1. What have you found most challenging as a leader in the education sector?

Rigid thinking! Although older leaders are appreciated for their wisdom and experiences, sometimes a bit more flexibility in how they perceive progression, would greatly minimize many challenges.

2. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Wake up, Worship, plan/preview/review, teach/administration, exercise, self-care, sleep

3. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

Learning to speak the various "languages" of the different publics that I work with. In other words, for the individual who is struggling, speak the language of "encouragement and inspiration". For the type "A" personality person, I would speak the language of "patience". What has assisted me in my language learning experiences has been to put myself in the "shoes" of the other, allowing me to gauge how to speak one's language effectively.

4. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Dr Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Successful People" has had a profound impact on my leadership style over the years. Putting into practice the concept of "circles of influence" is whole effective and doesn't waist valuable time.

5. How do you find and keep great leaders in the education sector?

Firstly, great leaders will find the educational sector! Provided the district can and will support a great visionary leader's altruistic vision and mission of his/her leadership, pay, benefits, will always be secondary.

6. What's most important as a leader in the education sector for developing a culture of wellbeing in your staff and students?

First of all, it's vitally important to understand the values of the dominant group(s) that you serve. After knowing this, it will be easier to align one's leadership with the cultivation of a culture of wellbeing in both staff and students.


7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader in the education sector so far?

When trying to cultivate a culture of education, including amongst many, academic pride, I had to be patient. All the students and their parents know how serious I am about the benefits of education. Because I have the benefit of having a student for four years as their homeroom teacher, mentor, guide, and facilitator, I "mold" every student within their capacities to learn and achieve. Students who allow me to "mold and push" more, I oblige. In one particular case, one student really opened up to me allowing me to really be an agent of change in her life! As a result, upon learning of her dreasms and ambitions, I began to counsel her and expand her thinking. She was so motivated, that she surpassed all of her own expectation and really began to believe that she could reach her dream job. I told her parents and they because very supportive of my efforts with their child. I introduced the student and parents to a path forward, which included a private high school, before going on to a private college. After speaking with the private high school of this student that I had been mentoring for success in both academics and leadership, they they threw in a sizable scholarship. I raised the greater portion and today this student is flourishing. In my 5h-8th class, other students with their family's support have upped the ante of their seriousness in their studies. Academic pride is soaring these days!