Week 3 - Middle School Leadership & the Principal's Role

This week's readings began with AMLE and the role of leadership within the middle school environment.  That reading was followed by an online article, "Five Key Responsibilities - The School Principal as Leader: Guiding Schools to Better Teaching and Learning." AMLE discussed how leaders need to collaborate and have a shared vision which are committed to that vision and to the middle school student by gaining the necessary professional development to enhance learning and encourage strong relationships.  The online article takes it a step further by detailing the proper role of a principal and how they can set the pace and standard for their administrative staff, teachers, students and families.

AMLE noted that all stakesholders should have a shared vision that helps make decisions.  I believe this is important and especially during this time of COVID.  My sons' school district has a shared vision, "We are self-directed lifelong learners, effective communicators, complex, creative and adaptive thinkers and collaborative and productive citizens."   COVID has pushed everyone into various situations from which we are having to figure things out as they occur requiring us to be adaptive and thoughtful with our thinking and care for others.  Recently our district sent out a survey asking for parent input on their comfort level with sending their child to school in the fall.  The district provided a graphic they developed and asked questions about different scenarios involving use of a mask, social distancing and impact on instruction.  There was a question that allowed for feedback of this past spring's remote learning and vision for the fall.  In this case our district actively has a vision which they regularly put to use.  They include the community and parents in various situation where applicable.  While they ask for feedback, there are situations where many parents feel it is for show and that the feedback is not truly taken into consideration.  COVID has brought out various opinions on how to address and handle the situation.  I certainly hope that our school district takes the feedback into consideration.  I realize this is a unique situation and that not everyone will agree about what is the "right" way to do anything.  I am thankful that the district reached out and hope that as a school community we can collaborate and come to a shared and appropriate way to educate our children this fall.  COVID has pushed us to be able to communicate effectively since masks hide much of our facial expressions and the community has had to come together to help our students and small businesses.  Our school district's vision is really putting things into perspective for the younger students and being demonstrated by our recent graduates and older students by asking questions and helping with creative ways to help our community.

Next I truly enjoyed the online article as I am continually learning how a different approach and to address the middle school age group is developed not just by teachers but also principals.  As I read the article, I continually thought of my sons' middle school principal.  I can honestly say that he portrays these leadership qualities by being collaborative with his teachers, greeting his students and empowering his administrative staff.  As a parent, I am always welcomed with a smile and a greeting.  They engage in conversation and in working with my son's teachers, I feel they geniunely care about their students and the subject they teach.  The principal loves to poke fun at himself and not just as the school's leader but also as a parent himself.  He is not afraid to note his own struggles with his children at this age.  He embraces feedback and conversation.  As I had noted in a previous blog, my husband and I have had teacher team meetings with both our sons teachers at different times during their middle school career.  The staff reflects that same thoughtful quality of the principal.  They also collaborate well with each other but also note they are not afraid to reach out for guidance from other school staff.  Having five years between our sons, I was pleasantly surprised to see the school grow and the teachers change their approaches.  My sons had some of the same teachers in middle school and I have seen the growth of their style from then to now.  I find it encouraging and these are the same teachers that both my sons love and enjoy the subject.  It shows me that teachers are willing to change for the betterment of their students.  In additon, I had discussed with the principal my interest in the new exploratory electives now available for the eighth graders.  There is expanded art and technical classes, a new entrepreneurship class and new computer classes.  I explained that I am currently working to obtain my PEL and will be certified for 6th through 12th grade to teach business and technical classes.  The middle school endorsement was new during my first year in the program.  He said that he wants to give students opportunities to see where their interests lie.  This made me smile and I thanked him for supporting such changes.  These types of changes show that as a leader he does not rest on the status quo and what works but willing to grow and work with his staff to execute that growth.

Finally I find it interesting the entire leadership premise.  It does not matter which career you pursue, leaders are everywhere and take different shapes and methods to execute plans.  I was part of pilot training academy at my current company with 15 other individuals noted as the next set of leaders.  Part of our workshops centered around what makes a leader and can you create new leaders.  My point of view was that leadership is inherent in people and it can be developed and enhanced but not everyone is meant to be a leader or can be a leader.  I still hold to this belief as an individual not only has to want to be a leader but wants to enhance their natural born skills.  There are people that believe they are leaders but they typically think it is telling people what to do and how to do it and that there direction and opinion are the only ones that matter.  I find that leadership can take many forms but it is something that you either have or don't have in your nature.  As for a principal you not only have to want to lead a school but as the article states you have to shape your vision, create a culture that invites growth in education, encourage leadership within other staff and improve instruction through use of professional development and not staying stagnant.  You must encourage the best in others, help them see where improvement is needed but also provide suggestions, allow for sharing of ideas for fostering growth, provide others with new opportunities and listen to the greater community.  That greater community is your administration, teachers, support staff, students, parents and the city's community.  As a school leader, it is important to encourage new ideas and not expect yourself to have all the answers.  A principal should be able to identify their shortcomings and build a school community to help strengthen those shortcomings and allow for exchange of thought.  The important thing is to create a collaborative environment where everyone feels their voice is heard and that there is no judgement.