From My View - Dr. Jim Wipke

“When we deny the story, it defines us.  When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending.”  - Brené Brown The story this holiday season is pretty clear—like most of the year 2020, it will be different in so many ways. We all experienced Halloween and Thanksgiving 2020-style, and we are now racing into the seasons of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. In the Wipke household, we have done our best to embrace change with a smile. However, I must admit that not seeing my mother, sister, and in-laws over Thanksgiving was a real bummer, to put it mildly. I try to remind myself there will be many holidays and events to celebrate in the years ahead, but right now those reminders can sometimes feel very hollow.    As noted in this quote above by Brené Brown, we should not deny our 2020 story; indeed, we should own it. It does absolutely no good to point fingers, find fault, or assume people are not doing their best. We have to not only acknowledge, but embrace, the fact that we are all in

The following message was shared with all district staff by Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke at the 2020-21 back-to-school kickoff...                                                             _______________________ Seventeen years ago, when my eldest daughter was roughly eight years old, I started coaching her soccer team. As I began to put the team together, I quickly realized I needed an assistant coach to help me. Little did I know that this assistant coach would become much more than an extra set of hands on the field. He would become one of my primary mentors and a significant influence in my life.   Ron Boschert grew up on a farm in St. Peters, Mo. He was one of six children and credited his dad for giving him his greatest attribute — a positive attitude . This drew people to him like a magnet, and it was the same for me. Over the years, Ron and I got to know each other better, and we became more like co-coaches. He was consistently building the kids up and getting them ready to p

It Has Got to Be the Shoes! "It has got to be the shoes" As a young kid growing up, I constantly had a basketball in my hand and Michael Jordan shoes on my feet. My parents refused to pay top dollar for tennis shoes, so I would cut neighborhood lawns and save my money. Every once in a while, I was able to negotiate with my mom and dad and we would split the cost of a new pair of Air Jordans.  I can still remember the first few weeks of owning a brand new pair ... I would leave the shoes in the box and only wear them when I laid in bed so I did not scuff them. I’m sure my parents laughed and rolled their eyes a bit when they found me asleep with them on my feet.   The temptation to shoot baskets in them would eventually prove to be too much and I would find myself in our driveway arranging trash cans to play defense against me. I would weave through the cans and take shots, and every once in a while I would make one. “Yeeeeeeeessssssss!” I would say, “It has got t

April 15th... When we hear April 15, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? I bet that like me and many others… you think taxes . A note from your accountant (not) … With the Coronavirus and the CARES Act, the federal and Missouri governments have pushed the tax deadline to July 15, so if you haven’t filed/paid your 2019 taxes yet, don’t panic! Also, don’t panic because this blog is not about taxes! Does April 15 have any other significance to you? Like many St. Louisans, I am a passionate baseball fan and I have deeply missed Opening Day. The roar of the crowd, the excitement, the Clydesdales (for goodness sake), and the hope that maybe this will again be the year for our Cardinals. If you are also a baseball enthusiast, you may know that on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he made his epic and historic debut into Major League Baseball. Each year, this is celebrated by all of the ballplayers in the major leagues wearing hi

Well, this was certainly not what I had anticipated my next blog would be about. COVID-19? Really? Seriously? A few short months ago, nobody even knew what it was, much less imagined the turmoil it would create in our world. Truth be told, I have actually written a few blogs since my last one and simply chose not to post them. In light of the times, I think I am going to put them on the shelf for a little while.  As we sit back and try to make sense of everything, I have been watching the news like everyone else. Depending on what news station you watch, you either get the sense that there is not a problem at all or it is the end of the world as we know it. I know… I’m riffing on a song by REM, and yes, there is some sarcasm there. But I think you understand my point. I think the real question is... How do we make sense of it all? And in the end, how do we even defeat this thing? A better question might be… What will it look like when we come out on the other side?  As I look at s

Friends,  January has come and gone.  I hope it treated you well.  I always find January to be a great month and an awesome time of the year. It’s a time when we often have the opportunity to be refocused … rejuvenated … and re-invigorated to find our “why’s” and live them out in our daily actions. New Year’s resolutions (whether you personally make them or not) are kicking into gear … high gear at that. Anyone who went to the gym in the month of January was sure to find full classes or waits for a treadmill that didn’t occur in December. January has telltale signs of resolutions in action. People are more relaxed and full of hope that their dreams will be accomplished. So, have you ever stopped to ask yourself why your dreams are your dreams? Chances are they revolve around family, health and how your life can support other people. As I have gotten to know our Ladue Schools staff over the last six months, I have realized I have never been around a group of people who care more ab

After spending the past six months as superintendent of the Ladue School District, a district of 4,200 students about 15 miles west of downtown St. Louis, I have decided to attempt to become a blogger. It never occurred to me before. However, I am finding this journey so interesting, inspiring and enlightening that I felt compelled to invite others to follow along! For just over 26 years, I have been a public school educator and this is my second superintendency. During this time, I’ve learned and seen a lot, and I have some great stories — and maybe even some insights — to share. I have also learned quite a lot about leadership and have come to realize we are all leaders in some form or another. Whether it is in our employment, our family, or the organizations to which we belong. So, through the topics I share here on From My View, I hope to provide some motivation, but also practical ideas that apply to leadership beyond the field of education. As you read, I hope you will find