While Mitchell has been the instructional leader of Scott Johnson Middle School, the school has been recognized by the Texas Business and Education Coalition as an Honor Roll School in 2008, by AVID as an AVID National Demonstration School in 2013 and an AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction in 2015, by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as a MetLife Breakthrough School in 2014, and by The National Department of Education as a Schools To Watch Campus in 2015.
Mitchell shares a little about his family, hobbies, and background (2:20)
His career path from college up through the present day (4:12)
The invitation that changed his career path from teaching to administration (5:04)
More about Mitchell’s transition from teacher to administrator (6:25)
Level Five Leadership and what it’s all about and why it’s so important (8:10)
How your impact on the school and students will change when you switch from teaching to administration (12:45)
Some of Mitchell’s biggest struggles on the path from teacher to administrator (18:25)
Some important lessons learned from those early struggles (20:39)
Mitchell’s advice for new admins who take a job at the same school they recently were teaching at (28:04)
Some of the best moments from Mitchell’s career in education leadership (30:45)
The best leadership advice Mitchell has ever received (39:21)
A passion to see your students and teachers succeed is a necessity (39:42)
A recent book that Mitchell recommends for aspiring educational leaders (41:02)
Mitchell’s advice to admins on working with the students you serve (42:06)
Mitchell’s advice to admins on working with the teachers you work with (42:46)
Here’s the advice Mitchell would give his younger self if he could travel back in time to when he was just starting out in school administration (44:00)
How to get re-centered and focused when you find yourself doing less than your best (46:00)
Books mentioned in this episode
Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
Connect with Mitchell Curry
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.