Doug Webb

Does Anybody Like You?

At a basketball game, Doug's son Ryan watched parents approach his dad with concerns about their kids not making teams or getting opportunities. Young Ryan turned to his father and asked, simply, 'Dad, does anybody like you?' Doug used the moment as a teaching opportunity. He explained: in a school of 1,800 students, only five from each grade would start. Every student is awesome and equal — they just are. But the system can't give every student every opportunity, and absorbing that gap between what students deserve and what systems can provide is one of the hidden burdens of school leadership.