Joe McCormack: When Your Best Just Isn't Good Enough

Leadership Resources

Deb Mayer

Mentors Made the Difference

My professional success and emerging leadership skills developed as a process and not a single event. Certainly, it was not a straight line continuum, but rather a series of growth spurts and sputters. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN.  I grew up in an affluent suburb and had an ivory tower childhood.  My coming out was an evolution.  It began in college and continues to evolve today.

Mentors have been an integral part of my leadership path.  My mother was the queen of all mentors.  Passionate and excited about my education and my career paths, she was the consummate cheerleader.  Also, I had a high school teacher who saw some potential in me and went out of her way to encourage and challenge my academic and personal growth. My minister, Dr. King, was another member of my mentoring team. He took a personal interest in my work in education and juvenile justice. 

Early in my teaching career, my high school principal was a guiding light and an inspiration for me to develop as an educator and an administrator.  And there are other sources that have enhanced my leadership path: continuing education, both formal and informal; lifelong friends; my church family; a love of sports and an ability to balance work and play.

Of course, there have been obstacles on my leadership journey. Gender and sexual discrimination have been unwanted companions, sometimes subtle, other times not. Incompetent coworkers and supervisors have presented numerous challenges.  In education, there often was a lack of creativity and spontaneity in the workplace. It was difficult to sell new ideas in public education, which had become a static environment.

Some of my jobs were considered nontraditional roles for women, so I felt the pressures of proving my gender's competence.  I was a juvenile probation officer in a male dominated field, working with juvenile boys and their families.  My work with kids continued when I transitioned into teaching and coaching high school tennis and track teams.  I was involved with Special Olympics, both as a coach and a mentor to the athletes and their families.  Next, came my adventures as a high school principal and  after a few years, I accepted a position as a district office administrator.  The latter job involved working with severe discipline problems, conducting expulsion hearings and handling cases that involved police and probation officers.  Currently, I am actively retired, giving back to the community as a volunteer and consultant.  Hospice, the Red Cross and Senior Services occupy some of my time.  Pet therapy with my Golden Retriever, Folie has been a joy.  We visit senior facilities and Folie brings love and companionship to her clients. 

Being gay and in a leadership position has been compatible for me.  When it could have stunted my professional growth, I chose to stand out rather than come out.  Discretion was a survival tool in the sixties and seventies.  This may be hard to appreciate in an era when there are policies against LGBT discrimination in education and in many companies. It was a balancing act between the career path and staying true to who I was. 

My 30-year career path has been a great ride.  I was successful as a leader and have the aforementioned people to thank for that.  Suggestions for emerging leaders would include: actively seek out appropriate mentors; be yourself and save the role playing for drama class; pursue your career for the right reasons — it should provide the ability for you to grow personally and professionally and it should enhance your energy.

Leadership has less to do with title and monetary gain and more to do with how it nurtures your soul and how it makes others feel about your example and inspiration.  Do what makes you come alive. Experience and celebrate the joy and passion that emerge from making a difference.