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Mission First, People Always
By Thomas Gorman, Ed.D., Principal, Ridgewood High School
VUCA (volatile, uncertain, and ambiguous. Many educators feel For several years, Ridgewood Public
complex, ambiguous) is an under attack and driven to fight for Schools administrators have journeyed
to West Point for a two-day summer
respect.
acronym the army uses to Schools and educators have reached retreat to learn the secrets of military
describe the current state a tipping point. There have been more leadership and apply them to school
changes in the past 15 years to edu- administration. Many of the chal-
of world affairs. In recent years, cation with mandates, accountability lenges that confront both institutions
schools have found themselves in measures, and technology than the are similar — financial, personnel,
similar uncertain and complex times. previous 100. So, how do administra- reorganization, and defining success.
Fiscal constraints, pressures to tors lead through these tumultuous Each year, Thayer Leader Develop-
increase standardized test scores, and times? ment Group (TLDG) has inspired us
changes in political and public support with stories of military life and mis-
have left educational affairs volatile sions, educated us with strategies to
Educational Viewpoints -90- Spring 2019
