POLITICS WILL GET YOU POLITICS WILL GET YOU “FIRED” QUICKER THAN “FIRED” QUICKER THAN

DECLINING TEST SCORESDECLINING TEST SCORES

POLITICS WILL GET YOU POLITICS WILL GET YOU “FIRED” QUICKER THAN “FIRED” QUICKER THAN

DECLINING TEST SCORESDECLINING TEST SCORESNAESP ConventionNAESP Convention

April 09April 09thth 2010 2010

Houston, TexasHouston, Texas

04/21/23 @TShortt 1

“THE AGENDA”Setting the stage

1. Satire

2. Definitions/Facts

3. You are involved

4. Assessment1. Are you at risk

6. Reasons for entrapment

7. Rx for overcoming

8. Rx for Failure

9. Summary

10. Questions04/21/23 @TShortt 2

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Act I

04/21/23 @TShortt 3

The Wizard of OZas a satire

L. Frank Baum

• A brief introduction to Baum’s satireDiversity – SymbolicDorothy – Represents American

people and their valuesToto – Reveals the Wizard as a fraud

Representing the average AmericanCyclone – Represents political

upheaval – Americans suffering from deflation04/21/23 @TShortt 4

More on satire

Munchkins – little people who represented the common folk

Silver slippers – relates to monetary political issues (hot topics)

Yellow brick road – gold which leads to power

Oz- the abbreviation for gold – (hot topic)

Tin Woodman – industrial workers

04/21/23 @TShortt 5

More on satireCowardly Lion – (WJB) loud roar, but

no bite, or no powerScarecrow – wisest of allWicked Witch of the East and West –

Eastern businesses – West – William McKinney – ran against Bryan and won (hot political topics)

Good Witch of the North and South – Industrial workers of the North – Farmers of the South

Flying monkeys – Native Americans04/21/23 @TShortt 6

Final on satire

Emerald City and Emerald PalaceWizard – President of the UnitedStates – Each character sees the

Wizard differently – Cynicism in politics for the way politicians change face for different people

At the end of the day – the Wizard not all that powerful – a common man

04/21/23 @TShortt 7

Politics defined and factsAct II

Calculated advancement - the use of tactics and strategy to gain power in a group or organization

Interrelationships in a specific field - the totality of interrelationships in a particular area of life involving power, authority, or influence, and capable of manipulation

Formal and perceived

“Political Entrapment” - Set up – a dishonest plan or trick – made easy04/21/23 @TShortt 8

Facts related to job success principals need to accept

FACT: involved in politics

FACT: common sense is not so common

FACT: schools belong to the citizens

FACT: actions are result of choices

FACT: decisions are ethical driven

FACT: social ties & practice contribute to people’s identity & motivate actions

FACT: trust

FACT: decisions impacts your performance

04/21/23 @TShortt 9

YOU ARE INVOLVED! YOU ARE INVOLVED! Act IIIAct III

YOU ARE INVOLVED! YOU ARE INVOLVED! Act IIIAct III

““LIKE IT OR NOT”LIKE IT OR NOT”

04/21/23 @TShortt 10

INVOLVED IN POLITICS LIKE IT OR NOT

Why you are not immune to politics

Appointed by board and/superintendent

Levels IndividualSchoolCommunityDistrict State National

04/21/23 @TShortt 11

AssessmentAssessmentAct IVAct IV

AssessmentAssessmentAct IVAct IV

Are you at risk?Are you at risk?

SelfSelf

CommunityCommunity

FacultyFaculty

Support staffSupport staff

StudentsStudents

ParentsParents

District officeDistrict office

Other partnersOther partners04/21/23

@TShortt 12

Awareness!Awareness!Awareness!Awareness!

Am I at risk?Am I at risk?

““Assessment 1”Assessment 1”

04/21/23 @TShortt 13

Self Assessment Process

• A School Leader’s Self Assessment to Determine his/her Capacity for Political Entrapment

Each assessment has a number of questions for your response.

The value level of each question is one.

Should your “yes” total be higher than the “no” total you have a PEIQ sufficient for survival.

Should your “no” score value level be higher than your “yes” value level I recommend additional professional development or a long talk on a regular bases with a mentor/coach.

04/21/23 @TShortt 14

Self Assessment

Am I building people, or building my dreams and using people to do it?

How would colleagues answer this question

How would your community partners answer this question

How would you answer this question about yourself

04/21/23 @TShortt 15

DO I “KNOW ME”

• How I think • What I say-when to say-to whom I say• My strengths - my weaknesses• Manage stress• Treatment of people• Ethics/Integrity• Am an active listener• Value contributions• Adapt/Flexible

04/21/23 @TShortt 16

Assessment DO I

• Do things because they are just the right thing to do

• “Think” about what I say before I say it

• Carefully construct politically charged statements

• Truthful and straight forward can be painful but am I

04/21/23 @TShortt 17

Community Community Awareness!Awareness!Community Community Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 2”Assessment 2”

04/21/23 @TShortt 18

Community Assessment

• School community - A group of people with a common background or with shared interests within society i.e. a school community.

• General community - a group of people who live in the same area, or the area in which they live. The public or society in general.

• Communities within communities

04/21/23 @TShortt 19

Community Assessment

• who do you know• internal/external

partners • current political

hot topics/position • political culture • “rain makers”• decisions before

the votes are cast

• considered the education leader

• learning systems • knowledge

productivity • amenable to a

broad view of schooling

• intervention • business

partnership

04/21/23 @TShortt 20

Community Assessment

• political convictions

• school as the traditional learning center

• level involvement

• role of “teacher”

• communication

• expectations of the school leader

• needs of a diverse student population

• the level of tolerability

• the transfer of authority

• amenable to an entrepreneurial society

04/21/23 @TShortt 21

AssessmentHot Political Topics

• Vouchers• Charter schools• Mandates to

receive federal stimulus fund

• Curriculum

• Federal “intrusion”• Sexual orientation• Home schooling• School Closings• Pay for performance• Tax increases for ed

04/21/23 @TShortt 22

Faculty/Staff Faculty/Staff Awareness!Awareness!Faculty/Staff Faculty/Staff Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 3”Assessment 3”

04/21/23 @TShortt 23

Faculty/StaffAssessment

• do I know my faculty and staff

• social, personnel, and professional connection

• involvement within the political context

04/21/23 @TShortt 24

• response of faculty and staff members

• support decision that are best for children

• hidden agendas • loyalty

Support Staff Support Staff Awareness!Awareness!

Support Staff Support Staff Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 4”Assessment 4”

04/21/23 @TShortt 25

Assessment Support Staff

• political and community connections

• life long resident • access • history

04/21/23 @TShortt 26

Student Student Awareness!Awareness!

Student Student Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 5”Assessment 5”

04/21/23 @TShortt 27

Students Assessment

• parents connected

• create a problem • cannot ignore • prominent

parents • the student

characteristics

• advantage• parent reaction• “status” • community

knowledge • student needs

04/21/23 @TShortt 28

Parent Parent Awareness!Awareness!

Parent Parent Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 6”Assessment 6”

04/21/23 @TShortt 29

Parents Assessment

• influence • support • connections• real or perceived• parents in mass• controversial outcomes • hidden loyalty

04/21/23 @TShortt 30

District Office District Office Awareness!Awareness!

District Office District Office Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 7”Assessment 7”

04/21/23 @TShortt 31

District OfficeAssessment

• Do I know which staff members have:the “ear” of the superintendentconnected to members of the local

school board or other local politiciansa proficient knowledge in critical areas

from which I must garner support a vision that is in concert with the

vision for my school

04/21/23 @TShortt 32

Other Partners Other Partners Awareness!Awareness!

Other Partners Other Partners Awareness!Awareness!

““Assessment 8”Assessment 8”

04/21/23 @TShortt 33

Other PartnersAssessment

• civic and service organizations• “rainmakers” • politically ambitious • interest groups • business or job• key leadership positions in business

and industry • know “stuff” • high profile

04/21/23 @TShortt 34

Other partners

• Mail person• Hair person• Bus driver• Food

services• Faith based

• Community secrets

• Community feuds

• History• Grocery

04/21/23 @TShortt 35

Reasons for Reasons for Entrapment!Entrapment!The People The People

FactorFactor

Reasons for Reasons for Entrapment!Entrapment!The People The People

FactorFactor

Act VIAct VI

04/21/23 @TShortt 36

Reasons for entrapment • hidden

agendas• unknown

people factors• overly

ambitious subordinates

• mean spirited• demographics• control

• power• turf

protection• local culture• personal

relationships

04/21/23 @TShortt 37

Reasons for Entrapment

• special interest groups

• revenge• bullies• envy• antagonists

• job security• political ambition• fear• revenge• hidden agenda• politicians• ego• passive aggressive

04/21/23 @TShortt 38

Passive aggressive – a real headache

Passive aggressive very difficult

Create chaos by not responding and not doing

Never commit to a cause or a position

Goals are to –

resist job and social demands

frustrate & anger

colleagues by creating barriers

04/21/23 @TShortt 39

PAENTRAPMENT

• Directly confront the situation…not a laundry list

• Late report:Help me

understand why this report is late

What is your plan for correcting this problem

Tell me the exact time it will be ready

I will expect to see you in this office with the report at 1:00 p.m.

Follow – up is essential

04/21/23 @TShortt 40

PA Behaviors

• Specific behaviorsmanipulate anyone

and everyone divide facultyspecial

consideration to students

“forget something” on purpose

a habit of being late

criticize authority

fail to do fair share of the work

04/21/23 @TShortt 41

PA Entrapment

• Address Behaviorsguard against angerno power struggle

• Describe specific behaviorthe completion of

your part of this report affects the whole

• Not addressing

• Silence is acceptance

• Pick your battles• It is not your job

to change behavior

• negative affect your job

04/21/23 @TShortt 42

PA Confrontation

• Directly confront the situation

• Late report:Help me

understand why this report is late

• What is your correction plan Tell me the exact

time it will be ready

I will expect to see you in this office with the report at 1:00 p.m.

• Follow – up is essential

• Document

04/21/23 @TShortt 43

COMMON SENSE COMMON SENSE DECISION MAKINGDECISION MAKINGCOMMON SENSE COMMON SENSE

DECISION MAKINGDECISION MAKING

# 1 reason factor# 1 reason factor

04/21/23 @TShortt 44

COMMON SENSEFACTS

• Common sense is not so common

• Common sense and your jobBoss does not

sympathize with common sense mistakes

• Commonsense is acquired by:reference points

from experienceobservation of

mentors/coaches

04/21/23 @TShortt 45

Common Sensedecisions/choices

• Money matters• “Messing” with

staff and students

• Ethics/values• “Badmouthing

” • Students w/

special needs

• Sharing confidential information – “see you in court”

• Safety of all students

• Deceitful• Student medical

issues

04/21/23 @TShortt 46

COMMON SENSEDISREGARD FOR POLICY

• Systems and processes that reflect policy:Teacher

evaluations - “see you in court”

Budget/planning

Financial reimbursement

Standardized testing

• Attention to detail is not an option!

04/21/23 @TShortt 47

COMMON SENSETHE WRITTEN

• If you don’t need “it” in writing - don’t!

• Be careful what you put in writing - FOIA

• Don’t leave written material for “public consumption.”

• Faculty/staff evaluation

04/21/23 @TShortt 48

COMMON SENSE - e-mail

• Are electronic communiqués secure

• No jokes or sarcasm

• Don’t use e-mail for controversial or confidential messages

• E-mail messages are not private

• Never send an e-mail that you don’t want to become public

• Careful about what you forward - see it in court

04/21/23 @TShortt 49

COMMON SENSE GENERAL

COMMUNICATION• Effective

communication • Not what you

say but how you say it

• Bearer of bad news

• It is more important to know what not to say than what to say

• Most of all communicate

04/21/23 @TShortt 50

Rx for Rx for Overcoming Overcoming Entrapment!Entrapment!

Rx for Rx for Overcoming Overcoming Entrapment!Entrapment!

Act VIIAct VII

04/21/23 @TShortt 51

BUILD RELATIONSHIPSA skillful principal

builds win-win relationships regardless of barriers created by:

PoliticsHidden agendasP/A peopleUnderstanding

communityDifficult peopleOthers

04/21/23 @TShortt 52

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

• Common sense decision-making as a rule rather than the exception

• Understand politics – the “formal” and “informal”

• Identify and understand the hidden agenda concept

• Hire the best people

• Eliminate the “I” factor

04/21/23 @TShortt 53

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

• Create conditions for effective partnerships

• Be visible

• Do little things well

• Be thick skinned “critics are our friends”

• Accept the loneliness that accompanies the principalship

04/21/23 @TShortt 54

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

• Be focused on the end product – a well educated student

• Use politics for the advantage of your students – never yourself

• The principal’s private and public life

• Develop your own style

04/21/23 @TShortt 55

SUMMARY A RECIPE FOR FAILURE

• Ignore formal and informal politics

• Not understand self

• Not know the people of your community

• Ignore community culture

• Be inaccessible• Lack sensitivity • Ignore advice of

mentor/coach

04/21/23 @TShortt 56

Closing Act

04/21/23 @TShortt 57

I’m “out of” here!

04/21/23 @TShortt 58

Thomas L Shortt• Executive

Director • VAESP• 1805 Chantilly

Ave.• Richmond• VA. 23230

• 804.355.6791• tshortt@vaesp.or

g

04/21/23 @TShortt 59