Have Laser-Like Focus

Shon Hocker, Ed.D is the Coeur d’Alene school district superintendent in Idaho. He has been a superintendent for 17 years and was a principal, teacher, and football coach before that. Dr. Hocker is a thoughtful and strategic leader, and his leadership is clearly working - Coeur d’Alene is ranked in the top 2 for most achievement categories in Idaho. Check out the district website for more of their great work.?

Be a True Servant Leader

I did not ask Dr. Hocker to define his leadership philosophy, but I wish I had! From our conversation, however, I think I have a fairly good idea. Even as the superintendent of one of the largest districts in Idaho, multiple times he talked about creating a work environment for teachers that is manageable and not overwhelming. He wants leaders to focus on getting small-scale individual successes across, which can create success across a campus and then an entire district. His leadership style centers on servant leadership; he said we need to be true servant leaders. Dr. Hocker fosters a productive and inclusive working environment by not positioning himself as the smartest in the room but rather facilitating a space where the smartest people surround him. This approach has helped keep the focus on continuous improvement and innovation and ensures sustainable and impactful educational practices are developed and maintained.

Continuous Learning and Work-Life Balance

I appreciated how candid Dr. Hocker was during our interview. He told me that he has worked his tail off and said ‘yes’ to every opportunity presented to him to get to this point. Leaders need to work hard and be willing to change with the times. That requires constant learning if you don’t want to be left behind. That said, he cautioned me from taking on too much and working all of the time. Putting in 12-14 hour days could become the norm if you wanted. There is always more work to do, and at the same time, the work will still be there tomorrow. Burning the candle at both ends is not productive for long term success. He emphasized creating long-term, healthy habits around work and family. Dr. Hocker has five kids and he rarely misses an event for them. He also takes care of himself. If he has a really long day ahead of him, he might find time during lunch to work out because that is the only time he would be able to do it. He said he doesn’t want to retire and feel 85 years old because he never cared for himself!?

Strategic Focus - Less is More

The most interesting part of our conversation came after I asked my normal questions. Dr. Hocker and I continued discussing the idea of ‘less is more.’ We connected it to our time as football coaches, and then he expanded on the idea to being a superintendent. For a leader starting, use your first 100 days to discover all the initiatives happening. Sometimes, you don’t realize what others are doing because you don’t see what happens behind the scenes. Lay everything out, and then identify what people and resources you have. Be honest about what you might be able to accomplish and determine how you are going to measure results. Narrow the initiatives down to 5 and have a ‘Laser-like focus’ with your efforts. Districts, schools, and classrooms need to be focused on the right work and not just another initiative!

Thank you Dr. Hocker for your time and advice.?