Biography
Dr. James M. Halik President & Founder Compass-Keynote Consulting, LLC 1529 S. 575 W. Morgantown, IN 317-522-7474 halikj@compasskeynote.com www.compasskeynote.com Above Photo: Strategic Planning Retreat Preparation by James M. Halik, Ph.D.
Compass-Keynote Consulting LLC, President & Founder
School Board Orientation and Training School Corporation/District Strategic Long-range Planning Motivational Administrator and Faculty Retreats Inspirational Opening of School Addresses Conference and Seminar Keynote Presentations School Climate Audits Neola, Indiana Associate School Board Policy Development & Consultation Administrative Guidelines Development & Consultation Handbook and Form Development & Consultation |
INTRODUCTION
I was born in Lansing, Michigan where I attended school kindergarten through the ninth grade. My father was transferred to Indianapolis, Indiana and relocated in Johnson County where I graduated from Center Grove High School which is only 9 miles from Franklin College. With the exception of two years I have lived and worked within twenty miles from the home where I lived. Franklin area has been my home for 45 years!
FAMILY
Married to Connie (45 years), a retired third grade teacher from the Franklin Community School Corporation, Franklin, Indiana. We have three daughters whom all graduated from Franklin Community High School, Lindsay (Kindergarten Teacher), Jessica (Cosmetologist), and Kristin (Kindergarten Teacher) and eight grandchildren, Madeline (a freshman at Franklin College majoring in Journalism), Audrey, Nora, Harrison, Henry, Hudson, Liam (deceased), and River.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 2012
Specialization: Educational Leadership
Dissertation: Quantitative National Study
“Does the Training of School Board Members Make a Difference”
Ed.S. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 1981
Specialization: School Superintendency
M.S. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 1978
Major: Earth Science/Geology and Secondary Education
School Principal License
Research: Thesis Topic – “The Quality of Indiana Ground Water Table”
B.S. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 1975
Major: Earth Science/Geology
Minor: Natural Resources, Geography, and Marketing
Endorsements: Junior High/Middle School and Driver Traffic Education
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
President/Founder Compass-Keynote Consulting, LLC, Morgantown, Indiana 2014-Present
Primary Purpose: Mentor, Coach, and Guide on the Side
Serve more than 200 of the 291 Indiana School Corporations
Work in 67% of Indiana’s Counties
Primary Role:
Facilitator for school board orientation and training;
Board and administrator strategic planning retreats;
School Leadership Team Development;
Motivational/Inspirational Keynote Speaker;
Facility Planning;
Organizational Climate Audits; and
Policy Development
Subcontractor Neola, Inc., Coshocton, Ohio 2014-Present
Primary Purpose: School Board Policy Development
Primary Role:
Indiana Associate
Serve 78 Indiana School Corporations
Work in 34 Indiana Counties
CLIENT PRAISE
I have the exciting opportunity to make a difference each day, one school corporation at a time, traveling to a new town serving as a mentor, coach, and guide for boards and school leaders as they strive to improve their schools. Before I leave every work session, retreat, speech, or meeting I ask participants to complete a brief evaluation of my work. I have literally hundreds of positive evaluations to share that reflect the following:
“I wish I would have had this training 7 years ago. Jim is great and I learned so much – great message”
Salem Community School Board Member
“Passionate about defining vision, goals, and responsibilities. Good job! Appreciated it very much.”
Paoli Community School Board Member
“Thank you, Doc, for passing the torch and keeping it glowing. I continually learn daily and today it felt
like I read a novel!” Jennings County School Administrator
“Great! I think that your big ideas are important. Have you thought about publishing a book about your twelve expectations?” Butler University EPPSP Student
“I have been to a couple of your presentations and I have always enjoyed them! Your energy is inspiring and makes it easy to pay attention.” Tippecanoe School Corporation IASBO Member
“This was a very informative session that reminded me what it means to be a good board member.”
Franklin Community School Corporation Board Member
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor Franklin College, Franklin, IN 1985-03, 2019-20
Education Department – Undergraduate BS Degree Program
Courses:
Methods of Instruction – Middle School
Methods of Teaching Middle School & High School Content: Social Studies
Adjunct Professor University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 1984-87, 2015-18
Education Department – Undergraduate BS Degree Program
Courses
Middle School Teaching Methods
Education Department – Graduate MBAE Degree Program
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Program
Courses:
Strategic Management of Talent in Education
Thriving School Audits: Thriving Schools Thriving Communities
Economic Development: Schools as Change Agents
Business Department – Graduate MBAE Degree Program
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Program
Course:
Funding, Taxes, and Growth
Adjunct Professor Butler University, Indianapolis, IN 2014-2018
Education Department – Undergraduate BS Degree Program
Courses:
Introduction to the Teaching Profession
Computers in Education
Adjunct Professor Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 2014-2015
Education Department – Graduate Ed.S. Degree Program
Course:
Leadership for Learning Curriculum
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Defensive Driving Instructor Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indianapolis, IN 1976-2003
Instructor (Graduated more than 12,000 Hoosier Drivers)
Received the Indiana Instructor Achievement Award 25 straight years
Received a Commendation from the Governor of Indiana for:
“Outstanding Service to Indiana Award”
Red Apple Textbook Repair, Bargersville, IN
Founder/Owner/Operator
Professional Bookbinder for 25 years 1982-2016
Repaired Textbooks for Indiana Schools
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Principal Custer Baker Intermediate School Franklin, IN 2018-2019 Interim
5th -6th Grade School
Enrollment: 783 Students
Superintendent Richland-Bean Blossom School Corp. Ellettsville, IN 2017-2018 Interim
Pre-K – 12th Grade School Corporation
Enrollment: 3,000 Students
Principal Union Elementary School Franklin, IN 2016-2017 Interim
K-4th Grade School
Enrollment: 127 students
Principal Center Grove Elementary School Greenwood, IN 2016-2017 Interim
K-4th Grade School
Enrollment: 1,200 students
Principal Needham Elementary School Franklin, IN 2015-2016 Interim
K-4th Grade School
Enrollment: 490 students
Superintendent C.S.C. Southern Hancock County New Palestine, IN 2004-2014 Retired
Pre-K – 12th Grade School Corporation
Enrollment: 4,000 students
Superintendent Franklin Community School Corporation Franklin, IN 1994-2004
Pre-K – 12th Grade School Corporation
Enrolment: 5,200 students
Principal Center Grove Middle School Greenwood, IN 1987-1994
6th – 8th Grade School
Enrollment: 1,352 students
Principal Custer Baker Middle School Franklin, IN 1983-1987
6th – 8th Grade School
Enrollment: 952 students
Asst. Principal Center Grove Middle School Greenwood, IN 1981-1983
6th – 8th Grade School
Enrollment: 1,200 students
Asst. Principal Concord Junior High School Elkhart, IN 1979-1981
7th – 8th Grade School
Enrollment: 800 students
Science Teacher Center Grove Middle School Greenwood, IN 1978-1979
Science Teacher Perry Meridian Middle School Indianapolis, IN 1975-1978
LEADERSHIP SUCCESSES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and ACHIEVEMENTS
Leadership is about empowerment, it is about mentoring, coaching, and guiding others in their work so that good things can happen. The leadership successes, accomplishments, and achievements that I have been a part of throughout my career would not be possible without the help of my peers and colleagues. The single most important part of a leader’s responsibility is to hire the right people, surround yourself with competent and capable staff and provide them with a set of clear expectations. I often highlight my successes, accomplishments, and achievements using a diagram that I refer to as “Our Circle of Success.”
Principalships
I became a building administrator at a very young age and now have collectively 19 years of experience in middle management. During my career as a building leader we accomplished many wonderful things. I believe I am perceived by others as innovative, creative, and collaborative. Center Grove Middle School received the prestigious Blue-Ribbon Award and I received the Principal of the Year Award for the work we did and the changes we made. While I was a Principal, we continually tried new things that were out of the box for that period of time in the 1980’s and 1990’s and now they have become past practice and tradition. Examples include:
- Under my leadership I wanted to assure that Title IX requirements both in academics and extra-curricular were met according to the law. We developed a master academic schedule that provided equal opportunities for all children to take electives of their choice regardless of prior gender bias that existed at the time and provided an equal number of extra-curricular activities for young men and women to participate. All family consumer science, industrial technology, and physical education classes became co-educational. We were early innovators of the “no-cut” and “everyone plays” rules so that more students had an opportunity to experience the middle school philosophy of “exploratory.”
- As Principal we collaborated with middle school staff from other innovative school corporations and created schools within a school concept that included Interdisplinary Teams which was not a popular idea at the time. This concept was not new on a national level but new to Indiana educators. Teaming as we called it, was a way to break down large schools like mine (1,300 +/- students) into smaller communities where teachers had an opportunity build relationships with students. This concept also provided time and opportunities for teachers to plan lessons together and improve communication with parents.
- I discovered quickly that with a staff of over 200 in my building I needed to establish a set of clear expectations. Late one afternoon in 1987 I invited a teacher to meet with me regarding her performance. I proceeded to tell her that she was perceived as the most negative influence in the building and that she did not meet my expectations. At the time I did not have a clearly written set of expectations. Following that meeting I went home and spent the night writing my “Twelve Expectations” with a narrative explaining exactly what I met by each. These have been the focus of many presentations that I have made during the past thirty-two years and they have been published many times since.
LEADERSHIP SUCCESSES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and ACHIEVEMENTS
Superintendency
Many years in the principalship prepared me well for the superintendency. My school improvement teams never became comfortable with the status quo. We continually strived to make things better. Change for the sake of change is not a good thing, we used research and data as part of our strategic plans. Stephen Covey is quoted, “as good as we are, how can we become better.” Change takes time, I believe you do it with people, not to them. Covey also reminds us that “the process is as important as the outcome.” As much as we would like on occasion to tell people what to do and how to do it, we need to take time to process ideas and lead by listening. My leadership style is collaborative and that is why I believe I have been successful and able to work within twenty miles of where I lived as a young man. As superintendent of schools I was met with many challenges, none of which my staff and I could not overcome. Examples include:
As the Superintendent of Schools for 21 years I faced many financial challenges. One rule I assured my Board of School Trustees is that I will always have enough cash balance to meet our monthly expenses. I never lost one night of sleep worrying about whether we would make payroll or pay the bills. Fiscal responsibility is at the top of the list as far as I am concerned.
- While Superintendent at Franklin Community School Corporation through strategic planning and community involvement we closed an elementary school, built a new elementary school, renovated a 1950’s elementary school, renovated and tripled the size of a middle school, built a new transportation center, improved athletic facilities, designed and broke ground on a new high school, and started plans to renovate the old high school for a middle school, and made the quantum leap into technology starting with the installation of fiber optics. All of this was at a cost of around $300 million dollars without a petition or remonstrance.
- Negotiating contracts with teachers for some school leaders is a challenge both in process and financially. As the Superintendent of two larger than average school corporations we were able to negotiate fair contracts and settle quickly without straining the school corporation. This was accomplished with openness, fairness, and communication.
- I am extremely proud of the fact that both school corporations had healthy cash balances in their general funds (operations fund now). During my last audit as a Superintendent I was told that we needed to spend some of our cash. We were told that we were not a savings and loan bank. My rule of thumb was if we had a $30 million-dollar general fund budget, we should maintain and protect our cash balance at 3.5-4 million dollars. We had nearly $5 million dollars at the time the auditor suggested we reduce the cash balance.
Strategic planning has always served as our roadmap to progress. Whether the issue was student achievement, technology integration, facility improvement, or branding the school corporation we would ask for volunteers who were representative of all stakeholders to serve on a strategic planning committee where we would design and draft an “action plan” that would serve as a living document. Action plans served as our map, though we often changed direction when inflight correction was necessary. We would use the Vision of the Board of School Trustees as our compass needle to assure that we were going in the right direction. The next step would be a discussion and reflection of our “core values” and/or “belief statements” as benchmarks for the “why” we have a perceived need for change. Once we gave critical thought to the vision, the why, and the core values we would write a “goal action plan” that included:
- Vision
- Mission
- Values & Beliefs
- Plan
- Time Line
- Responsibilities
- Benchmarks
- Data Tools
- Evaluation
- Celebration
these goal action plans. We would review our progress and collect our artifacts during
monthly meetings with committees and/or administrative meetings and make quarterly
reports to the Board of School Trustees. This became a part of our culture and everyone
knew they had a responsibility to these goals, held accountable, and were evaluated
accordingly.
Additional successes we were proud to have included in “Our Circle of Success” were: “Quality Schools” by the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, National Blue Ribbon High School, 1:1 K-12 Technology, Pre-Kindergarten Program, IDOE District Letter Grade of “A”, Listed as a Best High Schools in the country, Indiana Chamber Best Buy, Energy Star Award for all Schools, eLearning Innovation Award, 95% Graduation Rate, and 90%+ Passing English and Math State on Assessments.
HONORS/AWARDS/DISTINCTIONS
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
Franklin College Distinguished Service Award
Franklin Chamber of Commerce Service Award
Franklin’s Citizen of the Year Award
Johnson County Community Foundation: The Jim Halik’s Kids Are Special People Scholarship Fund
Leadership Johnson County Graduate of the First Cohort (Class of 1994)
Honorable Distinction by the Indiana General Assembly: Senate and House of Representatives
Indiana Outstanding Principal of the Year Award
Indiana’s Principal of the Year
District #9 Indiana Principal of the Year (IASP)
Commendation, Governor Robert D. Orr Outstanding Service to the State of Indiana Award
National Principal of the Year Nominee Award (NASSP)
Crossroads of America Boy Scout Council Award of Merit
Indiana Blue Ribbon Parent Award
Star Alliance (I-Star) Distinguished Service Award
Indiana’s National Blue-Ribbon Award (Center Grove Middle School)
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle Instructor Achievement Award (25 years)
Enrique Camarena One Person Can Award – Indiana Federation of Drug Free Communities
Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
Neola President’s Achievement Award
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (Current & Past Service)
Elected to the Bargersville Town Council Eight Years Town Board Member (2 Terms)
Served Bargersville Utility Board Six Years Member of the Board
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents Member, Committee Chairman
Indiana Association of School Principals Founding Board & Life Member
South Central Superintendents Study Council Founding Board Member/Past President
East Central Education Service Center Member of the Board
Hancock-Shelby-South Madison Special Education Co-op Member of the Board
Crossroads of America Boy Scout Council Member of the Board
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 245, Greenwood, IN Scoutmaster
Friends of the White River Education Advisor
Indiana Junior Achievement Member of the Board
Johnson County Development Corporation Education Advisory Board Member
Appointed by the Governor “Circle-7 Job Training Council Member of the Advisory Board
Johnson County Solid Waste Management Citizens Advisory Board/Past President
Johnson County Special Education Co-op Member of the Board
Indiana Principal Leadership Academy Presenter, Facilitator, Advisory Board
Rotary International, Franklin, IN Club (Paul Harris Fellow) Member of the Board and Treasurer
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Education Advisory Board Member
Franklin Chamber of Commerce Member of Executive Board
Central Indiana School Employees Federal Credit Union Member of the Board
New Palestine Chamber of Commerce Member
Leadership Hancock County Member of the Board
Leadership Johnson County Graduate/Alumni Association Member
Indiana Retired Teachers Association Life Membership
Johnson County Retired Teachers Chapter Member
EPIC for Superintendents (Educators Preparing Inspired Change) Co-Founding Member/Facilitator
Forum Credit Union (Central Indiana Federal Credit Union Member of the Board
KEYNOTE SPEECHES and PRESENTATIONS a Ten-Year Perspective
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents Annual Conference
History of Hoosier Education: Politics and Traditions 1785-2020 2019
Indiana Association of School Business Officials Leadership Academy
Principles of Education 2019
Educators Preparing Inspired Change (EPIC) Butler University
Board Relationships and History of Education in Indiana 2019
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2019
Paoli Community School Corporation Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2019
Jennings County School Corporation Administrator Retreat Keynote
Leadership vs Management: What Are Your Expectations 2019
Batesville Community School Corporation Administrator Retreat Keynote
Leadership vs Management: What Are Your Expectations 2019
South Spencer County School Corporation Administrator Team Retreat Keynote
Leadership vs Management: What Are Your Expectations 2019
Indiana Principal Leadership Institute
Leadership/Legacy/Brand/Expectations 2018
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2018
Indiana Community Corrections Annual Leadership Annual State Conference
Brand Leadership and Legacy of Clear Expectations 2018
Indiana Community Corrections Annual Summer Leadership Conference
Psychological Contracts/Expectations/Management vs Leadership 2018
Southwest Dubois County Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2018
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Summer Staff Conference Keynote
Kids Are Special People: Inspirational Teachers Build Relationships 2018
Educators Preparing Inspired Change (EPIC) Butler University
Board Relationships and History of Education in Indiana 2018
Springs Valley Community School Corporation Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2018
South Spencer Community Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2017
Indiana School Counselors Annual State Conference Keynote
What You Do is Important 2017
Indiana Association of School Business Officials Office Professionals Annual Conference
Your Brand and Competition Reflects Your Student Enrollment 2017
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2017
Southwest Dubois County Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2017
Griffith Public Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2017
Educators Preparing Inspired Change (EPIC) Butler University
Board Relationships and History of Education in Indiana 2017
Southeast Dubois County Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2016
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2016
Duneland School Corporation Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2016
Springs Valley Community School Corporation Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2016
Orleans Community Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2016
Richland-Bean Blossom Community Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2016
Indiana Association of School Business Officials Office Professionals Annual Conference
You Are the Glue That Holds Everything Together 2015
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2015
Springs Valley Community School Corporation Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2015
Brownstown Central Community Schools Opening of School Staff Celebration Keynote
Why Teachers Should Love Their Job 2015
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2014
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2013
Indiana Association of School Principals
Leadership vs Management 2012
Indiana Association of School Principals Aspiring Principals Conference Keynote
Pep Talk: Leadership and Twelve Expectations 2012
Indianapolis Fly Casters Club
Fly Fishing New Mexico and Michigan 2012
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents New Superintendents Academy
Communicating Effectively with Your School Board 2012
Indiana Association of School Principals Aspiring Principals Conference Keynote
Pep Talk: Leadership and Twelve Expectations 2011
Indiana School Boards Association Annual Conference
Teacher Evaluation: 3 Perspectives (Past/Present/Future) 2010
Indiana Association of School Business Officials
Professional Collaboration and Trust Between Administrators and the
Administrative Assistant 2010
Indiana Association of School Principals Annual Conference Keynote
Staff Morale, School Climate, and Leadership During Tough Times 2010
Indiana Association of School Principals Aspiring Principals Conference Keynote
Pep Talk: Leadership and Twelve Expectations 2010
Leadership Hancock County Founders Conference Keynote
Importance of Leadership 2010
Greenfield Banking Company Annual Employee Recognition Keynote
Servant Leadership Without a Title 2010
Fayette County Schools Support Staff Summer Retreat Keynote
Collaboration and Expectations 2010
Butler University Graduate Leadership Forum Keynote
It’s a Matter of Principal 2009
Friends of the White River Indianapolis Forum Keynote
Water Preservation and Saving our Rivers 2009
Indiana Mayors Assistants Annual Conference Keynote
Professional Collaboration and Trust 2009
South Henry Community School Corporation Opening of School Celebration Keynote
The Joy & Rewards of our Job: Power of Positive Leadership 2009
Indiana Principal Leadership Academy Keynote
Climate vs Culture: Conducting Climate Audits 2009
National Boy Scouts of America Professional & Volunteer Scouter Training Keynote
Work with Boards and Leadership vs Management with Clear Expectations 2009
Indiana Association of School Principals Aspiring Principals Conference Keynote
Pep Talk: Leadership and Twelve Expectations 2009
FAVORITE and RECTENTLY READ BOOK LISTS
Something participants and clients frequently ask for following one of my retreats, work sessions and keynote addresses is for a list of my favorite books or recently read books. I believe it is a touch of class when a speaker can quote others, especially authors when speaking to an audience on any topic. Something I especially enjoy is the research side when I am preparing my presentations which requires a lot of reading. My personal library is full of wonderful books on a variety of topics related to fly fishing, greenhouses, stained glass, leadership, governance, history, education, and personal and professional growth just to name a few.
Favorite Book List
The Pioneers by David McCullough
The Radical Leap by Steve Farber
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert
A New Brand World by Scott Bedbury
Quiet by Susan Kane
Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
FISH by Stephen Lundin
First Things First by Stephen Covey
How Full is Your Bucket by Tom Rath
You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader by Mark Sandborn
Make Your Bed by William McRaven
Recently Read Book List
History of Franklin College 1834-1934 by John Cady
Leaders Eat Last and Find Your Why by Simon Sink
The Six Secrets of Change by Michael Fullan
History of Education in Indiana by Richard Boone
Frontier Indiana by Andrew Clayton
The Silo Effect by Gillian Tett
Rivers of America: The Ohio by R.E. Banta
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
The Wisdom of Wooden by John Wooden
Land Grants for Education in the Northwest Territory by George Knight
Hoosiers A New History of Indiana by James Madison
TWELVE EXPECTATIONS
These “Twelve Expectations” were written more than three decades ago to serve as a compass to give those whom I have served direction. All leaders should establish their own list of clear expectations and be willing to model them before expecting others to follow. If I were selected as the next President of Franklin College these expectations would be modified appropriately to fit the culture of higher education.
- Positive Attitude
publics. You may have read this quote from Charles Swindoll; “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90%
how I react to it. And so, it is with you … we are in charge of our attitudes.”
- Professionalism
natural. A study revealed that people begin making judgments about an organization within six seconds. “Who are the first
people seen when entering our schools?” We reflect, through our appearance, actions, and communication, the culture and
climate of our schools.
- Perfection
typos in internal memos and then turn around and demand perfection in client reports (in our case, student work). There is no
such thing as being perfectly conscientious part-time.”
- Organized
organize as: "To manage or arrange systematically for united or harmonious action." Each of us plays a unique role in this
school (corporation). However, that role is constantly changing, responding to the short-term as well as the long-term needs.
Shuffling multiple assignments is not unusual, in fact, today it is the norm.
- Visible
necessity). A willingness to participate whenever possible, take risk, and being vulnerable shows students and colleagues
that you are interested and that you want all students to achieve and succeed. You must find a perfect balance between your
work and your personal life.
- Strong Values
people who are likely to be genuinely friendly toward students, parents, and colleagues. Stew Leonard, a grocer, considers
retailing experience and skills at a cash register secondary. He is quoted saying; "We can teach cash register. We cannot
teach nice." I believe in being surrounded by a strong team of colleagues that share the same values. We are here primarily
to serve the needs of students and parents. That means going the extra mile whether it be working on Saturday, staying until
7:00 p.m., or making an extra telephone call.
- Initiative
management is not the norm. There is simply too much work to do to wait for someone to give the order. We must always be
receptive to new ideas and new ways of doing things.
- Enthusiasm
minute of every day. Zig Ziglar is quoted saying; "If you do not feel enthusiastic, pretend. If you pretend long enough and hard
enough, you will feel it. Enthusiasm is contagious!" Believe me, your students and colleagues will see your enthusiasm or the
lack thereof.
- Forgiving
done by all of us. Our ability to work as a cohesive unit is extremely critical. Sometimes that means being a little more
understanding and forgiving of others. You have permission to be mad at me today, but tomorrow is a fresh new start.
- Character
employees. Certain characteristics such as personal habits, integrity, love, service, self-discipline, and
fortitude must be recognized. Character makes a statement about you, protect it!
- Kids First
sight of our ultimate mission, "KIDS ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE!" All decisions shall be made with this one powerful theme in mind.
We must do what is in the best interest of our students. If it were not for the kids, we would not have a job, nor would we have
this place we call school. The only reason we are all here is because of the students.
- Love Your Job
and going to work every day, then it is just a job. As usual, my dad was right! I have always enjoyed what
I do for a living. In fact, I have chosen the perfect career for me. "I love my job!" While all of us find the
constant bureaucratic melee often frustrating, we should take time to enjoy the challenge and rewards of
serving the students, parents, and community. We must always ask, as good as we are what will it take to
be even better? Going to work should not just be a job, it should be something you are passionate about
and truly enjoy.
James M. Halik, Ph.D. -- 1529 S. 575 W. -- Morgantown, IN 46160 -- 317-522-7474
halikj@compasskeynote.com -- www.compasskeynote.com -- #compass_keynote
halikj@compasskeynote.com -- www.compasskeynote.com -- #compass_keynote