Name: Cory Erlandson

Title: Superintendent

Organisation: Mishicot School District - Mishicot, WI

20+ year veteran of public education, valuing equally my 12 years in the classroom, 8 years as a building leader, and the last 2 as a Superintendent. Big visions. Family man. We over me.

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

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

Cheers,

Jonno White

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

Timing. Leadership is all about rallying diverse groups of people around a common goal and vision of the future. Getting everyone to buy in, see their role, and open themselves to new ideas and even some risk is often a matter of getting the timing and communication right. The best-laid plans are thwarted when they are out of order.

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

As a teacher, I wanted to lead my team and my department to bigger and better ways of teaching students. I resented the constraints of small imaginations and practical limitations. I also had literal nightmares about being an administrator. As I continued to bump up against "nos" and "not nows," I realized that I may have to come out of my classroom role and take on the messy work, long hours, and lack of appreciation of administration to better position myself to make big, bold change in well-worn institutions. So, I enrolled in a master's program, and it was an immediate fit. Like, something I had been missing in my professional life for years. I knew I would never be able to go back to the classroom.

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

I get up early to guarantee I have some quality time with myself, and then with my wife. We drink coffee, ease into the day, and compete over the Wordle. Then, I rush around getting the kids and myself out the door, arriving at work in the nick of time (worth it). My mornings are focused on setting intentions for the day and making a plan to get it done with my assistant. The rest of my day comes in blocks. I follow my calendar religiously to ensure nothing is missed. I meet with people throughout much of my day, sometimes planning, sometime coaching them.

I wrap up with communication and loose ends, as well as stopping into various extracurricular events. When I go home, I sneak in a quick workout, and then do everything possible to ensure a family dinner (even if it doesn't happen until 8 PM). Then we watch a show together, I finish up any urgent emails (very limited), and then head to bed. I work as hard as I can to keep work at work, and it is more doable than many would have you believe. Workaholism is not a flex, it's an obstacle to overcome.

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

Sometimes, you just need to show up. If you're the right person for the job, you will figure the rest out. Just show up and be present.

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?

Upstream by Dan Heath. It hit me like a lightning bolt. We spend way too much time, too much money, too much energy combating symptoms of problems that are occurring "upstream." It is essential to look, think, and move toward root causes to make lasting and meaningful change. There are only so many hours in the day, dollars in the bank, and calories we can burn. We can't waste any of them.

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?

Get really clear on how you want your era leading that school or organization to be remembered. Understand that there are hundreds of people who can do the job, so how will you be sure that you are the right person for the job. I think that comes from a commitment to service and a vision for a better future for those you serve. It is not about you.

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

The day a student brought a loaded gun to school, and we couldn't find it. It was the most intense day of my life, and long story really short: I was able to take the gun off the student safely because I had spent years building a relationship with him.