School Administration Is Not For Me

 For most people,

A graduate degree is a career step forward—

A way to move up the ladder—

A way to make more money.

For me?

I am doing the exact same thing that I did when I graduated with my undergraduate degree—

I’m just a lot better at it—

And I’m making about the same amount of money as I did when I started—

But that’s a different post—

And I have TWO graduate degrees.

 

No doubt, my Divinity School experience grew and changed me as a person.

They were some of the most formative years of my life.

But my Master of School Administration?

I have no idea what it did for me except provide me with a lot of good memories

And a different perspective on school administration—

Which, I have determined, is not for me.

 

It’s a thankless job, really—

School administration—

Always dealing with complaints—

From parents, teachers, students, school board members, and the community—

Always dealing with discipline issues—

Always putting out fires—

Trying to lead with vision but being weighed down so heavily that you can barely see.

 

Maybe that’s why

A few weeks ago during the prayers of the people,

I felt compelled to pray for my administrators.

The urgency hit me like a wave and washed over me until I was saying their names.

 

You need to know that I have amazing school administrators.

I can only begin to know what all they deal with on any given day—

And that’s just at work.

They have lives outside of school as well.

So this urgency to pray?

Well…It’s the least I can do.

No…Actually…it’s the most I can do.

To lay down my life for others in prayer.

 

So I’m going to ask you to join me in praying for your school administrators.

And if you don’t teach, or have students in school,

Then I’m still going to ask you to pray for school administrators,

And teachers,

And school board members,

And politicians who affect schools in ways they don’t even know.

Public schools are under attack in ways that I won’t go into here.

We need good people.

Yet we are losing them every day.

 

God: Thank you for guiding me to a place with leaders who care for others and lead with trust and encouragement rather than micro-management and hand-slaps. Be with them now. Grant them wisdom, strength, stamina, courage, and the vision to lead us forward. Renew and refresh their spirits and give them happiness and contentment in their lives and work. Be with teachers who have difficult administration. Be with administrators who lead out of intimidation and fear and help them to see alternative ways. Transform lives and modify ways so that love and respect are modeled for all.

 

Amen.