During the Annual Spring Conference MoASBO will be taking donations to sponsor veteran(s) for the Central Missouri Honor Flight. Check out the MoASBO website for additional information on this year's Legacy event.

 

In Missouri, the seasonal changes offer many opportunities for growth.  In education, we experience these same opportunities which allow for the advancement of student learning within our school districts. 

 

Recently I saw a statement that most New Year’s resolutions are broken within the first 12 days of the year.  Just like in our personal lives, our professional lives require us to commit to change for the purposes of the betterment of the end product:  our students!

 

January 1 offers a new year for the 900,000 students being educated in Missouri public schools.  As school business officials, we play a substantial role in the success of these students in the coming semester.

 

From late winter through early spring into summer, numerous meetings will be conducted at the district building and program level leading to budget development for the 520 public schools in the state.  Throughout the course of these meetings, tough decisions are reviewed, analyzed, agreed upon, and implemented allowing for the educational advancement of our children.

 

Let me be the first to thank you for your involvement in this complex and challenging process that leads to the growth within our schools.  Like the changing seasons, each part of this budget endeavor results in significant outcomes which involve students, staff, administration, schools districts, and communities. 

 

I hope you have a wonderful second semester.  I look forward to seeing you at the spring conference at Tan-Tar-A.  Registration for this conference is currently available on the MOASBO website.  We are going to have a great conference offering professional development opportunities that I hope help you continue with your growth as a school business official.

 

Here is to a wonderful 2019! 

 

All of my best in education,

Clint Johnston

Superintendent, Jefferson R-VII School District

“It's the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling. And everyone telling you be of good cheer. It's the most wonderful time of the year!”

This is the time of year when many of us choose to spread good tidings and cheer to our fellow man.  We, as educators, don’t have to look very far to identify some people who may be in need some cheer – our students.

 

We can identify students who have things occurring in their lives that may not allow for individual success or happiness. These students may not be excited for the upcoming holidays or their time away from school during winter break.  Many will not have home-cooked meals or heat to keep them warm.  Some will not receive a present from a loved one or have the resources necessary to give a loved one a gift.    These are all things that too many of us take for granted on a daily basis.

 

We have the opportunity to make the world a better place - one child at a time -with our actions and efforts.  Regardless of the situations these children face, all of these matters require the actions of adults. 

 

What can we do to make the world a little bit happier for each and every student?  What hope can we give a student who is facing what appears to be a hopeless situation?

For starters, it requires each one of us to be aware of the challenges our students face:

• Get to know your students on a one-on-one basis.
• Take the time to ask your students what their wishes are for this time of year. That one question can speak volumes to an educator’s ears if we are truly listening to their responses. 

If you and your staff learn of physical needs that your student(s) have, determine if there are local and community resources available that can meet some of these needs.  There are so many people who are looking for an opportunity to give to those who are less fortunate.  Tap into these resources; after all, both the giver and the receiver will be blessed because of that!

 

My hope for you as public educators is that you will be a decision maker who is dedicated to helping children improve and enhance their lives.  Before your students leave for break, make sure they know that you and your staff care about them individually and that you are looking forward to seeing them on their first day back from break! 

Here’s wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!

These one-hour webinars offer a convenient way to continue your professional development without having to leave your school district.  Veteran and new business officials will find benefit from these interactive forums on key school business topics.  Take advantage of these FREE on-line courses and learn from experts in the field. 

 

Registration is FREE for MoASBO Active Members. Cost is $20 per webinar for non-members. An invoice will be provided to the email address used to access the webinar. 

Over the last month I have come to understand that, in life, each of us is presented with personal and professional “mountains” that have to be moved in order for us and our organizations to be successful.  How we respond to these mountains will have a dramatic effect on our lives and how others view our personal and professional leadership. 

One of the first things individual leaders must assess from the outset of any mountain moving event is the size of the mountain.  Too many times the size of the mountain will be amplified by others in order to attempt to create a false sense of urgency for action to be initiated.  Leaders need to:

• Take the time to establish a clear picture of the matters at hand, and then begin the process of moving forward.
• Take the time to establish a solid plan to move the mountain.
• Surround themselves with a solid team to provide the resources and materials to get the plan right the first time.
• Execute the plan.
• Celebrate the outcome.

My current mountain, a diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), has forced me to take a step back and look at the world I am expected to lead.  I am striving to employ the steps listed above as I face the CML mountain.

Time and time again I have conveyed to my staff the importance of harmony in your life to ensure that you take care of you.  I used to speak of balance in our work and personal life; but, during a recent professional development experience at the ASBOI Eagle Institute we talked more about creating harmony.  During this event, we learned that harmony is defined as a solid focus on the issues at hand at the moment of interaction.  In short, do your job when you are at work and focus on your life and your family when you get home.  All of us struggle with being workaholics throughout the school year, and I have found myself in that pattern many times over the past 27 years of education.  But, as I sit here writing this article, I feel the pain of my chemo drugs fighting the battle in my body to overcome this disease.   The pain tells me the drugs are working and that I am going to move this mountain.  I have had to slow down and focus on me.  I’m finding, like many of you, that is the hardest leadership skill to learn.  Far too often it is overlooked, which results in facing bigger mountains that cannot be moved.   
 

I hope each of you will use my thoughts to understand that life is short and we need to make sure that life’s mountains don’t overwhelm us.  Stay true to your character values and your mountain moving events will produce positive results on all levels.

Have a wonderful Fall! Take the time to get out and go for a walk while holding the hand of a loved one. Be grateful for every day. Keep moving those mountains!