Applying the Concepts of Unreasonable Hospitality to Educational Leadership

“If you explain the why along with the what, you’ll be surprised how many of these impossible ideas your team can bring to life.”

- Will Guidara, Author and Restaurateur

One morning, not long ago, Dr. Craig Hochbein opened his email to find a message from Bob Steckel ‘20 Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools for Whitehall-Coplay. A graduate of the COE’s Educational Leadership program, Steckel had recently read the national bestseller, Unreasonable Hospitality. As Steckel moved through the book, he saw applications to educational leadership and thought of Hochbein. “I kept thinking that this is the book you wished was written for your classes,”  Steckel told his colleague.

Broadly speaking, the book’s premise is that giving people more than they expect results in unimaginable success. The author, Will Guidara, is a restaurateur. But innovative leaders across disciplines have been reading and adopting the philosophy he recommends.

Intrigued, Hochbein picked up Unreasonable Hospitality and found himself nodding in agreement. “The seemingly extraordinary leadership feats of Will Guidara and his staff at Eleven Madison Park required thoughtful management and organization of finite resources,” he says.  The parallels to challenges faced by educational leaders were many, and not lost on Hochbein. Out of Steckel’s recommendation, an idea was born.

Hochbein decided to use the book to bring together COE faculty, students and educational leaders–along with educators who were considering enrollment in a graduate leadership program. “What if Educational Leadership hosted a series of events to talk about our program and the philosophy that sets us apart?” he pondered. “And what if these events were themselves examples of unreasonable hospitality?”

An enthusiast of fine dining, Hochbein immediately thought of hosting the gatherings at Bolete, a farm-to-table, James Beard Foundation-nominated restaurant located in Bethlehem, PA—a place that consistently gives visitors more than expected. Held this past June over four evenings, the Educational Leadership Supper and Book Club was a resounding success. Area educators, COE faculty, students and program alumni came together to network and discuss the parallels of Unreasonable Hospitality to the field of education, all while enjoying the unreasonable hospitality of a thoughtfully-prepared, gourmet meal.

For Lisa Dente, a reading specialist in the Bangor Area School District and doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program, the evening provided inspiration to prioritize the actions she can take to make people feel seen.

“I believe as educators and leaders in education we can inspire and empower our students, families and staff in order to achieve higher outcomes, both academically and socially.  If the school community feels as though they are truly a part of an organization that cares deeply about them and takes care of them, they will be engaged and actively participate in their schools.”

- Lisa Dente, Reading Specialist, Bangor Area School District, Educational Leadership Doctoral Student and Supper and Book Club Participant

In her position as a curriculum director in the Southern Lehigh School District, Tamara Solometo is always looking for professional networking opportunities to build connections with her peers and  to discuss the issues school leaders face–a sentiment expressed by a number of the Supper and Book Club participants.  “I am hopeful that I can stay in contact with these incredible thought leaders, and hear more about how they are implementing the main tenets of the book in their own districts,” she says.

In Unreasonable Hospitality, author Will Guidara states, "More often than not, what's best for the restaurant will include doing what's best for you, but the only way I can take care of all of you as individuals is by always putting the restaurant first."  Educational leaders, like those attending this event, embody this philosophy. Zeanab Ali-Warmkessel, an educator at Hiram W. Dodd Elementary School shares, “We always base our decisions around this question–’Is this decision in the best interests of our students?’”

Participants were energized by the food, their dinner companions, and discussion of the book, Unreasonable Hospitality–including Steven V. Willis, Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer for Norristown Area School District.

“I’m thankful for the modeling of being unreasonable and look forward to bringing this into my work and personal life.”

- Steven V. Willis, Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer for Norristown Area School District, Educational Leadership Doctoral Student and Supper and Book Club Participant

As Hochbein reflects on feedback he has received from participants, he is also looking to the future. He hopes to expand on the Supper and Book Club concept and is looking for ways to incorporate Unreasonable Hospitality and other innovative leadership texts in future formal and informal conversations.

To learn more about the COE’s Educational Leadership program, please visit the EDL webpage.