Exposure

George Carlin famously argued that, from a health standpoint, exposure is a good thing. That may explain why I got into education—to strengthen my immune system. Because let’s be honest: schools are basically petri dishes.

Do kids need exposure to teachers with different abilities in order to be successful?

As a principal, I work with all types of people—educators, families, students—and my approach shifts constantly depending on who I’m interacting with. One moment I’m patiently spoon-feeding a new initiative to a teacher who’s overwhelmed. The next, I’m nodding along and feigning interest in a parent’s detailed recap of the weekend weather.

That flexibility isn’t accidental. It’s learned.

So let’s look at a simplified case study.

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I Can’t Clip Nails

I bite my nails.
It’s not a bad habit.
I just don’t use nail clippers.

I had a dog once.
I bought a pair of clippers,
cut too deep,
saw blood.
I never used them again.

She used to cut nails on Saturdays.
An assembly line:
one boy, then the next, then one more.
They fought to go first,
to get it over with.

Without her, there’s more to do.
I do the laundry.
I take them to the dentist and the doctor.
I sign their report cards.

But I can’t
clip their nails.

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Keep Your Focus

Every year, education becomes more complex. There is more to do, more to worry about, and more to understand. In a profession that can feel overwhelming, maintaining focus is not just helpful—it is essential.

In For Love of the Game, the aging pitching ace Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) finds himself in New York one last time, facing the Yankees. As Chapel prepares to throw the first pitch, he scans the stadium, locking in on the insults being hurled his way by hostile home fans.

To center himself, Chapel utters a simple phrase: “Clear the mechanism.” Instantly, the surrounding noise fades away. His focus narrows to one thing—the batter standing in front of him.

Spoiler alert: Chapel goes on to pitch a perfect game. He accomplishes this rare feat because he is able to separate distractions from the task at hand.

If only teaching were that simple.

Teachers can’t just say “Clear the mechanism” as they walk into class and expect every student to follow directions, participate enthusiastically, support one another, and master the content. But while the solution may not be that easy, the principle still applies.

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“I’m Tired, Boss”

A common question I’m asked is: What’s the difference between being a teacher and being a principal?
My response is always the same: Have you seen The Green Mile?

The Green Mile centers on death row inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two children. As the film unfolds, we learn that John is not a monster at all—he is a miracle worker, gifted with the ability to remove pain from those who are suffering.

In one powerful scene, prison guard Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is experiencing unbearable pain caused by a severe bladder infection. John calls Paul over to his cell, grabs him, and pulls him close—initially causing Paul to fear for his life. Moments later, Paul realizes John isn’t trying to hurt him; he’s trying to help him. The scene ends with Paul asking, “What did you just do to me?” John simply replies, “I helped it. Didn’t I help it?”

By the end of the film, John has deeply impacted everyone around him. But the years of absorbing others’ pain and suffering have taken a tremendous toll.

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Problems

Everyone has problems.
Personal and professional,
Simple and complex.

But there’s something about problems.
They don’t have to be negative.
They don’t have to be all bad.

Problems are meant to be faced.
They’re meant to be solved,
To be thought through,
To be worked on.

Problems make you learn.
They make you better.
They make you stronger.

They prepare you
For future problems.

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From 0 to 12 Months and Older Than 92

It’s not appropriate to attack Christmas songs during the holiday season. But once January rolls around, they’re fair game.

The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) is problematic.

And no, I’m not talking about chestnuts. They’re gross, no one eats them, and no one roasts them. I’m talking about something else entirely.

“And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you”

Apparently, Nat King Cole takes issue with babies and old people. Two of our most at-risk, fragile, and sensitive demographics are somehow undeserving of a “Merry Christmas.”

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Put a Little Love in Your Heart

What is the best way to leave school with a smile on your face?

There are certain holiday movies I look forward to watching every year. Scrooged is one of them. It’s great from start to finish—but the final ten minutes are something special. If I’m flipping through channels and that scene is on, I stop and watch. Even without investing the prior two hours, I always find myself getting choked up.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been retold dozens of times, but Scrooged might be my favorite version. We follow Frank Cross (Bill Murray) as he encounters three ghosts on Christmas Eve. By the end of the night, he has transformed from a money-obsessed, selfish television executive into someone who truly believes in the spirit of Christmas and the power of giving.

“If you give… then the miracle can happen to you.”

What does Frank mean by give?
What does he mean by miracle?

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How Do You Know if You’ve Made It?

What People Think

  • Walk-In Closets
  • Exotic Cars
  • Room Size Fish Tank
  • Indoor Basketball Court
  • Home Theater
  • Custom Bar
  • Fridge Filled with Cristal
  • Waterfall
  • Spinners
  • Custom Branding on Everything (monograms, logos, initials, etc.)

Okay, maybe this reads like a Top 10 list from MTV Cribs, but it captures something real: the unfortunate desire to acquire material wealth not just to enjoy it, but to display it. Status over substance.

“Dave, are you going to say something sappy about family and friends?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.”

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Tribicle

I work in a school, so this doesn’t apply to me. But a good idea is a good idea, and when one hijacks my brain—as good ideas frequently do—I feel it is my responsibility to share it with the world.

Walls are expensive. It’s far cheaper to purchase or rent a large open area and scatter cubicles across the entire space. Cubicles create individual work areas that provide privacy for the 287 employees working in close quarters. They allow people to have private phone conversations, change clothing (midday outfit changes are essential in cubicle-based offices—fashion is paramount), and prevent food odors from wafting into neighboring workspaces.

The cubicle was a great idea.

But now, allow me to introduce the tribicle.

A tribicle is exactly what it sounds like: a cubicle, but with three sides. Get it?

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Pharmaceuticals

Xeglyze, Zepbound, Qsymia, Xolair, Wegovy

Words your 4-year-old nephew blurts out while playing Scrabble?
Names of ancient elves from a forgotten chapter of Tolkien?
The secret language you and your best friend invented in 4th grade?

Nope. They’re drug names. And I finally know why they sound completely ridiculous.

The Origin Story

When Eminem released Infinite in 1996, the country experienced an unexpected surge: terrible white rappers. Fortunately for America’s collective eardrums, most of them failed to get their “jams” on the radio. But one particularly resourceful rapper—Chip McChiperson—had a brilliant idea.

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Hallmark Holiday Movie Pitch 2025

Every year, we hold a school wide competition around the holidays:

Who doesn’t love a good Hallmark holiday movie?  You are a screenwriter for the Hallmark Network.  The holiday season is just around the corner.  The company executives want you to pitch them your best Hallmark Holiday Movie idea.

In keeping with tradition, I am sharing my submission from this year.

Holiday Road Trip

It was Christmas Eve, and Meredith had a long night of driving ahead of her. She loved her architect job in the city, but hated that it was nine hours from her small hometown. Every major holiday or family event meant the same thing: a long trek home, followed by an equally long drive back a couple of days later.

She knew she shouldn’t complain—she was blessed with two healthy parents, plus an older sister and younger brother who made it home when they could. Her sister’s trips were becoming rarer, though; juggling a husband, two kids, another on the way, two dogs, a cat, a hamster… and, honestly, probably a partridge in a pear tree.

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Thank or Resent

A little over ten years ago, I was with my two brothers at the Final Four (brag). At that point in our lives, we were all married, kids were right around the corner (fast-forward to now and there are nine of them), and we had each settled into solid careers. Our conversation bounced from the weekend’s semifinals, to the potential of the Alien vs. Predator universe, to childhood stories, and—naturally—to our dad. He was supposed to join us for this “One Shining Moment” weekend, but his flight wasn’t landing until later that night.

Talking about Dad was the logical end point after reliving our childhood antics. So many of our stories ended the same way: getting caught by Dad, getting punished by Dad, or getting yelled at by Dad. They’re funny now—much funnier than they were in the moment.

Our father was old school. He grew up tough and he was tough on us. Before anyone feels too sorry for me, I should say I grew up extremely privileged: solidly middle class, great suburb, great schools. By “tough,” I don’t mean hardship—I mean expectations. Dad wasn’t the “I love you” type. If you did nine out of ten things right, he focused on the one you got wrong. And believe me, in his mind it was definitely you who messed up. His yell was scary, but the gritted teeth and cocked head were even scarier. When we screwed up, we went to Mom… and we prayed she wouldn’t tell Dad.

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The Anti-Strengths Finder

There’s something oddly satisfying about answering questions about yourself and then diving into the results.

“I’m an extrovert.”
“I pursue creative endeavors.”
“I connect with others.”
“Praise motivates me.”
“Important decisions take me a long time.”

Most personality tests zero in on your strengths. (Clifton Strengths is a big one with “strengths” in the name—I’ve taken it twice [competition and significance are huge for me]).

But what if there was a personality test that focused solely on your weaknesses—in a no holds barred, brutally honest, and salt-coated (trademark) manner?

Introducing the Anti-Strengths Finder.

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How You Treat People Matters

My junior year of high school, I took a computer programming class. I wasn’t particularly interested in coding; I was interested in stockpiling college credits. My guidance counselor knew this and recommended the course when we planned my schedule the previous semester.

Two buddies, Adam and Dan, had the same idea. (Although, if memory serves, Adam might’ve actually liked coding—but it’s been so long, I can’t say for sure.) The three of us enrolled together. We already knew the teacher, Mr. Matherson, from Course III Math. I think he realized immediately that we weren’t excited about the class, but we were good students, and he knew we could handle the work. He didn’t give us too hard a time.

The roster was mostly seniors—many of them planning to study computer science in college. Adam, Dan, and I weren’t wildly popular, but we played sports and were friendly with most of the popular kids. That gave us an unreasonable amount of confidence—borderline cockiness.

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Optimizing the Trick-or-Treat Candy Haul

For Halloween, we went trick or treating in my brother’s neighborhood. It’s an older neighborhood, so the houses are farther apart. The boys ended up with less candy than normal, which got me thinking…

1. Lot Size

Ideal Range: 0.25–0.50 acres

  • Anything bigger means more walking between houses and fewer doors per hour.
  • Anything smaller often corresponds to higher-density neighborhoods—good for candy—but also tends to correlate with lower home values, which carries its own implications (more on that next).

Bottom line: You want houses close enough for efficiency, but not so close that the neighborhood skews away from family-oriented trick-or-treat activity.

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