Ok, so the contract hasn't arrived in the mail yet and I haven't turned in my letter of resignation for my current job, but I was recently offered the position and I accepted. I'll officially start July 1st, but in my head I'm already the administrator and I love saying that over and over as I drive to my soon to be "old" job. As people hear the news, the reactions are varied. There are those folks who are truly happy for me because they know I have been working hard for this. There are other folks who are also happy, but I'm guessing more so for themselves, because I am finallly leaving. And there are others who think I am crazy to even want to be an administrator.
So, am I crazy? I can't tell because I'm still on a high from making it through the interview process, to being offered the position and then to responding with my acceptance. Did I mention that I'm finally an administrator?
I do know this. I am savoring and enjoying every one of these days with all the attention and the excitement around the change in my career. I don't want to forget this time in my life when I finally achieved something I have been working on for the last few years. I don't want to lose this feeling of pride that I have about being an administrator. I have been given a challenging opportunity and I can't wait to start.
I know I'm going to have tough days, lonely days, want to start drinking heavily before noon days. But I also know that there will be good moments, great connections and those 'aha' moments with staff and students when things are clicking and we are moving forward.
I'm finally an administrator. Crazy or not, here I come.
You're a little bit crazy. But you'll love it! Congrats and good luck.
Posted by: Scott Elias | March 29, 2007 at 08:29 AM
When I told a group of my colleagues that I was taking school admin courses, one of them replied, "Oh, you want to become one of THEM."
Others were a lot more supportive. Congratulations on getting your first admin job; I'm looking forward to that day.
Posted by: Rick | March 29, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Congrats, and welcome to the club! The only advice I want to give you as you start your new journey is to learn and understand as much about the history of the school as you can. This will help you to understand why certain policies and procedures are in place before you feel the need to make big changes.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Dave Sherman | March 29, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Reggie;
Congratulations! Getting the position is a wonderful step. I invite you to use this opportunity to begin the "leaders journey". There is a difference between being an administrator and being a leader. In this difference is the key to the future of our children's education.
In gratitude for your service to children,
pete
Posted by: pete reilly | March 30, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Congrats! It's great to hear such enthusiasm about embarking on your journey as an administrative leader.
Don't be discouraged by people who take an us v. them attitude toward administrators. Much of that comes from experiences that you didn't foster. My own mother, who was a teacher for 35 years, never thought she would meet an administrator she could ever trust. When I moved into administration a few years after her death, I knew she was just spinning in her grave!
In my school community our leadership team strives to always remember that we are support staff to the classroom teachers and the classroom experience. Our job is make sure that they can do the work they need to do in the best way they can. When folks start to think in us v. them terms it's a reminder that we haven't been making sure that there is a deep and clear connection between what we do as administrators and how it supports the student in the classroom.
Have a great leadership journey!
Posted by: Shawna Martin | March 30, 2007 at 12:17 PM