Juggling the Job

By Dr. Robert Thornell

Overview
Being a principal is one of the most demanding roles in education. The job requires passion, adaptability, and the ability to manage competing priorities-all without dropping too many balls. In Juggling the Job, Dr. Thornell manages to highlight the principles of juggling and compare them to the many task that challenge school leaders on a daily basis.

If you ever watch a juggler perform, sometimes their mistakes are unnoticeable because they keep going and move on to the next trick. Great principals share that skill by successfully keeping everything moving. When something drops, they seem to keep moving so effortlessly that few people even notice and those that do are quick to move on because the action has moved on as well.

This book was created with you, the school leader, in mind, and it provides a deep dive into five areas a principal juggles. Each chapter shares examples, ideas, and real life stories from Thornell's 25 + year career in education.

In the book, you will find a chapter devoted to: Instructional Leadership- The important thing to remember is that you are responsible for the learning and teaching in your building. You may not be in front of students every day, but you are the "lead learner" in your building and it is important that you are actively involved every day.Servant Leadership- Building relationships with your school community, students, teachers, and parents is essential to success. Here are ideas for activities that show a leader is trying to help and support.Learning Leadership- Consider this section a personal accountability piece. As a leader is is important that we keep learning both as an example to others and to provide additional knowledge for ourselves to move ours schools forward.Share Your Story- Sharing the school story comes from many voices, but the leader should provide multiple ways in which to share the vision, progress, and results of the school.Celebrations/Reflections- While celebrations and reflections are not the same, they should be seen as a way to remember all the good things happening at your school, but also to deepening your learning through reflecting on what went well and what you can improve upon.
Praise for this Book
The principalship is hard work and the need to stay motivated, encouraged, and inspired is what Juggling the Job is all about.

This is an essential read for new principals looking for guidance, as well as seasoned leaders seeking renewal and perspective. Juggling the Job doesn't promise to make the juggling act easy - but it does offer a better grip and a clearer rhythm for those committed to leading schools well.

Jessica McDonald, Ed.D.

Principal, Daniel Elementary

Northwest ISD

Rob Thornell captures what so many leaders feel but rarely say out loud: this job is hard-but it's also worth doing well. Juggling the Job is a reminder that effective school leadership isn't about doing everything at once; it's about being present, staying focused on what matters most, and leading with both purpose and humility. Every principal should read this.

Dr. Brian Prybil

Deputy Superintendent

Moline-Coal Valley ISD

Learning how to juggle all the expectations of the job is no joke. I wish I would have had Robert Thornell's book Juggling the Job when I began my career. Things would have made so much more sense and I would have been an even better leader for my team. This book is packed full of takeaways and resources. I can't wait to share this book with others

Todd Nesloney

Director of Culture & Strategic Leadership

Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1962765091
• ISBN13: 9781962765091
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: SchoolRubric Inc.
• Length: 147 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"