Name: Chris Shearer

Title: Principal

Organisation: Fulton County Schools | Johns Creek High School

I have been in education for 26 years. For the last 11 of those years, I've served as a Principal in middle school and high school. I aspire to practice openly, transparently, and with an eye toward questioning the status quo.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Educational Leadership!

I hope Chris's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as an Educational Leader?

Great question. And I think this has changed over the course of my career. Most recently, I think our biggest challenge is what are we to become. What does school mean anymore? When all information is readily available, do we stay moored to teaching finite knowledge for an industrial age that no longer exists or shift our focus to developing a child's infinite skill for the information age? It feels like we are still the former.

2. How did you become an Educational Leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I entered education later than most and I had a desire to enter the leadership side of education pretty soon into the journey. I have always enjoyed that aspect of work and have a strong desire to help others along in their leadership journey. From the jump, I sought out leadership opportunities and was fortunate to be accepted into a program our district into with a local university so I could get my certification in ed. leadership. The rest, as they say, is history.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I wake up very early and am the first to arrive at school. I make myself a big cup of coffee, put on some music, and visualize the day ahead. If I need to role-play something that is on my calendar, I do that as well. My first action of the day is to stand at the front door of the school and greet the students as they arrive.

The ebb and flow of the day is meetings, informal classroom observations, lunch duty so I can see the kids, and usually end things with an evening activity. Once home, I have dinner, go for a run, then listen to music to decompress and help me reflect on the day. I might also have a cup of coffee.

4. What's a recent lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of as an Educational Leader?

As a recent practitioner of mindfulness, the thing I find myself saying in my mind is that all we have is now. It reminds me to be present. It does me no good to linger on what has been or look too far ahead to what might be. What matters is what is happening right now.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your journey as an Educational Leader so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted you?

The book I often cite is Dr. Jeannine Jannot's The Disintegrating Student. It is a psychologist's look into today's students, who they are, and why they are. Today's students are navigating more than any student ever has and it's taken a toll on them, and us. I need to understand that and know what I can do to help or move us away from how we got here. GREAT read!!

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young educator who aspires to be an Educational Leader, what would you say to them?

It's not about making everyone happy, an impossible task. It's about knowing who you are, what you believe in, what is best for all students, and being consistent and transparent in your dealings with all players.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as an Educational Leader, so far?

Hmm. I think, most recently, it would be my experience with a recent graduate. She came to us as a student with severe school anxiety and extreme school refusal. It was heartbreaking to see her attempts to come to school and often only able to sit in our wellness room for an hour, or so.

Through very hard work, and some great relationships in the building (including our connection), she was crushing it by senior year and graduated on time. Amazing! Love that kid and still, get the chance to see her from time to time. She is a wonderful human being.