About ten years ago, I sat with a group of Area Directors from all over the country that seemed to have question after question regarding how school systems work. They were well trained in Young Life, but felt very lacking when dealing with the educational system. I hope I have a unique perspective that can be of some use to you as you spread the good news. In Young Life we can take away two important truths about schools.
Young Life staff should have a healthy relationship with the principal of the school you serve.
When you walk onto campus you are entering a community. You are not just doing contact work with young people at the basketball game, you are ministering to the adults also.
Who is the Principal? Context is important. When you communicate with the principal, it is helpful to know they are...
busy, very short on time
responsible and accountable for everything that happens at their school
receiver of all complaints about the school
trained to think about what is the worst thing that could happen at their school
What are things to talk about when I get a meeting with the principal?
Honor the principal’s time- Expect a 15 minute meeting.
Do prepwork. Visit the website, and read the volunteer handbook. Think of ways to help.
The meeting is about how you can help without any agenda. Respect the authority and win them over.
Prepare and deliver a very short speech about Young Life and what your purpose is in the school.
Be a Humble servant. Honesty is important. But remember, you are at the school to serve.
Pay close attention to the response noting body language.
If you are getting cold negative vibes, end the meeting as soon as politely possible and continue to pray. Continue to build relationships with them when you see them. Value the quick, “hello.”
The missing link in your community, the principal, is the most influential person at the school and likely in your community. You are on the same team as the principal and school staff. Win them over by doing what you do with kids. Pray, enter into their world, and humbly show up.
Common Statements and Questions about schools
What if I cannot get a meeting with the principal?
Don’t take it personally. Remember all the things mentioned that the principal has on their plate. Earn the right to be heard by praying, loving, respecting, and saying hello when you can. Go ahead and do your thing.
Volunteer at the school
Want to impact the community? Volunteer in a school. Not only do schools need volunteers, but they need great volunteers they can count on. Ones that show up when they say they will, ones that don’t gossip, ones that pray for the students and adults, ones that shine with Jesus. If you spent one afternoon or morning at a school, you have just done more quality contact work in that day than you could do in a month of weekly contact work at after school events. How can you afford not to fit this into your busy schedule? You meet students, you meet counselors, teachers, parents, the front office secretary or admin assistant – you get to know how things work at this place God has sent you.
Why is the principal glaring at me when I sit in the student section at games?
It is the principal's job to protect kids and they will be wondering why you are hanging around all the time if you do not have a relationship with the administration. Are you a pedophile, or you can’t seem to make any adult friends, so you are trying to befriend my high school kids, or just what is your motivation? You must admit that an adult, going to a school event, sitting in the student section, is a bit of a stretch for someone who does not know you and has not met Jesus yet. They may not understand the mission of going where the kids are… yet. (Keep sitting in the student section, they need you.)
Our Principal is so incredible and so supportive of Young Life!
That is awesome. I see this happen often when Young Life staff and volunteers have earned the trust and respect of the principal and school community. When you have a principal that is overly supportive be careful and don’t put them in a position or situation that is precarious. When something goes south, it is still the principal that will be held responsible and it does not shine a good light on our witness. Know the boundaries of what you can and cannot do on school grounds legally and never ask for more than that. Take care of that principal that sees what God is doing on their campus through Young Life.
Bio info about Don Nesbitt
For the last thirty-two years Don has worked as a high school teacher, assistant principal, principal, district director and recently retired as assistant superintendent of a large school district in Boise, Idaho. He was a Young Life leader for 18 years, chaired the local and regional committees for several years and loves the ministry of Young Life. Currently, he chairs a group of retired educators who support the ministry of Young Life, The Retired Educators Consortium. Don has a beautiful wife, Tammy, of 38 years and two adult children Cody and Molly and a daughter-in-law, Allee.