The Important Of The Position And Its Effect On A School: Are You An Effective Principal?
It is so essential to empower teachers and provide them with all the training and tools they need to empower their students. When teachers are at a loss of what to do or need guidance and direction, they typically turn to other teachers for help. It’s very rare that teachers look for support from the principal unless it involves behavior management or building concerns. Some principals are instructional leaders and have the capability to do both. They can provide help, guidance, and will take over the classroom in a matter of minutes; while others express what they want to see through classroom observations without modeling clear examples of what they are looking to see in the next observation.
Are you an active principal?
Schools, G., Says, D., & Says, G. (2015, October 20)
We know that principals who are active in their school, in classrooms daily, and work with all teachers directly tend to understand community connections and how powerful relationships are at work. Yes, there are many principals who build connections and create a healthy environment where teachers and student aids feel like they are in a community of learning in their school. Principals who are effective at setting school-wide goals can create a vision of the entire school and help their teachers achieve that goal with direction and resources. If an entire school and all of its teachers, tutors, and student aides are in a program and are supported by the principal and the rest of the school’s administration, they are much more likely to succeed.
I hope you have a mentorship program at your school?
In many schools I’ve visited, mentorship was the area needed the most, there was no official way for teachers to connect with others unless paired up with a support system. Some schools tend to pair experienced teachers with new teachers but some type of stipend is involved so teachers are just not giving up their time for free. In another school there is a grade-level buddy system rotation to where higher grades are partnered with lower grades, this is indirectly partners teachers though the students but teachers are co-planning and collaborating on lessons while their students are together.
Are you in the classroom every day? I hope so…
Schools, G., Says, D., & Says, G. (2015, October 20)
Principals can identify the unique strengths of each individual teacher and have them present on their topics they excel in; In one school, as a coach, I told every teacher they will be responsible for one professional development. I will plan it with them and they will share an experience. Every presentation was a role-play and each teacher took away something valuable that they could use in the classroom.
One thing we know for sure is; consistency is key when principals stay at a school for at least five years they can really make the school’s vision and goals a reality. Schools that have a high principal turnover rate suffer and struggle to meet their educational goals. When there is a high principal turnover rate, teachers are much more likely to leave after every principal departure (Zeus).
References:
Meador, D. (2019, July 19). 7 Characteristics of a Highly Effective School Principal. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://www.thoughtco.com/characteristics-of-a-highly-effective-principal-3194554
Schools, G., Says, D., & Says, G. (2015, October 20). Graphic: The role of the principal. Retrieved January 22, 2021, from https://www.graniteschools.org/blog/2015/10/20/graphic-the-role-of-the-principal/
Zeis, J. (n.d.). The Strength of a Teacher–Principal Partnership. Retrieved December 15, 2020, from http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol15/num09/the-strength-of-a-teacher-principal-partnership.aspx