Ben Joiner, LL’16, Assistant Headmaster, Radcliffe Creek School (MD)
Who are your favorite writers?
In fiction, Mark Twain, James Fenimore Cooper, Jack London, and I read a lot of Beverly Cleary with my kids and I always enjoy it. In non-fiction, I love the way Jon Krakauer and Laura Hillenbrand tell stories. But I also enjoy the writing of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Norman Whitfield who wrote some great songs for the Temptations, Johnny Cash, Sean Daly, also known as Slug from the duo Atmosphere, and most especially Scott and Seth Avett from the Avett Brothers.
Who are your heroes in real life?
People fascinate and continually amaze me, so my heroes are many and varied. Kids
that learn how to overcome a bad hand they were dealt, people that do things because they see a need and are compelled to act, these are people that I admire and aspire to emulate.
Who or What motivated you to become an educator?
I think that I was drawn to teaching because of a desire to make a difference, but also, to be completely honest, I was under the impression that teachers had a lot of time off, which was intriguing to me. I enjoyed working with young people, I always enjoyed school as a kid, and the summers off couldn’t have been more attractive. However, after I found Radcliffe Creek School and began working with children who benefited from a more dynamic, hands-on approach to learning, teaching became more than just a fun job – I began to understand the impact that I could have, and that’s what has kept me in education.
What is your idea of happiness?
Just being with my family gives me the most joy, but, for the most part, my concept of happiness is predicated upon my feeling that I have done right by others. Whether I’m working with a teacher, talking to students, or enjoying time with my own family, I am happiest when I can reflect on an experience and know that I helped to positively impact that experience. I’m also really happy when I get to drink a beer around a campfire with friends, walk a mountain trail, or catch a nice largemouth bass.
In a nutshell what is your definition of leadership?
To me, leadership is the coordination of individuals to accomplish goals that can only be achieved through the collaborative efforts of a group, while satisfying each individual’s personal goals and need to feel fulfilled and successful through their contributions to the group’s purpose.
What would you change about cell phones in schools?
When the question of cell phones in schools is asked, I find my inner luddite controlling my immediate response – NO CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL. They are a distraction to students and the adults with whom those students work (True story: my phone actually just buzzed and I checked it; a text from my wife. That actually just happened). However, I think, as with other tools that children may end up using throughout their lifetimes, we should be helping students to understand how to best utilize cell phones in a positive way, and steer clear of their pitfalls.
What do you most value in your friends?
The characteristics that I most value in my friends are those I hope I demonstrate toward them. Loyalty, honesty, integrity, compassion – these are the foundation upon which solid friendships are developed and nurtured. Those are what I like to see in my friends.
What do you do for self-renewal?
Francis Bacon said, “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” For me, it’s important to engage in some quiet time. It’s crucial for my self-renewal. I often feel that I’m waiting for that wisdom to develop, but I keep searching for it in the quiet. With that said, I am energized by being around people, so, in some cases, spending time with people, exploring ideas and listening to others is just what I need.
Who is your hero/heroine of fiction?
Indiana Jones, Neville Longbottom, Chewbacca. That’s the list.
What is your current state of mind?
At this moment, I’m optimistic, eager to find out what lies ahead, and confident that everything’s going to be alright. Life is good. I recently presented an award to a student at school. I presented the student with a photograph, and on the matte surrounding the picture I added a quote from Jesse Owens. He said, “Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing in it.” That’s exactly where I am right now.
Ben Joiner has served as a teacher, coach, and administrator at Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for fifteen years. He makes his home on a small hobby farm outside of Chestertown where he lives with his wife and four children. Ben is a 2016 gcLi Leadership Lab graduate. He is currently preparing to embark upon a journey to complete a Masters of School Leadership – Independent School Track at the University of Pennsylvania.