Full Transcript for Episode 81: Finding Your Red Bench: Sustainable School Leadership, Self-Care & Avoiding Burnout with Todd Bloomer

recap your year a little bit. 00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:41.759 What are some things you learned? 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.000 What are some things that you're like going, man? 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:50.800 I wasn't like, you know, that was something that was, you know, I wasn't quite ready for that, but I learned through that process. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:55.839 Or, you know, what are some things that surprised you, you know, in your first year of that role? 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.519 Yeah, great, great question. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:15.759 One of the things that that I really think was an excellent eye-opener for me this school year was really John Maxwell's, you know, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership was basically his number one law, you know, or second is is is is influence. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:31.439 And and I start by the this the your answering your question by talking about influence, because as a public school guy coming into parochial schools and coming into Catholic schools, you know, there's a little bit of, you know, we do things a little bit differently around here, and there's a little bit different when it comes to the structure. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:35.519 Like we talked a little bit, you know, your school board, your superintendent, they're your boss. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:39.439 And if they told you, you know, put your desk on the roof, you put your desk on the roof. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:43.599 Well, in the Catholic school system, there's basically three different ways of governance. 00:06:43.599 --> 00:06:46.639 There's a superintendent who oversees about eight schools. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:51.360 The pastor in a parochial school oversees about 22 schools that we have. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:55.120 And there's a board, a board of directors that oversees about eight. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:07:04.240 And so going in as a public school person to go into this system, I assume that I would have a little bit of not any other kind of way, but like I was a director. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:13.279 And if I came to you and said, Jeff, hey, this is what we need to do, like you know, that you you you got that from central office, and and that was that was gospel for for lack of better words. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.159 But what I found was really I'm a suggestion. 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:22.480 Like, like I'm I'm I am a suggestion, I am advice, and that took a little bit of time to get used to. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:34.800 But what I really caveat, I caveat that by saying it forced me really to be able to talk with people, to get to know people, and to really have them see the value that I could add in helping them walk this journey. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:40.240 You know, I was a print high school principal for seven years, middle school principal for five years, and so I've seen it all. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:45.360 And so just coming in and saying, Jeff, this is the way you're gonna do it, obviously we know that doesn't work. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.319 But this just reminded me this is a people business. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:53.199 We need to listen to people, we need to take care of people, we need to lift up people, we need to hear what they need. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.599 And when you need something, I need to deliver. 00:07:55.599 --> 00:07:58.959 Sometimes it's just calling me on the phone and walking me through some things. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.000 Sometimes it's like, tell me what to do because I need some advice. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.680 And sometimes it's just like, what would you do in this situation? 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.000 And kind of role-playing and talking it through. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:16.560 So the thing I've really learned through this whole situation, and it's just a reminder that like great leaders, they don't they don't rule with the with a with a stick. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:21.759 You know, they they they walk the walk, they influence you through what they do, they model for you. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:24.639 All the things we talked previously about being Christ-like. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.639 If you're gonna talk about it, you better walk it. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.800 If you're gonna talk it, then you better back it up. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:40.480 And so that really that really allowed me to be able to get on campuses for people that I didn't know, that I had to build a rapport with, that they might have been struggling and they've never had someone come on the campus that wanted to help. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.039 So there might have been a trust issue that went there. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:52.000 So, really, over the course of the year, it just reinforced and re-honed in on getting to know people, loving on people, just like kids, seen, valued, and appreciated. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:58.799 And if you knew that, if someone, if someone, if they knew that Todd Bloomer had their back and they called right now, I'd have to say, stop, let's let's stop. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:02.319 I somebody needs me, and I'd have to take care of that principle right now. 00:09:02.319 --> 00:09:07.839 And so that's been the biggest challenge, but reward as I've gone throughout the year. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:08.639 Awesome. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:18.000 I really like how you talked about you know getting to know your people because I know anytime you go into a new role, learning new people is like essential, right? 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:26.559 You kind of have to go in and kind of have an open mind and kind of like figure out their needs and what makes them tick and and all those things. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:33.839 And that first year, no matter what, where you're at in education, just learning about your people is so important. 00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:39.360 I think that's you know, something that anybody that takes on a new role, I think that's vital. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.960 You have to be intentional

on that. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:45.839 And it sounds like, you know, knowing you, Todd, I mean, you're you're that kind of guy, right? 00:09:45.839 --> 00:09:50.799 You're gonna get in there, you're gonna, you're gonna learn the people, you're gonna figure it out because you wanna help them. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:56.319 You want to impact their their leadership and and help them uh throughout their journey. 00:09:56.319 --> 00:10:03.519 So is there any like story that sticks out from the past year with somebody that you worked with that you would like to share? 00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:06.240 Yeah, you know, uh quite a few, you know, honestly. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.359 The Archdiocese of San Antonio stretches so far. 00:10:09.359 --> 00:10:15.920 And, you know, one of the yeah, I the I had the great opportunity to be to step in for a principal that retired. 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:17.599 So a principal retired at spring break. 00:10:17.599 --> 00:10:23.680 And so I had the great opportunity to be able to step in uh to a campus and fill in as a K-8 principal. 00:10:23.680 --> 00:10:26.400 And so, you know, you know, walking the walk now. 00:10:26.400 --> 00:10:33.039 And to be honest with you, what what it really allowed me to do, we always talk about like walking in their shoes. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:38.000 Like, you know, as we become an assistant principal, we all we don't want to forget what it was like to be a classroom teacher. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.319 We don't when we become principal, we don't want to forget what it was like to be an AP or a classroom teacher. 00:10:42.319 --> 00:10:46.079 And then as we go up to a central office, we don't want to forget what it was like to be on a campus. 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:56.960 And so, really, the best story that I have was, you know, my boss called me in and God needed me to go to this campus, and I went to this campus, and we thought it would be a couple of weeks, and it ended up being three months. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:10.799 And so, really, the the the moral of this story is I was able to step in and gain more credibility with the principles of the archdiocese because I was walking the walk that that that they do each and every day. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:17.680 We didn't have a custodian, so the the the mantra became if not you, then who when it came to cleaning stuff up. 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:19.920 You know, I took trash out in the morning. 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:22.079 I I became the the maintenance guy. 00:11:22.079 --> 00:11:28.000 Like I hit YouTube to try to figure out how to fix things, like you know, because we didn't have a maintenance guy. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.119 We didn't have anybody to do the lawn keeping and the upwork of that. 00:11:31.119 --> 00:11:32.079 And so I had a weedy. 00:11:32.079 --> 00:11:46.720 And I had to, so when principals talked about being stressed because they had multiple things on their plate, I was able to now, you know, dive in and say,

you know what, there's a reason this principal might not have turned something in because they're doing X, Y, and Z. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:52.319 So it really allowed me to be able to jump in this year and it gave me the opportunity to get back on a campus. 00:11:52.319 --> 00:12:14.740 Like, let's be honest, like I love being on a campus, I love the energy of a campus, I love the excitement, you know. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:26.580 But this was this was cool, dude, because we had we had a daycare attached to the the pre-K three, so three, four kindergarten to eighth grade in a daycare, so 18 months to three years. 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:33.460 And a funny story, like in a in in you know, in in a public school like yours, you've got multiple people you can call for subs. 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:36.899 We had a very, very thin bench when it was in the Catholic schools. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:38.179 So I stepped in a lot. 00:12:38.179 --> 00:12:42.820 I was a religion teacher in sixth grade, I was an art teacher in sixth grade while I was the principal. 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:48.659 And every once in a while at noon, I would have to go cover the daycare while the kids took a nap. 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:56.659 And so, like one of the things that really, you know, gave me a little bit of street cred, you know, or church cred, I don't know if street cred is is what you say, right? 00:12:56.659 --> 00:13:01.060 Give me gave me some some some some some credibility in there was I walk the walk with them. 00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:03.860 So when they talked about things, I was able to really say that. 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:11.060 And I really wish as a high school principal, I would have done more with with being an AP for a day, being a teacher for a day. 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:15.460 I wish I would have done more of getting back into that because this really reminded me. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:24.260 And it made me, as I present to people, it really makes me think, okay, what are they going through right now? 00:13:24.260 --> 00:13:26.100 Where is their mind going to be? 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:28.260 And then how can I be succinct? 00:13:28.260 --> 00:13:29.699 How can I be clear? 00:13:29.699 --> 00:13:34.820 And how can I give them some value and not take three and a half hours and read a PowerPoint to them? 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.460 You bet. 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:36.500 I appreciate that. 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:39.460 Yeah, you're being thoughtful uh when you're presenting. 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:58.340 When you talk about wanting to be intentional with your presentations, I think that's really important because I know, like for me, when I presented at our state conference this past summer, I wanted to make sure when they left they had something they could take with them that they could use, not just like you said, you're clicking through PowerPoints and talking the whole time. 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:06.980 So I really appreciate that when you do those presentations that you you give them something that they can take with them and and uh utilize right away. 00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:08.419 Well, well, let's let's do this. 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:10.820 Let's let's let's co-present Nebraska next year. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.580 Hey, let's do something over the summer. 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.939 Let's see what we got to figure out. 00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:18.100 Well, I am the president-elect of our state association this year. 00:14:18.260 --> 00:14:19.139 Oh, let's go. 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:25.540 So I don't I don't know how this all works, but I'll I'll learn about it this year and then I'll be president next year. 00:14:25.540 --> 00:14:38.260 I would have to say I might be in the in some capacity, in some capacity, I'll have some insight on how they select people for workshops and different things like that. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.780 I'd love, I'd love to jump in. 00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:43.139 Uh, we're we're that'll be an offline conversation, but I'm you bet, you bet. 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:44.340 Yeah, no, that's all good. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:45.780 It's all good, my friend. 00:14:45.780 --> 00:14:48.179 You know, and I know you've kind of been doing those things. 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:52.179 You've been kind of presenting and guest speaking and keynoting and things like that. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:58.419 Like, how I mean, what I really love about that story you talked about is you talk about that K-8 experience. 00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:07.300 I know you were in the middle school, I know you're in the high school, but now you can truly say, I've done it all because I did the K8, you know, you know, leadership. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:14.419 And you kind of hit on something there, you know, you kind of gave me a picture of what it's the difference is a little bit. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:26.260 Because like I run a I'm in a public school and I have a lot of people that I have to like, hey, this person does this, this person does this, and making sure, and you're like going, well, um, I am all those people, right? 00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:31.540 And I remember doing that in a small rural school where I had to wear a lot of different hats. 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:38.899 And I think people don't understand that every school's different, and sometimes as leaders, we have to wear a lot of different hats. 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:46.980 Even like today, I was out sweeping the floors, I was picking up trash, I was doing things around the building just to help out. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.860 Not because I have to do it, but I did it to help out. 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.980 Like I became a plumber. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:56.100 You're modeling that for your teachers, and you're modeling that for your students. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:16:01.699 Like, like I didn't make that mess, but I'm gonna clean it up because if not me, then who? 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:05.699 Like, you're gonna leave

that peanut butter jelly and jelly sandwich on the ground for the custodian to pick up. 00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.260 That's not right. 00:16:06.260 --> 00:16:09.780 Like, we don't do that, that's not what we do at our house, and this is our home. 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:16.980 Like, I commend you for doing that because I know a lot of people that would step right by it or call somebody to clean up, or or or they think that job's beneath them. 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:19.620 Well, I don't want to do everybody's job, but I will help out. 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.740 I'm like going, you know what? 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.980 I can do this, I don't need to like call somebody for that. 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.699 That's not a big deal. 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:31.379 And so, yeah, so today I got to be a little bit of a plumber, had to figure out why the hand wrist and stations in the bathroom weren't working. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.300 Well, it's because no one turned on the power. 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:36.740 So we got to figure out no big deal on that one. 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:42.980 So, you know, kind of talk about you know, speaking and keynoting, how what's that journey been like for you? 00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:45.620 It's been enjoyable, to be honest with you. 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:48.740 Had a great summer, like a really awesome opportunity. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:17:02.740 Got to get up to Kansas, was in Fort Hayes State University, got to speak to you know, a group of aspiring leaders and teachers there, did multiple ones here around San Antonio and Dallas, and in and just been really enjoyable. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:07.939 And so honestly, you know, I think everybody's got a story inside of them that needs to be told. 00:17:07.939 --> 00:17:20.500 And I think educators, like just like your podcast, is like a moral obligation that we have to give back to the to the to the youngins that are coming up to be able to shape them because they someone did that to us, and so the opportunity, I don't take it for granted. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.179 It's like you talked about Friday night lights. 00:17:22.179 --> 00:17:34.419 I wake up in the morning with the with the game day jitters, and I got to get a good workout in to get those game day jitters in because somebody trusts me to come in and talk to their staff and really try to motivate and inspire their staff. 00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:40.419 And I take a ton of pride in trying to give back things that I didn't do a good job of. 00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:50.179 And so everything is that I share are things that on the outside, I look like, you know, I was, you know, everything was rosy, but on the inside, like there were there were struggles on the inside. 00:17:50.179 --> 00:17:59.699 And I put my family second, and I put my health third, and I put my faith fourth, and you know, just all of those things that that I just, you know, I'm lucky that my wife stayed with me. 00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:01.460 I'm lucky that my children still love me. 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:12.019 And so really, as I wrote book number one and transitioned into book number two, I thought, you know what, if I had the opportunity to get out and talk to staffs and tell them, you know, putting yourself first is not being selfish. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:15.699 You know what, you know, when you wake up in the morning, you know, you got to get a good workout. 00:18:15.699 --> 00:18:20.819 And I my my my doctor is a former student of mine, and that's a very humbling experience, you know. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:26.579 And he basically said to me, you know, you you gotta you gotta put your health, you know, at the forefront. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:31.299 Otherwise, you know, what when you are a grandpa, you're not gonna be able to do the things that you want to do with them. 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:37.139 And, you know, when you're retired for officially, you and your wife want to go on those trips, you know, you won't be able to do that. 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:42.659 And so, you know, I looked at the standpoint, you know, basically Americans live to be 77 or 80 years old. 00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:44.659 And I've lived two-thirds of that. 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:46.819 And and I want to live a long time. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:51.779 And and I turn my life over to God when I hit 50, and like my life has been transformed. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:55.299 And, you know, like I've I you know, we talked earlier, I'm an empty nester. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:59.619 And so, like now spending time with my wife is is like extremely important. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:11.459 So, long story short, I get to share what I did wrong and where I failed with other people that are just starting their career to be able to say, don't do this. 00:19:11.459 --> 00:19:16.259 And that's easier said than done because guys like me and you were the first in the parking lot or the last to leave. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:21.139 So now I say, do one or the other, be the first or be the last, but don't be two. 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:24.259 Small things like that that you can maybe implement. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:27.859 You know, Jimmy Casas, our friend Jimmy Casas, I talk about his 2%. 00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:32.099 Give me 30 minutes a day, give me 30 minutes a day of physical activity. 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:36.979 You know, in the morning when I get up, you know, when I after I work out, I hit the Bible. 00:19:36.979 --> 00:19:40.499 I find my my strength in working out in God. 00:19:40.499 --> 00:19:42.419 And I calendar everything for my wife. 00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:49.939 And I go and I share these things with staff to try to be able to say, when you are right, you can do everything else right. 00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:56.179 So when you're right with yourself, when you're right with God, when you're right with your family, you can be the best social studies teacher, be the best counselor. 00:19:56.179

--> 00:19:59.619 Your PLCs will be high functioning, your test scores will be great. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:04.339 You won't take days off, you won't be burnt out because you're right, your mission is centered. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:14.339 And so then we weave our way into some funny stories, some humorous stories about, you know, recognizing kids and taking care of kids and, you know, like like just really embracing the job. 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:22.899 And then really we end with like a like a story of like why do we in education allow so many people's opinions to matter? 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:39.059 And so, really, just things that have allowed me to be 29 years in public education has given me the opportunity to stand in front of faculties and staff and kind of pour some stuff into them that I think I wish I would have heard 30 years ago that would have added some value or maybe some longevity to my life. 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:46.179 And then not to toot my own horn, but the message tends to resonate with people to say, thank you for reminding me my family is important. 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:51.939 Thank you for reminding me that being open with God and being thankful to God and reaching out to God is important. 00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:59.379 Thank you for reminding me that just because a parent went to third grade doesn't mean their opinion of third grade teachers matter. 00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:02.499 Because in education, we let that stuff live rent-free. 00:21:02.499 --> 00:21:05.299 And just because you went to school doesn't mean you have a clue. 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:09.299 Think about the parent that might reach out to you, Jeff, and tell you how to do your job. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:16.419 Just because they went to a high school in Nebraska doesn't mean they got a clue on how to do it, but we allow that to live in our mind. 00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:25.219 And so it's telling some kind of humorous stories, but then also we we do some activities in there where we try to symbolically, you know, throw that away, that pebble in the shoe type stuff. 00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:31.459 So to be honest with you, I finished up a keynote uh just this week and I told my wife, I'm really done for the year. 00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:32.579 Schools are starting. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:37.299 I wish I had more because with each one, like it really resonates and really connects. 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:51.859 And the people that kind of come up and say thank you for sharing that, or they reach out after the fact, just gives me strength to keep doing it because more people need to hear messages like this that are not PLC related, you know, career in college, military readiness real. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:57.459 Not that that stuff's not important because it so is, but if you're not right, nothing else matters. 00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:59.539 That's the message that I need to get out there. 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.979 But I appreciate that. 00:22:00.979 -->

00:22:14.499 And I appreciate that you allow yourself to be vulnerable in those keynotes and let people know like we are people, we are actual human beings, we're not robots, and you know, and being able to share those messages are important. 00:22:14.499 --> 00:22:16.739 I really appreciate that you did that. 00:22:16.739 --> 00:22:22.899 So when we uh first you came on the show, you talked about your red bench, right? 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:25.699 Yeah, a little bit in that in that episode. 00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:30.899 You just talked about it, it was kind of like your place where you started the day and things like that. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:37.059 Well, now you have the book called Finding Your Red Bench. 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:43.699 And so, I what what I want you to do is I want you to like let us like what is the inspiration of that book? 00:22:43.699 --> 00:22:57.139 I just find it a really cool, like full circle moment for you because you had your actual red bench that you used and having a book about finding your red bench, helping others find their red bench. 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:58.659 What was the inspiration? 00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:01.699 What was the reasoning behind the book? 00:23:01.699 --> 00:23:03.299 So tell us the backstory. 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:09.299 Now I might be the only principal, but one time I had a parent that really ticked me off and it made me really upset. 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:13.939 And my secretary came in and said, Hey, go take a walk, go leave the office. 00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:18.259 You know, she could tell I was upset, she could tell that the parent had got to me with whatever was said. 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:20.259 And I went out and I sat on the red bench. 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:27.779 And in the Churchill High School, where I was principal for seven years, was an open campus, nine buildings, probably about 30 acres of land. 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:31.619 I mean, and and for the most part in San Antonio, you can you can be outside all year. 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:33.859 It might be hotter than heck, but you can be outside all year. 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:35.459 And I went and sat on this bench. 00:23:35.459 --> 00:23:36.899 And I remember my football coach came. 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:39.379 Up and sat next to me, and I, you know, cheered me up. 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:41.939 The secretary probably called him and said, Hey, go check on Bloomer. 00:23:41.939 --> 00:23:44.019 He's you know, down in the dumps or something. 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.139 And I sat out there. 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:53.059 And then next morning, next morning, I went and sat on the bench, had a cup of coffee, and pretty soon that became my my starting point. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:58.019 And and guys like us, Jeff, we probably remember the old commercial, Kelgon Take You Away. 00:23:58.019 --> 00:24:04.659 And it was this old bath, you know, bath woman takes a bath and she dumps this in there and she's peaceful. 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:07.379 And outside of her bathroom, the kids are going nuts. 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.979 They're probably fighting and throwing things. 00:24:08.979 --> 00:24:10.499 And it was Kelgon Take You Away. 00:24:10.499 --> 00:24:14.419 And that Kalgon take you to a place of like happiness and joy and peace. 00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:21.459 And remember sitting there at the bench and laughing about Kelgon Take You Away as I looked out at a highway and looked through these fences. 00:24:21.459 --> 00:24:26.419 And I thought, maybe I'm at the beach or maybe I'm at the mountains, or like, wouldn't that be cool? 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:28.899 And a young teacher, she's probably 25 or so, sat down. 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.259 She goes, What are you doing, Bloomberg? 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:32.579 And I said, Do you remember the commercial Kelgon Take You Away? 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.699 She had no clue, none at all. 00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:37.059 And I said, Well, right now I'm picturing that I'm at the beach. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:39.139 And she kind of looked at me and she goes, Really? 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:40.659 And I said, Well, kind of. 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:43.139 And so, like, she and she says, Oh, that's kind of cool. 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:45.779 And so, like two or three days later, she saw me sitting at the bench again. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.499 She came and sat by. 00:24:46.499 --> 00:24:47.939 She goes, Yeah, you at the beach. 00:24:47.939 --> 00:24:50.099 And so pretty soon it just became this moment. 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:53.859 And then as I sat there, you know, I could spend two or three minutes in quiet. 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:58.419 And you think about a high school principal, how many times can you just get a moment of just peace and quiet? 00:24:58.419 --> 00:25:02.339 And you know, I pray to God, dear God, you know, I know somebody on this campus needs me. 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:04.499 Open my eyes, my ears, my heart. 00:25:04.499 --> 00:25:07.779 You know, God, if you would, just tell me who needs me, because that would be really easy. 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.979 But I know you don't do that. 00:25:08.979 --> 00:25:10.819 So, so, you know, who is it? 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.019 And I'd sit there. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:17.379 And then pretty soon, to be honest with you, I started taking my iPad and I'd go work out on the red bench. 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:21.699 And pretty soon, people that wanted to see me, my secretary would say, Bloom, are you on the red bench? 00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:25.059 And I'd call my head football coach, hey, meet me on the red bench. 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.739 Or I had meetings outside. 00:25:26.739 --> 00:25:33.619 And it just became that moment where I could get some peace, I could center my day, I could drink my coffee, and then I could go about my day. 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:36.659 And on days I didn't have my red bench, I could feel it. 00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:38.659

So then I started to write a book. 00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:41.299 And my book was going to be called The Blueprint 2.0. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:46.339 But the more that I wrote about the book, I was like, this is a little bit different. 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:48.979 This is finding your red bench. 00:25:48.979 --> 00:25:51.939 So throughout the entire book, it hits on three things. 00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:54.659 Like I said, operations, culture, and self-care. 00:25:54.659 --> 00:26:00.499 But throughout the book, it talks about creating moments for yourself and finding your red bench. 00:26:00.499 --> 00:26:03.619 And that red bench for you might be sitting in a band hall. 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:07.619 That red bench for you might be sitting in a great English teacher's classroom. 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:11.699 That red bench for you might be, you know, going out and watching the one act play. 00:26:11.699 --> 00:26:16.339 You know, whatever brings you joy on your campus, that's your red bench. 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.539 And it can change. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:22.659 It could change from one week to another, from one season to another, from one school year to another. 00:26:22.659 --> 00:26:28.179 But it's a mindset and a mentality that you are the decider of what brings you joy. 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:31.299 Like I get to decide if I'm going to have a good day or not. 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:34.019 I'm not going to allow that parent to get to get to me. 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:37.059 And so I'm going to go sit on the red bench and I'm going to have a great day. 00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:37.779 Because you know what? 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.979 Today I'm in the mountains. 00:26:38.979 --> 00:26:45.779 And you know, I've never fly fished, but I'm going to pretend I'm out in the water fly fishing right now because that is peaceful for what we have. 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:50.259 And I'll drink a cup of coffee, I'll do some work out there until it got too hot, and then I'll move along. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:58.819 So the the coolest part was when I retired, that red bench, they put a plaque on it and they put Bloomers Bench and put my years at Churchill High School. 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:01.779 And that might have been the greatest gift that I've ever received. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.899 And then I'll show you one more. 00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.779 Hold on. 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:09.139 Um a teacher gave me a bobblehead of me on a red bench. 00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:15.779 And I thought that was like one of the coolest things in the whole red world was that I had a bobblehead of me on a red bench. 00:27:15.779 --> 00:28:01.279 And so every once in a while I'll get a text message, miss you on the red bench. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:05.920 Every once in a while, I'll get text message pictures of teachers sitting on the red bench saying, I miss you. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:17.039 So really it's in to tie into the speaking part of it, like we talk about

that in the second pillar of finding your blueprint to success, is finding your red bench, finding your happiness, finding your joy. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:21.519 Because the job is difficult, the job is demanding, the job can suck the life out of you. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:24.240 But if you you allow that, then you're gone. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:35.920 But on those bad days, when my secretary told me, get out of the office and go find yourself some happy, like, go sit in the band hall, go watch practice, go sit in that first year teacher's class that's just markable, remarkable. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.480 You know what? 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:40.799 Those AP classes that are like calculus BC, you don't even know what it means. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.920 Go sit in there and watch those smart kids just get after it. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.440 You know, that is the joy. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.399 Go sit at lunch. 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.839 Fantasy football's coming up. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:49.359 We talked about Friday Night Lights. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:55.599 One of the things I miss about high school, I would go sit at tables with kids and say, you know what, guys, I got the third pick this year in the draft. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.279 Gibbs is gonna be gone. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:59.119 You know, Bijan's gonna be gone. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.480 Who do I pick at three? 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.839 Everybody had an opinion. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.440 Everybody wanted to talk about that. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.399 That was that bond. 00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.519 That was my joy. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:09.519 Like that was my red bench at the moment, it was a table in a cafeteria. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:16.319 So, really, it's it's a mindset that you can find your joy wherever on a campus you are in control of that. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.519 And find your joy and find your red bench because they're everywhere. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:22.799 And if you look for it, it'll slap you in the face because it's everywhere. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:35.039 But if we don't look for it, we'll be in the office, excuse my French, pissed off about that parent that called, angry about it, griping about things, sitting in front of a computer, missing out on all the greatness that goes on in your campus. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.480 You bet. 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:38.079 No, I really appreciate that. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:41.680 I mean, that's a lot of just great advice in there. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:45.519 And I call I call I talk about don't let people steal your joy. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:50.639 Don't let people take the things that make you joyful about what you do because they're out there. 00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:59.519 You know, if you you know know anything about John Gordon, energy bus, about you know, energy vampires and things like that, you can't let those things get to you. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:05.920 But if you find a place, like in this case, finding your red bench or where your happy place is, like Happy Gilma, right? 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.200 Go to your happy place. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.639 You know, it just helps. 00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:10.240 And and for me, I do that too. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:21.279 I can, you know, if I'm having a rough day, I have an area I can go to and I can just decompress, I can, you know, meditate real quick, pray, and then move on for my day. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:30.399 And just that little bit of time is really, really needed, especially you know, when when the when the bullets are flying and things are really, really happening rapidly. 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:42.079 Now, with your book, you this format's you know a little different than some other books that I've seen, to where it's like a month-by-month guide for educational leaders. 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:49.279 So what was the what was your main goal behind that when you decided this is how I want to write out this book? 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:54.720 Like I've got to read quite a bit of it, but at the same time, I mean, it's really cool. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.399 Yeah, you're you're in it. 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.799 So yeah. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:03.279 I'm September, but you know, none the point. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:06.480 You know, what what was the motivation behind that? 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:08.000 And what was the purpose? 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.799 Like, what are you trying to help principals with? 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:17.440 So, you know, when you become a principal that first year, you know, everybody tells you, call me if needed. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.799 Call me if needed. 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:23.440 And I remember a few times my first year thinking, I don't even know what to call about. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:26.879 Like I don't know who to call or or what to call about. 00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:34.079 Luckily, you know, as an ex-coach, you know, I was was was one that wasn't gonna fail and I was gonna reach out to people and I was gonna figure it out. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:39.920 And I had great structures in my my district that I was in, great support staff, great people above me that mentored me. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:49.119 And so as I traveled around the district and as I traveled around other districts and recognized people that smaller central office might not have had the support that they they had. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:55.519 I saw on Facebook and groups of people throwing in their keys and saying, uh, you know, I can't do it anymore. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:12.399 You know, I thought, you know, we talk about 30, 60, 90-day plans, we talk about those, and I thought, you know what, what if we took from July to to June and we looked at each month and we tried to look at what it takes to be a successful principal from three lenses operations, culture, and self-care. 00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:15.920 But then we

also weaved in uh stuff to plan for next month. 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:33.680 And then the goal started to become like, let's make this very practical, let's make this like a companion or a coach, but also from a standpoint of actually a sitting point of what if this was a book that was like me and you sitting on a red bench talking about leadership? 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:49.519 So not a like an academic book, like a book that would be like reading with citing and in statistics, but like if me and you were sitting on a bench, you know, talking about a concern that you had or I had, this would be that companion to it. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:57.680 And then it became the standpoint of okay, well, what if they don't have someone at central office they can they can reach out to or they don't feel comfortable with it? 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:08.480 They could carry this book with them through the months, and it would be able to give them a peek ahead, but also things that you that I felt and through other leaders that shared you in September. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:12.079 Here are things that this month, here's how September's different. 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:15.200 Like here's how like October, here's how October's different. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.480 Like October is just full moon, Halloween, 31 days. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.440 People quit during Halloween, like people quit during October. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:23.440 So, like, what does that look like? 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:28.960 And I try to weave in stories, I try to weave in some failures that I had that I was able to overcome. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:39.920 I tried to weave in how to take care of people, spend a lot of time with like real culture, but also really just making sure that you have the structures and systems in place, not just to survive, but to thrive. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:51.279 So, really, the goal was a conversation with two guys or two gals or a guy and a gal sitting on a bench, having, you know, just talking leadership, but also something that you could take, you could read ahead, you could come back to it. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:59.039 And then as I started to work through it, it wasn't just designed for first-year leaders, it was designed for leaders of all levels as reminders. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:02.319 And I was working with a principal just yesterday, and he was in Louisiana. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:08.559 I was doing a phone call with him, and he read the book and he was talking about something, and he said to me, you know, I've been doing this eight years. 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:14.480 And he goes, Some of the stuff that you've got in June, I'm sorry, in July and August, I never thought about. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:16.960 And he said, I want to thank you for writing that. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:21.359 And it's not about that, but I was like, well, cool, because like that's what it was designed for. 00:34:21.359 --> 00:34:24.159 It was designed to have us

reflect and think about. 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:27.759 And then at the very end, I have three red bench and red bench questions. 00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:35.839 And I challenge you, go find your red bench, sit on your red bench at the end of each month and reflect on each one of these questions to see how you're doing that month. 00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:39.440 And so, really, that became just kind of the goal, became very practical. 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:42.719 And honestly, I didn't see anything else out there like that. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.799 Like I didn't see any other books out there. 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:50.639 There's, I mean, there's way better authors than me, way better leaders than me that got insight, but this is very unique. 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:56.159 And the feedback that I've started to receive early on has been thank you for writing this. 00:34:56.159 --> 00:35:00.399 And the last part that I thought was really cool, my wife wrote the foreword. 00:35:00.399 --> 00:35:07.119 My five kids wrote the advanced praise, and my brother wrote the only thing on the back of the book when it came to praise. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:11.680 I didn't ask anyone else to write any of the advanced praise because it's about family. 00:35:11.680 --> 00:35:14.559 And I have a good friend, Tracy, if she's listening. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:20.880 She she texted me the first night she got the book and my wife, and she said, Hey, I'm crying based on what your wife and kids wrote about it. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:26.240 And so that was, I was like, that's pretty cool because that's a reminder of taking care of your family. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:26.800 Yeah. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:32.559 And what I love about it is the month by month part to where you're giving insight to people. 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:36.880 And like you said, there's gonna be somebody out there, and I was gonna talk about my personal experience. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:53.599 There's gonna be somebody out there in the middle of a cornfield in a rural school, they pick up this book, it's gonna help them think things through, you know, almost like just like a little coach, you know, coaching guide to where you have something to that's practical. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:36:08.559 Yep, you have something practical, you have something that you can refer to, but I would almost say it's like an evergreen book to where you can be five years down the road, the things in this book are going to apply five years later. 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.119 Thank you. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:19.760 Because, like you said, education is pretty consistent, and depending on where you're at, you're gonna probably take something out of that book every year if you read it every year. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:30.400 I mean, that that's kind of where I look at it because you give them that month-to-month guide and four educational leaders, and it you're like you said, it could be people that have experience, people that are new. 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:37.519 I think it's gonna benefit anybody that's doing the work and have something tangible that they can hang on to. 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.040 So I really appreciate it. 00:36:39.040 --> 00:36:42.000 Go check out September, go check out the end of September. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.840 End of September, yeah. 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:45.120 Actually, read it. 00:36:45.120 --> 00:36:48.960 I read it read it today because I was just thinking back, what did I write? 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:52.480 Go back and remember, but it was it was good. 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:54.880 I really, really enjoyed being a part of that. 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:57.600 I thank you for even inviting me. 00:36:57.600 --> 00:37:02.640 Like that was kind of one of those things where never thought I'd be in a book, but here I am. 00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:11.200 All right, so Todd, we we've talked a lot about just your journey and where you're at and you know your book. 00:37:11.200 --> 00:37:16.000 And I'm gonna put you know a link to your book in the show notes so people can go get it. 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:23.600 I'm gonna strongly encourage people to pick up a copy because this is something that you're gonna find useful year in and year out. 00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:31.120 I'm telling you, I've read a lot of the book already, but at the same time, go ahead and pick that up. 00:37:31.120 --> 00:37:38.480 Now, Todd, before we go here, what excites you about the future of education? 00:37:39.040 --> 00:37:41.440 It's the students that are sitting in those desks. 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:49.920 And as we're coming back, you know, you started you know a week ago and San Antonio's, you know, starting up now, and you know, New York will be after Labor Day. 00:37:49.920 --> 00:38:09.760 And so as kids are coming back and sitting in those desks and being able to be in schools, Catholic schools, and public schools, I am inspired by the passion of kids, the worldly vision of kids, the ability to stand up for what kids feel is right, and the ability to say what is wrong. 00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:14.800 And you know this at a high school, telling a kid, hey, because I told you, it just doesn't fly. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:18.160 Like you've got to, kids gotta be they kids want to know why. 00:38:18.160 --> 00:38:22.240 And and whether we like it or not, you know, I mean, you can't just say, because I told you so. 00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:26.320 Like it, I think kids understand when you explain to them, but but they don't they don't take that. 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:34.160 And so kids know when adults treat them right, kids know when kids treat each other right, and kids stand up when that when when that doesn't happen. 00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:37.519 And our world is is a is a is a very difficult place right now. 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:43.840 It's tough to watch the news at night to see the the the worldly events, the the state events, the national events.

00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:54.160 And I really, really have great faith that the students that we are graduating, whether it be Nebraska or Texas or anywhere in between, are empathetic, are kind. 00:38:54.160 --> 00:38:55.920 I think they're coming back to church. 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:57.200 I think they're finding God. 00:38:57.200 --> 00:39:01.920 And I think all of those things coming together, I also think they've got great sense of humor. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:08.400 I think they're creative, I think they're collaborative, I think they're the friend groups are strong, I think they're advocates of each other. 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:15.600 I think that is going to be the change that we need to see in the world that somehow we tried, but you know, we look look where we're at. 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:17.680 And so the the next hope is those kids. 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:34.880 And really, you know, and part of my keynote as I talk about the second pillar of finding your blueprint to success is really recognizing and acknowledging the kids in your class and breathing life into them and helping them to see what what they may not be able to see right now if they don't. 00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:39.760 And like when when kids are kids know that adults got their back, like what does Rita Pearson say? 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:42.480 You know, kids don't care how much you know to them, how much you care? 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:45.280 And I just think that is so important when it comes to this. 00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:48.480 And so I'm really excited about the kids that are graduating. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:40:05.680 I'm really excited about just their empathy and their knowledge of world views, whether it be environmentalist issues, whether it be standing up to say no to you know data stations and you know, data centers that are being, you know, stood up for you know AI type stuff, like that. 00:40:05.680 --> 00:40:09.360 Like the kids today are advocates of the world. 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:28.720 And I just think we need to continue to build them up and give them the tools needed to do it in a polite, humane, respectful way so they don't grow up to become some of the examples that we show them as adults on how to, you know, that I mean, I don't want them arguing on Facebook, I don't want them arguing on social media, I don't want them arguing in real life. 00:40:28.720 --> 00:40:38.240 Like these kids today, if you look at a lunch table, I'll end it this way if you look at a cafeteria table, the cafeteria table is a great equalizer in schools. 00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:42.880 You got kids who got a lot of money and you got kids who got no money, and you got kids everywhere in between. 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:46.160 And at that lunch table, all they care about is that's my buddy. 00:40:46.160 --> 00:40:48.000 Like, you need a burger, I'll get you a burger. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:50.400 You need advice in fantasy football, I'll get you advice. 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:52.640 You need me to pick you up and take you home from practice, I got you. 00:40:52.640 --> 00:40:59.760 And somehow we need to take that analogy of that lunchroom and bring it to adulthood because we don't care at 16. 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:01.360 We don't care who you are at 16. 00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:04.080 We just want to know you got my back and you're cool and you're friends and you take care of me. 00:41:04.080 --> 00:41:06.240 And you, but in adulthood, we don't. 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:12.720 So I'm convinced that this group, when they leave the lunch table, they're gonna be able to go out and be the change that we need to see in the world. 00:41:13.040 --> 00:41:13.760 Awesome, man. 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:18.000 I really that really gets me excited just to think about that because I agree. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:39.600 I think today's youth, they they are, I mean, they are, I think, gonna make some make some noise when they get to, you know, when they get older, just because I find just even in my own school, there's a lot more kids that that that have belief and have faith in in God and Jesus. 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:51.920 And so I'm like, I'm really inspired by that because I later realize how many kids in my own building, you know, have that that passion and that they want to make a difference. 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:58.480 Would you have been comfortable at 16 or 17 expressing your faith or or you know, two-year principal when you were that age? 00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:59.440 I wouldn't have. 00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:01.840 No, I was not. 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:08.800 I wasn't I wasn't worldly, nor did I care what was going on outside of my neighborhood when I was growing up in New York. 00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:15.760 I did not care, I didn't care what was going on overseas, I did not care about data centers, I didn't care about those type of things that weren't around. 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:24.880 So, like, really just saying to those kids, like, and and and the hard part becomes this like if you read the narrative on our kids today, the narrative is negative. 00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:26.800 Like, the narrative is kids don't care. 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:30.240 They're lazy, they're apathetic, they fight, they vape, you blah blah blah blah blah. 00:42:30.240 --> 00:42:31.040 That's true. 00:42:31.040 --> 00:42:37.280 We had the same problem when we were in high school, we had the same problems we were in high school, he's got social media to expand to expand that. 00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:44.720 But we need to be the ones, as public school, as parochial school people, we need to champion those kids and tell those stories. 00:42:44.720 --> 00:42:52.160 And in my keynote, one of my things I tell a story about a student named Carlos, and I won't go into it because it's a tearjerker and it's a wonderful story. 00:42:52.160 --> 00:43:03.920 But like we have to be humanizing these kids that are gonna go out and change the world if we're

gonna change the perception of adults who only think what they read on on Facebook is true. 00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:05.840 And so I guarantee you can go out. 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:07.519 Was it Hastings High School? 00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:16.320 Yeah, you can go out at Hastings High School and you can tell the story of like 10 kids right now that inspire you, motivate you, they're great kids and make you laugh. 00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:18.560 And those are the kids we need to talk about. 00:43:18.560 --> 00:43:23.840 But a lot a lot of times, educators, myself included, we go out and we talk about that kid Jeff. 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:25.200 And man, Jeff is disrespectful. 00:43:25.200 --> 00:43:26.320 And Jeff was this. 00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:32.400 Well, the nine kids that are sitting at another table at lunch, they're great kids, they're dorky kids. 00:43:32.400 --> 00:43:37.600 They want to talk about, you know, they want to they want to do this or do that, talk fantasy football, they're in the band, they're in the orchestra, they're swimming. 00:43:37.600 --> 00:43:38.960 They're great kids. 00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:40.960 And we need to be their champions. 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:43.600 We need to, as Jimmy Casa says, carry their banner. 00:43:43.600 --> 00:43:44.960 We need to be talking about them. 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:52.240 So if somebody stops me at the aisle of a grocery store and says, Tell me what it's like to be at your school, man, how long you got? 00:43:52.240 --> 00:43:54.800 Because I got an hour and a half, or I'm gonna talk to about my students. 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:57.040 You're gonna regret stopping me, young lady. 00:43:57.040 --> 00:43:57.519 Boom. 00:43:57.519 --> 00:44:01.840 Yeah, it's our challenge moral obligation to champion kids. 00:44:02.160 --> 00:44:04.400 Well, I feel your passion, I feel it right now. 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:05.600 That was awesome. 00:44:05.600 --> 00:44:14.640 Yeah, I mean, like you said, I could probably rattle off five stories right now about all the great things that are happening in the school. 00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:25.360 And the thing is, is we talk about sharing our stories and all those things, and you know, like that's a whole nother podcast if we want to get into that when it comes down to it. 00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:29.440 So, Todd, it's been really great having you on the show today. 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:34.400 Is there anything you would like to leave the audience before we go today? 00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:35.360 Yeah. 00:44:35.360 --> 00:44:39.440 You know, as over the summer, I'll share this. 00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:42.320 Over the summer, we probably do a really good job of taking care of ourselves. 00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:46.720 We probably get enough sleep, we probably get a little diet or exercise routine in. 00:44:46.720 --> 00:44:52.640 You know, we're probably pretty, pretty, you know, when it comes to you know reading the Bible or taking care of yourself, we probably have a good routine. 00:44:52.640 --> 00:44:59.040 As the school year starts, it is so important that you continue to build upon whatever progress you had over the summer. 00:44:59.040 --> 00:45:09.280 And so, you know, if you are getting up early and continue it, even though you're gonna come home from a board meeting, a game, it's 7:30 at night, you're tired, the last thing you want to do is work out. 00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:11.680 I encourage you to continue to put yourself first. 00:45:11.680 --> 00:45:14.320 Encourage yours to continue to put yourself first. 00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:17.040 I encourage you to continue to look for joy on the job. 00:45:17.040 --> 00:45:32.320 And if you find yourself getting jaded, if you find yourself allowing those pebbles in the shoe to, you know, you're coming home and you're telling the first thing you tell your spouse is is, you know, what a terrible job you have or how difficult your job is or how miserable you are, find your red bench. 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:36.480 Take a moment and just go find something on your campus that brings you joy. 00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:40.480 Remind yourself why you became the principal of Hastings High School. 00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:41.760 And if it is, you know what? 00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:45.519 Because the staff is great, go spend time in those teachers' classrooms. 00:45:45.519 --> 00:45:49.120 If it's the students, go sit and get fantasy football advice from them. 00:45:49.120 --> 00:45:53.200 Ask them how you look, what's my fit look like, what kind of music should I be listening to? 00:45:53.200 --> 00:45:54.640 All of those type of things. 00:45:54.640 --> 00:46:01.920 So I would strongly tell you over the course of the year, don't forget to continue to put yourself and your family first. 00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:06.480 When you are put yourself and your family first, you can do anything in your job. 00:46:06.480 --> 00:46:11.200 You can tutor, you can give great lessons, you can be a great PLC member. 00:46:11.200 --> 00:46:15.440 But if you've got nothing left to give, you can't give to anybody else. 00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.400 Awesome. 00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:20.160 And with that, we're gonna go ahead and catch you guys loose. 00:46:20.160 --> 00:46:21.920 It was great having you on the show, Todd. 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:22.640 Thank you, sir. 00:46:22.640 --> 00:46:23.200 God bless you. 00:46:23.200 --> 00:46:24.320 Appreciate what you do. 00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:28.640 What a great conversation with our good friend Todd Bloomer. 00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:31.600 I hope you guys enjoyed this episode. 00:46:31.600 --> 00:46:35.600 If you did, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. 00:46:35.600 --> 00:46:38.960 Also, please, if you have time, write a review. 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:47.519 We'd love to hear from you about what we're doing well on the podcast, or maybe what we're not doing so well, but also rate the podcast only five stars, please. 00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:51.920 Only five stars ratings and it helps the algorithm find new people. 00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:57.840 If you would go ahead and do that, I really appreciate you guys um joining me on this episode. 00:46:57.840 --> 00:47:01.920 What I really liked about this episode is finding your red bench, right? 00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:10.720 You know, that place where you can physically and mentally slow down, reflect, and make sure you're leading with purpose instead of simply just reacting to what's in front of you. 00:47:10.720 --> 00:47:16.000 And if you guys would like to learn more about Todd, I'll have his stuff in the show notes down here. 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:18.160 But also go back to episode 35. 00:47:18.160 --> 00:47:28.720 I'll go ahead and link that in the bottom as well so you guys can hear about Todd's educational leadership journey from that first conversation we had here on the podcast. 00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:32.080 I appreciate you guys tuning in to this episode. 00:47:32.080 --> 00:47:37.519 And as always, be curious, and one percent better.