“Relationships
are Everything” and “Leadership Matters”. When reflecting on the success of my first
year as an elementary principal, these two ideas will weave themselves
throughout all of my work with teachers, parents, and students. Although school buildings have many pieces
that come together to create success, strong relationships and effective
leadership play a major role in each and every one of them.
Relationships are
Everything: The importance of building positive relationships weaves
itself into each and every part of a school community. From the school’s behavior management system
to the teacher evaluation model, all of these areas will be better when
relational trust exists between school leaders and staff. To evaluate whether I have worked to develop
that relational trust in my first year as a principal, I will reflect on the
following questions:
Have I made
connections with staff, students and families that go deeper than school? Do I understand teachers’ personal and
professional passions and what motivates them to get out of bed in the
morning? Have I connected with students
and their families on a level that extends beyond the classroom? Have I gotten to know the community and
participated in neighborhood functions and events? Everything that goes on in a school is better
when strong relationships exist.
In an
effort to build these relationships, have I truly connected with students on
all levels? Have I recognized student
achievement and milestones, academically, socially, and behaviorally? Do I check in frequently with students who
are in need of that “extra push”? Have I
been there to support students who are struggling and helped redirect their
path toward a more productive one?
When
working with teachers, have I celebrated with those who are experimenting with
new technology or teaching strategies? Have I been there to listen and support them when taking that first leap
to try something new? Have I encouraged teachers
to explore their passions and continue their professional learning and growth
in areas that interest and motivate them? If I can answer yes to the above questions after my first year in this
new role, the process of beginning to build relationships with students,
families, and staff will be well underway and headed in the right direction.
Leadership Matters:
John Maxwell said it best when he stated, “Everything rises and falls with
leadership.” Everything! Good leaders inspire and empower others to
discover leadership qualities in themselves.
When a school is successful, great leaders inspire teachers to keep the
expectations high, while searching for new ways to challenge themselves and
others. When a school is experiencing
periods of turmoil, great leaders help to maintain focus and keep morale
high. Great leaders are also role
models for their colleagues, leading by example and inspiring others to follow
suit and lead from where they stand.
When reflecting on my leadership after my first year, I will ask myself
if teachers and students feel empowered to become leaders of their own learning. Also, have I modeled and encouraged
reflective practices for personal and professional growth goals?
As the
Principal of Kerby Elementary, I will consider my first year a success if I have
maintained the focus on developing the leadership capacity and relational trust
among all stakeholders in the school building. Leadership matters because people matter, and
in education our main priority should be the continued development of people,
students and adults alike.
