James Sides

Compare or judge yourself based on the ideal, rather than the best. The latter is limited.

Leadership is not just saying what is right, but rather doing what is right.

Quality of leadership is far more important than leadership bestowed on someone that derives it based on their title in an organization.

Education is one of the few professions with a beginning and ending each year. To everyone beginning a new year, I wish you the best. Sometimes to move the needle forward, one has to break the gauge. Break the soft obstructionist bureaucratic gauge that exists today in education.

The secret to effective marketing is to have others carry, converse, promote, and/or share your message.

I have earned many certificates, degrees, & awards in my life. I have also had many titles attached to my name. However, my most precious title is Dad to my children and papa to my grandchildren.

The detours in life sometimes result in paths better than the ones we had originally chosen for ourselves.

Each choice in life leads us to another series of choices. Nothing is absolute unless it is our last choice.

If I had to do it all again, I would have appreciated living life more than my commitment to my work life.

Before anyone weighs in on a piece of legislation at any level, we must first read it, ask critical questions, seek clarification if needed, and examine it through multiple lenses. I refuse to rely on politicians, the media, and self-proclaimed experts to do the thinking for me.

Covid has not only impacted teaching but also how administrators lead their buildings, districts, etc. Traditional interactions can't be replicated in this new environment that exists today.

Some of the greatest, courageous actors in the world never performed in a movie, TV show, and/or a theatrical event. They are the ones who put on a performance each day to hide their mental health issues from everyone else. I am one of these actors.

A leader makes music. A manager plays the notes. The leadership symphony must become the norm, rather than the exception in our organizations.

Doing the right thing is not a risk or consequence-free action. Great leaders are willing to do the right thing regardless of the risks and/or consequences that they may have to endure.

Educators are used to having many irons in a fire, but not a forest fire of the magnitude of covid. All efforts must be directed toward extinguishing this forest fire or there won't be any irons or people holding those irons in the future.

When the COVID crisis is over, will educators return to the old model of schools?...will we adapt our teaching to what we have learned about other instructional methods? ...will we return to the old bureaucratic assessment system that existed prior to this pandemic?

I don't know what the answers are nor all of the questions of how to address learning and education in the midst of the Covid crisis. What I do know, is that we should trust the educational experts who live the and breathe the Latin phrase, loco parentis.

Education is no longer defined by a brick and mortar structure, nor an 8:00-4:00 schedule. It will need to continue to evolve to meet the needs of students,staff, and communities they serve. It will also need to evolve for each succeeding generation if it is to survive and thrive

As many have said, "Education is the great equalizer." It creates unity from disunity. It gives hope where none existed before. It gives meaning to unmeaning events and actions.