By: Marc Perry
In the high-pressure world of K-12 education, school leaders—Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Principals, and Directors—often face what can only be described as their own version of the pressure-packed college football season. Just like the intense build-up to the championship, where each game counts, and every play can change the outcome, educators face their own “season” of high-stakes challenges. Parent frustrations, budget constraints, social media uproars, and board meeting dilemmas can all pile up like a crucial fourth-quarter decision. Stephen Boyd, known as The Student Engagement Agent, offers a powerful strategy to help educational leaders maintain their focus, grit, and resilience, even when the game is on the line.
Boyd’s latest motivational talk, Put Your G.A.M.E Face On, draws inspiration from the world of college football, where grit, strategy, and perseverance are essential to winning championships. The long season, filled with ups and downs, mirrors the academic year’s relentless challenges. Coaches prepare their teams for every possible scenario, while school leaders must do the same for their institutions. Boyd’s formula helps leaders navigate the chaos and come out victorious.
The College Football Madness of Education
Like the unpredictable moments in a college football season, education has its own “madness” that doesn’t follow a set schedule. “There’s parent madness, budget madness, social media madness, and board meeting madness,” Boyd explains. The relentless pressure that K-12 administrators face can feel like playing against a tough rival every week. But Boyd believes there’s a way to rise above the chaos, and it starts with putting on your G.A.M.E face.
The G.A.M.E framework is more than just a strategy—it’s a mindset for success in the most difficult situations. Drawing parallels to the crucial moments in a football season, Boyd presents four key behaviors to help leaders stay grounded and win in their roles, no matter the pressures they face.
G: Get a Mentor. Every great football team is led by a coach, someone who brings experience, wisdom, and guidance. Boyd emphasizes that finding a mentor is essential for educational leaders, just as a head coach is to a football team. “You can’t expect to succeed without having someone in your corner, helping you adjust strategies, offering encouragement, and guiding you through tough decisions,” Boyd notes.
For Superintendents and Principals, a mentor can be that guiding voice when the stakes are high. Whether it’s a veteran educator, leadership coach, or even a peer, having someone to
provide support can make all the difference when the pressure mounts.
A: Adjust Your Attitude. Attitude is everything in football, and Boyd makes it clear that the same holds true for school leadership. “Your attitude determines your altitude,” he says. “Just like coaches pull players off the field for a bad attitude because it affects team morale, a leader’s attitude can either elevate or bring down the school environment.”
Boyd reminds school leaders that in the heat of a tough school year—when they’re facing angry parents, tight budgets, or stressed-out staff—their attitude sets the tone for the entire school community. “You can’t be an effective leader with a negative mindset,” Boyd says. “Coaches know that a player with a bad attitude can bring down the whole team, and the same is true for school leaders.”
M: Make Self-Care a Priority. Boyd’s third strategy, self-care, is a play that school leaders can’t afford to fumble. “Just like a coach making sure their players are in peak condition for the season, leaders need to prioritize their own well-being if they want to be effective,” he explains.
Boyd uses the analogy of the safety briefing on an airplane: “Before putting an oxygen mask on your child, make sure to put yours on first. It sounds selfish, but it’s essential. You’ll never be able to take care of others unless you take care of yourself first.” Boyd encourages school leaders to make self-care a non-negotiable part of their routine, whether it’s through running, a hobby, or even just taking a mental break. “Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for long-term success and resilience.”
E: Empower Others with Positive Words. In the same way that coaches lift their teams with motivating speeches before a big game, Boyd stresses the importance of using positive communication to empower teachers, staff, students, and parents. “Positive words lift, encourage, and inspire,” he says. “Just like a coach gives a halftime pep talk, leaders need to regularly encourage their teams to keep pushing, even when the game seems unwinnable.”
Boyd urges school leaders to reflect on how often they use positive words to inspire those around them. “Your words have power, just like a coach’s. When you choose to lift people up instead of focusing on the negative, you create an environment of motivation and collaboration.”
Winning the Education Championship
The G.A.M.E face strategy isn’t just about surviving the madness—it’s about thriving in the most challenging situations, just like a football team fighting for a championship. Boyd’s formula for success equips educational leaders to maintain their grit and resilience, even when the challenges seem insurmountable. By getting a mentor, adjusting their attitude, prioritizing self-care, and empowering others with positive words, leaders can create a winning culture in their schools, one built on support, collaboration, and perseverance.
“Just like in football, the game isn’t over until the final whistle blows,” Boyd says. “In the madness of education, there will be moments when it feels like you’re in the fourth quarter, down by a few points with everything on the line. But if you put your G.A.M.E face on, I guarantee you’ll come up with a winning strategy—even if it’s a last-second field goal.”
As K-12 leaders continue to navigate the challenges of today’s educational landscape, Stephen Boyd’s message is a timely reminder that with the right mindset, mentorship, and self-care, the madness can be managed. Success, just like in football, comes to those who are prepared to stay focused and resilient.
When the madness comes, Put Your G.A.M.E Face On—and lead your school to victory.
Watch Stephen’s interview at the National Press Club here.
Published by: Khy Talara