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Oakland students Matthew Utzig, left, and Rachel Ivey measure readings from a piece of mechanical equipment in the school's Mechatronics labratory, which was the first high school facility of its kind when it opened in December 2014. / KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
(The Rutherford County Schools communications department is profiling each of the district's 10 high schools.)
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MURFREESBORO — “Good is the enemy of great.”
Bestselling author Jim Collins wrote the defining quote in his No. 1 seller “Good to Great.” The product of a five-year research project, Collins’ book surprisingly sold more than four million copies and has been cited by some of Wall Street’s top CEO’s as the best management book they’ve read.
It’s no surprise an educational leader like Bill Spurlock has twice-read it — once in 2001, when it was released, and again in 2011 — and referenced the quote when explaining that those who think they’re good often “become settled.”
“In a school,” Spurlock said, “I always say you have two different types of people. You have settlers and you have pioneers. You can never have too many pioneers, and you do not want too many settlers. It’s those who strive to get better every day that keep you on your toes. They inspire you to look beyond what you have accomplished and continue to seek ways to improve.”
Since taking over as principal at Oakland High School in September 2008, Spurlock has done anything but settle. He’s been a pioneer advocating on behalf of students and public education. CONTINUE READING
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