Kevin Buckley

I am an AACPS: Principal, Southern Middle School

A pertinent question to ask during this month where we recognize administrators is what experience prepared you for the challenges of the position? Of course the numerous workshops, books/articles read and years worked in the classroom helped. But in my particular case, my many years coaching on the sideline provided me with incredible advantages that translated to the skills I would need as an administrator.

My first coaching experience began when I was hired as a Social Studies teacher at Northeast High School. As much as I would like to believe that I was hired for my grasp of instructional pedagogy, I believe my ability to coach two different sports was my main asset. At Northeast I grew up being mentored by some of the best educators I ever met who served as coaches. For 18 years I was the head boys lacrosse coach and the assistant football coach for my schools’ teams. In addition to coaching at the high school level I also coached men’s club lacrosse and, for years, coached recreational boys and girls lacrosse and field hockey teams. (At the rec level I even had the pleasure of coaching my own kids, but was under the intense scrutiny of their mother and every other mother in the stands.)

So what are the similarities between coaching on the field and helping to lead a school? More than you would think:

  • In sports you keep score—As the principal you keep data.
  • In sports, the coach builds the players and the school up before the big game —In school, we have pep rallies for PARCC to encourage all students to do their best.
  • In sports coaches may have to have tough conversations with students and parents—No doubt, administrators have this grim task as well.
  • In sports the coach’s job is all about getting players to believe in themselves—In school, it is essential to get students to believe that they can achieve, before they tell themselves that they can’t. Administrators need to set that tone throughout the school.
  • In sports the team is greater than any one player—In schools, when everyone—from custodians to the principal—works together, students can achieve, staff feel supported, and the school is stronger.
  • As a coach you are the main focus and set the tone for the team—As a principal you clearly set the tone and become what I like to say the CEO for the school (Chief Example for Others).

The analogy could go on and on and I am so happy to see others are making this connection too. Currently the Southern and Meade Cluster principals are doing a book study with You Win in the Locker Room First, which further discusses the analogy between sports and administration.

So as I reach a point in my career where my time on the sideline matches my years in an office, I often think about the comparisons. I know that my coaching experience has been a tremendous help to prepare me for my current position, but I don’t share this story to say that you cannot succeed without it. Instead, I direct this to some new teacher, who is also loving the sidelines but wondering if the experience is preparing them for greater things. I am here to say that it absolutely can.