A review of Handle With Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools With Dignity and Respect

by Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly

By Chris LeGrande, OASSP/OMLEA Executive Director

While searching for potential keynote speakers for the upcoming OASSP/OMLEA Leadership and Learning Conference in February, I was introduced to Joy Kelly. After reading her biographical information, I learned that in 2021 Joy had co-authored a book with Jimmy Casas, Handle With Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools With Dignity and Respect. Intrigued by what Joy could bring to the conference in her keynote presentation, I purchased a copy of the book and immediately became engrossed in its contents.

As a young, naive, and inexperienced administrator, I often found myself seeking to be understood rather than taking the time to understand the perspectives of my faculty, staff, and student body. Furthermore, the notion of delving into what was happening behind the scenes in their personal lives and beyond the cloth of their mere existence was just an afterthought. Policies and regulations were meant to be followed, and unconformity was met with stiff consequences. Oh, how I could have benefited from the wisdom and strategies imparted in Handle With Care!

In this eloquently written book, Jimmy and Joy provide an insightful and compassionate guide for school leaders, educators, and administrators on how to cultivate a culture of excellence by providing practical suggestions and ideas for creating a learning environment rooted in what is best for kids. Based on the pillars Championing Students, Expecting Excellence,

Carrying the Banner, and Being a Merchant of Hope, the authors emphasize the importance of fostering a culture of care, respect, and human connection within the school community.

At the heart of Handle With Care are four distinct themes. First is the premise of empathy and humancentered relationships

The authors stress the need for leaders to place relationships at the forefront of decision-making and advocate for school leaders to engage with staff, students, and families on a personal level, understanding their individual struggles and challenges. Listening, empathy, and compassion are mentioned as essential leadership qualities.

The second theme involves managing conflict with dignity. One of the book’s strengths is its practical advice on handling difficult situations. Jimmy and Joy encourage leaders to approach conflicts not with a mindset of punishment or control, but with a focus on finding solutions and maintaining an individual’s dignity. Readers are given strategies for de-escalating tense situations and fostering mutual respect.

Throughout the book, the authors offer real-life examples from their own experiences as school leaders. At the conclusion of each section in the book, Jimmy and Joy outline an “Eyes on Culture in Action” segment, thus validating the third theme of practical strategies. These mini case studies provide tools and frameworks that can be immediately applied in a school setting, such as how to have difficult conversations, how to address underperforming staff with respect, and how to manage student behavioral issues without compromising dignity.

The fourth and final theme concerns building a culture of care. The authors contend that a school’s culture is shaped by how its leaders respond to adversity. They advocate for proactive relationshipbuilding to create an environment where trust and respect are nonnegotiables. The idea of placing people first and valuing human connection over rigid enforcement of rules resonates throughout the text.

Handle With Care is an essential read for anyone in educational leadership who desires to build a more compassionate, human-centered school culture. Jimmy and Joy remind us that at the crux of every school are the people who make it run – staff, students, and families. By cultivating a culture of care and respect, school leaders can transform not just their schools, but their communities as well. ■

Chris LeGrande spent 29 years in Guthrie Public Schools, with the final 11 years serving as high school principal. During his time in school administration, he was named the OASSP 2020 High School Principal of the Year and recognized as the NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year in 2022.