Move your Bus

his year, our School Improvement Team, started the year off by reading Ron Clark's, Move Your Bus.The book discusses that in every organization, there are Runners, Joggers, Walkers, and Riders. The image below gives a description of each "role" or "person" on the bus.

Since I didn't serve on our school improvement team, I didn't read the book initially.  I decided to read this book now because many of the "runners" in our building are considering leaving and/or are just feeling burnt out.  I wanted to read about ways that our school leadership could inspire people and keep them fueled until the end of the year. Furthermore, the best ways to maximize performance.  As I was I reading the book, I began to wonder why our administrative team was not putting the practices noted in the book into place.  School leaders often place too much emphasis on the Riders in the building instead of focusing on ways to support and maximize the runners and joggers in the building.  The quote below really stuck out to me because it describes Ron Clark says that because Runners are typically balancing 100 tasks, it is easy for them to make a mistake or 2.  However, instead of addressing the mistakes, it may be more effective to overlook the mistakes of the runner, so they do not loose momentum.  
                                                      
 For me, the book really gives practical ways to build capacity within the school.  Also how to effectively change the climate of the school.  I wish our Admin team had taken the time to reflect on the principles in the book and implement them.

Are the runners in your building starting to loose momentum?  If so, why do you think that is and what are some ways that we can better support these teachers?