Adviser Update Adviser Update Spring 2017 | Page 27
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O
n Thursday, March 16, I was
confident I had discovered the
mountain that was going to
cause the death of my career.
When I first began advising, I attended
the Flint Hills Publication Workshop
(FHPW) hosted by JEA at Kansas State
University. During the workshop, I sat
in a hot, crowded room at the Holiday
Inn surrounded by dozens of advisers
with varying experience from across
the country. As advisers explained
challenging circumstances or asked
questions, a common phrase rippled
through the crowd.
Do you want to die on this mountain?
Fast forward from FHPW seven years
to March 6. My mountain presented
itself as a newly hired principal from
Dubai with questionable credentials,
six young journalists and a steadfast
superintendent.
Climbing
A Mountain
HOW DID A ROUTINE ARTICLE
INTRODUCING A NEWLY HIRED PRINCIPAL
TURN INTO A RISKY STORY
THAT WOULD SOON GARNER
NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION?
By Emily Smith, CJE
On March 6, USD 250’s Board of
Education hired Amy Robertson as
principal for the 2017-2018 school year
in a unanimous decision.
The Booster Redux printed its monthly
issue on Friday, March 31. Robertson
resigned four days later during a special
board meeting.
In the span of nearly a month, I guided
and observed six young adults as
they went toe-to-toe with authority.
Six students who had never before in
their lives questioned any authority or
pushed any envelopes.