The Importance of being the LEAST important.

Last week, I began my sixth “Opening Day” as a high school principal with a calm confidence that this would be the BEST year ever! This sense of aplomb derives from the confidence I have in every faculty and staff member at St. John Vianney High School.

Prior to the year beginning I shared with the faculty and staff that the most glowing endorsement I can say about Vianney is that I am the LEAST important person in the building.  I wonder how many other school leaders feel the same way. 
How many are WILLING to be the least important person in their building? 
How many would stand before their public stakeholders and attest to such a statement? 

Well I do, and I will continue to do so.  I tell the parents of our students, the students themselves, our alumni, and even my graduate students.  At Vianney, I am the least important person. I attest to this belief with great valor.  It is my proudest accomplishment as a school administrator!

Nothing brings me more joy then walking down the hallways at Vianney and seeing our masterful teachers at work.  Their students engaged.  Frequent movement and activities occupying each classroom as they strive to educate young men on brain-based activities.  A warmth comes over me as I hear and see the relationships they  are building with our students.  Some intentionally, others unintentional, establishing a contentedness that will ignite a passion in students to help them reach higher levels of self-esteem, a closer relationship with our school community, and ultimately greater student achievement. 

Like artists, I wonder if my teachers are even aware of their magical and mystical moves.  Are they cognizant and intentional about the way they educate our students?  Are they appreciative of the gifts they bring to the classroom each and EVERY day?  Or is it just who they are?  Has it become second nature for them to care more, to do more, and to strive for excellence on a daily basis?

What I have come to love about Vianney is that we all have the opportunity to be a little part of something big because we truly are a family. I love this feeling of inclusiveness..

It’s this reality that drives me in my work and makes me hopeful for the current and future of education. Our “little” part is “little” only in the sense that it happens slowly, minute by minute, and typically in concert with the efforts of others with whom we work. The “big” opportunities we have to impact the future are the result of thousands of “little” efforts.

Across the country the last couple of week’s teachers, administrators and staff members have set the stage for yet another year together leading impressionable young people. I take great comfort in knowing that MANY impressionable adolescents are at Vianney where their minds, hearts, and souls are shaped by some of the finest role models in the history of education. These young men will go on to become our future. We will produce many noble citizens who go on to greatness. We will do so by seizing every opportunity to build strong relationships and to support students on their path to excellence.

At Vianney, we will do this both purposefully and intuitively, because our staff has fostered a culture of care which permeates our school. Individually and collectively, the care we have for our profession is palpable.

            At Vianney we are widely known for caring about our curriculum and—even more importantly—caring about our young men entrusted to our care.

             Again this year, each of us has a fantastic opportunity waiting: to be “a little part of something big”…i.e., playing a role in what our own future will look like! Because I work with the best teachers anywhere, I am confident that our students will make us all extremely proud throughout the year and later in life.

I’m thankful and blessed to be part of a faith-filled learning community like Vianney! Each day young minds are formed here.  The halls are full of future politicians, lawyers, actors, athletes, innovators, and religious leaders.

I mentioned in August and at the start of this blog—I have EVERY confidence this is going to be the BEST year in Vianney’s storied tradition of noted excellence.

My reasons are simple:

1.      Our students

2.      The returning and new faculty and staff members we have standing ready to teach them, guide them, and care for them.

It’s a GREAT Day to be a Griffin!