Are You Just a Principal?
Takeaway:
People often see becoming a principal as the end of a journey, moving from the classroom to the office. It is easy to forget that principals were once teachers, and even easier for principals to stop being teachers.
Being More than Just a Principal:
Yesterday I was asked by a new staff member, “Do you teach, or are you just a principal?” What an interesting question! But, a question with a lot of weight behind it.
Most principals say they miss the classroom and many of them are returning to be a full time teacher. It is not surprising when you look at the amount of stress and poor health that follows our schools leaders.
Expectations are sky high for every administrator and from every stakeholder - students, teachers, parents, superintendents, and politicians. And, knowing that you get to make a massive impact on the lives of children and the adults who work with and care for them can feel overwhelming.
When people ask me if I miss the classroom, I generally say “no.” This is not because I did not enjoy my time as a teacher, the reality is that I never left. The essence of being a school leader is supporting and guiding teachers to best care and develop their students. The moment I officially leave the classroom is the day that I choose this new mission.
To avoid feeling that principals have abandoned the classroom, we need to commit to remaining in them as much as possible. But, how do school leaders stay in the classroom when we have such busy schedules? Truly, this is about priorities and designing your work around what you value.
This year I have chosen to block out my schedule for 45 minutes every day to do teacher walkthroughs. The aim is to provide encouraging and helpful feedback. With 40 teachers and three walkthroughs per day, I am able to get into every teacher’s classroom roughly every three weeks for 10-20 minutes per visit. While this can be surprising or unnerving for some teachers, it has been empowering for our staff to be recognized by their supervisor. And it has been a joy for me to receive the notes of thanks from the teachers for my acknowledgments and praise.
Never leaving the classroom does not mean that you are teaching a class. It means that you are teaching the teachers. It means that you have the responsibility of educating the educators so they can make the biggest impact on our students. Doing this takes time, sacrifice, and a lot of intentionality. But, it’s worth it!
Circling back to the question I was asked yesterday, “Do you teach, or are you just a principal?” Proudly, I said, “No, I am not just a principal, I teach the teachers.” This is the calling for all school leaders. Make it a priority to keep the mission alive.