The Few - A Podcast for Faith Empowered Workplace Leaders
The Few - A Podcast for Faith Empowered Workplace Leaders
The Few Episode 80: FEW Interview with Dr. Adam Cheeseman
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Join Bill and I as we interview Dr. Adam Cheeseman, current superintendent of Doddridge County Schools.
Learn more at renewts.com
Good day to all you out there. Uh, we want to welcome you to episode 80 of. The few, a podcast for faith empowered workplace leaders.......... My name is Bill
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846I'm Ed and today you can look on your screen if you're watching on YouTube or you'll be able to hear him here in a second. If you're listening on all the podcast apps, uh, we have Dr. Adam Cheeseman, who is currently the superintendent of Doddridge County schools joining us today for one of our few, which stands for faith empowered workplace, uh, leader interviews. Adams, good to have you with us today.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848It's good to be here. I appreciate the opportunity and looking forward to chatting with you
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah, great. So, um, we are excited about this. Those of you who are faithful listeners to the episode know that, uh, every so often we bring someone in that, uh, uh, is a Christian who is follower of Christ and who is working out there in the marketplace. And, uh, so we're excited to hear what Adam has to say, but before we get to that, let's get to a little bit of.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847front porch wisdom. Well, how about I start with some front porch wisdom today? I was
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Good.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847a little bit. In reviewing some of the atomic habits book that we talked about a while back. And there was a comment in there that has stuck with me because I'm a person who can be conflict diverse and, and maybe sometimes too critical, but the statement, uh, Is this early feedback is usually better than late criticism I can think of a number of times in my life where it would have been a whole lot better for me to give early feedback, uh, to one or to those that I was working with who maybe weren't headed in the direction I thought they should have been rather than waiting until it got to the point where I had. Uh, allowed the frustration inside of me to increase and I became very critical. So early feedback is usually better than late criticism. I think there's a lot of truth there, but a lot of wisdom there in that
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah. And from the perspective of the person who's receiving it, I'm sure they agree as well a lot rather have a little bit of early feedback than that criticism that often comes later. So, um, my front porch wisdom today really is just kind of thought that comes from a book I've been reading. Called the message of the 12. It's written by Al Fur and Gary Yates. And it's actually just a, uh, kind of a commentary really on the, uh, minor profits. And, um, one of the things that I just keep on as they go from one person to the next person to the next person I keep on seeing and just keeps hitting me is how there are consequences. To our disobedience to God. And I think sometimes even, uh, pastors in today's culture and, and some of us who are leaders in the workplace, I think we forget sometimes, you know, we love the blessings of God and. And you know, we, we're so thankful for the grace of God and all those things that he gives us, but there are consequences when we choose to be disobedient. And, um, that's not only for you pastors who are listening out there, but for those of you who are working in any area as a leader, um, we have to make sure we keep that relationship with Christ in check and make sure that we use, you know, follow that word that so many people really don't like in today's and we need to be obedient and there are consequences for not being right.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847Amen. You know that, um, I believe it was Dale Carson that wrote the book, uh, the, difficult doctrine or the complicated doctrine of the love of God. And, and, you know, he talks about how, when we, when we discuss or think about the love of God today, we, uh, think that love is always accepting and, and, um, and, and overlooks wrongs and that's part of it. But when true love really is there, there, there is accountability and there's justice and love desires justice and justice, uh, ultimately can lead to, you know, if justice is to be done, if wrong is done, then discipline needs to be meted out and things like that. And I just, um, I think there's two sides to all those
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846yeah, absolutely. If we, and if we get out of balance and we focus way, way too much on one over the other, it always brings problems. And so, yeah, yeah, good stuff. So, so, well, Adam's been sitting here very patiently and waiting on us, Bill. So, um, we want to get into, uh, uh, our subject of the day. So, so Adam, um, thanks again for being with us today. We really appreciate it. Uh, we got a, a few questions we'll probably be asking you today. And, I know you have looked at those a little bit So Adam, just tell us a little bit about yourself. Tell us a little bit about, um, you know, your own journey in the mission of our podcast is to, is to kind of serve what we call faith empowered workplace leaders. So. So that's really whether they serve as pastors and churches or directors of nonprofits or work in the educational system like you've been doing or in the corporate world. Um, so tell us a little bit about your faith empowered workplace journey, how your faith is intersected with, uh, kind of what you do, uh, on a, on a daily, um, just kind of tell us a little bit about yourself. Yeah.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848uh, to be on here with you guys. Um, a little bit about, uh, about me. I was saved in third grade. So I've been saved now for, uh, I'm 39. So I guess we could do the math there. Right. So I've been a follower of Christ for, uh, uh, for many years, obviously. Uh, much like everyone's story, uh, there's been ups and there's been downs. And, uh, there's been times that, uh, uh, that I've probably turned my back on God, but I would tell you this, he's never turned his back on me. And again, that's a, uh, that's a testament to the grace and love of God. Um, married my wife, Lisa, in 2007, we married 17 years this Sunday. We have three beautiful little girls, Allie, Addie, and Anna, 11. And it is how I know God has a sense of humor, right? So three girls, uh, they, uh, they, they keep us, uh, keep us hopping. Um, enter the ministry, uh, 21. Uh, so about 18 years now, I've been preaching, I've pastored a few churches. Um, recently went, uh, to full time evangelism. Uh, so I've been preaching a bunch of revivals and, uh, kind of bouncing around the different pulpits. And, uh, it's been a very good, uh, very good experience and enjoying, uh, this, uh, this season. Um, in terms of the workplace, uh, which, which I don't really differentiate, uh, my faith from the workplace, uh, even being a public educator. Uh, sometimes. Um, I think public education, uh, we get a little bit, uh, worried about, uh, you know, uh, church and state and those types of things. And, and we'll, uh, abide by the law, but at the same time, leave my faith. People need to see it, right? I don't, shouldn't have to tell somebody that I'm a Christian. They ought to see it in how I respond and how I answer and how I, how I, uh, conduct myself. And, uh, and so I don't separate the two. They are certainly it's who I am.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Um, one of the things that, that we talk about a lot here on the podcast and part of our mission, you know, in serving people who, uh, are church leaders and people out there in the world that are leading, who are people of faith is that we, we often say that your leadership is not defined by where you lead, but by who you belong to. And, and I know in the corporate world, you know, I was asked many times because The subject came up a lot because people knew my background as pastor, you know, and so oftentimes when I was talking to people in the healthcare world, they would want to know, how did you end up here? You know, what you believe doesn't define how I treat you. What I believe defines how I treat you and, and and kind of like what you're saying, I think some people out there in the world have this, have this image that if we're people of faith and we're out there in the workplace, then we're going to be, you know, knocking on their heads all the time, trying to get them to accept Christ and quoting Bible verses and all that, and it's really more about living that example. And those core values, everyone has core values that come from somewhere. And so our core values come from our faith. Would you agree with that?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848100 percent um, you know, being a school superintendent and educator, um, I've got to know a lot of people, uh, and I've been blessed with the chance to interact, uh, with just thousands of people in Doddridge County and beyond, um, and, and, and I can tell. When I'm speaking to somebody else, uh, who has a faith in Christ, um, the Bible says, and Jesus said himself that you'll know them by their fruit. Uh, and so, uh, that was been my prayer through the entire time. Now, if somebody, uh, you know, would say, Hey, could you pray with me? Or, Hey, you know, what do you think about this? That? Absolutely. right, Uh, you know, but, but, but I, I've never used the position to, um, to, to. Knock somebody over the head, I guess, with, with, the Bible. Um, but I've used the position, uh, in a way to glorify Christ. And so that people could look and say, Oh my, look at all these different situations that public education is facing. How has he handled that? And how. How has he been able to do that? Well, it's not Adam who's been able to do it. It's Christ living in me that's allowed
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848So, so yeah, that's certainly been, uh, been my,
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846That's a,
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848you know, strategy.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846yeah, that's a great point. That's a great point. So,
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847in the environment of public education, you know, can be a challenge at times, I'm sure. Um, and, and, you know, the intersection with faith and things like that. Um, as you think about the people that have influenced you over the years and, and living You know, as Christ in the workplace and, and, and being, uh, a follower of Christ who authentically strives to reflect his character wherever you are, who, who were some leadership role models for you, or who were the people who were some individuals that, that influenced you most, uh, significantly as a faith empowered leader.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848Yeah. Well, uh, there's certainly one guy, uh, that, uh, that has been in my corner. Uh, since I was in high school and I'll tell this quick, I say quick story. Sometimes my stories don't get so quick, uh, but, uh, but I'll tell this and I'll try to get through it. Um, so when I was a freshman in high school, uh, I made my name of Ken Heine came, uh, to, uh, to work County and he came as the assistant principal for one year and then he became the principal. Uh, Mr. Heine has been a, uh, pastor, uh, for around 35 years. Um, preached, uh, Prosperity Baptist Church for the last 33 years. Um, and, and so right there, I had a role model who was a, in an educational leadership position, who also was a man of God and a preacher that, that before I even entered the ministry, He was pouring into me and I would go into his office and, and sit down and, you know, uh, just kind of have conversations about God, even when I was in high school and he helped me along the way. And, uh, and so then fast forward a little bit. Um, I went to college, went to Alderson Broaddus, uh, got my education degree, went back to work County. And then worked for him, uh, for four years, uh, I was in, uh, I was in work County schools. Uh, he was still the principal. And so I had him as a student and then I worked under him, uh, and the same thing would happen during my planning period or whenever I just pop in, we'd have conversations. He continued to kind of build into me. I entered the ministry at 21. So right in the middle of, of my college experience. And so, uh, so now I'm preaching, but I'm able to have him still there in my corner, be able to talk with him. And he just built me up well, uh, took a step of faith. Uh, and my wife and I left work County things were going great, uh, was almost too comfortable. And I felt the Lord kind of prompted me that. Time to get out of your comfort zone. And sometimes he'll do that, especially with leaders. Uh, we've got to be very sensitive, uh, to what the Holy Spirit would be telling us to do. Uh, and so we left and we spent a year at Philippi, um, came to Doddridge County after that, uh, probably the most growth that she and I had together, uh, and the most, uh, a season of spiritual growth was during that time because nothing came easy.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846right.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848in the easy times, uh, y just that they're easy, b times where you grow and So we had that season and tricky. Um, but one thing I can now see all these s me here to Doddridge Coun Queen Esther for such a time as this, right? And I believe God is a God of seasons. And, um, and he was preparing me to for this leadership role of superintendent of schools. Well, in, uh, in 2016 superintendent opened up. I was 31 at the time, uh, was encouraged by a few people to maybe consider putting in for it. First call I made, Ken Hiney, right? He and I had a conversation. Um, of course I talked to my father and my wife and, you know, um, my mom and, and all that. But, uh, but I've very, really, I've always valued what Mr. Hiney has said and what his thoughts were. He said, why not? Right. He said, why not? Uh, and so threw in for it, uh, eight years later, um, 39, uh, you know, I was the youngest superintendent. To ever be appointed in West Virginia. So I'm told eight years later, I'm still the youngest by age. Um, but, uh, like in the top seven or eight in seniority. So it's kind of crazy thing, but in 2018... our attendance CTE coordinator position opened up, uh, Mr. Heine applies for it. And so I then hired him. And so he came and he worked for me for the last six years. Uh, and so, so this is a man that has been with me in my faith journey and in my educational journey. From, from just about the beginning, right? Well, from high school, as a student, I work for him now. He, I guess works for me, which is a really funny thing to bring up sometimes. But even through these last six years, I will tell you this, two teacher strikes, COVID, uh, excess levies, um, you know, just a, a teacher shortage. Having that guy right there with me through it all, helping me not only from a leadership, a school leadership standpoint, but from a spiritual, uh, you know, he's helped kept me in check. He's seen me at my best. He's seen me at my worst. He will say to me very bluntly, yo, down, you know, or, or he'll say, Hey, you know, He's just been my been my guy, right? And so he's been my role model, uh, from, uh, from almost the beginning. And, uh, it was really by no mistake. Uh, God, God brought us together.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846There's really no substitute as a leader to have that kind of relationship with someone who's a mentor. I think that's an awesome story. I appreciate you sharing it. You know, we've done several podcasts on matter of fact, last week's podcast was on accountability and uh, you know, you can go back. We've done podcasts on mentoring and uh, you can learn a lot in school. You can learn a lot in the school of hard knocks. Um, but man, I tell you what, if you've got a good mentor and good role model that lives into you and, and, and blesses you, it's, it's just, it's non replaceable. And for those of you out there who don't have that, be that. you know, be that for somebody else. And if you have had that, you already are being that because I don't know anyone who's actually had that experience who then isn't doing the same with others because it's just such a huge part of their life that they just can't hardly help themselves, but offer it to someone else. So that's great. We appreciate that, Adam. Um, so, so in, in all these things that you've learned, this experience you've had, and I will tell you. Um, you know, Adam's pretty humble, but the fact is, is he won all kinds of accolades, uh, as this guy, um, as the superintendent of Doddridge County Schools. And we won't go through all those here, but you can certainly look them up. But, but Adam, as you've kind of made this journey, what would you identify? as kind of the biggest needs for, for people who might be in your position for Christian leaders out there in the workplace. What would you kind of identify as the biggest need for those leaders today?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848yeah, I, I, I thought about this. Um, and there's a couple of different, uh, Uh, skill sets or a couple of different concepts, I guess is a better, uh, way to, uh, uh, to say it, that, that come to mind, um, the, the first one would be, would be vision, you know, the Bible says, uh, where there is no vision, the people will perish, uh, and, and I think that as a leader today, and I guess I can speak more from a school You know, uh, background, but I think in general, uh, we've, we've got to be, uh, leaders that cast vision, uh, and that then help people achieve that vision, communicate that vision and do it together. It seems like the more that we move forward. There's this more and more division and more and more confusion. Um, and in simple differences of opinions that used to be, it could say, okay, we'll agree to disagree. We don't seem to be able to do that any longer. It's like, there's such a stark contrast. And so. If a leader can cast vision and then ensure that that vision is communicated and bring everybody together with the understanding that we're not always going to see eye to eye, but to keep the main thing, the main thing, the vision, the main thing, you know, um, I think that's crucial. Um, you know, when, when I came on board in 2016, the mission statement, um, and this is not being critical of the past. That means it's just the truth. The mission statement was like paragraph, like two paragraphs. And when you ask somebody, okay, what was Dr. Ishikawa's school's mission statement? And well, they, they didn't, they didn't know it. I mean, you know, it'd be tough to memorize. So one of the first things that we did was we cast new vision. And brought all the stakeholders to the table, brought some teachers, we brought some, uh, parents, we brought some administrators, we brought some community members, some business leaders, and most importantly, we brought the kids to the table and we held different focus groups. Um, and, and I just listened and I learned and I thought, you know, All these different groups are really saying the same thing, but they've been operating in their own silos for so long. Uh, and it's almost like it became a competition and there was no unity. Uh, and so that was what our vision was. We, we pushed out a mission statement that said now is the time. To create a sense of urgency united to make a difference. And that has been our hashtag that has been ours since then eight years. Uh, we have hashtag united to make a difference. We put it on t shirts. We've, uh, it comes up in every speech. It comes up in every talk. Um, and the idea behind that was this is the vision. We're going to do what's best for kids, and we're going to ensure that everybody Comes to the table, their voice is heard, we might walk away, maybe we'll disagree on, on, uh, a mode or a teaching strategy or whatever it might be. But at the day, if you can stay focused on kids and I can stay focused on kids, then we're on the same team. And so I think vision and, and, and rallying folks towards that, uh, is, uh, is one of the key is one of the key things
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah. Yeah. That's good. That's good. I think the one word you use several times there and it's so important. And that so many people miss, um, and there's a lot of people out there today who see vision as something that's not really, not really that big of a deal. It's not really that important. However, you might say it, but I think the thing that it does is and use this word several times is it brings focus, you know, um, in a culture that's chaotic running in 25 different directions with 35 different agendas. Um, it just brings focus where people and focus brings unity, you know, and focus and unity bring productivity things get done, you know, when people are working together to do something in common and, uh, that's good. Thanks for sharing that. So, um,
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847you communicate that to your people? You know, um, it's one thing to have a vision, but then you've got to think about, oh, how do we live out what we are envisioning? I mean, what, what values are going to drive us?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848Yeah. Um, one thing that, that I learned very quickly. When, when they appointed me to the position, we went to our first superintendent training, I guess you could say, they brought all the new superintendents together and and they said, how many of you think, uh, that you're not a politician, right? Everybody, everybody raised their hand and me included, right? I'm like, no, that's not, well, They said, okay. And they left it at that. Well then they'll bring you back about three months later. So it was like October of 2016. They said, now how many of you think that you gotta be a politician? Everyone's like, Oh my gosh. You know? Uh, so, so navigating the political waters and I'm not even being critical when I say that. I mean, I'm not, you know, um, elected officials, they all have vision. They all have an agenda. They not in a negative way, but they want, you know, what's best for kids, but they all may have a different way of getting there. Uh, and so the same is true with educational leaders and teachers and parents. And, uh, and so, so it has been tricky. Um, it really has, uh, because you're trying to balance, um, keeping, uh, keeping the peace right in the community, uh, knowing that certain things might trigger certain pockets of people in the community. Um, anytime you run an excess levy. brings about some emotion and so, so Bill, you gotta be careful when you're talking out in the public. You, you don't always know what side somebody might be on. Um, and so, so I say all that to say this, uh, integrity. Uh, you know, a core value, uh, keeping true to yourself, keeping true to the word of God, uh, keeping true, uh, to Jesus Christ living inside of you and remembering that, you know, I believe it's, uh, first Peter says that he died as, and lived as an example. And so we are then to also live that example. Um, and so I always, uh, always kept that, uh, at the forefront. Now, you know, especially, I guess, publicly, privately, sometimes in meetings, I told you my guy every now and again had to say, yo, cool it down, you know? Um, but, but by and large, while I'm, while I'm out, uh, being able to, to do that has been big. Um, part of that integrity is also being. Um, and, and there's been times where I messed up and I've had to say, Messed up, right? Uh, we ran an excess levy, uh, in 20, oh gosh, uh, 2018. I think it was, um, something happened with the ballot and the newspaper called and said, Hey, your balance messed up. And it just caught me. I was like, you're wrong. I, that's the first one I'm about. No, you're wrong. My guys checked it, you know, we're good with the attorney checked it. Uh, and she says, I'm telling you something's wrong with your ballot. And I said, I'm going to prove to you, like I was pretty, I was having a moment, uh, got off the phone, called my guy. He's like, we've got a problem with the ballot. I'm like, Oh no.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847Yeah.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848And so, and so my first call, my first call was back to her and say, listen, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're right. There is a problem with the ballot. And so that, but that also brought another example is that we could have went ahead and ran. That excess levy, because it was simply a, it was a clerical type of thing. You can still see gas. You can still see no, it still could have been voted on, but I didn't feel like that was the right thing to do. So we just canceled the election and we had to put that out to the public. Right. And I believe that people saw that and they said, well, that was a move of integrity, right? A move of transparency. They're not trying to hide anything. They're not trying to do thing underhanded. So, so, so, you know, the first core value certainly would be. I would be. just keeping, keeping my integrity and knowing I can lay my head down at night and sleep, even if it means at times people might not like what I had to say. Yeah, he was. It's a good
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846That's great. That's great. I think, um, you talk about politics. I think one of the biggest fallacies out there in the world today, even on the pastoral side of things is that we don't, we don't get involved in politics, you know? And, and politics from the sense of, you know, that separation of church and state, we all have opinions about that. But politics just in general, you know, there, there is, there is politics with integrity. We haven't seen a lot of great examples of that in our culture, unfortunately. Um, but, but you have to be able to work with people who come from different perspectives, you know, and you read in scripture and you watch Paul, Paul was an awesome politician. I mean, he really was, you know, and you can't galvanize, you can't galvanize people. You can't lead people. You can't motivate people. Any of those things that we need to do as leaders, unless you have a sense of how to work. politically with folks. And I know a lot of people out there probably are going to go, what in the world is he talking about? You know, I'm not talking about politics from the side of just running for office, but politics and everyday relationships of being able to go in somewhere and, and, you know, not say your opinion sometimes, because it's best for what you're trying to accomplish, not to get into that conversation, those sorts of things. So, and always with that underlying foundation and core value, like you said, of integrity and transparency, I think that's awesome. So, um, well, if you look around the day, Adam, and you know, I know, you know, other people out there in the workplace who are Christians and following Christ well. In their life, what would you say? Um, is maybe one or two exciting, uh, the most exciting things you see, um, that God's doing through leaders and out in the educational system and the workplace. Um, what would you, what would you, you have any ideas on that?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848I do. Yeah. Um, as, as, as Christians, we, we are called to be the light of the world. Jesus said that, that we're the light of the world. He is the light of the world and that we, when he's in us, that, uh, that we then are the light. Uh, I guess this is, uh, maybe an odd way to answer this because it's in the despair and the, in the difficult things I see kids going through, and adults for that matter, that, that excites me in a way to know that, hey, I've got something in me that can bring them hope. I've got something in me that can bring them joy. So, so, you know, you know, Jesus taught that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. I don't know that the harvest has ever been more plentiful, right? Uh, being able to go and sow. So hope, so love, so joy. So Jesus into people's lives, uh, just by how we interact with them. I think the opportunity is greater now than of them. And as an evangelist, I suppose that's what that excites. Oh, and preach revivals. That's great. But I love doing that. But as an evangelist, the real work is, is out Right. outside the church, uh, you know, to build relationships with people, to, to, to go and pour into people. And, and so I would say that to any faith leader, uh, you've got such an opportunity in today's world, in today's society, in a society that says everything is about me, me, me, me, me. Yeah. Uh, in a society that's isolating people, you've got a chance to go and be the light, to be a difference and to bring hope to this lost and dying world. And, uh, if that doesn't excite us as, as Christians, then I don't know, maybe we ought to, maybe we ought to check our exciting, exciter.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah,
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847You know, that kind of gets to the next question. That kind of gets to the next question we were wanting to ask, you know, what, what message do you think Christian leaders need to be sharing during this time? And, and you basically kind of encapsulated it right there. Um,
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848Yeah, it w it would be a message of hope, um, a message of, uh, you know, you're never. Too far gone, uh, for the love of God. Um, and, and, and that kind of also makes me think of, of another concept, uh, that, that I've tried to balance, you know, it's that, and I know you guys have talked about it and it may have been your last podcast or the one before. Uh, I do pay attention. Uh, so is, is that balance between, uh, accountability and, and grace, right? And, and, and there are times where people mess up. There's times that I mess up. There's times that we all will mess up in, in the side of God, all of sin and fall short of his glory. In the workplace, there's times people mess up. There's times kids mess up, right? In education, there's times parents make a mistake. How do you then balance? The accountability, you know, with, with the grace. And I believe you can do that in such a way that will bring and restore hope in, in someone. Right. I remember, and I'll make this quick, but I remember when I was in like fifth grade and we had a basketball camp and coach kale ball. Uh, was the eighth grade social studies teacher in the middle school basketball coach and he held this basketball camp and it was at the end of the, uh, of the camp and there was a tournament and they split you up on teams at the very end of the game. My team was down. I knew I needed. So I ran over and I pushed the person with the ball and knocked them down. In my mind, I needed to intentionally foul them, right? So I then, I could shoot free throws, we could get the ball back. No one had ever taught me that. How to intentionally foul. So I just went and I did what I thought I needed to do. Knocked it and actually was actually it was Christy Alltop who was all state and everything went and played for Glenville. Uh, and so anyway, she and I were friends, knocked her over. Coach Caldwell got so mad. Oh, he got so mad. He stood up and he said, go over there and sat in the corner. And I went, Oh, geez, I've messed up. So I went over and I sat in the corner and I just cried. Right? Because I was a little bit confused. I wasn't quite sure. I mean, I wasn't trying to hurt her. I just didn't know how to, how to do this. Right? I knew any of the ball back. Well, there was a high school player that was helping with the camp. He comes walking over and he gets down and sets down right next to me. And he says, why did you do that? And I said, I didn't know I was trying to intentionally foul. I was trying, and you could see the demeanor on his face change. And he went, okay, he gets up and he walks over and he sits down by coach Kilburn and he says, and I could see him whisper in coach's ear. And you can see Coach Caldwell go from being kind of angry to his face kind of lifting up. It hit him, right, what had happened.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848So Coach comes back over, and he says, Hey, listen, so and so, the player told me what you were doing. It's okay. It's okay. I should have taught you. Get up and get back into the game. Now you think about that picture. That's exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us, right? See, I was put on the judgment seat for a mistake that I had made, but because of that boy coming over and talking to me and then going back to the coach and saying, Hey, It's all right. I then went from the judgment seat to the mercy seat. That's what Jesus does. Jesus comes. He, he, he comes into our heart. He goes back. He says he's an advocate with the father. He goes back to the father. He says, Hey, I've got this. And he takes us from the judgment seat to the mercy seat. That's exactly as a Christian leader, how we need to operate. Yes, there's ability. Yes, there's consequences for it. Uh, mistakes, but we got to take those folks that's been entrusted to us from the judgment seat to the mercy seat. So
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846yeah, that's good. That's good. That's good. I was telling Bill the other day, Bill and I were having a conversation. I told him my, my grandson plays baseball. And, um, we were at a, a ball game last week where the umpire, um, you know, this is a U 12 baseball. So a bunch of kids, the umpire, uh, came out and every, before, before the second, he had never umpired one of our kids games. But before the second inning, he knew the first name of every player on our team. He already knew the other team because he jumped in their area. But, but the fact is, is every time a kid got up to bat, he addressed him by name. He addressed the pitcher by the name. If the pitcher threw three balls, he would go, come on, pitch, you know, you can throw a strike. Let's go get her done. You know, in the picture, throw a strike and you say, good pitch. You know, a guy would hit a ball and pitch. And I mean, he just stopped the whole game, you know, if a kid would have an RBI, he'd stop the whole game and he'd go like my grandson's name, they would go able, you know what RBI, you know? And just, I mean, just all this crazy stuff, you know, but he just for six innings, he just constantly encouraged every kid on that field, every kid on that field, you know, and, uh, I heard him saying something to, uh, one of the other parents. Because it was amazing to watch almost every parent stop this guy before he left and thanked him for what he did, you know, um, but I heard him say to one of the parents, Yeah. this is why I only, um, a little league. I won't up high school or anything else because they won't let me do this. It's too improper to do this. And I thought, what a shame, you know, I mean, these kids are, you know, kids who never hit a ball or up there thinking they can, you know, there's this, he was just, he was interjecting that hope you're talking about. And that's the kind of stuff we ought to be doing. You know, I, I look at a lot of people I know as Christians in the workplace and, and they're wringing their hands. I don't think we're going to be able to solve this problem, you know, you know, and just bringing that anxiety into the workplace where we should be the people who bring that hope in like, yeah, this is dad going hard right now, but we'll, we'll be all right, you know, we'll be okay. And so good stuff. Good stuff. Um, we're working off 2 different question list here. Um, because I think Bill's working off one of the older lists and or one of the newer ones that I'm working off one of the older ones. And, uh, but anyways, a couple of questions that we haven't asked yet as we're getting ready to kind of kind of wind this thing down. Um, if you were to kind of pick out, uh, a book, um, a quote, um, something that you would like to really share with people who are watching or listening today, what would it be?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848Well, uh, my, the quote that I always go to, uh, is, is my favorite scripture verse. So I'll say that first, but then I do have a book that I'm, that I'm reading through that I'll share. But, uh, you know, at, at the end of this whole life, you know, it's really life is about what we've done. Choose to do with Jesus, right? So John 14, 6, as Jesus answered and said, I'm the way, the truth and the life. And no man come to the father except through me, right? So everything we do ought to be about Jesus. And that's why I, that's how I'm living. You know, that's, uh, that's why I'm serving in the leadership roles that I am. So people can see Jesus. But in terms of a book, I, I stumbled across a postage or upon that. You guys probably have seen it before, but it's called leadership, not by the book, right? Uh, and, uh, you might know David Green. He's the founder, CEO of Hobby Lobby. Um, and, and it caught my attention and I get, I've, I've. I'm reading through it now, but it's caught my attention because that's kind of how my story is. I'm not a traditional school superintendent. I went from assistant principal to the superintendent of schools. I didn't go to principal. I didn't go to director. I didn't go to assistant superintendent. I, I just, and in the things that we've done and been able to accomplish in Doddridge County have been Absolutely. Out of the box. They've been different. Um, people have described it as being innovative. Uh, and, and, and that's kind of what we're called to do, right? He said, Paul said, you come out from among them, right? Be separate. Uh, it's okay to be different. Uh, and so, so my leadership style might be, uh, I don't know, you call it conventional or unconventional. I just try and live by the Bible. Uh, but I've always been drawn to, um, Not, not new ways of doing things just so it's new, but I have been drawn to ways of leading and things that you can do and offer, uh, that that might be a little bit better that could help people, um, and not just doing. The same old, same old, same old, right. Um, you know, uh, there's a balance there between tradition and doing things because you've always done them. And also taking a step of faith and not being afraid to, uh, to do things a little bit, a little bit different. Uh, and so, yeah, just kind of reading that, uh, now kind of resonated with me. Uh, it's a 12 unconventional principles, uh, to drive incredible results. And just a spoiler alert, uh, you know, the, the majority of these principles, uh, are, are based upon the word of God and based upon God's way of leading. Uh, and so, uh, that's obviously why it, uh, why it resonates, but in the world. Right now, Bill, you alluded to it earlier. Uh, you know, the concept of doing things, God, God's way isn't always, uh, isn't always appreciated. Uh, and, uh, and it seems like now God's way might be the, uh, the diff the different way, you know,
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847Yeah, well, you know, it's, I think we've brought it up on this podcast numerous times, how it seems that the Simon Sinek's of the world and, and the new leadership voices that keep rising up are actually advocating biblical principles in their leadership. And, uh,
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Yeah, I think they're out there. The difference is, um, you're not, you're not allowed to call them what they are
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848right.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847Yeah,
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846like, it's kind of like, hey, there's this brand new, awesome idea for how to leave and you look at it and you go, oh, okay. Yeah, we've been in church.
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848Oh, okay. Yeah.
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846the last 2000 years. Um, and, uh, but now you've got a new name for it. You know, I mean, I've made, I've talked about this on the podcast before. But everybody wants to do soft skills and leadership. You know, everybody wants to do soft skills, soft skills, soft skills, and soft skills are nothing more than listening and empathy and all those kinds of things that we've been lifting up for ever, like it's not revolutionary to be, to be, to have empathy as a leader, but it's everywhere, you know, like in healthcare now it's like this big, huge movement, um, empathy and healthcare, empathy and healthcare. It's like nobody ever. Healthcare was started, uh, through empathy, you know, I mean, it's like, it's not new. Um, and so, yeah, I think that's, I think that's important. So good stuff, good stuff. So, well, I think it's probably time for us to wind this down. Uh, do you want to let all of our listeners and our viewers know that, uh, you know, we got Adam here in his, uh, basically last month and a half of this job as a superintendent of Doddridge County schools. And we are, uh, you know, congratulations to you on your new job, uh, and, uh, going to work for rank one, uh, as an organization. And he's also coming on as one of our Renew partners. Most of you out there who are listening to us know that The Few is sponsored by Renew Transformational Strategies and, um, Adam's going to come on as a consultant and trainer and coach in our firm. And so we're looking forward to doing some work with him. And, uh, so I think, uh, we're about done with this one. You've got anything else you want to add, Adam?
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848you. No, I just, uh, appreciate the chance to chat with you guys and looking forward to this next journey, coming on board, uh, uh, with you, uh, with you all and seeing, uh, seeing what can be done,
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846Bill, you still with us?
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847I, I am audio wise. I don't know what happened to my
adam-cheeseman_1_05-17-2024_091848good still
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847Well, you know, I guess, you know, a blank screen that just is a reflection of what's going on in my mind. Maybe. I don't know. Uh,
dr--c--edward-rogers-jr-_1_05-17-2024_091846So, alright. Okay. So until next time, we hope that you are.
dr--bill-brown_1_05-17-2024_091847one of the few.