Be Humble & Kind

One of my favorite country singers, Tim McGraw, sings a song titled “Always Be Humble & Kind.” These words of encouragement and direction for how to navigate life are so true. Over the past 28 years for me in education and 49 years in life, I have seen countless times where pride and hatred (the direct opposite of Humble & Kind) destroy great people and great communities. Being humble and kind cost nothing. Being humble is simply stepping back and promoting others when you have every right to take the credit for it all. Being kind is choosing to do good to others even when they haven’t done good to you.

I’m in the process of writing a second book and the title of the book is “Life Lessons”. In the book I compile several lessons we have probably all seen, heard, or observed at some point in our lives. I share some of my personal experiences and life journey in hopes to encourage and lift others up along the way. God has been forever faithful to me and my family all of our lives. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is to be humble and kind. It goes so much farther than the opposite. We can all do this. We can all choose humility and kindness over pride and hatred. And when we do, we make the world a better place.

When you combine these two superpowers, it’s hard to beat them. It yields an even greater result which is love. Love conquers all. What does this mean? It doesn’t mean we can’t be firm or direct. It doesn’t mean we can’t stand up for what we believe in and even disagree. But it does mean that it completely matters HOW we do all of it. When people have a humble spirit and an attitude of kindness, it almost always melts away the vile intentions or efforts of others. Give credit to others even when they may not deserve it. Be kind to others even when they haven’t been kind to you. It’s a life worth living.

Moms Are Special

For many years we have held a running joke in our family about which son, there are three of us, mom loves the most! Well, I am the middle son and the oldest and I are convinced that it is the baby brother without question, ha! Regardless, every time any of the three sons are with mom, we hold up the #1 sign because at that moment, we are her favorite! And I can tell you it’s true. Whoever she is with is her #1.

Mothers are very special! In fact, without them, none of us would be here, period! No debates here, fact. I’ve watched and learned over the years that one of the strongest forms and exhibitions of love on this planet comes from a mother. They give birth, they carry pain, they endure, they live, laugh, and love like no one else.

Why is this so important to remember? On days when we feel like we don’t know what to do, who do we usually pick up the phone and call? On days we just need to hear a kind word, who do we call? And on days when we need to be reminded that we are unconditionally loved, who do we think about?

Well for me for the past 49 years, it has been my amazing mother. Mom has been there all along. She has always answered the phone, prayed, cried, and loved me through it all! And so today leaders, even though it’s not Mother’s Day, stop and reflect on your mother. Give her a call and tell her much you love and appreciate her for being there. And then in your best efforts try to share that level of love with those around you. If we all did, the world would be a better place because of the love of a mother.

God bless you leaders as you lead with heart and soul.

Do the hard things!

Happy new year to everyone as we welcome 2026! I think this statement is a great way to welcome in the new year, don’t you? WOW! I think we can all say that 2025 was filled with highs, lows, ups and downs, and probably a few hard things to achieve. As I reflect on 2025, I am both amazed and deeply reflective on all the things that occurred during this year. I had a son graduate from high school, another start his junior year, and the “baby” start his 7th grade year. I am so proud of all three of these boys and so thankful they are like their mother (lol)! God has been so faithful and so good to the Collum family and I am beyond excited to see what 2026 holds for us and YOU!.

Some of my proudest moments as a dad include looking back and watching my boys “do the hard things”. Each one of them has grown and matured so much over the past year. So what do I mean by doing the hard things? Well, we can all agree, and data would support, that one of the hardest things to do for people anywhere is the act of public speaking. I’ve seen a survey that shows the top two fears of most humans is 1. Public speaking and 2. Dying. So, in some cases we are more afraid of speaking at an our funeral than actually dying. Ha, just a perspective. But I have seen so many times over the years people tremble in fear at even the thought of having to speak in front of a group of other peers in any setting. This is still amazing to me, but it is so true. I still get butterflies every time I have to stand and speak no matter how small or large the group. It just happens!

So, why am I such a proud dad about this concept? Well, over the past few years I have watched all three of my sons tackle this challenge with humility, dignity, and grace. Each of them in different settings, but with sincerity and confidence. And I must say I am so proud. I will start with the oldest, Caleb, and share that on a mission trip after he graduated from high school this past May, He and I took a trip down to Panama with a friend and spent the night on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. The sights and the experiences themselves were amazing, but on the morning of our departure the entire village filled with kids was assembled together and he was asked to speak and share his testimony. He wasn’t given an hour, a day, or a week to prepare. No, he was given about 5 whole minutes. And wow, did he do awesome! He was nervous I could tell, but as he stood and began to speak his confidence grew exponentially and by the end I was in tears. I was so proud of him for stepping up and sharing his faith with an entire village and I know that God, his Heavenly Father, and both of his grandpas looking down from heaven were all very proud of him too.

Next, was Elijah. Now Elijah is probably the one of the three that hates to speak in public the most. He just doesn’t like it at all. But, he laid down his fears, his worries, and his lack of desire and let the Lord use him to speak at a K-Life banquet to inspire other students and adults about His walk with the Lord too and how instrumental K-Life has been to him as a young man. It was also very inspiring and another “proud dad” moment. Now finally my youngest. Wow, if you know anything about Causey, then you know he is not really afraid of much, and especially public speaking. Ha! But, his moment to shine was in front of almost 1400 adults and he did amazing! He spoke at the end of a back to school convocation event for a group of teachers and encouraged them and told them how much they were truly loved and appreciated for the work they do every day. I couldn’t have done it any better myself. In fact, I let him finish the event and he garnered a standing ovation. I am so proud of him and all three of these boys for tackling the hard things and doing them well with humility, grace, and courage. Attached are a few images from these events I just had to share.

So in closing, I encourage us all to do the hard things. Take time in 2026 to ask yourself what did I avoid in 2025 that I will not avoid this year? Be brave, be courageous and tackle those hard things. You can do it. Happy new year!

Lead well and be brave!

Dr. Collum

Who do you work for?

I think that most of us would immediately say whatever company, employer, or organization right of the top of our heads, right? Well, that’s true but the real question is who do you really work for and why? I challenge us all to think about the answer to this question a little deeper. Do you work for yourself, your goals, your desires, your ambitions? Do you work for your family and making things better for them? Or do you work as unto the Lord? Whoa! Now there’s a thought. I’ve always wondered about this and to put it into context let’s examine the scripture verse in Colossians 3:23. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance.”

Now I firmly believe this means to do everything you do with excellence as unto the Lord without question, but it would also mean to respect, honor, and obey the rules of any organization that you represent. This is an internal issue. I think the question we really need to examine is if your work was never praised, noticed, or seen by anyone else would you still do it with all of your heart and give it 100% effort. That’s a tough one! We all love to receive words of praise and affirmation, especially when we know we’ve worked hard and done a good job. But in reality that’s not why we should do what we do. I think when we take this approach it can actually relieve this burden we have to be praised by others, because essentially waiting on that praise can create a roller coaster ride at times.

So, my challenge and encouragement to us all is do what you do with excellence as unto the Lord and let the results speak for themselves. Quality work will always leave a trail of success. Like a tree that is planted, some may never see it at its fullest potential or growth, but it still grows over the years. Remember, one plants, one waters, but God gives the increase. Just do your part whether you are planting or watering. The tree belongs to God.

God bless you as you lead well!

Sincerely,

Dr. Collum

O.D.A.A.T. (One day at a time)

Leaders,

As we prepare to close out another year and evaluate our experiences over the past 365 days, it’s important to stop and reflect on the year. It’s hard to believe that another full year has almost passed and that 2026 is just around the corner. One thing I’ve learned over the past six months is to stop and smell the roses. Take each day on its own. We are so busy in life. We can get so overwhelmed in our daily routines, schedules, meetings, etc.

It is very important to take one day at a time. We can’t worry about tomorrow and yesterday is gone. So, as we prepare to start a new year with new hopes, dreams, ideas, goals, and plans for the future take the time to soak it all in and next year I encourage you to take one step and one day at a time. There is true value in moving slowly through the crowd. You just might be amazed at what you see and experience along the way. I pray that you all have an amazing new year and that 2026 is your best year yet! God bless you and lead well!

Lead well!

Dr. Collum

The leadership success cycle

Leaders,

As we near the end of another year and prepare for great things ahead in the year 2026, take some time and reflect on the successes you’ve had this past year. Even through the trials and tribulations of 2025, you have been successful. How do I know? You are awake, alive, and able to read this today. Welcome to a success!

I want to reiterate something I heard this week on Dr. Rob Gilbert’s Success hotline (I highly recommend you call and just listen @ #973-743-4690) that inspired me to reflect called the “Success Cycle”. I cannot take credit for this but feel compelled to pass it along to others. So it is very simple and goes like this:

Imagine a clock on a wall that you are facing with the numbers of 12, 3, 6, and 9 standing out as you look at the clock. At the top of the clock at the “12” place the statement “The harder you work.” Now look over to the “3” and place the statement “The better you feel.” Keep going down to the “6” and place the statement, “The harder you work the more success you see.” And finally over to the “9” and place the statement, “The more success you see, the harder you continue to work.” This describes a cycle of success and positive energy yielding positive results, right? Sure it is.

I think sometimes we are guilty, at least I am, of waiting on something positive to happen in order for us to start feeling good about ourselves whether personally or professionally. You see, we have to be our own engine starters. We have to generate our own positive energy and create our own positive outcomes. If you are waiting for Superman (A great book by John Evans) you may be waiting a long time.

Be yourself and use your skills that you have been blessed with, you don’t have to wait for others. Put your cape on and start flying! We are responsible for our outcomes and our attitudes. Stop and say that to yourself right now, “I am responsible for my attitude and my outcomes, no one else.” Let that sink in and begin to take control of your life and your purpose. So fly high today and own your success stories!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeff Collum

Leadership patterns & Behaviors

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

The leadership routines and patterns we develop today will help us lead the way tomorrow. We hear it all the time, right? This statement leads me to think about daily routines. What do we do every day as individuals that sets our patterns and behaviors? The question I think worth exploring more is, “Are the patterns and behaviors we currently have in place worth rinsing, washing, and repeating?” It’s a worthy and even very important question to consider.

Let’s consider the “3-3-3 Rule”. It takes 3 days to overcome initial resistance, 3 weeks to build consistency or a routine, and 3 months to develop automatic identity. I wouldn’t say this is a perfect science, but it’s pretty close. I’ve also heard it said that if you can do something for 30 days it will become part of your permanent routine in life. So, with these thoughts in mind, let’s ask ourselves the question are the habits, patterns, and behaviors we have as leaders and individuals worth “rinsing, washing, and repeating?” Let’s aim to say yes! And if the answer is no, then we can always stop and put the washer on spin cycle! (lol). My way of saying, hit the reset button if you need to, it’s ok!

Leaders, be encouraged. The jobs you do every day call for so much intelligence, emotional commitment, thoughtfulness, and response to so many people and decisions. You can do it, just remember to take time and reflect on how to best take care of yourselves and develop those healthy habits along the way.

Lead well.

Dr. Collum

Choose Your Mission

Leaders, 

We’ve heard it said that “Membership has its privileges”.  Well, in some cases this is true, maybe not all. We’ve also heard it said that “Leadership comes with a cost”.  Well, I would contend in all cases this is true!  If you study leadership over the years and if you read about some of the greatest leaders in our history, they were chosen and, in some cases, even thrust into leadership situations where they had to “sink or swim.”  This is part of leadership.  It comes with responsibility, oversight, accountability, and the power to choose the mission.  

I personally believe there is leadership potential in every individual.  I believe we are all leading someone, even if that someone is just ourselves.  As I look back over the years and evaluate the times I’ve been either “thrust” into a leadership challenge or maybe even chose that challenge, I can see that in every situation, there’s a choice.  The choice is simple.  In true Mission Impossible style, “Will you accept the mission?”  Will you RISE to the challenge.  I expound on this concept further in my book which is coming out soon.  And a point I want to drive home here is that even if you don’t choose every mission, it doesn’t mean you’re not a leader. It could simply mean, that wasn’t the mission for you.  

God bless and lead well! 

 Dr. Jeff Collum 

Leaders R.I.S.E. - The Meaning of the book.

I was standing in a leadership team meeting one day preparing to review my part of the agenda for approximately 25 district leaders.  As I glanced at the outline, it hit me pretty hard that day for some reason, we needed to have more talks about what matter the most, why we do what we do, not just what we do.

As I began to contemplate how we could integrate more leadership talks into our meetings, a quote I had heard for years popped into my head, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  Again, not to be cliche but this is so true.  It really does.  This statement paired with the idea that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it are at the core of my beliefs as a leader. 

Now let me be very clear,  this does not mean I have mastered any of these concepts at all, in fact, absolutely not.  But the challenge of being a leader never ends and we are all one step or breath away from our next leadership challenge which simply means we have to reflect on these ideas daily.  Thus the meaning of “Leaders R.I.S.E” originated from the idea of needing a routine daily that challenged me to do the small things and lead well by design and routine. 

R.I.S.E.  - Reflect.  Inspire.  Spiritually Connect. Empower. 

This is the acronym spelled out. I expound on each word and concept deeper in my book, but I want to mention here how important it is to have some type of daily routine that you do as a leader that sets your day up for success.  This just happens to be mine. 

Reflect on the day or days before and ask yourself a few simple questions.  What did I do well and what did I do not so well.  How did certain conversations go?  How did I make a certain person or group of people feel?  Was I on time?  Did I give it my all?  These are just some simple examples of how you can reflect on the day and days prior. 

Inspire yourself and others.  Find something in your routine that inspires you.  It could be music, art, a sunrise, a strong cup of coffee (ha).  Whatever it takes to inspire you to move forward, find that thing and embrace those moments.  Then carry that inspiration with you throughout the day and don’t hesitate to share.  Inspiration moves people forward sometimes both mentally and physically!

Spiritually connect.  Some people may hang up on this idea, but don’t let it pass without giving it strong consideration.  I think it is the most important one of them all.  Being spiritually connected to something that is greater than you, us, your problems, and even the entire universe can put things into perspective.  My spiritual connection is to God plain and simple.  Whatever I can do to find a way to connect to Him, I seek that moment or moments each day.  Whether it’s reading the Bible, praying, just listening, or all of the above, I try to find time and quiet my soul and connect spiritually.

And finally….Empower.  Leaders who cannot empower themselves cannot empower others or their teams.  I think this is an area that all leaders should focus on.  This can look a lot of different ways for a lot of people.  This could be done through eating right, exercising, invoking a positive mental attitude, breathing exercises, saying positive quotes out loud, exercising mental and physical discipline, etc.  These are just examples of things we can do every day to empower ourselves first in order to empower those around us. 

So, RISE and shine and have an excellent day as a leader.  You can do it!  Your team and our most precious commodity, the students, are counting on you!

God bless! 

Lead well.

Jeff Collum, Ed.D. 

Why True Leaders R.I.S.E. to the Mission

Leaders, 

We’ve heard it said that “Membership has its privileges”.  Well, in some cases this is true, maybe not all. We’ve also heard it said that “Leadership comes with a cost such as making difficult decisions that negatively affect others, being misunderstood, and sacrificing personal desires for the good of the group. The “cost” is a willingness to endure loneliness, exhaustion, and a loss of personal agendas for the sake of the team’s mission. Well, I would contend in all cases this is definitely true!  

If you study leadership over the years and if you read about some of the greatest leaders in our history, they were chosen and in some cases even thrust into leadership situations where they had to “sink or swim.”  This is part of leadership.  It comes with responsibility, oversight, accountability, and the power to choose the mission.  

I personally believe there is leadership potential in every individual.  I believe we are all leading someone, even if that someone is just ourselves.  As I look back over the years and evaluate the times I’ve been either “thrust” into a leadership challenge or maybe even chose that challenge, I can see that in every situation, there’s a choice.  

The choice is simple.  In true Mission Impossible style, “Will you accept the mission?”  Will you RISE to the challenge.  I expound on this concept further in my book which is coming out soon.  And a point I want to drive home here is that even if you don’t chose every mission, it doesn’t mean you're not a leader. It could simply mean, that wasn’t the mission for you.  

Leaders R.I.S.E.

God bless and lead well! 

Jeff Collum, Ed.D.  

Putting Safety First, City-wide Crisis Drill

School safety is something I care deeply about—it’s at the heart of everything we do here in Conway School District. This August, we held our second annual city-wide crisis drill, bringing together our district staff, local emergency responders, city officials, and many others, all focused on one goal: making sure we’re ready to keep our schools safe in any situation.

This drill is a big deal for us. It gives our staff hands-on experience, working through the steps of a crisis plan, so that if a real emergency were ever to happen, we’d know exactly what to do. Although students weren’t involved, our staff took it seriously, practicing everything from lockdowns to communication plans. Watching everyone work together—our team members side-by-side with police, fire, and other first responders—was powerful and reminded me why this drill is so important.

One of the best parts of doing these drills each year is the chance to learn and improve. After the drill, we all came together to talk about what worked and what didn’t, making notes on how we can get even better next time. Safety isn’t just about running a drill once and moving on; it’s about constantly looking for ways to improve, so we’re as prepared as we can be.

I’m proud of everyone involved in making this drill happen, from our dedicated staff to the amazing first responders who show up every day ready to protect and serve. This drill wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and commitment of so many people, and I’m grateful for each one of them.

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to keep everyone in our schools safe. That’s a commitment I’m passionate about, and we’ll keep holding these drills every year to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make that happen.

National School Safety Podcast

I am thrilled to share a recent highlight that Mr. Jason Black and I had the privilege of being a part of. We were invited to participate in a National School Safety Podcast hosted by the REMS Data Center from the US Department of Education.

In our conversation, Mr. Black and I delved into the launch and no implementation of the Statewide School Safety Site Assessment toolkit, proudly sponsored by the US Department of Education. This innovative toolkit is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of our school campuses.

The recognition we've received for our work on this project, particularly in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Institute and Dr. Cheryl May, has been truly humbling. Nationally acknowledged as leaders in school safety initiatives and efforts, Mr. Black and I have also been invited by the REMS Data Center to serve as subject matter experts in this crucial field.

We are humbled and honored to serve in this effort and all other endeavors. The safety and well-being of our staff and students are a top priority!

The Statewide School Safety Site Assessment toolkit, an app designed to allow individuals to input and share data, serves as a valuable resource for successfully evaluating campuses with a safety perspective in mind. For those interested in learning more about the REMS Data Center, please visit rems.ed.gov.

Safety Podcast

To dive into the insights shared during the National School Safety Podcast featuring Mr. Black and I, click this link or the above button to access Part 2 of Series #9 on Conducting Assessments to Enhance Emergency Management. For additional episodes of the National School Safety Podcast, visit https://rems.ed.gov/podcast.

Jeff S. Collum, Ed.D.

Honored to Serve as a Subject Matter Expert for the REMS TA Center

I’ve been approved to serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, through the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center. This is an incredibly meaningful role and one I don’t take lightly. To give a bit of context, there are only around 100 REMS SMEs nationwide, and I am honored to be one of just two SMEs in the state of Arkansas. Being part of such a select group brings a deep sense of responsibility and an exciting opportunity to help make a positive impact on the safety and preparedness of schools in Arkansas and across the country.

The REMS TA Center plays a crucial role in helping educational institutions plan for and respond to a variety of potential emergencies, from natural disasters to public health crises and everything in between. As an SME, my work will complement the REMS TA Center’s mission by lending my experience and insights to a range of projects designed to support schools’ safety and emergency readiness. Here’s a look at some of the ways I’ll be involved:

Supporting Training Delivery

One of my primary responsibilities will be supporting the REMS TA Center’s training efforts. By providing live training sessions, I can work directly with schools and districts to help them enhance their emergency preparedness, whether it’s through workshops, hands-on training exercises, or scenario-based discussions. Schools today face complex safety challenges, and effective training is a cornerstone of resilience. I’m honored to contribute to this essential work, guiding school leaders, teachers, and support staff as they build safer, more prepared learning environments.

Developing Products and Resources

Alongside the training, I will assist in developing resources that the REMS TA Center provides to educators, administrators, and emergency response teams. These resources—whether they are toolkits, guides, checklists, or templates—are designed to give schools the actionable tools they need to plan for emergencies. As we develop these products, I’ll be focusing on ensuring they address the real-world challenges that schools face every day, providing practical solutions and clear guidance.

Leading Webinars and Sharing Insights

Additionally, I will serve as a presenter in REMS TA Center webinars. This platform will allow me to connect with a broader audience, sharing key insights on safety trends, preparedness strategies, and best practices. Webinars are a fantastic way to foster a sense of community among school safety professionals, allowing us to discuss what’s working, what challenges remain, and where we can go from here. By sharing knowledge and discussing emerging needs, I hope to help schools navigate today’s safety landscape with confidence.

Consulting on Emerging Needs in School Safety

The field of school safety is constantly evolving. New challenges and needs are always emerging, and one of my roles as an SME will be to provide the REMS TA Center and the U.S. Department of Education with insights on these evolving dynamics. By keeping my finger on the pulse of school safety, I can help shape resources, strategies, and training that are responsive to the latest developments and risks.

Staying Connected and Available

To fulfill this role effectively, I’ll ensure my contact information remains current, so I’m always ready when the REMS TA Center calls upon me to support these tasks. I view this role as a partnership, one that requires continuous communication, adaptability, and a shared commitment to supporting our school communities.

Being chosen as a subject matter expert for the REMS TA Center is an honor, and I’m excited to bring my experience and perspective to this important work. Our schools are at the heart of every community, and their safety and preparedness are paramount. Together, with the REMS TA Center and educational leaders across the country, we can create environments where students and staff alike feel secure, supported, and ready to thrive.

Thank you to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and the REMS TA Center for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to contributing to our shared mission and making a positive impact on school safety nationwide.

Jeff S. Collum, Ed.D.

REMS TA CENTER

https://rems.ed.gov/