Quote Greg mentioned from Haim Ginot regarding the power of a teacher:
“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.” – Haim Ginot
His Name is Today
“We are guilty of many errors and many faults,
But our worst crime is abandoning the children,
Neglecting the fountain of life.
Many of the things we need can wait,
The child cannot wait.
Right now is the time his bones are being formed,
His blood is being made,
And his senses are being developed.
To him we cannot answer ‘tomorrow’
His name is Today.”
by Gabriela Mistral
Greg used to be an avid marathoner, but now finds golf a lot easier on his legs (2:00)
Greg describes his life in education, starting with being raised by a single mother (3:10)
Why he moved from teaching into school leadership (4:28)
Becoming a school administrator at the same school you attended has its challenges (6:17)
Time management will be one of your biggest challenges as a school leader (7:07)
From student, to coach, to teacher, to administrator, all at the same school (10:00)
Some tips for dealing with life in the fishbowl as a school/community leader (11:53)
Some keys to staying fully charged so you can bring your A game every day (17:25)
One of Greg’s favorite stories from his career in school administration (24:04)
How to make sure you’re doing the right things every day (29:15)
The decisive element in the classroom (32:09)
The importance of interspace bargaining – school leaders and their colleagues too often are working on each other, instead of working together on the problem (34:30)
It takes great principals and great teachers to make great things happen for kids (37:20)
Don’t be too quick to solve someone’s problem – sometimes they just want to vent, and other times they’ll be better served if you allow them to solve their own problem (41:00)
Greg talks about several books that have had a big impact on him (44:20)
Treat all your students as if they’re your own kids (48:24)
Why you need to invest in your teachers (49:27)
The listening tour and why Greg requires new principals to go on one (50:18)
If Greg had a time machine, here’s the advice he would go back and give his younger self when he was just starting out in administration (58:00)
Books mentioned in this episode
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, and Bruce Patton
Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Connect with Greg Franklin
About EducatorsLead:
Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders three days a week to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.
Educate. Inspire. Lead.
