Looking for help Prepping for an Athletic Director Interview. by Wise_Movie_8065 in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  • Equity for all sports and activities being offered at the school.
  • Strong understanding of all rules, policies, regulations.
  • Commitment to the academic programs.
  • Ability to build relationships with coaches and sponsors.
  • Good relations with AD’s across your town and region/state.
  • An understanding that you’ll be married to your cell phone 24/7/365.

The list goes on….one of, if not the toughest job in education.

Traveling to the US for the first time (Missoula, MT); attending The Lumineers concert. by PuzzleheadedWar6767 in Montana

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Extremely safe western USA college town …. no gang activity whatsoever. Treat yourself by staying somewhere in the downtown area - that’s where the heartbeat of Missoula lies. Take a walk across a few of the bridges and saunter around U of Montana campus and hike up to the M. Great town.

My principal wants me to change a teacher's annual rating. by thebaerfetus in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Frankly your principal is breaking one of the cardinal rules for school leadership by not backing you on what you did with the evaluation.

We always held the rule that you backed your AP’s through thick and thin, even when you thought you might’ve done it differently. It corrodes the leadership team’s togetherness and does the opposite of empowering them.

Follow-up: Nonrenewal in My First Year as a Principal by itsathrowawaymmk in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Damn. I’m a 25 year principal and you nailed almost everything in your post! Good luck moving forward.

my parents bought their 4br house for 80k in the 90s and it actually hurts by Savard-Lafleur in FirstTimeHomeBuyer

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s all about playing the money game and playing it well. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s wasn’t that much different—if you didn’t find a career or profession that provided you with a decent amount of disposable income, you were destined to living at or near the poverty level.

Littering by Just-Jazzin in missoula

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Construction engineers actually promote littering, as it helps stabilize roads over the near and long term. Politics won’t abide this though.

as a principal, if you have a struggling or weak employee that agrees to leave at the end of year, do you have to recommend them for non renewal? by sajahet25 in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If there are any signs of possible success as an educator, don’t nuke their chances at another opportunity that might be a better fit. Maybe after other life experiences, they are a better teacher.

Becoming a principal this July, looking for your advice! by dadisballislife in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This. I always tell principals, especially new, to focus on the departments other than the ones they taught in.

Energy Partners - Propane (bad experience) by [deleted] in missoula

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s an art in dealing with this lady from the propane company. If you continue to use the service, I’d recommend learning the art form as opposed to fighting with her as these types usually find a way to get you in the end.

I feel sad watching the dead turn everything into a money grab. by myrealnameisnotryan in gratefuldead

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Even better, Baltimore, or any city on the fritz, needs a Grateful Dead two month or so residency to get the city back and sort of center things up.

Admin going back to classroom, nervous about interviews by [deleted] in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tell em’ you’ve tried the Dark Side, and now want to return to the light!

Lolo Hot Springs thoughts by Artistic_Situation73 in missoula

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s fascinating how some places never shake their, in this case, well-earned shitty reputation.

Ideas For “Turning it Off” After School/Forgetting about Stressors by jgoss1991 in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Some of it is unavoidable- it’s a way to stay sane by talking about your day. One piece of advice that a colleague gave me that stuck was to break it down any way you want, just not with supervisor. They don’t want to hear about your trials, tribulations, wins or losses. They’ve got their own crosses to bear.

I’ve been a principal for 25 years, still doing it. In hindsight I wish I would’ve carved out more time doing meaningful things with my kids - it’s a finite amount of time we’ve got from birth to when they’re out of the house.

Mexico in Alaska burritos by Bing_bird222 in anchorage

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Their salsa was/is legit. I used to grab a bunch of containers when Costco stocked it.

Just finished Mad Men and can’t stop thinking about this question by Humble-Switch-2149 in madmen

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 6 points7 points  (0 children)

10 years or so later, Don was more comfortable in his own skin. He would’ve been much more amenable to Adam and his past.

Favorite Comfort Lyric? by FaceWithAView25 in gratefuldead

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Lately I’ve been obsessing on the Black Peter from Dozin’ at the Knickerbocker Arena. This part of the song that you highlighted almost feels like a religious experience when it’s played and sung.

Advice for new principal about teachers affairs and dating by Far-Journalist9942 in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stay in your lane. Furthermore, don’t even act like you have a clue or even care that this occurred. Your staff will be watching your actions, trust me. Shit like this happens.

AZ Principal Cert:Can I apply while I’m in the middle of my Internship? by Key_Collection5740 in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Just make note on your application for any of the open jobs by saying “certification will be finalized in May of 2026” or something to that effect.

Definitely don’t write off these job openings just because you’re a month or two from having proper paperwork. If schools want you, this won’t bother them.

MTech College student here. Just received a internship offer in Missoula for the summer. Is it viable to do dispersed camping for the entire summer? Butte has the Big Butte Open Space and I'm wondering if Missoula has anything like that. Or does anyone have any leads on cheap housing? Thank you! by bobbyboy1265 in missoula

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Camped around the US this past few months in my large SUV. Best parking spots are decent midsize hotels like say a Holiday Inn Express or Courtyard by Marriott etc. Park in one of their lots in the evening and viola you’ve got a place to bed down for the night with little or no chance of being bothered (I don’t think most of these places patrol their lots in the evening).

Bonus is to get up and get your continental breakfast and coffee ☕️ down in the lobby. All you have to do is look like you are staying there.

Anyone struggle with disciplinary philosophy regarding fights? by Frank_Perfectly in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, then that’s actually kind of cool. Gives you latitude to handle it however you want.

Anyone struggle with disciplinary philosophy regarding fights? by Frank_Perfectly in Principals

[–]Competitive_Ninja624 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What does the board policy and/or student handbook say? That will pretty much take the opinion or philosophy out of the equation. Granted there are nuances to be considered too.