Tom Hierck has been an educator since 1983 in a career that has spanned all grade levels and roles in public education. His experiences as a teacher, administrator, district leader, department of education project leader, and executive director have provided a unique context for his education philosophy.

Tom is a compelling presenter and author, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from the real world. He understands that educators face unprecedented challenges and knows which strategies will best serve learning communities. Tom has presented to schools and districts across North America with a message of celebration for educators seeking to make a difference in the lives of students. His dynamic presentations explore the importance of positive learning environments and the role of assessment to improve student learning. His belief that “every student is a success story waiting to be told” has led him to work with teachers and administrators to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students.

 

Tom has been an educator for 34 years and he loves it just as much today as the day he started.  He also loves to run – he has completed 48 marathons and never goes anywhere without his running shoes. (2:10)

Tom began as a high school math and science teacher, and then became a school leader after eight years. After several years of administration, he felt something was missing, and now spends his time traveling the world helping educators achieve their full potential. (4:42)

How one man inspired Tom to move from teaching into school leadership (8:50)

Being able to bring people together is a key to success in school administration, and active intentional listening is the foundation of being able to bring people together (11:30)

If your teachers aren’t as excited about teaching as they were when they started, it’s the administrator’s job to help them get back to that same place (15:44)

Presence dictates importance, and school leaders need to be in the classrooms (18:33)

You will never find the time to do the important stuff – you have to make the time.  Make the time now, or you’ll have to spend a whole lot of time down the road making up for what you should’ve done long ago (20:45)

Don’t be emotional about your work – be passionate and intentional (28:00)

Educators focus too much on the how, and not nearly enough on the why (30:20)

Educators should be spending a lot more time celebrating than they do now (33:42)

Principals – don’t fall for this trick some teachers like to play! (35:54)

Nobody goes into teaching because they’re cynical.  If teachers are cynical, it’s because it’s been cultivated.  Help your teachers become the person they described in their job interview (36:10)

Some of the reasons your students will remember you are nothing like you’d expect (42:00)

Tom talks about why he wrote the book Seven Keys to a Positive Learning Environment in Your Classroom, and gives a brief description of each of the seven keys (47:10)

A leader will take the time to listen to all the voices, and once everyone has spoken, we will make the decision, and then hold everyone to our decision (55:45)

Two books Tom highly recommends (56:53)

Kids need to know they’re really being heard (57:40)

Making firm decisions doesn’t mean rigidity (58:58)

You either create or you condone.  Once you condone, you lose the right to complain (1:00:50)

If Tom 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 (1:03:40)

 

Books mentioned in this episode

Seven Keys to a Positive Learning Environment in Your Classroom by Tom Hierck

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown by Daniel Coyle

Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher by Judy Willis

 

Connect with Tom Hierck

@thierck

Facebook

 

 

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.

http://www.educatorslead.com