Being named the school principal is the greatest accomplishment for aspiring school leaders, as they now get the opportunity to live out their vision for creating an amazing school environment for staff and students. With their new title comes a new office, a new desk, and possibly even a secretary. Their name now appears on all school letterhead, as well as above the “Principal” name plate on their office door. They are officially the leader of their new school, and the demands of the job begin on day one.
There are a thousand decisions that need to be made before the first day of school. It begins with scheduling, hiring, purchase orders, class lists, retentions, etc. And, let us not forget, that time needs to be made to talk with all teachers, build trusting relationships, and create a shared vision with staff and community. Staff surveys need to be created and the data analyzed so that they can begin planning professional development for the upcoming school year.
They need to schedule meetings over the summer with all their different teams to plan out how they will proceed in the upcoming year. Staff and parent handbooks need to be updated and modified to reflect their thoughts and beliefs. Community meetings need to be planned out, and summer meetings with PTA and other key community stakeholders must be held. While all this is going on, they need to learn everything they can about the culture of their school, beliefs and traditions, and what the school data says to inform their decision making. Sounds easy right? Did I mention that this happens every summer, whether you are a seasoned veteran, or new to the position?
The role of the principal is not easy, and it is not for everyone, but it is the most rewarding leadership position you can have. You are able to work side by side with amazingly talented teachers, positively influence every student in your school, and create partnerships with families to ensure their child's educational journey is a successful one. To accomplish this, it requires you to be present and involved in your school.
It starts with an understanding that there is a fundamental difference in thinking between a leader and a manager, and it starts by leading outside the four walls of your office. You have to make a promise to yourself to get out and be an active leader; a leader who is willing to engage every stakeholder in their school, both inside and outside of the school building. It requires you to make a commitment to yourself to not get bogged down by all the paperwork and daily issues. Move beyond the desk to work side by side with teachers so you can ensure that you are building a culture that includes an “all-in” mindset.
Here are my suggestions to help all school leaders move beyond the desk:
Set The Tone: You are the leader of your school, and it is up to you to create a positive and inviting school environment. Every morning, you will either find me helping out at car rider line, or on the walkway greeting students as they come in to the school. I am there to give high-fives, hugs, and offer a smile to help start students days off right. I have conversations with students, and will sometimes celebrate things I heard from students on the morning announcements. Announcements are key for setting the tone for your whole school. They allow you to create positive energy, celebrate staff and students, and remind every person in your school that you are there to support them, and most importantly remind them that you love them.
Be Purposeful So You Can Be Present: It is often hard to get into classrooms regularly with all the other disruptions happening around school. You have to be purposeful with your planning if you want to make that happen. My assistant principal spends her mornings visiting classrooms and talking with every teacher before the first bell. I set time in my calendar where I do nothing but visit classrooms and make time for kids. I have a list of teachers each day that I want to visit, and I intentionally add two extra names to this list should I have extra time. I also make time to walk my campus after the first bell every morning. This serves two purposes, it allows me to visit with custodians, bus drivers, school resource officers, and cafeteria workers. It also allows me to evaluate and address any campus issues that I see.
Lead By Example: My first mentor said something that has stuck with me all these years, and that was “never ask others to do something you are not willing to do yourself.” She was the principal, but it was not out of the ordinary to see her out front pulling up weeds from the garden beds, picking trash from the parking lot, and wiping down lunch room tables. She was a part of the team, and she was never afraid to get her hands dirty.
“What Can I Do To Help You?”: When I am visiting classrooms, I ask the same question to teachers before I leave, “what can I do to help you?” or “is there anything you need for me to do?” Both these questions let teachers know that I am invested in their success, and I am there to support them.
Every school leader gets caught up in the daily grind of management, as I know I have been guilty of it myself. This is why we must be intentional with our desire to lead from beyond the desk to ensure the success of our schools.
I would love to hear your thoughts about the idea of leading beyond the desk. Please share them in the comment section below or reach out to me on Twitter at @rbreyer51.
Robert Breyer is the principal of Cameron Elementary School, located in Cameron, North Carolina, in the Moore County Schools system. Follow him on Twitter @rbreyer51 and check out his blog at https://www.beyondthedeskleadership.com/.
No comments:
Post a Comment