“Your Mission If You Choose to Accept It”

Last month in Perspective I discussed the need to occasionally pare down your task list and suggested ways to approach that daunting task. Along with that, I referred to knowing what your Primary Mission was and that I’d address it more fully this month. Well, you’re in luck! Between the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College, and more than two decades in command positions, I have a bit of experience in developing mission statements.

Many of your schools and districts have “mission statements” that are full of flowery language but most of those are more properly termed as vision statements, meaning, “this is what we aspire to be.” In contrast, a true mission statement directs actions in the present and/or near future.

A fully developed mission statement says:

– Who’s doing it.

– When will they do it.

– What they will do (not how, but what will they accomplish).

– Why they will do it.

Example: The Springfield High School Band (who) will, between 2025 and 2030 (when) achieve multiple superior ratings in both concert and marching band (what) in order to (why) provide the highest level of musical enrichment to students and to demonstrate to the public Springfield High School’s commitment to provide “rigorous, creative, and innovative educational experiences.” (From my local high school’s mission statement).

To contrast this very specific statement that tells you, the director, what, when, and why to do something, I looked at several mission statements at some highly respected schools that have killer music programs. Many were something like this: Mission – Every Student, Every Day, Every Class to which I say, huh?

So, what does this have to do with you? Whether or not you choose to share it publicly, spending some time developing a verifiable (you can tell whether or not you achieved it), viable (it’s achievable with hard work), valid (it has meaning to the administration, public, and students), and valuable (it will make the student experience better) [BTW, notice the awesome alliteration!!] mission statement will help keep you on track in determining what’s really important.

This issue puts the spotlight on some Best Tools for Schools that appeared at the 2025 NAMM Show. Our judges scoured the 1,850 exhibitors presenting over 4,000 brands to find the things they’d love to have in their classrooms. Enjoy!

Last month we announced the Teachers’ Choice Awards so you could pick the items and brands you really value in your classroom. Nominations are flowing in. Visit SBOplus.net/tca/ and let your voice be heard!

Finally, I hope you have watched the 60 Minutes story on the Equity Arc Wind Symphony whose performance with the U.S. Marine Band was cancelled because of an executive order. This wonderful ensemble, superbly conducted by Dr. Rodney Dorsey, included some of the finest high school musicians in America from diverse backgrounds who were joined by veteran military musicians, many of whom I know from my time in Washington. Not only was the performance superb, the message it sent was powerful.