Name: Brady L. Maxwell

Title: Jh & Hs Principal

Organisation: Glencoe Junior High & High School

Small-town Oklahoma kid. Married for almost 30 years. I am in my 21st year of education. I am certified to teach Math, Science, and History. I am a high school basketball & baseball coach. I am in my 2nd year as the principal.

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

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

Cheers,

Jonno White

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

Balancing what is best for one student versus the student body. Also dealing with the frustration of a never-ending to-do list due to a demanding schedule that I often have little control over.

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

I never envisioned ascending into administration. I was content being a coach/teacher. Most of my coaching colleagues had made the leap over to administration with mixed results. Some loved administration, some hated it. I took a job as a coach where one of my best friends from high school was the principal. He was diagnosed with ALS, and therefore his days became numbered. I decided to go back and get my Masters Degree (at age 49) and make the leap to administration partly in his honor.

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

I wake up at 5 a.m. everyday. I spend time reading my Bible and praying. I have a 30-minute commute, and I arrive at school by 7:05 (that 45-minutes prior to others arriving is the most productive of my day). I am constantly on the go during the school day from spending time in classrooms, to dealing with discipline, to I.T. problems, emails, etc. The last hour of the school day is my athletic hour. 2 to 3 nights a week we have ballgames. I often get home after 10 p.m. on game nights. On non-game nights I usually get home around 6 p.m.

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

Students today have not been raised like my generation. They have had a device in their hand since they were born, and they do not see the world the same way I did when I was a teenager.

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?

There is not one book that stands out. I am more of a "quote" guy.

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?

Do not rush into administration. Stay in the classroom for awhile and work in multiple schools to learn from a variety of leaders.

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

Watching a kid with a terrible home life grow into a confident leader.