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00:00:17 --> 00:00:23 Grundmeyer Leader Services, where together we are transforming education, one leader at a time.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 Now, get ready to amplify your day with your morning boost.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 Hello, everybody. Welcome back to your morning boost. Happy Wednesday.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 Happy November 19th. And again, we're celebrating this entire week,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 this National Education Week. And today is a very crucial day in that.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 This is our Support Professionals Day within National Education week.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 So this is one where we celebrate all of those people that are really the backbone
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 of the school, our custodians, our secretaries, our cooks, our aides, everybody.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 There's so many people that go into the lives of our students every single day,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:05 and it's a good time for us to recognize them and celebrate them together.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 I want to welcome back our special guest this week, Dr.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:15 Lisa Hill, the host of Vice Principal on Office and longtime educator and expert and friend of mine.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 I just I've been looking forward to this conversation all week,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 and you certainly have not disappointed. This has been great.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 No pressure. I mean, I'm going to have to keep you going.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 Well, these people, they keep the lights on. They keep our students fed,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 keep everything safe, keep us running.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 And so we're going to talk a little bit about how to honor them as we come up
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 with our question here. So I'll give you a little hint. That's what's coming
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 up right after our commercial break.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 Where's your kid headed after high school? We are, from carpool to college,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:49 two accomplished educators, college and career consultants, and parents who
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 guide families through the entire journey, from freshman year planning to senior year success.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 All right, welcome back to your Morning Boost. So like I said, Dr.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:12 Hill, today we're going to talk about empowering our support staff and recognize them.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:17 And I think this is a group of people that too often just show up every day
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 and work, work, work, work, work, and we don't take that time to just really
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 value the work that they do. I'm hoping that you can give us a few tips and
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 pointers from stuff that you've done in the past.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:31 And as an AP, I think that that's a great opportunity for us to get some really
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 quick capital with all the people doing all the hard work.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:41 So what's a simple and I'd say non-monetary way that we as an AP can truly show
00:02:41 --> 00:02:47 how much we value the work of all of those people that goes beyond just a general thank you email?
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 Well, I think what these people need to hear is a simple thank you.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Hello, when you're walking down the hall, learn their names.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Every building I've ever worked in.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 And maybe this comes from my parents. You know, you treat people well.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:03 It doesn't matter what they do.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:09 You know, we're all equal. Just treat everybody well. But I've learned that
00:03:09 --> 00:03:14 you need to just say hello and help them work alongside them.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 And every building I've gone into, they're always surprised and stop and say,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 why do you say hello to me?
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Like, what do you mean? Why would I not say hello to you?
00:03:23 --> 00:03:31 And what I often hear is that when people become administrators from the superintendent down,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:36 even some board members, they never say hello to those people or acknowledge
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 the work that they do. It's happened in every building I've worked in.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 And I remember starting at one building and the custodians cleaning up after
00:03:44 --> 00:03:48 lunch and I'm helping pick up some leftover trays and picking up a mess.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 And he said, what are you doing?
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 I said, well, I'm helping you. He said, why would you do that?
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 I said, because we're on the same team?
00:03:57 --> 00:04:03 Aren't we supposed to do that? And just that little bit of me helping and acknowledge
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 him and always saying hello, finding out something about him that I can talk to him about.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 Like, how's your child? What's going on?
00:04:10 --> 00:04:15 It made all the difference in the world. That would happen with associates, with secretaries.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 You know, a secretary would get a little weepy because they didn't think they'd
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 get things done. I'm like, well, I can help you.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:25 What do you mean you can help me? Why would I not help you? I'm not about hierarchy.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:29 So when you enter the role of leadership, you haven't arrived.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 You've got to work alongside your people. You have to understand their jobs
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 so that you can support them.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:40 And if they fall down, you know why they fell down and pick them back up.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 And then I think those people...
00:04:43 --> 00:04:47 I think they become loyal. They work harder for you. They will support you.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 So when you're having a bad day, they're right there beside you.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 And so I just treat people with
00:04:53 --> 00:04:59 kindness. And I am just amazed at how many administrators don't do that.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 That's not how we should do things. It sounds simple.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 It does sound simple. You make it sound simple.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 But it must not be. But I don't know how else to live.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:14 So I just take care of people no matter what their role is. I've mopped floors.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 I mean, you name it, I've done it.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:22 Doesn't matter that it's not my job. I hate the phrase, it's above my pay grade.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 There is no such thing. We're all on the same team. And I can remember being
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 in one building, and they said, well, when the suits walk by,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 they don't say anything to us.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:36 And I thought, well, that is not good. Because these are taxpayers.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 They're paying our salaries.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 They're helping our schools. They're helping our children.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 So we should all just pitch in. It doesn't matter your role.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:50 That would be my advice for APs just getting started. You never arrive. You take care of people.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 I think that's really impressive words to send out there to everybody.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 Again, it can be little things, right? It's, hey, you need to go use bathroom
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 real quick. I'll sit here and man the phones in case somebody calls or somebody
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 comes to the front door and needs to be buzzed in.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:16 And yeah, it doesn't have to be this monumental, large, you know,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:21 celebration and acknowledgement. Those are great, too, but just value in the
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 work because at the end of the day, students are at the center. That's why we're here.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 We're here to make everything as, you know, as great as we can for all of our
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 kids. So that's just awesome.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:33 Well, and when you talk to people and know your staff, no matter what their
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 role, and can actually say their name.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 I mean, yeah, we could do pizza for custodian day. Okay, big deal.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 But if you actually work alongside them and know their name,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 I think that means so much more to those people. Yeah.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:54 Well, three down. We got two more to go. So, again, it doesn't amaze me because
00:06:54 --> 00:06:58 I expect this out of you because this is what you do all the time. So, awesome stuff.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 Again, Dr. Hill, we appreciate your words of wisdom. And we will be back again
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 tomorrow with yet another question as we hammer out this week together.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 So, again, thank you. And thank you, listeners, for joining us.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 We will be back again as we talk with you again tomorrow.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:33 Is an AWB education production brought to you with the generous support of Grundmeyer Leader Services.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:38 Join us again tomorrow for more. Until then, keep boosting your impact.