From Survival to Celebration: Energizing Your Staff in December ❄️

About this episode

This episode discusses strategies to energize staff during December and shift from survival to celebration.

Are you just counting down the days until winter break, or are you actively building energy to carry your staff through it? In this episode of Control Shift Lead, we are joined by Jim Dutrow, Principal of Lake Ridge Middle School in Prince William County. Together, we explore how to shift the December mindset from "survival mode" to "thriving mode." We discuss the power of being mentally present at student performances, how to turn simple visibility into deep community connections, and creative ways to combat chronic absenteeism among both students and staff. Key Takeaways: Control: How to be truly present and visible during the busy holiday arts season. Shift: Fun, actionable strategies to boost staff morale, including "Wheel of Names" giveaways and the "Snowflake in Your Pocket" game. Lead: Building tangible support systems, such as school-based food pantries, to help families navigate holiday stressors. Don't miss these practical tips to keep the "Pack Mentality" strong in your building! Subscribe and share this episode to help other leaders shift their thinking! Thank You for Listening! This has been an episode from The FowardED Network — Where we are Advancing Voices and…

People in this episode

Guest: Jim Dutrow

Topics covered

• staff morale
• community connections
• holiday stress
• absenteeism
• education leadership

Keywords

• staff energy
• December mindset
• visibility
• community support
• K-12 education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lake Ridge Middle School, The FowardED Network, AWB Education, Inspired Edification

Places: Prince William County

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