“Important principles may and must be inflexible.” —Abraham Lincoln (April 11, 1865)

Do you have a list of professional non-negotiables — principles that you value without exception? Certainly.

Do you have a list of personal non-negotiables? Sure you do!

In fact, these two lists are probably more alike than they are different; and they might evolve a little as we progress through life (e.g. having children changes everything); but these principles represent who we are as individuals and, although they may reorder in priority, the overall list will be close to static for the duration of our lives.

In the spring of each high school year, seniors are busy with prom, college decisions, exam preparation, graduation plans, and a host of other tasks that have been building for months, years even.

In many schools there are few seniors worrying more and celebrating less. These unfortunate few are at-risk of not graduating with their classmates. Perhaps they lack a final passing grade in a required course. Maybe they continue to lack a required mark on a high-stakes exam. Possibly, they have another required obligation that remains incomplete that would keep them from walking across the graduation stage and receiving their high school diploma.

For principals and heads of school, these students’ situations can be gut-wrenching for the school, not to mention what the student (and their family) is experiencing.

How does a school leader make the best decision for these young adults in the last month (or week or day) of the school year?

Circumstances vary, but our principles may and must be inflexible. I have been the ultimate decision-maker for dozens of these gut-wrenching situations and there was no formula available to adequately resolve them. I was left to apply my own principles as the principal to do everything possible to support each individual (and their family) while not compromising what our school and I as the leader valued. Some of these students graduated on time, others graduated after the summer, and others had to complete all or part of a fifth year of high school. There is no formula.

This is no different than what will happen after graduation. Some people complete their required tasks early or on time. Others complete them late. Others do not complete them at all.

If you are a school leader wondering how to be inflexible with your professional principles while ensuring that all your students (and their families) feel supported, partner with Solutions 4 Education, Inc. to develop a strategic plan for your school that starts long before the spring of senior year..