TL;DR:
- A voiceover in an Instagram Reel made the author realize how special it feels to wear something new, like running shoes or jeans.
- The author noticed they are a more effective leader when wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie.
- Try to incorporate as many “Dress Down” days as possible to help staff be their best selves, including calling “Jeans Day” to celebrate victories, having Spirit Weeks, and announcing impromptu spirit wear days.
- Being comfortable and feeling like themselves is important to empower students and staff.
I saw a Reel on Instagram the other night. It was a runner, running down the street, alone. As I watched the runner, well, run, a voiceover came on. The voice, much like that of one that comes over the PA for daily announcements at every school said, “No one even asked me how fast I was in my new running shoes today.”
This statement hit all the feels on so many levels.
- I am a runner. Since I joined middle school track, I have always been a distance runner. It’s the one sport I was always decent at. Competing against myself to be better tomorrow than I was today.
- I know what it’s like when I get a new pair of running shoes. That first run out, the first dance together, always is a little faster, a little easier, a little more fulfilling than the last one with an old pair of worn down kicks that were nearing 500 miles.
- When we, as humans, get a new pair of jeans, shirt, or shoes, regardless if it’s for pleasure, profession, or training, we can’t deny there is something special about those first few times we put them on and wear them in public. We feel confident, sure of ourselves, like we’ve just donned armor that can protect us from the deadliest blow from that enemy gladiator trying to spear us down.
School Spirit Wear
In my district, January – March is Elementary Basketball Season! It’s fun seeing many of our students for the first time have the opportunity to try out for a team, make it, keep their grades up, represent our school in a positive light, and hone their basketball skills while learning teamwork and good sportsmanship. One thing I like to implement on our campus is jeans and spirit wear for not only our home games we host but EVERY game we play against our fellow elementary schools.
I do this for multiple reasons.
- Most of our school’s spirit wear is t-shirts and hoodies. Let’s be honest here, those look best with jeans!
- I love wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie.
- There is no 3, just reread 2.
There is something I have noticed on the days that I wear jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. I’m a more effective leader. When I wear this unorthodox school leader apparel, I feel much more comfortable in my skin and in my abilities to be the leader that our staff, students, family, and community deserves. When I’m clothed in this uniform, I feel like ME!
I’m not the only one that notices. My front office staff always make comments about how when I’m wearing a hoodie or baseball cap I get so much more done, and come off as focused and determined to make a difference in the lives I encounter. I am more comfortable having both positive and tough conversations with students, staff, and parents. Basically, I’ve been told I don’t take any sh** and get done what needs to get done to make our building a better place for all.
If it were up to me, I would make jeans and t-shirts an everyday option for myself and our staff.
Unfortunately, that’s not feasible, although many staff have said they also feel the most effective on these days. This speaks volumes to me. If we—if I—am more effective in jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie, and not just from my own personal feelings, but from the observations and testimonies of those who work closest with me, why wouldn’t I find as many opportunities as I can to make this happen? Shouldn’t we take advantage of as many days and opportunities to be our best for those we serve as possible?
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Dress Down Days
The good news for me, and those I serve, is that I do! I will try and incorporate as many “Dress Down” days as I can! Here are a few ways.
- Any time there is something to celebrate, even the smallest victory, I’ll call a “Jeans Day!” This has happened to celebrate someone running a race over the weekend, getting married, or students surpassing a goal they had set.
- Spirit Weeks are always fun for everyone! I work closely with our PBIS Team to find weeks that back up to holidays and make it a “Spirit Week!” Sometimes, when it’s been a while between breaks or extended weekends, we’ll make a Spirit Week of Kindness just because we all need some fun getting creative together and wearing jeans for an entire week!
- If I feel the pulse of the school heading towards the negative, getting pulled down with the dreariness of a long school year, I’ll simply just announce, “Tomorrow is Spirit Wear!” None of our staff ever question when or why these impromptu jeans days happen.
I put more “casual” days in play than most administrators. I’ve even had comments in my evaluations stating to find other ways to incentivize our staff. Unfortunately, it’s from my punk rock background that I don’t always play by the rules. And if you’re going to want the best version of me to empower our students and staff, you’re going to be seeing me in jeans a little more than you’d like. Sorry, not sorry.
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Please check out my latest book, The EduCulture Cookbook: Recipes & Dishes to Positively Impact Classroom & School Culture with EduMatch Books.
About Mike Earnshaw
Michael Earnshaw is a father, husband, and elementary school principal. He is the author of The EduCulture Cookbook: Recipes and Dishes to Positively Transform School and Classroom Culture with EduMatch Publishing and co-host of the Punk Rock Classrooms Podcast. Michael strives to empower others to know they can change the world by fostering positive, trusting relationships and modeling risk-taking himself. When he’s not helping others and changing lives you can find him skateboarding, running, or sharing laughs with others.
