- What do you envision to be the pitfalls you might face as a first year principal, and how will you implement the strategies learned to overcome the pitfalls?
- One of the major pitfalls I would face as a first year principal is trying to do more with less without severely impacting the main purpose of my institution, which is educating students. In a time of shrinking budgets, overworked and under-appreciated teachers, and the political red tape, a principal has to be able to think outside of the box in order to get or maintain the basics needed to teach students. This job is definitely not a one-person show and any principal that thinks that he or she can run the building by themselves may need to rethink their career choice. Having a team of smart, hard-working individuals who can work together towards a common goal is essential in all aspects of running the building from creating and articulating the vision, to student learning, to managing the school, all while maintaining integrity and fairness. A principal needs to be as transparent as possible so that his or her team fully understands the scope of what needs to be dealt with, can look at the issues from all stakeholders' point of view, and then move forward in a planned and logical fashion.
- How has this course prepared you to use twenty-first century leadership skills as you model a new culture for collaborating, analyzing student performance, and continually reflecting on instructional practices, school climate, and quality decision-making?
- When I became a teacher, little did I know it would literally be a 24/7 job. When not in the classroom, you are thinking about the classroom. In the classroom, I only worried about what went on in my classroom and at times failed to see the bigger picture. Now that I am out of the classroom, I see teachers with the same mindset and I have come to realize that if we all do not work together and look out for each other, then we will never achieve any goals the schools have put forth. Running a school is definitely a collaborative effort and you need as many people as possible to make sure that learning is the top priority and that other things do not impact it. Teachers must also have conversations with each other. It is essential that they come together and discuss student achievement so that they are able to get a more well-rounded picture and can try the best approaches in order to make breakthroughs with students. Teaching is all about trial and error and it does not stop even when you think you got it. There is no end point...only ways to make it better. This is HARD WORK! Even those who do not require praise for every thing that they do need to hear a kind word or receive a token of appreciation. It does not take much to tell those who are burning the midnight oil for students thank you and that they are appreciated. Students need to be able to feel that the school will provide them with the same kind of encouragement and are here to support them. They need to know that every adult in the building wants what is best for them. Everyone needs to be able to voice their concerns and their possible solutions to issues they witness in order for all stakeholders to know that they have a voice. We all want our student to success in the 21st century and should be doing what is necessary to make sure that it happens. We are still responsible for what happens to any student who graduates and leaves this school building no matter how many years ago.
