As promised, here is the cover of Jim's Book and an excerpt in one of the chapters...
"We need some stability around here”, is a line spoken by
Old Mr. in the movie, “The Color Purple.” This line could serve as the
mission statement of a principal in New Hampshire with whom we worked. He was
tasked with bringing order and raising academic standards to a small but out-
of- control high school. At first glimpse, this stocky, former Marine
with the requisite crew cut and tattoos on his forearm, caused one to wonder if
his style of increasing stability was going to be a good match with the demands
of the school. Turns out it was just what the doctor ordered. It
only took two days of us training his staff and spending time in his building
to learn that his tough exterior housed a heart of gold. We watched as he
spent each lunch period in the cafeteria, knew every student by name and
comfortably roamed from table to table, engaging students in relevant
conversations ranging from movies to music to clothing to cars and
motorcycles. He even seemed to linger longer at the “peanut-free” table
he had created for the handful of students who required such an
environment. His urban legend grew the day he jumped up from behind
his desk and chased a student across the front lawn of the school, collared him
and brought him back into the office to finish their conversation, all in view
of classrooms filled with cheering students! He wasn’t about to give up
on that particular student, and those witnessing the scene felt convinced that
he wouldn’t quit on them either. His mantra was, “If it helps students,
we’ll find a way to get it done!”
