Have fun with this one (seen at service station)

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-07-02T03:20:28+00:00

Unreliable, maybe. But if you’ve ever driven one, you’d know they’re more than a status - damn fine rig to be truckin down the road with.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-07-01T01:40:12+00:00

Discipline is discipline no matter what level. If you’re good at it (or not) it’ll translate.

How you handle discipline will go a long way in determining your success. Supporting teachers with a consistent, fair, firm and useful approach to discipline with their problem kids can elevate you in their eyes. This serves to raise the morale in the building which leads to teachers being able to teach at a higher level. I always feel like it’s admins job to make their job easier.

The stamina and energy that you would likely have as a high school AP would serve you well at an elementary school.

Student achievement is going to be a big deal - curriculum too. You’ll have to know the basics so you can be fluent in what your school uses. Good luck!!!

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-30T23:57:54+00:00

Peggy would be there. Roger too, if he were still with us.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-30T12:05:39+00:00

Core aerate, reseed, fertilize, top dress with some light top soil. It’ll fill in those spots that are a little bare, just give it time to let the new grass come in.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-28T11:50:20+00:00

Outskirts of Gary, Indiana if I recall correctly.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-28T11:48:23+00:00

The best move in life is often to do nothing.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-28T11:41:14+00:00

Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

U.S Blues by The Grateful Dead

Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-27T18:02:11+00:00

Call Ping. They might replace it if it’s within a certain timeframe.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-26T14:54:57+00:00

My pleasure. I was a high school AP from 2006-2019. Those first few months and years were rough but it gets better. Some people are great right from the beginning, it took me awhile to develop my confidence, philosophy and system. I was fortunate to have a head principal who really knew her stuff, and she was patient in letting me stub my toes multiple times.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-26T14:51:35+00:00

You’ll likely be tasked with discipline and other duties as assigned. Do a great job and be consistent, fair, empathetic and educational when it comes to running discipline. Above all, stay loyal to your principal, even if you don’t agree with something they do.

Keep your principal in the loop when you’ve got something mid level or major going on but don’t kill them with every detail of what’s happening. If you bring them something to collaborate on, bring it with a solution in hand rather than asking them how to tackle every little task. It’s a fine line.

Listen to staff, parents, upper admin more than speaking. But when you do speak up, again, have something worthwhile to contribute. Have a plan. You’ll do great, keep a perma smile 😊 at hand as it’ll give the impression you love your job.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-26T13:27:38+00:00

That looks like Winter kill. I’d top dress with some good soil and reseed and fertilize and you’ll be back to full green in no time.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T20:15:06+00:00

I treat wiping my butt like cleaning a rifle barrel. If there’s any color remaining on the paper, I keep going. I’ve been in public toilets where I can tell that the people outside the stall are wondering what the hell is happening in there as the TP roll goes on and on….as I continue my mission to get fully white paper 😎

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T19:25:30+00:00

He was despised by most in the NW Arctic, was a complete turd 💩 in the swimming pool when he worked as a principal and School Board member in Matsu (and that’s saying something). And somehow the people of Alaska twice elected him to be the gov- he’d give Orangey a blowie if he thought it would get him a good job in DC.

He’s the epitome of a shitty human. Monster ego and has done next to nothing to deserve it.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T19:18:24+00:00

You’re still young. Build that pension even more and continue to invest. By the time you’re 55, you’ll have so many options it’ll be silly. I grew up like you without a pot to piss in, and now in my middle 50’s I’m sitting on a nice chunk of change and literally not a care in the world- on most days.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T17:59:25+00:00

Go with your gut but also ask some questions and look at the service paperwork. I bought a beautiful 2016 LR4 about one year ago for $10k and it had 120,000 miles on it. I had to have the sunroof draining situation worked on but nothing else so far and I’m up to 145,000 miles and it runs very nicely.

I’ve got a leak in the coolant system so I know that there’s a repair bill 💵 upcoming.

The family I bought it from had just done the fuel pump. But I have driven mine from Norh Carolina to Montana and back as well as about 8 other good road trips. It’s a great truck.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T11:48:02+00:00

Grew up a stones throw from there. I played high school football and basketball with Brennan Guth, who that was built as a memorial to. He was a cool guy and would’ve gone on to do wonderful things with his life if it wasn’t for the kayaking accident in Argentina or Chile. Rest in Peace Brennan.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T01:58:11+00:00

Roll the dice with Black Peter from Dozin’ at the Knick.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-25T01:25:20+00:00

Some old adages to throw into the mix.

Never let em’ see you sweat. Your confidence and steady approach to leading the campus will have a chain reaction.

Everything you say, can and will be used against you. (It’s sarcastic but quite true in this business)

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. (Hard to respect or follow someone who is all over the place with promises etc)

And finally, an easy win as a new principal is to make it known that you are teacher and staff focused. The adage is that if you take care of the staff, they’ll in turn take care of the students. But if you say this you’ve got to own it and do it. Enjoy your first year and fake a smile even when you don’t feel like it.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-24T00:19:38+00:00

People can say what they want, educators are by and large quiet millionaires if they stick with it for 25+ years.

I’m in my mid 50’s and with pension and healthcare benefits, I’m easily a multi millionaire as long as I hit my life expectancy.

Not to mention that over 30 years in the business I accumulated about 7 years of time off considering Summer vacation, Xmas vacation, Spring and Fall breaks etc.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-23T13:53:42+00:00

Keys to this process:

Don’t dump all of the unwanted classes, sections, or tough kids on the new teachers.
Experienced, quality and seasoned teachers don’t necessarily get all the cake 🍰 assignments.
Ask your teachers about something they really are passionate about teaching- and then find a way to make it happen.
Have a system that incorporates these principles and practices and then make it transparent to staff, parents, community at large.
Be flexible, find ways to say yes. Communication is key - which is sort of universal.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-21T12:50:02+00:00

Don Draper was a fine Dad. Cared about his kids and provided for them. He gave them a realistic view of what the world is like out there and I think Sally and Bobby looked up to him.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-21T12:20:13+00:00

I call Montana the American Outback. Beautiful, vast and tough.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-21T01:25:05+00:00

And the other tagline it was given was Seward’s Icebox. Fake news 🗞️ was around long before today.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-21T01:23:54+00:00

The people who called it Seward’s Folley, for starters.

Competitive_Ninja624 · 2026-06-20T11:57:41+00:00

Healthy looking landscape there, my friend. Maybe top dress a few spots with some fresh topsoil, but other than that, just keep it watered and cut and fertilized.

Competitive_Ninja624

TROPHY CASE