“I’m Not Sure How Much Longer I Can Keep Doing It Like This”
The Ruckus Maker Flywheel Chapter 1
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There’s a moment every principal faces.
No witnesses. No applause.
Just an inbox full of mandates, a strategic plan nobody reads, and a creeping voice that whispers:
“This can’t be it.”
That’s where this story begins.
Not with a bold vision.
Not with a master plan.
But with a leader who’s tired, smart, and just about done playing someone else’s game.
This is a book for school leaders ready to Do School Different.
Today’s post is an experiment.
I’ve always wanted to write a fiction book for Ruckus Makers. So I’m publishing chapters here for subscribers to enjoy (and provide feedback via comments) before this turns into a print book.
📖 Never miss a chapter of Jordan’s story. You can read each chapter in the First in Line section of Ruckus Makers.
The Binder
Jordan pulled into the school parking lot at 6:02 a.m. and didn’t even bother finishing her coffee. She grabbed her overstuffed bag from the passenger seat. A massive binder fell out and hit the floorboard with a thud.
She stared at it.
The binder.
Three inches thick. Tabs color-coded. Plastic sleeve on the front labeled “Strategic Plan.”
It had taken her twelve hours to prep it. It would take the district rep twelve seconds to skim it.
It wasn’t for kids.
It wasn’t for teachers.
It was for survival.
She exhaled. Picked it up.
Inside the building, the lights hummed like they were annoyed to be on. Jordan flipped on her office lamp, dumped her bag on the desk, and sat down to open her inbox.
44 unread emails.
6 meeting requests.
2 parent complaints.
1 passive-aggressive message from Central Office:
“Just a friendly reminder that your revised campus vision is due today by noon.”
She blinked.
She had submitted it last week.
Didn’t matter.
She looked over at the whiteboard behind her desk.
The word “VISION” was circled three times.
Underlined twice.
And still felt like a joke.
She opened the binder. Page 1 was a mission statement written by committee. It was generic enough to work for any school and inspiring enough to put her most engaged teachers to sleep. Page 2 was a core values list that included a number of academic buzz words like “rigor,” “fidelity,” and “trauma.”
A knock at the door focused her attention.
It was Mr. Adams, the custodian. “Morning, Principal Jordan.”
“Hey, Adams.”
He pointed at the binder. “That the district strategy Bible?”
She laughed. “Something like that.”
He grinned. “Well, good luck. I’m gonna go fix the third toilet in D hall. Again.”
She nodded. He left.
Jordan stared back at the binder.
A strategic plan.
A vision.
A 90-day improvement plan.
And somehow, nothing felt aligned.
She had all the right words and none of the right energy.
The bell rang.
Another day was beginning.
Jordan closed the binder.
And whispered to herself:
“I’m not sure how much longer I can keep doing it like this.”
💬 What hit hardest?
Jordan’s story is just beginning.
But the pain she’s feeling?
That’s real for a lot of school leaders.
👉 Drop a comment:
What line felt too familiar?
Where did you see yourself in this chapter?
What would you say to Jordan if she were your colleague?
I read every reply. Let’s talk.