Today's Task | Marching Arts Education

Gary Rupert, Mentor and Coach at LCL Mentors, brings inspiration and encouragement with “Today’s Tasks.” We share one here each week to keep you on track, keep you growing, and keep you moving forward.

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Today’s Task – February 4, 2022

Today’s Task – February 1, 2022

I remember the experience like it was yesterday. As I walked into the Assistant Principal’s office, he was sitting there waving a piece of paper in the air. “What is this, he asked?” I explained that it was a referral due to the student’s ongoing behavior. I told him I expected that he would meet one-on-one with the student to discuss her behavior and I wanted the parents called and informed about it as well. To which he responded, “Are you kidding?”

The catch? This was a referral for POSITIVE behavior. When he called the student in, she was incredibly nervous. The AP explained that she was there because of a referral based on her behavior in my class. The poor girl was almost in tears until he explained that I had written on the referral that THIS was the perfect student….straight A’s, first in her class, first chair flute, section leader, heck, she was the student I wanted every other student to aspire to be. When he called the parents, they were equally shocked to receive a call from the AP until he read the referral.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to take advantage of writing positive referrals for your students. While my first attempt was with “the perfect student,” I began writing positive referrals for the marginal student who showed any signs of positive growth. I could never understand why we made it a priority to contact the parents of kids in trouble and NOT those of the kids who were doing positive things. Everyone needs encouragement and support. Even the kids who are doing well! Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – January 25, 2022

I am not so naive to think that whatever success I had with my bands was all ME! In my 40 years as an educator I was blessed to have a number of bright, talented people working with my students as support staff. Perhaps….well okay, not perhaps….the greatest indicator of my students’ potential for success was based on the quality of the instruction they received at the elementary and middle school levels. At one school, my program was able to play level 6 literature and consistently receive Superior ratings. In that school system, the students had the opportunity to work with two fine elementary teachers and an outstanding middle school director, all of whom held them to the highest of expectations. All I had to do was continue what they began, while adding my own instincts and level of expectations.

I wonder how many school systems even consider the relationship between all the music educators when they are hired? In fact, do those hiring even have any clue about the relationship? Do they consider that the “best candidate” according to their hiring system may, in fact, not be the “best candidate”? Do they consider the need for the new hire’s educational philosophy aligning with that of the existing educators? Now I know hiring is not a perfect science and certainly in today’s educational climate, things are even more challenging. But I can assure you that having a weak teacher anywhere in the mix will dramatically impact the starting point for the next teacher in line.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider the value of having a systemic staff with consistent expectations and educational philosophy. In truth, the likelihood of the HR department hiring with that in mind is pretty slim. You could hope that somehow things will work out. You could even wait for someone else to stimulate the conversation. But if you really want to ensure students are prepared to move on to the next level, maybe YOU need to lead the charge. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – January 20, 2022

Today’s Task – January 17, 2022

Over the years, I have had the good fortune to be invited to serve as a guest conductor for numerous concert bands and jazz ensembles. This past weekend I had the opportunity to do so again, but this was my first time with a middle school group. I was a music educator for 40 years and have heard many stories regarding the challenges of working with middle school kids. Lack of focus and self-discipline were the things I heard about the most. So there I was, ready to face these students knowing I am the polar opposite of that, being extremely focused and unquestionably self-disciplined.

As anyone in the band world knows, these honor band weekends are long, intense, and exhausting. The kids were great. They were attentive and open to all that I asked of them. At the end of the event, I received a very nice note from the host director expressing, among other things, that she was impressed with my “command” of the rehearsal process. For me, that was high praise because there was a time in my career where I worked from a position of “demanding”. When I learned to command student attentiveness, focus, and respect, the art of teaching became dramatically easier. Not to mention the benefits to my students.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider whether you are working from a position of demanding or commanding. Experience has taught me that while demanding can work, it is not a sustainable approach. When I learned to present myself in a way that commanded the respect of others, the response from my student’s, and their resultant growth, were both easier and more sustainable. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – January 13, 2022

Today’s Task- January 10, 2022

I recently watched a video clip of a lady playing the role of a teacher AND the administrator who is wondering where her lesson plans are. The teacher explains that her prep time is being taken to cover for other teachers to which the administrator responds, “Yes, but where are your lesson plans. Once again the teacher states that her prep time is being taken to cover for shortages. The administrator then suggests the teacher might come in early or stay late in order to plan. To this, the teacher explains that it is her New Year’s resolution to work to her contract.

I spent 40 years as an educator and I can tell you that each year, teachers were asked to take on more of the roles of administrators, more of a role in counseling students, more of a role in supporting their peers, and more of the role of parenting. And somehow, they were expected to, not only maintain their classrooms, but improve instruction and student achievement. Now….most of my peers were incredibly gifted educators willing to go well beyond their contract to serve the needs of their students. But at some point, enough is enough. There is only so much time in our schedules, and so much gas in the tank.

Today, no every day, I encourage anyone AND everyone involved in the field of education to recognize you are overextending the greatest resource you have; the talented men and women who have dedicated their lives to teaching. Leadership 101 tells us that if you keep increasing the load without equally rewarding the effort, eventually the team will quit pulling the cart. Pay attention folks, the team is tired. Too much is being asked and too little is being given in terms of support and reward. You need great teachers. Now act like you understand what that means. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – January 3, 2022

For many, the New Year is a time for new beginnings. Resolutions are made to eat less and exercise more, to talk less and listen more, or perhaps take less and give more. All well intentioned ideals that, too often, never get accomplished to the degree to which we hope. Somehow life finds a way to distract us and soon, we fall back into our normal routine.

Tomorrow, many of our schools will be heading back to school. For many teachers, this natural break in the schedule allows them to revisit the first portion of the year to assess areas of success, as well as areas in which they fell short. They will return to school with a resolve to change those things that were not working….a new year resolution if you will. I have always found this a perfect time to make cultural and instructional changes. I also found that as long as I didn’t allow myself to become distracted, making these changes after a natural break was very effective.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to use natural breaks in the school schedule as an opportunity to make any major cultural or instructional changes that need to be made. Experience taught me that my students were more open to such changes coming off such breaks. It also taught me that I was more open to such changes after I had a chance to recharge my batteries. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – December 6, 2021

Many people see problems and shake their heads. They experience adversity and throw up their hands. They look at challenges and ask “Why?” ….not seeking a solution, just venting frustration. When they encounter problems, they see no possibilities. They become victims of negative circumstances and cannot help themselves or others.

In my career, I often found myself seeing the teaching profession differently than those around me. I often asked “Why not?”….always looking for the answer or the next step. I saw the problems, but I refused to focus on them, choosing instead to find the solutions. Admittedly this often put me at odds with those who were unable to see the things I saw. There were those who thought I was wrong. Some thought I was just different. Few thought I was right. I decided on right. Dave Ramsey wrote, “Organizations are not limited by their opportunity; they are limited by their leader.” And I had NO intention of limiting my students’ opportunities and potential.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider whether you are a transformational leader. Do you see things others don’t see? Will you say things others won’t say? Do you believe things others don’t believe? Do you feel things others don’t feel? If this is you, welcome to the world of transformational leadership. I spent many years in that world. Admittedly, I didn’t know I was being a transformational leader. I was just being ME. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Find all Today’s Task Posts HERE

Today’s Task – December 2, 2021

What would happen if every student acted like your dream student? What would happen if each of your classes acted like your dream class? What would your world look like if your students acted like everything and everyone mattered? What could happen to your band if your student’s approached every rep and every rehearsal mattered?

As I pondered all of the above questions I couldn’t help but think, did I treat every student like my dream student? Did I treat each of my classes like they were my dream class? Did I act like everything and everyone mattered? Did I approach every rep and rehearsal like they mattered? Oh, I would like to think that in a perfect world, the answer to each would be yes. But I don’t live in a perfect world and I am far from perfect! So I KNOW the answer is no….not always. I do believe, however, that it was yes for the majority of my teaching career. And I think that given the challenges we face and the fact that we are human, that is about the best we can expect.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to continue treating every student and everything as if they matter. The business world is full of companies that believe only profits matter and soon they are out of business. As much as I hate to admit it, there are band programs out there that believe only trophies matter. In truth, successful companies and programs understand they have success because their people MATTER! Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – November 26, 2021

Today’s Task – November 24, 2021

In a recent news broadcast there was a story of a college football player who, following his game, was seen helping the stadium crew clean up the trash left in the stands. When asked about it, he said he does it to keep his life in perspective. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden insisted his teams leave their locker room clean after away games. And one of my former students made it her personal mission to set up the band room at the end of each school day.

A seemingly small gesture on the part of all three of these people, it speaks volumes about the quality of the individual. When I was still teaching, I read the story of John Wooden. Thinking it was a valuable lesson for my students to learn, I set and maintained the expectation that as a program, we would make sure we left our workspace as clean as possible. When we travelled, we cleaned up after ourselves at every stop we made. Besides the fact that it made for a more pleasant working environment, it endeared us to the custodial staff at the school, and the restaurant and hotel staffs when we travelled. Of course, the most important benefit was that my students learned the importance of a clean, organized workspace.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to look for similar examples of how simple gestures can be used as valuable learning experiences for your students. Having witnessed the impact one young lady had on the entire band by setting up the band room every day, I know the value of such lessons. Soon, others were stopping by to assist her, which lead to everyone in the band taking personal responsibility for our space. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – November 18, 2021

Today’s Task – November 16, 2021

NFL Coach Andy Reid has a vision of the type of player he wants on his teams. He is not seduced by a player’s athleticism, if he is a person of bad character. In the NFL’s competitive environment, it takes great discipline to think this way. Reid has been known to pass on a star player with a bad attitude. He understood that when the chips are down, the player with character is always there for you because he will play his heart out for you.

We have all seen the band with an exceptionally talented player with an equally exceptional bad attitude. The Director spends most of his/her time justifying overlooking the student’s bad behavior because….he is a great player! I suspect I have done this more times than I care to admit. But I have also removed that student from the program when every effort to adjust his/her attitude has failed and their behavior is negatively impacting the program. Admittedly, it is a delicate balancing act. We don’t want to “give up” on the student, hoping we can help them improve their character, but we can’t do so at the expense of the program.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider how you deal with that star player who lacks character. Is their positive contribution to the program equal to or greater than their negative contribution? Does the culture of your program encourage and support their behavior? Are you overlooking it, hoping that somehow their bad attitude will disappear? Perhaps, instead, you have a plan for helping this student find a balance between talent and character. If not, do you have the strength to make the decision that is in the best interest of your program….and actually….in the best interest of the student’s growth. Just wonderin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – November 11, 2021

In the past couple of weeks I have seen a number of postings from band directors applauding their student’s efforts in end-of-the-year marching contests. I love that they do that. Interestingly, however, these posts are typically of programs that have done well in these contests. You rarely, if ever, see a posting from the director of the bands who didn’t do well. I wonder what message this sends to the kids in THOSE programs?

Now, before you go all crazy on me, I don’t believe in the “everyone gets a trophy” culture. I believe we must earn accolades based on our performance. My worry, however, is that we are assigning value to some programs based on trophies won, as opposed to growth from the beginning of the year to the end. Let’s be honest, competitive marching is not done on a level field. Some programs spend ridiculous amounts of money on staffing, music, costumes, and props while others function with a single director and minimal budget. I am not against the competitive scene. I just want directors to make sure the value added to their program is not based purely on a trophy or trophies.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider that while winning trophies may represent a quality performance, there will be some quality performances demonstrating great program growth that may not be considered “trophy worthy.” When program quality becomes solely based on trophies won, I think we are doing a huge disservice to our students. In truth, the greatest measure of student success is based on growth. If YOUR students are demonstrating great growth, PLEASE make it a point to share it on social media. I don’t care if they are better than some other program. I only care that they are better today than they were at the beginning of the year. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – November 4, 2021

Today’s Task – November 2, 2021

Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Hetty Lang are the unquestionable leaders of NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles. While their leadership techniques are different, they have one thing in common; a team of agents who are not only very skilled, but incredibly loyal. The success of both shows depends, not only on the relationship of the agents to their leaders, but the relationships between the agents that make up the teams. Over the years, major characters have left the shows and while the framework of the shows remains the same, the addition of their replacements changes the relationships between characters….along with the tone of the show.

Interestingly, this is not unlike what happens in our bands as one class graduates and a new one arrives. We attempt to continue the existing framework while dealing with the change in relationships and band dynamics. The problem is that unlike television productions in which you can go out and get the personality you need, in band, we get who we get. As directors, we have to help our new members successfully assimilate into the existing culture of our program. We can’t just expect they will fit in. We need to actively work on our culture.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider that much like the success of NCIS, your program depends on strong leadership, skilled and loyal members, and a culture that promotes positive relationships. Also like NCIS, as members come and go, the relationships and culture will change. You can either be actively involved in shaping that culture or allowing it to happen on its own. Me? I believe in the active approach. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – October 29, 2021

One of my many problems growing up was that I had a zebra mentality. Then, I wasn’t trying to be faster than the lion; I was only trying to be faster than the slowest zebra. I was focused on doing just enough to get by, just enough to get a passing grade, just enough to not get yelled at by my coach, just enough to keep my job.

I recently read the above which is in reference to the old African proverb of the lion waking up every day knowing it had to be faster than the zebra if it wanted to eat. The zebra wakes up every morning knowing it must be faster than the lion if it wants to survive. Much like the author of the first paragraph, I spent my formative years focusing on being “just fast enough.” It wasn’t until one of my college professors challenged me to be more, that I understood what I was doing. When you are constantly in survival mode, it is difficult to see the opportunities life affords us.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider whether you are a lion….or a zebra. Most people are trying to be a little faster than the slowest zebra. They are focused on avoiding danger and merely surviving things like budget cuts, distance learning, smaller enrollments, and a new teaching environment. I don’t know about you, but I was not interested in merely surviving. I wanted to thrive. And to do that, you have to be a lion. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – October 21, 2021

As a band director, I often found school based professional development programs to be of little value to me. Even if the topic was relatable to what goes on in the band room, too often it was a brief overview of the concept and a directive to use this “new initiative” during the course of the year. Even those who had good intentions of using it walked out of the room with little understanding, and even less tools, to use it effectively.

I wonder how often I offered new, developmental information to my students in much the same manner. Since there is no such thing as a true one-size-fits all approach to anything, I wonder what I did for those who found no inherent value in what I was offering. And even if it was a concept that could help an individual (or group) of students, I wonder if I presented it with enough depth and time so that they could effectively use the tools on their own.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider how you present new information to your students. Are you sure that it is both accessible and relatable to everyone in the room? If not, do you have an alternative approach? And are you presenting the information with enough depth and time that they are able to effectively assimilate the information and then use it effectively? I know how I felt when I left PD meetings designed for someone other than me. I didn’t want my students leaving a rehearsal feeling the same way. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Task – October 14, 2021

Today’s Task – October 11, 2021

If you follow the NFL at all, you know that the first year coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars is on the hot seat. Following last week’s loss, he chose to not return to Florida with the team, opting instead to remain in Ohio. Later, a video surfaced of a young girl appearing to give him a lap dance at a local club. The response from some of his players was that you can’t stand in front of the team, ask them to meet a moral standard, and then act like that! It is no surprise then, that the word is that he has lost the respect of his team.

Want to be successful as a band director? Be a person of character and integrity. If you are going to set the standard, you must also live the standard….every moment of every day. Will you sometimes slip? Of course you will. And when you do, acknowledge it, own it, and fix it. Not only is that the best approach for you, it models to your students a very important lesson. We measure character and integrity not just when you “walk the walk,” but by how you respond when you “trip.”

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider the importance of being a person of character and integrity. What we say to our students may be of far less value than what we model in our actions. Do it right, and you might have the experience I recently had presenting a leadership workshop in Pennsylvania. A former student was a participant and he expressed to the group that “Mr R is exactly who he says he is.” I took that as a compliment. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert
Culture Strategist/Coach
II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders
LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

LCL Today’s Task – October 7, 2021

It is okay to make mistakes. We all do it. When leaders mess up, the apology is a good place to start. But without a change in your behavior, just saying “I’m sorry” is not enough! The only way you can demonstrate that you are really sorry is by changing your behavior. When you do this, the people you have harmed know that you are committed to not repeating the mistake.

For several years I committed myself to making changes when I did stupid things. On my wrist, I would wear a thick rubber band. Every time I would do something dumb, I would snap it against my wrist to remind myself that I was committed to change the behavior. It didn’t take long until one of my students asked why I was wearing the rubber band and why I occasionally snapped it. I simply explained the purpose and continued teaching. Within the next few weeks I noticed several students wearing a rubber band on their own wrist. Modeling behavior is such a powerful tool!

Today, no every day, I encourage you to understand that even YOU, as the director, are permitted to make mistakes. Don’t try to hide it….they know. Just apologize and work on changing the behavior. Your students will be surprisingly gracious when you acknowledge the mistake and take steps to adjust. And if you need, I have a bunch of rubber bands I would be happy to share. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

LCL Today’s Task – September 30, 2021

Recently, I spoke with a first year high school administrator regarding her experience to this point. I was not surprised to hear things like, “every experience is a new experience since it is the first time I have done it.” Or, “I am having to learn to deal with the parents in a different way.” Or, “The relationship with the students is different because when they see me, they see someone who is about to discipline them in some way.” However, the most disconcerting thing she shared was “how do I balance my educational beliefs with the need to make my Principal look good?”

We can talk about her first concerns at a later date, but the one I want to address is “making the Principal look good.” I reminded this emerging leader that the job is not to make the Principal look good, but to help the students be successful. Currently, the leadership styles between the first year administrator and the Principal are in conflict, and rather than pursuing a healthy balance between the two, she thinks she must fall into line so that she doesn’t make the Principal look bad. Leadership is not a “one-size-fits-all” proposition. Certainly the goals of the Administrative staff must be in alignment if they want to be successful, but the means by which that occurs MUST allow for diverse styles of leading. After all, the student population is diverse.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider how you would respond if you were in a similar position to this young administrator. Would you be willing to give up on your own leadership style (assuming you are being successful) to make your Principal look good? Perhaps, instead, you would speak with your Principal and share that while you are on-board with the overall Administrative mission, you would like the freedom to deliver it in the style that best fits your skill set? I know what I would do. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

LCL Today’s Task – September 23, 2021

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

LCL Today’s Task – July 22, 2021

When I felt a student was giving me his or her best effort, I had great patience no matter how slow they progressed. But if I felt a student was doing just enough to get by, I had zero tolerance. Interestingly, until I was in college, I was the student who was very good at doing only what I had to do to get by. That all changed however when I met my freshman English teacher. My roommate, who was in the same class, would get papers back with minor errors marked and get an A. I would get papers back with nothing marked on it except a B. When I took both papers in to the teacher and asked him to explain it to me, he simply looked at me and said, “When you deserve an A, you will get it.”

You see, he understood that I was smart enough to do what it took to get an A….AND….that I wasn’t doing my best work. He challenged me that day. He wanted me to understand that just enough is NOT enough. It was an important lesson I needed to learn and fortunately, he was willing to help me learn it. Moving forward, each paper was better than the previous and still, I received a B. This wasn’t an English lesson. This, was a life lesson. One I may have never learned if not for this insightful and caring teacher.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to challenge your students to learn to give their best effort all of the time. They don’t need teachers who pass them just because they showed up and did the work. They need teachers who care about them enough to expect and demand the very best. Oh, I am sure you will get some push back from some kids and perhaps their parents, but you owe it to your students to teach them this valuable lesson. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

LCL Today’s Task – September 16, 2021

There is no single version of the truth, one valid opinion, one right view, one correct answer, one right approach, or even one absolute faith. There is always another angle, and that is what makes life interesting. A delicacy to one is disgusting to another; a person of faith to one is an infidel to another. A beautiful painting to one is an enigma to another. The yin and the yang make up the whole.

As a mentor, my job is not to “give you the right answer.” It is to help you think through all the possibilities so that you might come to the best answer for you and your circumstances. It is to help you develop a growth mindset. Everything that occurs can be reframed. A loss can be a gain. A challenge can be an opportunity. We must learn to frame things in a way which will allow us to move forward.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to recognize that life has many truths, allows for many opinions, encourages alternative views, and has room for diverse approaches. It is our ability to look at our situation, recognize its place within the whole, and be open to alternative answers that will allow us to move ever closer to success. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

LCL Today’s Task – September 9, 2021

It happens more often than one could ever imagine….and anyone involved will ever admit. First year student is given a class with no existing curriculum, no resources, no guidance, and no support. And in a situation that came my way this evening….no desks in the room! At this point they are nearly 2 weeks into the school year. Are you kidding me?????

So this evening, I received a message from one of my colleagues who happens to be mentoring a young teacher who has found herself in just such a dilemma. The class is a high school general music class (I didn’t even know such a thing still existed) which means the students probably need a Fine Arts credit but they don’t play an instrument and aren’t interested in singing, so they are placed in this class. Well, perhaps class is the wrong term. More like dumping ground. Here is a teacher with no experience developing a curriculum, no experience dealing with the challenges of an urban school, and CLEARLY no support or direction from the school’s administration. I have been asked to meet with my colleague and her mentee to develop a plan and lay the groundwork for both her success, and the success of her students. Something I will be happy to do.

Today, no every day, if you find yourself in a position similar to this young teacher and find that you lack the skills, resources, and support necessary for success, reach out for help. Find a mentor who has the experience and insights to be able to help you get the resources and support you need. Sadly, situations like the one I described above too often result in the teacher either leaving the school or worse, the profession. And this is not the young teacher’s fault. It is the fault of poor leadership at the administrative level. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

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