ADHD Leadership

Part 1

How I could make the world a better place... ADHD leaders?  Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece from an ADHD leader. 

 If I were a SMART billionaire and open to ideas for a Post-Covid world (assuming that I had money and a beating heart with philanthropic tendency), I would gather the most talented, creative, and original educators together to a large open space with markable, think walls, floors, and countertops. These unique educators would have every tool, medium, and creative resource on-site: paints, clay, digital, stage, and d to support creative flow.  Actors, dancers, STEM professionals, comedians, musicians, poets, Youtubers... you get the idea.

ATTENTION WORLD!!!! You can not catch a spark, flow, or manifestation in a FORM or application.  You will get posers.. normal people, mimicking brilliant ADHD people. (we help normal people get jobs).   I would send my collaborative visionary team to visit small schools worldwide.  I would send surveys to the teachers, not the board of education or the superintendent (traditional leaders are afraid).  I would ask the most unique, successful, and ADHD educators to represent their unique methods for success in education in my video request.  My clip would not be staged, but outside a theme park, beach, movie set, or NASA lab in full, normal operation.  " Educators, my name is Katrina the Hurricane, and my team and I need your help redefining education. We are looking for the most talented, successful leaders with ADHD to join our "Think Tank" or brainstorming session. You will be compensated $100 an hour, with all travel and leave costs covered.  If you are creative, original, and an innovator in your field, we are looking for you.  Anyone with a growth-mindset, highly creative (not trained artists), original thinkers, and an expert in their field, please send us a three-minute clip on your process and how it has improved learning. 

An inclusive team of educators and students would document each work sample's emotion, energy, and perceived effectiveness. 

The educators, based on the scope and sequence of their training, and talent would begin to design a skeleton map of an educational system that is flexible, effective, and sophisticated enough to adjust to uncertainties.  Together, educators would create a fluid framework to better support ourselves, children, families, and society.  Children would be involved in the details of instruction and learning styles using the talents of the educators: rhythmical, expressional, auditorial, digital, connectional, comical, social, visual, tactile, behavioral, as well as true literacy.  

Education is failing; the United States is behind all other modern countries because education has to keep up with technology, entertainment, social trends, and the environmental crisis only STEAM minds can solve.  

Education is not in a building; it is a body of collaboration.  Teachers and leaders facilitate, guide, and mold based on expertise in all learners' childhood development. There is nothing truly beneficial in separating special education, traditional, gifted; students engaged in high-energy, challenging, and relevant projects will show up.  Teachers have to be trained to be adaptable, versatile and trained holistically to differentiate for every learner. Content can be learned based on assignment, but methodologies, practices, pedagogy, and learning/developmental expertise are a must. 

The world needs ADHD leadership; today is the future.  The world needs energy, insight, hyper-focus, determination, passion, innovation, originality, creativity, risk-takers and, "out of the box" everything. 

It Is NOT About You

 LIFE is not about me, and it most likely not about you.  True leadership is understanding interconnection of the smallest acts of kindness. 

 

Leadership is divinely assigned, and holds great expectation

Leadership leads others to safety, heath, and growth

Leadership is empathy, and empathy is powerful

Leadership is sacrificing, humble, and misunderstood

Authentic leadership is about what you know you can do for others in need, and you take the responsibility 

Leadership is proudly standing in the back while holding your breath

Leadership is sacrificing time, love, energy and talent to shape others… others that just deserve an opportunity or resources most take for granted

Leaders know that their blessing are not their own, they are gifts to be used through compassion, determination, hard work and commitment

TRUE leadership is not a brand, is not learned and is most often not recognized in this materialistic world.  

I am a true leader, and at times in my exhaustion and disgust at the world, I want to use my skill, expertise, and talents to get a fancy job, drive a new Mercedes, and make lots of money.  I imagine my life and enjoy my confidence in choosing that life.. Then I remember, the child helped save from suicide, nonverbal mentally retarded violent child, that because of my persistence, is correctly identified, talking incessantly, and is socially accepted.  I remember the abandoned kid begging for help with his addiction, who graduated from high school and became successful.  I think of my life and how proud I am of the decisions I have made, because they are truly my best work.  

See, I know special education students and dyslexics are the smartest people in society.  I know an abused foster child I helped save can grow up to receive The Medal of Honor, I know my most monetarily successful student was a nonreader, with high spatial and creative talents.  

I know the underserved kids with dreams, work ethic, and determination like no other, wants to grow.. They have talents that would shape the world in unique ways… but who will make sure they get the program they need? If I am driving around in my new Audii and giving dinner parties in my Channel gown.  

Then I remember, I get bored with adults trying to appear better than the Jone’s.  No one is authentic and I feel pity on them.  They think getting bigger and better stuff makes them feel good.  But, it never lasts… they want bigger and better soon after.  If they had the self awareness, and bravery to accept that giving is better than receiving, and helping a human being better their life, and the lives of many, changes the world. 

The richest person I know lives in a small cabin, and drives an old Ford truck. He helps others, is  unpretentious  and loves to spend time teaching kids to fish, chop wood, or Bible stories. 

It is NOT about ME… and it is NOT about YOU.  

"Just Tone It Down"

"Just tone it down a little; they will love you."   "It is a great idea, but you may want to tone it down some..."

"I measured your skirt, and it IS within dress code, but just tone it down some."  

"Yes, your team did great, and we are so proud... but it is making the others uncomfortable."

" I know the success of your program has really improved scores,  but it looks like nothing we are used to... so, can you close the door and lock it when you leave?'

   "Hey!! Yes! We are so excited about the grants, but BLANK feels it would be a great opportunity to feature the team with ____ (translation...  you are welcome to sit here, in the basement, "leaders" take credit for your work, that they did not even understand or support). 

"Thank you for creating such a popular dance class,  but some are concerned about the hip moves...So. can you TONE it down?" My response, "Latin Dance is all about the hips; you can not have one without the other." 

"I know he asked the question, but he was not prepared for your extensive knowledge on the subject.. so please, just tone it down."  "Just do not use such technical language." Me-speechless. 

I have been told this in every part of my life... but, to tone down my authentic self has proven for me to be impossible.  As many times as I have been asked to TONE IT DOWN... no one ever told me how.  Do they believe my large personality is a choice or carefully crafted for some elusive agenda?  I have tried desperately to fit in, tone it down, stand in the back, not give my expert opinion, or expect recognition for my success, gains, innovations, or valuable talents.  

I still honestly do not know what I do to make others uncomfortable... my closest friends and I have theories, but the constant theme we call, "Katrina is an alien."   My brother is the person I am most alike, but he's a man and, well... yes, everyone sees loves him.  I have more of a polar effect on people.  They either love me or hate me.   When you are an elementary teacher and your methodology, learning theories, and expertise is unlike anyone... and you are flexible, nonconformist, innovative, creative, and a risktaker, I can see the problem. But, I keep it all to myself and bring no attention to it.  So, I am trying to let go of the constant battle to feel valued and understood.   

I was hoping other women, or men,  have been told to tone it down over and over... and with your best efforts, all your life ... you still do not know-how.  So, I am going to be myself... and for once, I am going all out to my highest level... Instead of suffocating myself down to a six, Ummm, a 2,... I am going to invest in ME at a ten. 

Please let me know if you have your own stories of "just tone it down"... and if your success has been ignored.  Have your talents been exploited to make the higher-ups look better? Have you succeeded despite the lack of recognition and support? Have your growth opportunities diminished despite your expertise, extensive success, and credentials?  What is happening and why? 

What can we do to support each other? Do we fit in together?  

If this sounds like your life, I am sorry, but I want you to know you are AMAZING!!! 

If others misunderstand you and your process and you are successful...you are a visionary and just way ahead of your time. 

I am too old to be trying to change the best parts of me, and who wants to blend in the background anyway.?? I know it is lonely, so WE will come together and CELEBRATE our differences.  So go BIG.. go LOUD... go CREATE.. imagine and trust uniqueness.  

                                                                                                        Much Love, Katrina Gail