Part 4: Leading in a Time of Crisis – a Conversation with Principal Evan Robb
“As people go through something that’s new – and it’s happening very rapidly – it’s like learning how to ride a bike without having training wheels. They’re going to try some things, and we’re going to work on them, and then they’re going to adjust.”
Principal Evan Robb
Today on Getting Unstuck
Most of us are living in an unprecedented time. Not since World War II, have we experienced something that can literally impact every person on the planet. Getting through the COVID-19 pandemic is taking incredible resources and resourcefulness. It is also forcing us to look at one another and work with one another differently. And one place of work where that is extremely evident is in U.S. schools
What follows is one conversation in a series of conversations we’re having with educators across the country on how they are leading their schools in this time of crisis. Because these educators are extremely busy helping their schools and communities to pivot, we’ve intentionally limited these conversations to approximately 15 minutes.
It’s our hope that these conversations will provide nuggets of solid advice and emotional support to other educators on the front lines of change.
In this episode we hear from:
Evan Robb, Principal Johnson Williams Middle School, Clarke County, VA
Listen for:
Beyond coordinating the logistics of online instruction, the current work is all about
Ensuring that there are good choice opportunities for students so as to help differentiate instruction
Taking time to meet with staff one-on-one so as to provide coaching and emotional support
Making decisions and communicating in concert with other administrators to ensure consistency of messaging and activities
“I have to make sure that I keep a routine in my day because I don’t want to get into a habit of suddenly sleeping in an hour and a half later, because I really don’t need to walk out of the house to go to school. And I want to make sure that I’m building a time to exercise to eat healthy, and to make sure that I’m taking care of myself.”