now that’s a term Marines use to inspire
others to take charge and to lead I’m
here as an assistant principal and
former combat marine to share with you
some techniques some applications I
believe the public education can infuse
into their organizations from that
unique culture of the Marine Corps I
began my career as a high school social
studies teacher and transition to
administration with the hopes of
inspiring more students by working
closely with teachers there’s a need in
our public schools for truly great
teachers not just highly educated in
their subject areas but ones that can
truly inspire and motivate our youth
despite all the challenges students in
schools face today challenges such as
high-stakes testing budgetary restraints
school choice initiatives social media
issues teacher scandals just to name a
few colleges and universities are even
shutting down their education programs
due to lack of interest in the
profession now why is this you see these
challenges aren’t just unique to public
education Marine Corps recruiters and
drill instructors face these same
challenges however how do they create a
culture of leaders in a society that
promotes instant gratification I believe
that if public schools improve their
recruitment teacher and doctor nation or
I’d like to call boot camp programs
their leadership as well as learning how
to brand their organizations they like
the Marine Corps can become truly elite
educational institutions within their
communities now again I entered
education because I wanted to reach that
struggling student I wanted to make a
difference
I learned though quickly how little my
education did to provide me
provided for me in that process you see
it was sink or swim the hiring practices
and most schools are very similar you
see new teachers are hired they’re
required to have a college education a
high grade point average possibly some
related or job experiences and even some
computer expertise on some software
applications all in an effort to find
the best and brightest and bring them
into our public schools now recruitment
duty in the Marine Corps is considered a
premier assignment the Marine Corps
believes that recruitment is as
essential to the longevity of the Corps
as it is success on the battlefield now
I know what you’re thinking some of
those drill instructors techniques for
motivating a recruit maybe a bit robust
for public education however I believe
all newly hired teachers should come
into that organization speaking the same
language reading from the same book
having some type of standardized
training now this is practical to any
organization especially public schools
now let’s be honest that tough that the
reputation for toughness in the Marine
Corps is legendary Marine Corps boot
camp is is clearly the hardest basic
training out of any branch of the
service the Army Navy and Air Force
don’t even compare their basic training
programs to the Marine Corps however
that reputation for toughness I believe
overshadows its greatest accomplishment
which is transformation you see that
mean lean fighting machine on the poster
can be you and moreover that
transformation is permanent the change
will last forever how many of our
teacher and dr. nation programs can
truly say they’re a transformative
process new teachers are hired brought
into an organization or paired with a
mentor teacher and they complete some
paperwork you see having all newly hired
teachers start and speaking the same
language creates
a commonality an esprit de corps will
grow within that entire organization
just like it does in the Marine Corps
you see that leadership starts with
three young privates on a fire team and
their enthusiasm swells two other fire
teams within that platoon so
horizontally and vertically through the
entire organization creates that esprit
de corps so when I graduated boot camp I
graduated as a private and I ultimately
obtained the rank of a corporal
that’s a noncommissioned officer that in
civilian terms would be considered a
management rank you see that position
was one to be revered myself along with
my fellow Marines we worked hard to move
up that promotional ladder matter of
fact it was demanded on us you see the
philosophy in the Marine Corps is you
move up or you move out now when I
entered public ed I had that same view
towards administrators positions to be
revered now if I were to ask my fellow
teachers how many would like to have my
job they say without hesitation no way
you’re nuts now I’m not saying all
teachers should transition to become
administrators I’m not saying that at
all
being a teacher in and of itself is the
ultimate goal however my challenge the
public ed is where is the incentive for
teachers to continually improve and dig
deep to change their practice to meet
the needs of all kids so see that
promotion process in my experience in
this part of the country teachers have
that built into their contract you see
with very incentive with very little
incentives for to improve or based on
any type of a performance the promotion
process in the Marine Corps sure there’s
a pay rate with every promotion but in
addition there are objective standards
that must be met with 10 which tend to
give more faith to the validity of that
promotion process okay in addition in
public schools more times than not
individuals are
hired from the outside and brought into
the organization with little or no job
experience which then also tends to
breed resentment within the ranks now
branding of an organization the Marine
Corps does this better than any other
organization in the world the Army if
you’ve watched Army Navy and Air Force
commercials you will see some type of
material promise for joining their
service such as college degree college
tuition or a skill that can transition
to civilian world
in contrast Marine Corps commercials
offer you little in regards to material
gain matter of fact they leave you with
a question do you have what it takes to
be one of us
now I challenge public schools can we
appeal to this self-sacrifice without
being laughed out of existence
only if every employee in that district
from the superintendent to the custodian
believe they work in the best school
district in the industry then maybe just
maybe individuals will be interested in
joining for reasons other than money and
finally let’s not forget the incredible
psychological impact of our World War
two posters sure corny by today’s
standards but these images spoke to the
hearts and minds of citizens and
soldiers alike reminding us of the
seriousness of the situation in the need
of our own personal best efforts imagine
within our public schools every day our
teachers our administrators walked
around with in the back of their minds
thinking I must not fail
well that public school would be very
formidable indeed this is our time our
youth need us to lead them thank you for listening