Picture this: a school where the principal isn’t confined to an office but is instead a mobile force of energy, zipping around the campus on a cart that doubles as a desk.
Welcome to the world of Jared Lamb, the forward-thinking head of BASIS Baton Rouge Mattera Charter School in Louisiana.
Last year, he decided to shake things up by trading his traditional office space for a cart on wheels, and he’s been documenting the whole experience on social media.
“How am I supporting teachers and students if I’m sitting behind a desk all day?” Lamb poses this question in a TikTok video that has since gone viral.
“I spend my days rolling the hallways, rolling into classrooms and providing what I like to call ‘teacher customer service.'”
But wait, there’s more!
In a follow-up video, Lamb delves deeper into the benefits of his unique approach.
His old office?
It’s been transformed into a conference room where staff can gather for meetings.
“My number one job as an administrator is supporting educators and making sure our campus is a place where they want to stay long term,” he explains in an interview with TODAY.com.
“Having a mobile office increases my availability and lets me be more hands-on.”
So, what does a typical day look like for this roving principal?
Lamb starts his mornings by doing rounds, checking in on teachers and students alike.
“I’m just making sure everyone’s okay and seeing how I can assist. Do they need an emergency restroom break? Can I help with some photocopies? Sometimes it’s the small things that can make a big difference,” he shares.
The reason behind Lamb’s unconventional method is deeply rooted in a concerning national trend: teachers are leaving the profession in droves.
Stephanie Gosk, an NBC News correspondent, reported alarming statistics.
Both Maryland and Louisiana have seen the highest number of teacher resignations in a decade.
In Washington State, the numbers are even more grim, marking the highest turnover in three decades.
However, Lamb’s school stands as a beacon of hope amid this crisis.
“We had a 90% teacher retention rate from last year to this year,” he proudly announces.
It seems that his hands-on approach might be making a real difference.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—Lamb’s mobile office concept has its share of critics.
He’s well aware of the mixed reactions his TikTok videos have garnered.
One skeptical commenter noted, “Something tells me that this would make your staff 10 times more anxious than they already are. Teachers are already micromanaged enough. Probably best to just let them do their job without the principal pacing the hallways.”
A retired teacher didn’t mince words either, labeling the rolling cart as “bull—-.”
They argued that real support for teachers involves more traditional methods.
“This is NOT how you support teachers. Walk through the school, pop in to classes for a few minutes to see what’s really going on, have an open door policy that’s communicated to the staff, make them comfortable talking to you & hear/consider what they say. The cart doesn’t serve a purpose; it’s just show,” they wrote.
Despite the naysayers, Lamb remains steadfast in his belief that his approach is beneficial—at least for his school.
“I’m not saying my style is the best out there, but it’s had a positive impact at my school,” he counters.
“The majority of the feedback has been more positive than negative.”
He even received praise on Instagram, where one person commented, “Visibility is key to being a leader. I love that you’re changing the culture of your school.”
So, how physically demanding is it to be a principal-on-wheels?
Lamb clocks an astonishing 15,000 steps each day and hands out approximately 2,000 high-fives and fist bumps.
“I’m building a connection with the students,” he emphasizes.
“For me, the most valuable work is being present, both with students and teachers. Traditional offices just set up physical barriers that I’m happy to have broken down.”
Hear Principal Lamb explain his reasoning for yourself in the video below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
@principal_lamb I spent the entire school year without an office. And here’s why it was the best decision. #principalsoftiktok #teachersoftiktok #educatorsoftiktok #batonrouge ♬ original sound – Mr.Lamb
