Year 2

I started working in Warner 366 days ago, I was well aware of the 'leap' I was taking by accepting the new position and was looking forward to the challenge and change. The new responsibilities didn't scare me, the move didn't worry me, neither did the new co-workers; the scary part revolves around the impression you leave on the district.

When I was teaching, the classroom was my central focus, but more important than the room was the students. Was I leaving a good impression on them, was I a positive influence, a strong supporter of their efforts and an individual who challenged them to be more than they thought was possible? I didn't worry much about things outside of the classroom; property taxes or boundary changes or student population; I was aware but not overly concerned. When I accepted my first administrative job as an Athletic Director; my focus changed from the classroom to the sports' facilities; I focused on arenas our students competed in. Doing my best to support students, coaches, and staff with all of their extracurricular passions. I became more aware of taxes as we made facility improvements; I also paid more attention to student populations, as it impacted our classification and competition, but the focus was limited to a certain population. Both environments were great learning experiences and helped shape my views on education. I would like to believe I left a quality impression at both places of employment; I'm not sure how you measure that but when I return to those places people still talk to me (so I'll take that as a good sign).

Rewind 366 days: I was going to make it a learning year, I wasn't worried about making a bunch of changes, I was going to spend more time observing and less time dictating. I was going to see what made things 'tick' around here and as importantly I had to learn to pay attention to the district as a whole. I needed to expand my view and see the whole picture (the whole district and all the patrons). I also needed to understand my actions left more than an impression on students and staff. The year was what I thought/hoped it would be and much more. I was able to collect tons of information about the district and gather a great appreciation for the staff and community. This information will make moving forward easier and hopefully more successful for the district and myself.

So on day 366: I know I still have a lot to learn about the role; I am beginning to comprehend the impact I can have and how it is different than previous positions. I am still making sure I pay attention to the details of the office and properly carrying out the duties of the position. Moving forward, I hope I can make an impression that everyone across the district respects. I know we won't always agree or even understand everyone's point of view but I want patrons to understand I make decisions that are in the best interest of the district as a whole, even if they aren't always the most popular.

I look forward to continually representing the district in the days and months to come, but also plan on doing everything we can to help the students grow and develop into quality adults and continual learners. Life is about learning, learning is about being open to new ideas and how they can impact you as a person. Be open to new ideas, you never know what you will learn.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer.
Michael Kroll
Superintendent/9-12 Principal