Significant Career Lesson From A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools
Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools, shared that a crucial lesson learned throughout their career is "to not take things personally," a skill vital in education where setbacks are frequent and often unrelated to individual performance; this approach allows for better relationship-building and navigating challenges effectively.
Executive/Leadership, Resilience, Overcoming Challenges, Stress Management, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Taylor Ellis
Chief Academic Officer
Scholarship Prep Schools
UC Santa Barbara 2009
CSU Long Beach MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Administrative Services Credential
Anthropology, Sociology
Education
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Develop thick skin and don't take criticism personally. Focus on building relationships and de-escalating situations to move forward.
2. Passion for education is essential, but it's crucial to maintain perspective and avoid taking setbacks personally.
3. Continuous learning and self-improvement are vital for success in education leadership roles. Even experienced professionals like Taylor are constantly striving to enhance their skills and approaches.
Transcript
What is one lesson you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
That's a really good one. I think a lesson that I've learned in education in general, and I'm still learning it constantly, is to not take things personally.
For anybody who's passionate about what they do, when you don't meet your own expectations or goals, or someone pushes back on an idea you have, it can feel very personal and defeating. But I think there's just no room for that in education.
If you're a teacher working with a student and they're pushing back, it very rarely has anything to do with you. It usually comes from somewhere else. It's about building a relationship and being able to diffuse and deescalate the situation so you can move forward with that kid.
It's the same thing as an administrator working with a teacher, or myself working with a site administrator. So, I think being able to take a step back, take a deep breath, and not take things personally is still very hard. It's a lesson I am continually learning and it's so important in this role. If you take everything personally, you're just going to be real sad all the time.