The Pareto Principle asserts that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. In education, core instruction should reach 80% of students, with 15% of students needing supplemental interventions, and 5% requiring intensive support. As a principal, 80% of your time is spent addressing the needs/complaints/questions/concerns of 20% of students, teachers, and families.
I believe the above “rule” is generally accurate, however the exact percentage depends on the particular school. I would even assert that there are schools where only 1% of the students, teachers, and families monopolize the majority of your time. I believe that these unicorn schools do exist.
The disheartening fact is that even at a 99% dream school, the 1% can be so problematic, time-consuming, emotionally draining, disappointing, and frustrating that it supersedes the 99%.
Duration and intensity are the two components of the 1% that factor into a principal’s ability to maintain effectiveness, composure, mental well-being, and optimism. There can be severe and dramatic (intensity) events that will break you (e.g. HR issues, school safety threats, etc.). However, I find that it is the consistent and constant 1% stressors over time (duration) that have the greatest impact.
In the case of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), pressure and time are his allies. With nothing but prison time and a rock hammer to create pressure, Andy had the resources to escape Shawshank (spoiler alert).
In the case of a principal, the effects of negative pressure buildup over time until one day you look around and realize that you haven’t been tunneling to freedom as you thought. Instead, you may have constructed prison walls around yourself. At this point, no matter how hard you try to focus on the 99%, the 1% always finds a way to seep in.
I don’t know where Zihuatanejo is. Maybe it’s doubling down on the 99%. Maybe it’s keeping school at school. Maybe it’s working on yourself. Maybe…
Leave a Reply