Eat, Pray, Love or How a Principal Makes it Through the Day

     I got to do my second observation last week.  Now, I have had the opportunity to observe in a large middle school and a small elementary school.  Both were outstanding schools with great principals and staffs.  I felt lucky to get to observe two high quality administrators.
     There was one thing I noticed about both schools, principals have a LOT to do.  We have all had one of those days when our to-do lists are overwhelming, and as the day goes on it just gets busier.  It seems that this is the norm for principals.  After observing last week, I found another principal with his desk  piled high with paperwork, projects to work on, parents to visit, teachers to check on, and crises to handle.
     On the day I went to visit there was a lot going on in the building.  The principal was busy organizing his paperwork for his accreditation meeting.  The preschoolers, kindergartners, and 6th graders were taking pictures in caps and gowns.  There were students to talk to, parents to greet, teachers and substitutes to check in on, and one graduate student observing from UCO.
     As I observed I noticed he prioritized his to-do list.  He delegated some tasks to his office staff and sent an email to a staff member that could be depended on to handle his request quickly.  It was obvious he had a wonderful staff that he could count on to help out.
     He made time for the things that were important to him.  He got to greet the afternoon preschoolers and kindergartners as they arrived.  He visited each classroom and got to see one group of preschoolers get their pictures made in caps and gowns.  As we walked back to the office to get some more done on the accreditation paperwork we ran into the kindergarten teacher standing in her doorway.  A kindergartner had thrown up in the doorway as they were leaving to take pictures.  The principal called for a custodian and then went around to the back door and led the students to the library for pictures.  This allowed the teacher to take care of the student and meet us there.  He was genuinely happy to be of help.  It was apparent that he loves his job and the students in his school.
     The next time I am overwhelmed with my to-do list I am going to remember the things I learned from this outstanding principal; prioritize, delegate, refocus on the important things, and you can always leave some things for tomorrows to-do list.  I hope you will remember these also.

“Il bel far niente means 'the beauty of doing nothing'... [it] has always been a cherished Italian ideal. The beauty of doing nothing is the goal of all your work, the final accomplishment for which you are most highly congratulated. The more exquisitely and delightfully you can do nothing, the higher your life's achievement. You don't necessarily need to be rich in order to experience this, either.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love