Stories from the Field
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Joey’s Story
This is Joey’s Story. The power of our office to influence the lives of our students is awesome. We are called upon to be creative and bold in reaching out to some of our more troubled students. I had an elementary student in my building who was every principal’s nightmare. He was always in trouble. He was unmotivated to do any schoolwork. He was one of the 5% Caucasians in a 95% African American school yet he audaciously and frequently used racial insults bringing on the wrath of fellow classmates. He was a special education student so he had certain stipulations in his IEP related to techniques and disciplines. Subsequently we learned that he was a foster child, was depressed and had been on numerous anti depressants at his tender age. Even later we learned that he had mistakenly attended an “adoption party” with his three siblings. The siblings had been selected for adoption, but he had not.
On a day much like other days, Joey, (not his real name) found himself in my office sitting at my conference table for a time out from his classroom. I pretty much was going about my own work. At one point he said, “Hey, Dr. Williams, your plant is gonna die.” I said, “Oh, do you think so?” He said, “Yup, but I can fix it.” I said, “Oh, you can?” He said, “Yup, it needs some water.” I said, “Well would you like to take care of that for me?” He said, “Yup.”
He got a pitcher and went to get water. He came back and I marveled at how he fussed over the plant. He asked if he could come back the next day to check on it. The light bulb went off in my head and I saw a golden opportunity. I said, “If you finish your work and your teacher gives you permission, that would be great.”
Of course I saw his teacher later that day and we worked out a plan that coming to care for my plant would be his reward for meeting certain goals she would set daily. The next day he appeared at my door before lunch. He very lovingly attended to my plant. He said that it needed no more water, but asked if I’d like him to look at the secretary’s plant. The secretary got in on it and agreed that her plants needed some attention, too. Soon he was “checking on” the plants in the hallway. He went from being a “nightmare” to being a wonderful citizen. He managed to make friends and was chosen as a “good citizen” by the end of the year.
The story doesn’t end there. He came to school before we opened in August with a woman. He explained that he would no longer be going to our school because he had been adopted over the summer and he would be moving to another school district. He said he wanted us to meet his new mother.
When I reflect upon my work, I know that Joey is what we are all about as principals. I hold this celebratory story close to my heart. It provides fuel when things get harried. The Principal’s Office celebrates you and the lives you will influence in this new school year.
