Rule #19 Always ask students to be specific in a discipline interview. They don’t lie well.

As we know assistant principals wear many hats. In particular at a high school you sometimes have to play detective, like those Law and Order guys. My favorite is Detective Robert Goren (Criminal Intent). He has a way of playing the interviewees emotions and staying ahead of the answer he is looking for, using mind tricks to manipulate and more importantly understanding human nature.

In interviewing a student in an alleged drug issue, theft, fight, etc. can be quite be tricky. You want to allow due process, but at the same time you want to find the guilty party, and it can turn into a game of cat and mouse. 

In the beginning of the investigation you have to be patient. It is important to interview suspects and/or parties in the matter, and get exact details from them. It is a good strategy to take notes. When interviewing you want to get them to be specific about their location, the time, their specific actions, what they might have said, their motives, and any communication by phone. If you are unsure about something they said, then ask again but in a different manner, here is the point your gut instincts might kick in, and you might catch them in a lie.

I honestly believe young people and their communication skills have a difficult time keeping a lie on track, to their parents or to administrators. Especially if you keep pressing. The key though is patience. Another key element is interviewing all the parties, and then using information from one to another student, and trying to tie up loose ends in their story.  As a police officer or a trial lawyer might say, they don't ask any question they may know the answer to already. The trick is having the right information. 

Students can make 15 minutes look like an hour or 2 minutes. They speak in generalities in their story telling. Be specific in your questioning, and you will get success in catching a culprit and protecting your campus culture, climate and safety. 

Joe

Rule #40: When a Drug dog shows up at your school, stop everything your doing!

     A random drug dog search is just that random! Invariably when the drug dog shows up at your school, you immediately get into search and prevention mode.  As assistant principals you are in “go mode” the moment you enter the school building. You don’t know what to expect on some days at any given moment.  You are on roller skates the whole day. Your “to do list” gets shot to “HE double hockey sticks!” It is because your first priority is always students!  You maybe  in an ARD, in a parent-conference meeting, conducting walk-thrus, seeking information out on a referral, or are  engaged with a student in your office. The moment though the drug dog shows up at your office door, you need to stop everything! It is essential to establish systems, and policies and procedures in place in order to bring some sanity into your day, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

    Drug dog handlers are cut from a different cloth. But you know, they have a passion for their animal. They have spent tons on training and lots of time, personal and professional, with their dog. Drug dog handler’s procedures and protocols for searches and of course dog search companies have different protocols. It is essential to know who your drug dog handler is on that particular day and respect their procedure and their animal. Some handlers won’t allow you to pet their animal, as much as you want, or of course allow the students to pet the animal.   How the handler handles a search in a classroom could vary. When you conduct   a vehicle search it maybe the handler who does the search, or many times because the vehicle in on school property, the assistant principal conducts the search.

     It is essential when a handler first visits your campus; you hold a conversation with them about the procedures of the search. In particular when you enter a classroom, what are the instructions to the students, where in the hallway to do they want the students, if the dog hits on something, backpack, jacket, etc. what is the protocol at that point.  When you have the students exit a classroom into a hallway they are supervised at all times either with a fellow A.P. or a teacher. The students are told to leave their cell phones in their pockets or purses; because we know how quickly students can text to someone the drug dog is on campus.

    The safety of your students on your campus is always an A.P.’s first priority. It seems intrusive to search people, to search their vehicles, and conduct a search as though you are a law enforcement officer. But keeping drugs off your campus and not just from one particular student, in which you may hit on, but protecting the culture, climate, and safety of your entire student population is at stake.  Stop everything your doing and work keeping the drugs off your campus!