Episode Details

In today’s episode, Will Parker shares poignant takeaways from a summer hiking trip with his son, Jack, applying those insights to the realm of school leadership. The discussion centers on the importance of being present, connecting with students, and celebrating even the small moments.

Afterward, Will and co-host Jen Schwanke talk about applying those lessons to leadership, including these tips:

1. Walk the Land: The idea that you must be deeply involved in your environment to understand it.
2. Look Down: Pay attention to the details and small moments that may otherwise go unnoticed.
3. Observe the Patterns: Recognize behavioral and emotional trends among students and staff.

Jen’s Perspectives

• Emotional Pulse: What are the ‘feels’ in the school? What emotions seem consistent?
• Observing Loneliness: Are you attentive to students who may be sitting alone or hiding away in common areas?

Jen’s Tip

• A simple smile, a shoulder squeeze, or a high-five can go a long way.
• Hallway Exploration: Do you immerse yourself in crowded hallways during passing periods to discover what’s happening?

Jen’s Insights

• Use this time for informal positive feedback for teachers and to uplift the school atmosphere.
• Listening In: Do you ever pause outside classrooms to appreciate good instruction or enjoy musical performances?

Jen’s Experience

• She used to record sounds from different school environments, like recess or the library, and play them back later to uplift her spirits.

Final Thoughts

These small, often overlooked moments are the building blocks for lasting memories and could serve to ground you throughout the school year. These are also the moments where you can discover or rediscover the best-kept secrets about your school community.

We hope you’ll listen to the entire episode, and we hope this discussion encourages you to be more present and intentional in your role as a school leader, helping you connect with your school community in meaningful ways. 

Below is a longer post where Will adds the descriptions and longer version of the story he tells Jen in today’s episode. Thank you again for doing what matters!

Not Missing Out on Your Best Kept Secrets

By William D. Parker, August 18, 2023

This past summer, my son Jack and I headed out to the Panhandle of Oklahoma for some dad-and-son time. For the past couple of years, Jack has been interested in seeing the Black Mesa area where Oklahoma has its highest point of 4,731 feet above sea level. For those familiar with the prairie, you will not be surprised to know that the drive across Oklahoma’s most western lands includes a lot of open sky and open lands. From the highway, you can sometimes see thirty or forty miles in either direction, wide expanses of grass bordered by barbed wire fences. 

Further west, however, you discover some hidden gems: the Alabaster caverns near Woodward; the Gloss Mountains with gypsum that reflects like glass off red buttes; and then the surprise of the Black Mesa Prairie Reserve. With more than 1,700 acres, you can enjoy a 4-mile hike to Oklahoma’s highest point. If you walk another 1,200 feet to the western edge of the summit, you’re met by a panoramic view of a long, green valley. 

Jack and I sat on long slabs of black rock and ate lunch. The view below stretched for miles – a sea of green dotted by bushes, cedars, and ribboned with dusty field roads. Boundaries were lined with