New Administrator

I am currently working in my first year as Principal and the school is a K-12 school with 225 students.  I am not new to the job of educational administration.  I worked as Vice-Principal for six years before accepting my new position as "top dog" (which is what most people refer to me as).  I find my job challenging, but I am truly missing teaching which is what brought me to the school in the first place.  I love children and everything about them.  I love their personalties, their energy, their intelligence, their enthusiasm, their needs and their sparkle, but most of all, I love it when they challenge me.  Not once did I dream of running a school, but here I am...  Of course I get to interact with many students each and every day, but it isn't quite the same.

I completed my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction last fall and now I am planning to pursue a PHD in Educational Leadership through the University of Calgary.  When I discuss my educational plans with anyone who will listen, they naturally assume my pursuit in education is because I want to move up the corporate ladder which really is not the reason.  I really love learning, and I want to share my love of learning.  I want to continue to grow and develop, for myself and for my children.

I have had a very difficult beginning to my new job because I lost my twenty-six year-old brother to suicide last July.  He lived just a few blocks away and he and my sixteen year-old son were very close.  We all were.  We miss him dearly.  I feel like I am just beginning to enjoy and to appreciate my students again the way that I did.  Perhaps that is not completely true, and I am finding it hard to express myself regarding my situation.  My grief was so intense that I felt disconnected, unengaged, and I was just continuing to do what I had always done in the school.  Everything has gone quite well, but it wasn't quite what I had imagined when I accepted the position last spring. I am so grateful for all of the support from family, friends, colleagues and students.

I was thinking that I should discuss some of my strongest beliefs and visions for education as I have worked through my first year as Principal.  Technology needs to be embraced and not feared.  I do feel strongly that educators need to make learning technology a priority.  Too many educators do not know how to text or to use social networking tools.  We need to understand all of these tools.  I had one teacher who was quite upset about cell phones in class last year, but over the summer this person learned how to text.  This altered her philosohpy.  We do need to set limits and rules with kids.  Kids need to understand that it is just simply rude behavior to have their cell phone go off when someone is speaking, just like adults.  I think it is OK for students to check their email when they are researching World War I.  Would we do it if we are in a workshop?  Probably,if there is a need.  We can tell them the same thing.  If they are expecting someone to send them part of a group project, fine.  If they are talking about who is driving to the party, then no.  Suspend their access if needed, but we do need to become technologically literate.  It should not be an option; school divisions should send all of their educators to learn - no choice.  Professional development must be expected and not just in the tech department.

Another issue which I am struggling with is student attendance.  I think that once a student turns sixteen, we should not suspend or give consequences to students who do not come to class.  They, either with or without parental involvement, should be able to make that choice.  Anytime adults force students to attend, I believe that there is not much learning taking place.  Older teenagers need to realize that education is a right, but it is not to be abused.  It is a right and so it is their responsibility to either appreciate and embrace education or opt out and accept the consequences which is likely failure.  They can come back next year and try again if they so choose.  There are too many parents who allow their students to miss too much school by allowing them to be sick, to take a day off or to cover for them.  I am going to work on a policy for our school which would allow me to simply send attendance records home to parents which will make attendance the student and the parent's responsibility, not the school's.

Another burning issue I have is the way that our day is structured.  We try to jam everything into five instructional hours.  I just cannot understand this.  Most of our middle years' and high school students leave the school and they are out on their own from 3:30 until 5:00 or later.  I believe that almost of all of them would stay to hang out if they could.  They want to be working/playing on the computers, playing in the gym, playing ping-pong, relaxing in the library...  Instead, we fight to get them there, usually in the morning, and then we kick them out after school.  I would love to create a whole new type of stuctured day, and I have spent many hours thinking about it.  I am thinking that I will work on it over the next few months once I get a few people in my corner... 

Comments

[Charlie A. Roy]

Love the post. I'm also new to the world of administration and miss teaching. In a past principal position I've assigned myself a teaching duty for one hour of the day. Needless to say it became my favorite part of each day.

I like your thoughts on after school activities. We are contemplating adding intramural sports after school and some other activities like a student run tv station. Editing software is cheap and newscasts can be published right to youtube and shown over our closed circuit system.

I'll put your brother in my prayers.

[Catherine Hiltz]

Thank you very much.

[Kelly Christopherson]

Sorry to hear about your brother. I will put you and him in my prayers.
I'm not new to the world of administration, I've been a principal for the past 6 years and each year is one of learning and growing as a leader, educator and learner. I can understand your love of learning as I've often thought of doing my PhD or Ed Doc in the last few years, also through UofC. Most people do think you are looking at moving up the ladder which isn't always the case. I've taken 6 classes through Harvard Education and they have been great. Strickly because I enjoy learning. As for the things you are looking at in your school, attendance is an issue in most schools. In a K - 12 school, you know who the constant lates are going to be and who will be away on what days. I agree that once a students hits 16, attendance is on their shoulders. I've sent home attendance records, as you plan, and they do make some parents more aware but, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs not yours.
I agree that we need to look at how our day is structured and examine what is going on with our students after school. I really believe we need to come up with a program that is funded to have a coordinator that puts together programs that run out of the school from 3:30 until 5:30 Mon to Fri. We also need a community driven program that will offer youth an alternative on weekends. Someplace that is safe, free of drugs & alcohol and youth oriented.
With technology, we not only need to expect teachers to be able to use the tools but we need to examine exactly how we are planning and engaging students. There needs to be more collaboration of teachers sharing ideas and then more collaboration of students working to achieve goals across several strands.
Administrating is a different type of teaching. You're working with students, staff, parents and the public, helping them to learn and grow. Sometimes it isn't direct instruction but there is learning taking place. As an administrator, you get to see the larger picture of education which can be somewhat scary at times. As you work toward the vision of the school and look for new ways to teach those around you, there is a good chance you will be helping someone to learn, albeit in a less direct way than if you were in front of a class. It has taken me all these 6 years to become comfortable in my role as administrator. It takes time to adjust. Some people seem to be born for the role, like teaching. The rest of us must work, some of us harder than others, at developing skills necessary for being in our position. Would love to hear how you make out with your policies.
Take care.