Before we get started, I have two quick announcements

1.     I’ve been hearing a strong interest in how to support beginning teachers. I went into some key practices last year in episodes 214 and 215, so if you are in the mode to think about how to support your BTs (and ECTs), give a listen to episodes 214 and 215

2.     The July 22 episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast we feature a panel discussion with myself and five assistant principals. Some are national/state AP of the Year awardees and others are just wrapping up their first year as assist principals. The focus of our discussion is being a first year AP! We would love to hear from you. If you have questions, topics, advice, or stories, please consider sharing. Please email them to me at [email protected]. I would love to be able to name contributors but will only do so if you explicitly give permission for us to include your name and affiliation. We are recording on July 15, so don’t wait.

Okay, now onto the episode…

Show Notes, Episode 51: Who are you? With Craig Martin

About this show:

Last spring several of the assistant principals in our APEx group asked if we could work on how APs can influence school culture without over-stepping their boundaries. One AP noted that this could be especially problematic if you and your principal had very different styles. Back then I approached this as a culture question, but today I’m looking at it differently. Today, I’m thinking about this through two lenses. The first is authenticity: how do I do a job where everyone is watching me all the time, and make sure that I am true to myself? The second lens is sociological. 

If we were in a room together and someone introduced me as “a leader” you would not be surprised because I look the part. I’m a 6-2 white male in my late 50’s, I have a good speaking voice and I know how to engage with people. And yes, I coached football. In other words, I meet the societal expectations of what leaders look and sound like in our culture. 

But what about everyone else? What does it mean to be a leader in schools when you don’t look like me? How do you maintain your authenticity when the expectations of who can lead and how they should lead are still relatively narrow and rigid? 

Notable Quotes

Craig Martin

“To be authentic, in my opinion, means that you recognize in the spaces where you walk, you breathe, you lead, that you allow the pulses of the young people who are moving about, the teachers who are working with the young people, the custodians, the food service community, the parents, the community partners, you allow those pulses help you center on what you feel led to that important.”

“People want to know you’re human, they want to know you care”

 “Being authentic is about, in my Opinion, being open to sharing parts of who you are in your human experience that connect and resonate with others”

“Not all acts of vulnerability are created equal. There is a ladder within yourself that is unique to you.”

“Sometimes the smallest moments are the actually the most meaningful for people when we talk about vulnerability”

“Our kids know us”

“In your ability as a leader, you have the ability to transcend what is most important. You have the ability to send signals to people on ‘this is what i believe in, this is what i am about.’ and people will find harbor with you, they will look to you for council and coaching and development. they will want to take those walks because they want to be in spaces where they feel safe, they feel affirmed, they feel seen, and they know they will be supported and loved.”

“Be okay with not being okay, but consistently love on yourself. and thats a thing I have to keep doing. I have to keep reminding myself “I am loved, I am thriving, I am safe” but I need to keep filling myself with those kinds of messages and affirmations”

Frederick

“Authenticity is not about you, it is about how you relate to all of these other people, and authenticity involves serving, connecting, and supporting other people”

“Our authenticity should remind other people of the best parts of us and the best parts of others”

Links:

Craig’s Twitter: @CraigCMartin12

Craig’s Website: https://www.craigcmartinleads.com 

My email: [email protected] 

The Assistant Principal Podcast website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/appodcast.html 

Sign up for the daily leadership email: https://mailchi.mp/c15c68e6df32/specialedition 

Website: www.frederickbuskey.com

Blog: www.frederickbuskey.com/blog (reposts of the daily email)