Name: Clint Link

Title: High School Principal

Organisation: North Branch Area High School

As the Principal of North Branch Area High School in Minnesota, I am committed to fostering an environment where every student can discover their unique talents and pursue meaningful pathways toward their future. With 25 years in education, my journey has spanned roles as a social studies teacher, technology integrationist, instructional coach, and Director of Career Pathways.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on creating opportunities for students to explore their passions and align their high school experiences with their personal and professional goals. I believe in the transformative power of education to ignite curiosity, inspire purpose, and prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world.

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

I hope Clint'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 the high school experience to be one of tradition, foundational learning, social emotional learning, and future preparation. This is especially challenging because of the rate of change that our world is changing.

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

I don't think my story is any different from many leaders. I have always looked at teaching and learning differently. Because of this, my students were interested in how class was taught, my colleagues were interested in learning how to teach differently, and my district sought ways for me to assist in preparing all learners for the future they were going to live in. I have always had leaders who believed in me and gave me opportunities to learn, grow, and influence. I will imagine this will continue as long as I always continue to re-imagine what education can and should look like for the students of today.

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

This is a very interesting question because it has shifted with the different jobs. As a teacher, your day is intimately connected to the school calendar and bell Schedule. As a district leader, your work day is connected to project timelines and learning Opportunities. As a building leader your time is a combination of both of these with the added layer of public relations. I currently wake up at 5:30, get my breakfast, and check the news. I will move into reviewing my schedule for the day and any prep work that needs to be done for any of those events. From there, I will go to school when the staff arrives.

This is my time to greet them and be available to answer questions or give directions. Students arrive shortly after that, being their to welcome them might be my favorite part of the day. From there, it is meeting to meeting with action steps that need attention. Those can not be done until after the school day is done and the staff have left the building. A few days a week, I do have meetings at night or supervision responsibilities at school I do my best to be home by supper on nights I don't have any responsibilities.

Depending on my energy after that I will try to walk 30 minutes on our treadmill while I detach from work, watching my favorite sports teams or shows. I will be in bed by 10 pm each evening.

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

That you can't do it alone. As an educational leader, you need a team of leaders who understand the vision and purpose of the work they do each and every day. Finding the right people is so important; however, empowering those people is critical. As leaders identified qualities in me and gave me opportunities to grow, I need to do the same for others. I'm always amazed by the quality of work that is done when you get out of the way.

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?

Re-Defining the Goal by Dr. Kevin J. Fleming. This is the first book I have read since leaving the classroom that articulated exactly what I was feeling was happening in K-12 and post-secondary education. Learners need to have agency in what school means to them. This purpose drives each student to persevere, ask questions, practice, and reflect. All important aspects of learning tend to disappear starting in middle school.

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?

Always keep the learner at the center of your decisions and practices. We need to look at students as our customers. When the customer is satisfied, business is good!

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

When I moved out of the classroom and started to get new job opportunities, I always tried to think about what "others" wanted to hear. I couldn't be further from what I should have been talking about. Thinking differently and a work ethic are your superpowers. Don't ever suppress those two things.