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It’s the end of the year and school right now feels like complete anarchy. There’s so much to do. Not only are we finishing up the year, we’re also starting to think about next year. Last year was my first year alone and I felt utterly overwhelmed. One of my colleagues helped out with an end of the year check out list for staff, so I’m paying it forward and passing it along.
I hope it’s helpful. _____________ 1. All keys have been returned to the building secretary in a labeled envelope. _____________ 2. All retention lists and appropriate documentation/letters have been submitted to the building secretary. ____________ 3. All classrooms under your direction have been put in good order. Storage rooms have been cleaned, teachers’ desk drawers cleaned, bookshelves arranged neatly. ___________ 4. All bulletin board material has been removed from walls (bulletin board paper) ___________ 5. All reading and math books and materials have been counted, labeled and neatly arranged in your classroom. ____________ 6. All supplementary materials (Title I materials) have been labeled and returned to Title I teachers. ____________ 7. Final report cards have been completed and sent with students on designated date. ____________ 8.. Mailboxes have been cleaned out – They are EMPTY!!! ____________ 9. All library books, media materials and borrowed articles returned and properly shelved. ____________ 10. Schedule a time for a walk through your classroom with the building administrator. There were a few more on the list but these were my top 10. As I was finishing out the year I vaguely remembered having a check out list in my role as AP, but as a first year principal I didn’t have the mental capacity at the time to think of all the things that needed to be done. If you’re new I hope this gives you a good place to start! That’s it for now. Share some of the items on your end of year check out list in the comment section below. If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and click share so your friends and colleagues can benefit as well. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. #theprincipalentrepreneur #leadership #principal #secondaryprincipals #nassp #massp #maesp #edchat #educhat #edadmin #sharedleadership #howtobeagreatprincipal #jonathanroyce #principallife
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I’ve been reflecting, going over old blogs, reading Facebook posts and have noticed some repeating themes. I’ve covered just a handful of them here in this post. As principals, at some point, we will experience these five events. Sometimes we’ll experience them all in the same day!
Special thanks to Sue Kster, Mitch Pascal, Michael Angelo and Catherine Bartlett for sharing their poignant and hilarious anecdotes. I hope you enjoy this combination of new thoughts, older reflections, and our colleagues stories. You will F*<% up I let the team down. Not intentionally, but all the same I disappointed them. There are some things that are traditional rites of passage in education that are important to the masses but really don’t matter much to me. Prom is one of those things. Because of this I let it slip from my calendar and scheduled another activity on the same day. I wouldn’t have known that I let people down if I didn’t have a colleague who called me out. He sent me a text letting me know I should have been there. I sent the following text back. “I agree. Appreciate the accountability. I apologize to you. It won’t happen again.” There was no reply back so I called back and let him know I wasn’t being sarcastic and that I was serious. It’s alright to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Not only that, there are at least two wins you can take away from a losing situation and make it a learning one. You first have to acknowledge that you messed up. Reflect on what may have caused the problem in the first place and own it. At your next staff meeting admit that you’ve noticed some changes and let your staff talk. Listen to their concerns. You might find out that something that you thought was innocuous was actually a major problem that went against an unwritten norm that you didn’t know about. In that case take responsibility and let them know that their hurt feelings was not the intent of the decision that you made. Learn from your mistakes and only make them once. This is simple advice that’s not easy to follow. In the case of scheduling another event the same night as prom, that mistake is easy to correct. However, most of us make mistakes because of the habits we have. We make decisions based on the well worn neural pathways that we’ve built and that have helped us in the past. Those same perceptions may be causing us issues in a new situation. Learn new skills and new ways of working with people and through situations. In some cases it may help to have a mentor with a bird’s eye view. She could help you uncover your blind spots. In this case I was lucky enough to have somebody care enough about me to call me out. Your staff won't always appreciate you This short anecdote is from Sue Kster and it perfectly encapsulates the hard work we do, the emotional toll it takes and how some staff just don’t “get it”. “I know it’s May and May can be rough, but last night, after having the toughest day ever, I wrote my letter to retire. Not sure when I will use it, but it’s there. I really believe with my whole heart that I work very hard to support kids and teachers. However, it seems it is not enough to some. I know you should let it go, but it is very hard. I have one teacher who does very little, but expects a whole lot from others with never a show of appreciation. I need to do my post conference with her next week. How do you handle telling a teacher that her demands from others should actually come from herself? Sometimes members of our staff are not self aware enough. Those are the times we have to have those tough conversations. The staff member might not always appreciate it, but the rest of your team will. They’ll see you’re not afraid to hold people accountable. This gives them a sense of safety, knowing that you’ll follow through. Parents will cuss you out and/or complain on social media One of our colleagues Mitch Pascal recently had the following experience which he posted in the Principal Principle’s fb group: “We talk here about dealing with angry parents, always focus on listening, their perspective etc. I have a kid who lies to his parents and they believe everything as is. Kid got in a fist fight today after teasing another, called father who started yelling at me on the phone, wouldn't let me get a word in, saying his son is abused here everyday. I think the point comes when trying to be calm and listen doesn't work for me. Parents and kid take no accountability for actions. I can't sit and take it from them when they're flat out wrong and verbally abusive.” What do we do? One of the unwritten rules of education is that the parent is always right. No principal wants to hear from board members that they didn’t treat a parent well. However, always supporting parents will ruin our ability to lead effectively. Did they really just ask me that?!! If a parent believes that they are always right, regardless of rudeness, they can and often will ask for just about anything. They will demand that Sally be moved from one room to the next or that a teacher change a grade or extend a deadline. It also means that these oppressive parents are getting better treatment and more attention than their easy going polite counterparts. That just isn’t right. Unfortunately these parents aren’t shy about complaining on social media. When that happens it’s time for us to diffuse the situation, even when we know they’re being unreasonable. OMG did they just post that?!! Parents will talk crap about the school and the teachers. Those are often easier to deal with because it’s not necessarily a direct assault on us. There will be occasion, however, when parents will insult us and call into question the decisions we’ve made. Maybe we’ve cancelled a school dance or end of the year ceremony where all kids are affected because of the choices of a small group. In the heat of the moment when you first see the post you might feel an almost irresistible urge to defend yourself. . . . wait. If you do make the choice to address the issue, it’s a good idea to wait until the next day and then respond directly, over the phone, to that person. Diffuse the situation as best you can and if it’s a personal attack wait until the following day to address the situation and have a trusted colleague review your message. These two strategies can help you make it through a school year relatively unscathed by social media. You will be sleep deprived A couple funny anecdotes from FB to make the point: Michael Angelo “Tired is talking on your phone and driving 40 minutes home, pat your pockets and realize that you do not know where your phone is so you get back in your truck to drive back to the office and half way back you discover that you are on the phone that you are looking for. So pissed I say I’ll call you back mom so she won’t hear me swear loudly.” Catherine Bartlett “Tired is ... I actually asked my secretary after school if I had been at work in the morning! (In my defense, I was there, left for a meeting, came back... any principal would get confused about that in May!)” Both these hilariously true moments put an exclamation point on how tiring this job is. You will always be running, so take time to rejuvenate and follow these tips to survive! Healthy Snacks. . . when you can! Have healthy snacks available. As your body wears done it will crave the deliciousness of fat, sugar and salt. Somehow I always find myself doing walkthroughs in the room with the candy jar. Avoid that trap! Make it easier to get the healthier stuff. You can get a good sweet with strawberries and bananas and a good crunch with carrots. While nut as fun as chips and cookies you’ll feel better eating healthier as you give your body what it actually needs. Principal Eating I’m no trainer or health nutritionist but I know that after a day of eating to excess my brain and taste buds have had enough. It’s much easier to eat healthy after a day of chocolate and salty snacks. It’s much easier to eat right and be disciplined an entire week of school if I eat what I want on the weekends. Being the principal of a school is a mental and physical marathon. I don’t know if it’s completely possible to avoid a principal hangover, but it is probable that you can limit it (except maybe in May). Stay hydrated throughout the week, keep healthy snacks easily available and don’t beat yourself up if you have one day where you just eat whatever. (or gasp! take a day off!!) Students will make your day The students are easily the brightest spot of this job. In some capacity they are always inspiring. For those who don’t know, I serve at an Alternative High School. My students deal with a tremendous amount of hardship, heartache, family, peer and even community drama. They are children of trauma. Despite this they continue to come to school (mostly and often late :-) ) to put their best foot forward. It amazes me when I see them overcome their personal situations as they work to get an education. The students are where I find joy. Just last week the counselor was counting how many were going to graduate. Twenty six out of fifty one will walk across the stage. I know that seems like a low number, but it’s an increase of 8 from last year! Small wins matter and we must make sure to celebrate them. There are at least 5 definitive facts of the principalship, you’ll F*<% up, staff will take you for granted, you’ll get cussed out, you wont get enough sleep and the students will be your joy! What are other facts that new principals coming into the game should prepare for? Share your truths in the comment section below. Total aside: I think this post might be the foundation of an upcoming book with a similar title, maybe jump up to 15 facts. . . What do you think? If so, I hope you don’t mind me reaching out to you for your anecdotes! (if you’re an author and you noticed that the formatting changes, that’s why. I'm still figuring some things out) That’s it for now. If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and share with your friends. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. #theprincipalentrepreneur #leadership #principal #secondaryprincipals #nassp #massp #maesp #edchat #educhat #edadmin #sharedleadership #howtobeagreatprincipal #jonathanroyce #principallife
As principals we know that giving of ourselves is the first order of business, especially as it pertains to leading by example. We do our best to re energize our staff by giving the gift of time and eliminating staff meetings, or showing our appreciation in a dozen of small ways from posted notes to candy bars. Ironically during teacher appreciation week when we make a concerted effort to show we care, perhaps bringing in their favorite lunch, we don’t even get a thank you.
Regardless, as leaders we recognize that by serving our staff they in turn will hopefully better serve the students. Under ideal circumstances this would be the case. Unfortunately, sometimes the adults in the building are an even greater problem for us then the kids. They’ll be the first ones to demand we hold students to account, but turn around and not do something as simple as taking attendance . . . every hour. And then they’ll get upset with us for calling them out on it. These 3 indicators are clues what we do for our staff will never ever be enough, and we need to to recharge. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” Confucius Most times this job brings us joy. Exhaustive joy, but joy. If you’re alone hiding in the bathroom and you find yourself smiling less, that could be a simple indicator that you’re giving more than your fair share. We know that our energy fuels a building so we dig deep even when we’re exhausted so we can fill our staff up with positive energy. This often works, but when we’re alone our body reminds us that we’re not feeling it. Pay attention to your own physicality and find your peace. If you’re not smiling when you're alone your staff could be “doin’ too much”. That doesn’t mean we’ll stop doin’ but it does mean we need to find a way to re energize! “The only thing she felt was numb. And Tired” Nenia Campbell You would think this wouldn’t be the case during teacher appreciation week but it’s sad to say, sometimes our staff can be emotional leeches. It’s our job to deal with their issues, the students issues and the parents issues as well. Being the head of a school is like being in a relationship. Sometimes it’s emotionally exhausting. Ideally, there are aspects of the job that can reflect positive energy back into you. For me, it’s often the students. Seeing them learn something in a class when I walk by or when they give you an unexpected, “what’s up!?” can be the brightest part of a tough day. A lot of elementary principals I know go into the young fives to get their energy boost. If you’re constantly emotionally exhausted it could be an indicator that your staff is taking advantage of you and you need to scale back a bit. “A truly special teacher is very wise, and sees tomorrow in every child’s eyes.” Author Unknown You’ve spent the year doing your best, setting up and getting ready for each and every day. You’ve decorated the staff lounge, made baskets and prepared holiday treats. You’ve shown your appreciation in any number of small ways, from gift cards to personally subbing in a classroom. You get the perfunctory, obligatory thank you but it seems as if they’ve taken your Herculean and Jobe like efforts for granted. Maybe someone even complained because you didn’t have vegetarian pizza or the students were hyped up when you left the room from subbing. As servant leaders we don’t necessarily do what we do for recognition but a heartfelt thank you goes a long way. When you have one of these days find a community of peers with whom to share your burden. We get it! Being a principal can literally impact thousands of lives. What we do matters. Unfortunately, sometimes we get beat down by the adults we’re working with. If you find yourself without a smile, emotionally exhausted and feeling unappreciated remember what you do is more than enough! Take a breath, scale back and share your story with your peers. We know what a grind the principal life is. What’s your story? Share your feelings in the comment section below. If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and share with your friends. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. #theprincipalentrepreneur #leadership #principal #secondaryprincipals #nassp #massp #maesp #edchat #educhat #edadmin #sharedleadership #howtobeagreatprincipal #jonathanroyce #principallife
ABC news reported a couple of days ago, on May 5th, that “ President Trump railed against the nation’s immigration laws and suggested Saturday that a government shutdown may be necessary to secure his long-promised border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.”
As Principals what are we supposed to do when we hear that type of rhetoric, especially those of us who work in diverse settings? We are trained to be inclusive. In order to be great leaders we must believe that every child deserves a chance to be treated equitably regardless of background. When the president puts policies in place to be exclusionary either by erecting a wall or discriminating through immigration policies how are the children of these excluded groups going feel knowing they’ll soon no longer have the safety of our schools? How do you ensure that every child feels safe when they know they’ll be leaving in just a few short months? These three reminders will help your children feel secure in your school while they prepare for the world outside. Safe Space This is the technique with which most of us started the school year. At the beginning of the school year we had the power to disperse money for posters, books, speakers and classroom materials that highlight our community's’ diversity. During the year we have used these funds, and with the help of our staff decorated our buildings with images from around the globe. Now at the end of the year as we plan closing ceremonies we can ask students, families, and community members who their cultural heroes are and find ways to display them during that time. This helps reaffirm our commitment to the larger community and creates a positive vibe for the following year. Personal Vulnerability Just like the interactive software program Rosetta Stone, we want to be interactive with our students who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Something as simple as “good morning” in a student's’ home language will bring a smile to their face and help them feel safe. This small gesture is especially powerful as we make mistakes in pronunciation and cadence. This vulnerability gives them a chance to be leaders and show their strength as they help us improve. As our staff and students see us model this behavior they will follow our lead. This act of personal kindness and cultural sensitivity will help break down superficial barriers that often separate us. Techno Teacher This is a simple tip that must be used judiciously. Apps and technology like Google Translator don’t always address context. When we send newsletters and other communication out to families about upcoming summer programs, using Google Translator is an easy way get information to all our families. If we’re lucky enough to have someone in our district for each language that is spoken, having them review the newsletter is always a good idea. I’ve found that even if there are mistakes the families appreciate us reaching out to them and making that attempt. It shows that we respect them and their culture. Creating community is the job of the Principal. Using these tips to help keep our schools together, as the anxiety of a summer without us begins to set in, is a way to combat the fear that some of our students feel as national policies change. What are some ways you help your students and families feel welcome throughout the year, especially here at the end? Use the comment section below to share your thoughts. If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and share with your friends. For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs, as voted by readers, by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website. (Full disclosure this can sometimes be sporadic as time is an issue :-)) If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group. #theprincipalentrepreneur #leadership #principal #secondaryprincipals #nassp #massp #maesp #edchat #educhat #edadmin #sharedleadership #howtobeagreatprincipal #jonathanroyce |
AuthorI'm a Principal and an Entrepreneur. I'm the former owner of a food venture Hustling Hoagies, the author of the children's picture books Detective Dwayne Drake and the Alphabet Thief, Detective Dwayne Drake and The Case of the Mathematical Misfit and the ebook Making it as a Male Model in Michigan. I've worked professionally as a model and commercial actor...... Archives
May 2020
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