Patrick J. Roberts, Head of School
St. James Episcopal School, Corpus Christi, TX

During our recent time together in April my cohorts at the Santa Fe Leadership Center and I wrestled to define and to articulate the challenging concept of “leadership.” In our collaborative working sessions, I was incredibly impressed, a bit intimidated, and truly inspired by my talented colleagues and their astute observations. While I do not claim to offer a complete definition of leadership, I share with you a few thoughts, stolen from the great British author, Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson offers lasting and practical wisdom for each of us, especially as we embark upon yet another exciting and always eventful new school year.  
Accordingly, as I have asked my Middle School students over the years to add this “working” list of nine simple suggestions to their “Leadership Portfolio,” I hope that you will find these words to be helpful in your own approach to the incredibly meaningful work in which we are engaged. As educators, we have the unique opportunity and the important responsibility each day to impact our students in so many lasting ways. Oftentimes, in working so diligently to serve others, we often forget or choose not to take the steps so critical for our own health. Stevenson’s advice is so seemingly simple, yet so critical for us to heed, as we model the behavior expected within our own learning communities and set the all important tone at our own institutions.
Enjoy.
Advice from Robert Louis Stevenson:

• Take time to laugh. It is the music of the soul.
• Take time to think. It is the source of power.
• Take time to play. It is the source of perpetual youth.
• Take time to read. It is the fountain of wisdom.
• Take time to pray. It is the greatest power on Earth.
• Take time to love and be loved. It is a God-given privilege.
• Take time to be friendly. It is the road to happiness.
• Take time to give. It is too short a day to be selfish.
• Take time to work. It is the price of success.

During the coming year, I encourage each of you to find the humorous moments in each day that may be celebrated. I am constantly amazed by some of the truly hilarious things that happen in the course of the school day and I have yet to go through an entire day in my brief seventeen year career in which I have not had a good chuckle over something that occurred at school. Finding the time to engage in reckless physical activity is also so critical to our mental health and such moments often sustain us when the work load seems too great and with seemingly no end in sight. Whether it be a brisk jog in the park at dawn, a simple stroll in the neighborhood after dinner, or a pick up basketball game with fellow students and staff after school, the value of such activity will provide huge rewards.

Finally, I plan time each day for prayer, meditation and for reading. While it can be quite difficult sometimes to juggle the always challenging daily schedule, I always am grateful for the “quiet” moments of the day, and, for me, the early morning hours before school opens provide for such solitude. For each one of us, the power of reflection and the planned moment for creative thinking cannot be underestimated or overlooked.
Thank you, once again, to all of the good folks who participated in our April session of the Santa Fe Leadership Center, for offering me the opportunity to be with you in the “leadership classroom” and for broadening my own horizons in our work together. I wish each of you a most prosperous, enjoyable and exciting school year.