Be Okay Not Being Okay with Trevor Goertzen

The Employee Experience in Education Podcast

“Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that you need some assistance. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.”

Being a school principal is one of the hardest jobs in the world, not just in education. The demands placed on school leaders are intense, pervasive, and seemingly never-ending.

But these demands can take their toll on even the most capable and impactful leaders.

In this episode, Trevor Goertzen shares how his internal burnout and stress led to him stepping away from the principalship and the important advice he would share with his younger self. Trevor also shares:

• The lonely nature of the principal position
• The many negative internal thoughts that almost led to the worst possible outcome
• How a text message changed his life forever

Trevor Goertzen is a veteran teacher, building administrator, adjunct professor, and currently serving schools through esports. As a teacher, Trevor taught and coached at the middle school and high school level, earned his National Board Certification, and served on district-level committees. Moving into administration, Trevor served as a middle school Assistant Principal before stepping into the Principalship. Trevor served as the Kansas Principals Association President-Elect, the National Association of Secondary School Principals - Kansas Representative, and was named the 2021 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year. Additionally, Trevor is an adjunct professor for Harding University in the Education Department. Trevor is married to Stephanie and together they have three children.

Episode links:

• Trevor\'s LinkedIn Account
• Trevor\'s Twitter Account
• Trevor\'s Website
• Email Trevor