Page 24 - Inspire Health November/December 2014
P. 24
QUALITIES OF leadershipIf all great leaders have a tragic flaw, then Superintendent John
Reinhart’s flaw is his love of scrapple. The Easton Area School
Superintendent, John Reinhart District leader, who grew up enjoying many local delicacies,
Photo courtesy of Easton Hospital. may have eaten one slice too many last January at breakfast. It
seemed to have triggered a gallbladder attack.
24 INSPIRE HEALTH November § December 2014 For four days, he endured the indigestion-style pain. Finally,
his wife drove him to the Easton Hospital Emergency Room
where he was diagnosed with an inflammation of the gallbladder
and pancreas.
The news wasn’t unexpected. Years ago Reinhart’s physician,
Dr. Stanley Walker, diagnosed the existence of gallstones. “I was
told they might trouble me later on,” he says. “I watched my diet
to a degree but mostly ate without my gallbladder in mind.”
He needed his gallbladder removed, but only after the
pancreatitis was under control. For the next several days he was
at the hospital… his first stay in a hospital as an adult.
“The mystery and anxiety that created was palpable,” he says.
“I didn’t know how I’d even stay in bed that long.”
HARD WORK
Reinhart is a worker. He’s had a career in education spanning
43 years. He lined up his first job by October of his senior year
in college. Where? At Wolf Elementary in Easton. The Bangor
native stayed in the Easton district for 15 years as a teacher.
He then moved into leadership roles in the Bangor
district: Elementary Principal, High School Principal, Assistant
Superintendent and then Superintendent. That career arc
covered 28 years.
He retired in 2010. “But I failed at it,” Reinhart says. “I wasn’t
ready to do it. I missed school too much.”
So he returned to work as Bangor Area High School
principal and then to Easton as interim and, later, permanent
Superintendent. After three months into this new role, though,
he was missing work as he sat in his hospital bed.
“I wanted to get back to work,” he says. “I had my head in
other issues, not on laparoscopic surgery.”
Reinhart met several times with surgeon Robert Bloch, MD,
a member of the medical staff at Easton Hospital. “He was very
confident,” Reinhart says. “All the staff helped put me at ease.
They treated me well and gave me lots of attention.”
His minimally invasive surgery went well. And his recovery
seemed speedy.
“I was told to get up and walk around as I was able,” he says.
“A few hours after surgery, I had done six laps on the floor. By
evening, I had completed a couple dozen.”
It had been a week since his trip to the ER to when he was
back at work. “I was surprised at how quickly I was back to my
normal routine,” he says. “I think it was in part due to the care I
received and the skill of the doctor.”
“There were other people on my floor in more difficult
situations, but I was still treated like a guest at a hotel,” Reinhart
says. “My comfort was their highest regard.”
DETERMINATION
If the care was one factor in his recovery, another was
his own determination. Reinhart has the first few chapters of
his dissertation written on leadership. “I find the subject of
leadership fascinating,” he says. “Great leaders demonstrate the
same essential qualities.”
Surrounding his desk are portraits of Abraham Lincoln and
Martin Luther King, Jr. “Honesty, authenticity, patience and
trustworthiness are some of those qualities,” he says. “And they
are not acquired through textbooks.”
“I’ve made many mistakes, but you learn from them and help
others to avoid them,” he says. Then he recognizes an irony.
“I’ve been scrapple-free for over five months, but I’m starting to
feel hungry for it again.”
Some flaws, even in great leaders, are unavoidable.
Reinhart’s flaw is his love of scrapple. The Easton Area School
Superintendent, John Reinhart District leader, who grew up enjoying many local delicacies,
Photo courtesy of Easton Hospital. may have eaten one slice too many last January at breakfast. It
seemed to have triggered a gallbladder attack.
24 INSPIRE HEALTH November § December 2014 For four days, he endured the indigestion-style pain. Finally,
his wife drove him to the Easton Hospital Emergency Room
where he was diagnosed with an inflammation of the gallbladder
and pancreas.
The news wasn’t unexpected. Years ago Reinhart’s physician,
Dr. Stanley Walker, diagnosed the existence of gallstones. “I was
told they might trouble me later on,” he says. “I watched my diet
to a degree but mostly ate without my gallbladder in mind.”
He needed his gallbladder removed, but only after the
pancreatitis was under control. For the next several days he was
at the hospital… his first stay in a hospital as an adult.
“The mystery and anxiety that created was palpable,” he says.
“I didn’t know how I’d even stay in bed that long.”
HARD WORK
Reinhart is a worker. He’s had a career in education spanning
43 years. He lined up his first job by October of his senior year
in college. Where? At Wolf Elementary in Easton. The Bangor
native stayed in the Easton district for 15 years as a teacher.
He then moved into leadership roles in the Bangor
district: Elementary Principal, High School Principal, Assistant
Superintendent and then Superintendent. That career arc
covered 28 years.
He retired in 2010. “But I failed at it,” Reinhart says. “I wasn’t
ready to do it. I missed school too much.”
So he returned to work as Bangor Area High School
principal and then to Easton as interim and, later, permanent
Superintendent. After three months into this new role, though,
he was missing work as he sat in his hospital bed.
“I wanted to get back to work,” he says. “I had my head in
other issues, not on laparoscopic surgery.”
Reinhart met several times with surgeon Robert Bloch, MD,
a member of the medical staff at Easton Hospital. “He was very
confident,” Reinhart says. “All the staff helped put me at ease.
They treated me well and gave me lots of attention.”
His minimally invasive surgery went well. And his recovery
seemed speedy.
“I was told to get up and walk around as I was able,” he says.
“A few hours after surgery, I had done six laps on the floor. By
evening, I had completed a couple dozen.”
It had been a week since his trip to the ER to when he was
back at work. “I was surprised at how quickly I was back to my
normal routine,” he says. “I think it was in part due to the care I
received and the skill of the doctor.”
“There were other people on my floor in more difficult
situations, but I was still treated like a guest at a hotel,” Reinhart
says. “My comfort was their highest regard.”
DETERMINATION
If the care was one factor in his recovery, another was
his own determination. Reinhart has the first few chapters of
his dissertation written on leadership. “I find the subject of
leadership fascinating,” he says. “Great leaders demonstrate the
same essential qualities.”
Surrounding his desk are portraits of Abraham Lincoln and
Martin Luther King, Jr. “Honesty, authenticity, patience and
trustworthiness are some of those qualities,” he says. “And they
are not acquired through textbooks.”
“I’ve made many mistakes, but you learn from them and help
others to avoid them,” he says. Then he recognizes an irony.
“I’ve been scrapple-free for over five months, but I’m starting to
feel hungry for it again.”
Some flaws, even in great leaders, are unavoidable.
