:20:36.661 --> 00:20:39.051 Listen, listen, listen. 00:20:39.581 --> 00:20:42.541 Uh, do a lot of listening as a new leader. 00:20:42.861 --> 00:20:46.461 Learn about what things, how, how were things before you got there. 00:20:46.461 --> 00:20:50.364 You're going to see that the previous, person in your role, if 00:20:50.364 --> 00:20:53.650 your role is not a brand new, position at your school, that there were 00:20:53.650 --> 00:20:55.140 things that maybe went very well. 00:20:55.430 --> 00:20:57.730 They're going to talk about things that maybe didn't go so well. 00:20:57.730 --> 00:20:59.460 Some opportunities for improvement. 00:20:59.717 --> 00:21:00.737 what are those things? 00:21:00.757 --> 00:21:01.847 Learn about those things. 00:21:01.847 --> 00:21:05.027 If you're walking into, this is not uncommon, unfortunately, but if you're 00:21:05.027 --> 00:21:08.387 walking into a, uh, role where you're a fundraiser, you know, head of the 00:21:08.387 --> 00:21:12.727 fundraising officer, uh, maybe the, the person that was before you wasn't 00:21:12.727 --> 00:21:14.867 exactly a good steward of, of the money. 00:21:14.887 --> 00:21:16.617 Maybe there were communication issues. 00:21:16.647 --> 00:21:19.845 Maybe there were, reporting issues, whatever the case might be. 00:21:20.014 --> 00:21:21.904 and you've got to build that trust back up again. 00:21:22.274 --> 00:21:22.934 And so. 00:21:23.434 --> 00:21:27.614 Listening, listening, listening, and learning the story of your school, 00:21:27.914 --> 00:21:33.187 um, and knowing, just where those opportunities are for you to make 00:21:33.187 --> 00:21:36.427 improvements and get those easy wins with that low hanging fruit is 00:21:36.427 --> 00:21:38.677 something that I can't stress enough. 00:21:39.137 --> 00:21:43.667 So, do a lot of listening, do a lot of talking, do a lot of asking questions. 00:21:43.772 --> 00:21:47.567 I remember a former, um, A boss of mine told me once, he said, ask as many 00:21:47.567 --> 00:21:50.847 questions as you can within the first couple of months that you're in this job. 00:21:51.387 --> 00:21:53.667 Because if you ask them in the first couple of months that you're in the 00:21:53.667 --> 00:21:56.727 job, people are going to think, wow, this person is really, really sharp 00:21:56.727 --> 00:21:57.857 and they really want to get better. 00:21:58.437 --> 00:22:00.697 If you don't ask those questions, everybody's just going to make 00:22:00.697 --> 00:22:01.857 the assumption that you know it. 00:22:02.327 --> 00:22:05.017 And when it comes time a couple months later that you don't know it, and 00:22:05.017 --> 00:22:07.637 you're asking those questions that you should have been asking before, 00:22:07.637 --> 00:22:10.037 people are going to say, how did this person even get this job if they don't 00:22:10.037 --> 00:22:11.257 know the answers to these questions? 00:22:11.637 --> 00:22:14.577 So don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you can. 00:22:14.947 --> 00:22:19.137 At the beginning to really help you get to know your school culture and to 00:22:19.197 --> 00:22:23.342 really just get to know, you know, the history of your school because, you 00:22:23.342 --> 00:22:26.962 know, you're taking over a school that might be a few years old, might be 100 00:22:26.962 --> 00:22:31.272 years old, and you're now responsible for stewarding that for the next 100 years. 00:22:31.622 --> 00:22:34.782 Uh, so listening, listening, listening goes a long way. 00:22:35.012 --> 00:22:38.312 Establishing those partnerships with your key leaders on 00:22:38.312 --> 00:22:40.139 campus, is so very important. 00:22:40.999 --> 00:22:45.159 The last thing I'm going to tell you is, I think, uh, I always say this, I appeared 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:49.729 on a podcast a couple months ago with, uh, President Jethro Jones, and I told 00:22:49.729 --> 00:22:54.809 him that I felt a lot of Catholic schools come down to three, three words, okay? 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:59.524 Now, obviously, I'm going to just say that the Catholic faith is, clear 00:22:59.564 --> 00:23:03.924 far and away the reason that we exist in terms of being a Catholic school. 00:23:03.924 --> 00:23:08.954 So when I say my three C's, uh, that Catholic faith piece to me is overlying 00:23:08.964 --> 00:23:10.654 and overarching on all of these areas. 00:23:10.654 --> 00:23:16.929 So, but if you have Clear communication, you have consistency in your policies, 00:23:16.989 --> 00:23:18.509 and you have great curb appeal. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:23.629 People are going to see that, and it's probably going to knock out 90 percent 00:23:23.629 --> 00:23:28.339 of what you're doing as a school, and give confidence in you as a leader. 00:23:29.129 --> 00:23:32.649 So being a good communicator, communicating with your families, 00:23:32.649 --> 00:23:35.469 communicating with your faculty, what's happening at your school. 00:23:35.989 --> 00:23:39.009 If you are responsible for the advancement work at your school, 00:23:39.009 --> 00:23:40.989 communicating where dollars were spent. 00:23:40.989 --> 00:23:45.219 I just did a great podcast recently about communicating ways that, uh, how you 00:23:45.219 --> 00:23:49.558 can communicate, how funds were used to give people confidence in your office. 00:23:49.791 --> 00:23:54.091 just honoring what people's requests are, creating trust, and just over 00:23:54.141 --> 00:23:58.198 communicating what's happening at your school is so important. 00:23:58.198 --> 00:24:00.421 Being consistent in your policies. 00:24:00.484 --> 00:24:03.049 you know, we're going to let this person do this, but not this person. 00:24:03.049 --> 00:24:04.379 We're going to do this, but not for this. 00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:08.829 there might be a reason that you're creating inconsistencies in your 00:24:08.829 --> 00:24:10.259 policies that nobody needs to know about. 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:11.989 Maybe your family has a special circumstance. 00:24:11.989 --> 00:24:13.299 That's not what I'm talking about. 00:24:13.789 --> 00:24:17.459 But when you're giving different rules for different people, uh, this person gets a 00:24:17.459 --> 00:24:20.749 uniform violation, but this one doesn't and they're doing the exact same thing. 00:24:21.144 --> 00:24:25.214 Uh, that consistency in how you operate as a school to keep people 00:24:25.214 --> 00:24:28.804 from guessing how you're running your school is so important. 00:24:28.864 --> 00:24:33.604 And so, consistency, curb appeal, communication, the last one being the 00:24:33.604 --> 00:24:37.703 curb appeal that I just mentioned, what do people see when they come to your school? 00:24:38.168 --> 00:24:41.828 When people walk up for the first time, this was a great exercise that I did 00:24:41.828 --> 00:24:44.948 with my leadership team was I took them outside and I said, I want you to walk 00:24:44.948 --> 00:24:46.608 up to our school for the first time. 00:24:47.088 --> 00:24:49.478 Don't say anything, but just write down what you see. 00:24:49.768 --> 00:24:52.568 Look around like you're looking at this school for the first time. 00:24:53.298 --> 00:24:57.588 Is the sign that welcomes people to the school old and rusted? 00:24:57.598 --> 00:24:58.688 Does it need to be replaced? 00:24:59.188 --> 00:25:02.678 When people come up and they ring the doorbell or what are they greeted with? 00:25:02.678 --> 00:25:03.948 Or what do they see? 00:25:03.998 --> 00:25:05.938 Do they know it's a Catholic school right away? 00:25:06.798 --> 00:25:09.018 What's that curb appeal that people have? 00:25:09.248 --> 00:25:12.168 Think about a new family who's visiting your school for the first time. 00:25:12.918 --> 00:25:16.048 They may be on your campus for 15 seconds and it doesn't matter what you 00:25:16.048 --> 00:25:19.978 show them because the curb appeal that they were met with when they pulled up 00:25:19.978 --> 00:25:23.588 to the school is something that really turned them off and they said, Yeah, 00:25:23.638 --> 00:25:25.918 we're probably not going to do this, but we're going to go on the tour anyway. 00:25:26.378 --> 00:25:27.838 You're playing from behind at that point. 00:25:28.634 --> 00:25:33.194 Communication, consistency, and curb appeal are going to help you 00:25:33.194 --> 00:25:37.274 in so many ways, no matter what your responsibility is at your school. 00:25:38.008 --> 00:25:40.488 These are just a couple things, like I said, that, that I have learned, 00:25:40.591 --> 00:25:45.241 if I can help you in your role as a principal, as an aspiring principal, 00:25:45.241 --> 00:25:49.556 as a development director, as a recruitment director, this is why I exist. 00:25:49.556 --> 00:25:55.126 This is why my, my company exists at Elementary Advancement Solutions is to 00:25:55.126 --> 00:25:58.317 help you grow Catholic education, www. 00:25:58.357 --> 00:25:59.517 elementaryadvancement. 00:25:59.557 --> 00:25:59.987 com. 00:26:00.227 --> 00:26:01.627 There's a lot of resources on there. 00:26:01.627 --> 00:26:02.947 There's some articles on there. 00:26:02.947 --> 00:26:03.082 very much. 00:26:03.222 --> 00:26:07.147 Uh, old podcast, but also times that you can set up just to set up a consult 00:26:07.147 --> 00:26:11.817 with me, uh, at no charge, just to see if I can help you in what it is that 00:26:11.817 --> 00:26:13.507 you're doing as a school community. 00:26:13.857 --> 00:26:17.737 Um, that's the goal of this is to really help grow Catholic education. 00:26:17.983 --> 00:26:21.759 I just, was so saddened to see so many Catholic schools closing, uh, 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:25.119 over the past 10 years and, and wanted to make sure that, you know, moving 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:29.699 forward that I took an active role in making sure that we could help and. 00:26:30.129 --> 00:26:33.409 make Catholic schools thrive, not just survive, but we want to see them 00:26:33.419 --> 00:26:35.499 thriving again in your community. 00:26:35.499 --> 00:26:38.569 So if that's something I can help you with, if you're new to your role, 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:41.736 um, there's a lot of opportunities out there, that I'd be happy to 00:26:41.736 --> 00:26:43.216 help you with and talk to you about. 00:26:43.516 --> 00:26:46.246 Uh, like I said, mentioned about our mastermind groups that are out there. 00:26:46.246 --> 00:26:50.526 It's a great way for you to get connected with leaders all over the world, not just 00:26:50.526 --> 00:26:52.236 in the United States, but over the world. 00:26:52.646 --> 00:26:55.976 to learn new strategies and new skills and just bounce ideas off of. 00:26:56.376 --> 00:26:57.586 It's a great thing to do. 00:26:57.936 --> 00:27:00.026 Our mastermind groups are rock stars. 00:27:00.036 --> 00:27:01.186 So big shout out to them. 00:27:01.403 --> 00:27:03.773 you know, hey, if that's something that you think could, could be 00:27:03.773 --> 00:27:05.183 in your future, reach out to me. 00:27:05.183 --> 00:27:10.163 Let's set up a time to do a virtual cup of coffee on zoom and hear more about 00:27:10.163 --> 00:27:11.763 your school and what your goals are. 00:27:12.043 --> 00:27:14.433 So thank you so much again for listening. 00:27:14.433 --> 00:27:16.983 Again, I remind you that if you like this podcast, if you 00:27:16.993 --> 00:27:18.113 think this is something that. 00:27:18.848 --> 00:27:19.788 Would benefit others. 00:27:19.818 --> 00:27:24.968 Be sure to like it, subscribe, uh, leave a comment, leave a, uh, a review on there, 00:27:24.968 --> 00:27:28.158 or share it with others, share it with colleagues, whatever the case might be. 00:27:28.428 --> 00:27:30.548 Uh, I want to say thank you in advance for doing that. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.730 praying for you in this new role. 00:27:32.870 --> 00:27:33.210 You've been blessed. 00:27:33.310 --> 00:27:37.620 said yes to a wonderful, wonderful vocation of working in a Catholic school. 00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:40.940 And I promise you it's something that's really, really rewarding and something 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:42.430 that is just going to fill your heart. 00:27:42.430 --> 00:27:45.728 So, for all of our new leaders out there in Catholic schools, we're praying 00:27:45.728 --> 00:27:49.848 for you and, uh, wish you nothing but success in the year moving forward.