“What Do I Do When the Truth Pisses Me Off?“

The Ruckus Maker Flywheel Chapter 12

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There are two kinds of staff feedback.

The kind that’s easy to hear.

And the kind that cracks something open.

In this chapter, Jordan leads a staff meeting meant to rally support around student engagement.

But what she gets instead… is a truth she wasn’t ready for.

Ms. Holloway’s words aren’t rude.

They’re just real.

And they force Jordan to face a question every school leader asks eventually:

“Am I leading from connection — or from control?”

Tonight, Jordan has her first mastermind session.

But the real lesson?

It started hours earlier — in her own building.

📖 Never miss a chapter of Jordan’s story. You can read each chapter in the First in Line section of Ruckus Makers.

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The Critic

Jordan stood at the front of the staff meeting, a stack of printed articles in hand and a slide deck open behind her.

The title on screen read:

Re-Engagement Strategies: Centering Belonging in the Work

She took a breath.

“I know this year’s been heavy,” she said, scanning the room.

“And I know some of our kids — a lot of our kids — are slipping.

I want to offer some strategies we can test, and then co-create a response that fits our school.”

Some heads nodded. Others didn’t move.

Ms. Holloway sat in the third row. Arms folded. Waiting.

Jordan clicked to the next slide — a study on school connectedness. Then a list of practices.

She held up the article and said,

“This came from an SEL journal I subscribe to. It’s got some useful takeaways on building trust.”

That’s when Holloway spoke up.

“We don’t need another article.”

The room froze.

“We need adults on this campus to show up for kids the way they expect kids to show up for class.”

A few staff members shifted in their seats.