Principal Cheers Up District Office Staff by

Bruce Conrad Davis

There are “mini realms,” aka departments at the district office. Each department has a department head. Often this person is a former school site administrator. Each department head has a secretary who usually supervisors other secretaries. These departments are the “machinery” that get stuff done.

I know the name and birthdate of every secretary and clerk at the district office. On their birthdays I show up at their desks and sing happy birthday to them. I give them a birthday card. Inside the card I’ve written a personal congratulatory message and thanked them for their service. Often the message is quite specific.

The district level maintenance workers are men.? At break time on their birthdays I arrive with their birthday card. Inside the card I’ve written a personal note thanking the recipient for his service. I sing happy birthday to the “birthday boy.”

I am in my suit and tie singing happy birthday to the district plumber and giving him a card with a personal message. This seems to delight the recipients as well as their fellow employees. I love doing this. What is of most importance is they know someone cares. Everyone wants somebody? to care about them.