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| Oklahoma State Superintendent Conference February 2015 Dr. Robert Romines |
Resilience skills apply to every aspect of life: personal
and professional. Imagine if you were
stepping into a new work position during a natural disaster- your
responsibilities include the safety of children, teachers, and communicating
calm to parents. This is the story of Dr. Robert Romines, Superintendent of the
Moore, Oklahoma school district. In
February of this year I had the honor of meeting this “ordinary hero” who demonstrates resilient leadership.
On May 20, 2013 an F5 tornado impacted the community of
Moore, Oklahoma and the 23,000 students in Dr. Robert Romines' care.
He was a
first responder to the school buildings destroyed by the storm and helped
rescue teachers and students from the disaster sites. Within moments of learning of the 7 student
deaths in the Briarwood school, Dr. Romines was called upon to speak to the
media. He communicated reassurance and realistic hope.
The tornado ended the school year only days away from the
planned summer dismissal. Within the
week Dr. Romines assembled a team to provide safe spaces for every student to
return for their first day of the next school year. From May 21 through August 16, 2013 Romines led
with the mantra “Anything is possible.”
Understandably, two years later he is still tearful and managing
emotions speaking about the events of the Tornado and the rebuilding/recovery effort
that followed. Dr. Romines' leadership continues in his Monday email sent out to
every family in his district with a “weather update” for the week.
Ordinary people can do extraordinary things utilizing
resilience skills: Support, flexibility, decisiveness, and perspective.
Are you leading your personal life with
resilience?
Are you practicing resilience in your parenting?
