EDUCATOR ADVISES `OLD BUZZARDS, FLEDGLINGS'

Bruce A. Smith, superintendent of the Normady School District in St. Louis, addressed the "fledglings and old buzzards," of school administrative personnel Thursday night, with encouraging words and much needed praise in a job which is seldom rewarding.

"The average tenure of superintendents at a single school is only two and a half to three years," Smith said. "People want results and they want results quickly patience with an education administrator is an oxymoron."

Smith's program, "Tips on How to Keep Fledglings and Old Buzzards From Losing A Few Tail Feathers," was designed to motivate and educate administrators and help them cope with their responsibilities, which sometimes can seem like an impossible task.

Through stories and examples Smith shared "the ability and genius each administrator possesses in providing the best academic programs for the kids.

"Pretend you have laryngitis 99 percent of the time, and the other 1 percent of the time don't talk," Smith told the group. "Far too often, we think everyone is interested in what we say, when most of the time they don't understand us or, we are misquoted.

"Stick to the facts," he continued. "Let your actions; not your words do the impressing." This section Smith subtitled, "Why The Duck Could Never Be King of The Beasts."

Smith kept his speech to administrators lively with statements like: "When the horse is dead dismount.

"Make sure your belief in reality has a relationship to what is really happening; be willing and able to change," Smith advised.

Beyond the rhetoric and allusions, Smith made a serious point: it is very easy for people to become critical of what administrators are doing; sometimes to the point of removing that person from the position.

"Because of the continual challenges in education, it's becoming hard to stay in one place for very long," Smith said. "As Will Rogers said, `You may be on the right track, but if you're not moving, you'll still get run over.' "

Smith has been the superintendent at Normandy for the past five years. He has a long history in the education field, working as everything from English teacher and basketball coach, to the assistant principal at several schools.

"You should see success as a journey, not a destination," Smith said. "You're not off to see the Wizard, you're off to be the wizard for all the wonderful things you do."

The joint meeting of the Department of Elementary School Principals, Secondary School Principals and Special Education Administrators kicked off the 117th annual District Teachers Meeting, which will be held at the Show Me Center today.

Willard Morgan, self-proclaimed "Godfather" of the Secondary Principals Association, was given a special award Thursday night, marking the 27 years of service he has given to the organization. Morgan retired from Southeast Missouri State University in 1991.

This district meeting will be his last. "I've been to 82 of these meetings," Morgan said. "I missed one in January 1981 because of back surgery. I missed the other one in January 1993 to go fishing in Panama. The doctor told me to get some rest after my back surgery in 1981; I waited until 1993 to follow his instructions."