I recently posted on TikTok a video of the outside of Tyrone Thompson the morning of the first day for students. Although many people “liked” the post, one person was quick to provide a negative comment. He essentially said I was wasting valuable time and resources in order to make school fun.

As I always say, in the end it is all about perspective. But I can’t help but wonder what has caused this individual to have this viewpoint. Why is it so engrained in his soul that he felt the need to write and let out his anger toward me simply for attempting to energize the students and staff who graced the hallway of our school?

As administrators—or even as all educators—shouldn’t we want kids to be excited about coming back to school? Would it not benefit everyone to create an environment that gives students a sense of joy and hope on the first day of school as they slumber in after a long break? Shouldn’t we want them rushing into the building with excitement instead of trepidation?

As I reflect, I wouldn’t change what I did based upon his opinion. But knowing me, I will work to take it up a notch next year. The loudest boos always come from the cheap seats, as they say, and this is no different. We shouldn’t let one energy vampire take away from the great moments that we work to create for our students and the community.

In the book I co-authored with Angelica Brown, Start on the Sidewalk details engagement strategies that can be used to get students and parents involved in your school. It begins by telling the story of two students: one who wakes up and has to go to a school that is drab and uninviting, while the other wakes up excited because he attends a campus that makes the day fun and engaging. The video from the opening morning posted on TikTok literally shows that we do indeed practice what we preach, and we “start on the sidewalk” at our school.

Every student and staff member should be excited the first day and want to enter your building. Every teacher should want each student excited to enter their classroom for the first time. If they are not, you have to look at yourself and ask why not. Ask yourself if you would want your own child to enter your building or classroom. If the answer is no, that says a lot about you as the leader of those areas.

My guess is that we would not want our children to enter the building of the person who was quick to hate me on TikTok. We need to ensure that we make our campus a place students want to be.

So, dear reader—are you starting on the sidewalk? If not there, that is okay, but just start somewhere!