016 - Fabulous Risk Taking

Brian McCann recently began his 17th year as principal of Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Mass., from which he graduated in 1980.  Brian has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College in English and Speech-Theatre, a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a CAGS from Fitchburg State College in Educational Leadership and Management.  He began teaching at his alma mater in 1989, taught English and Journalism for 11 years, and transitioned to high school administration in 2000. Brian chairs the Massachusetts Schools Administrator’s Association’s (MSAA) High School Committee and represents this group on the MSAA Board of Directors. He is the current chair of the state’s high school volleyball committee and is a past-president of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Board of Directors. Brian McCann was Massachusetts’ 2011 High School Principal of the Year and is currently one of NASSP’s 2018 National Digital Principals of the Year.

Key Takeaways

• Leaders have the opportunity every day to change a child's life
• Build relationships  instead of curriculum for the #1st3days
• All School Pep Rally at the end of the first week of school focused on clubs rather than sports
• Get and use teacher and student feedback
• You need a strong summer reading program
• Interdisciplinary day
• Let people know you fail and how you overcome it
• Take chances on what is right, not what is safe.
• Reflection recalibrates your why - schedule it
• Sleep is the custodian of the mind

Contact

Twitter: @casehighprinc

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