Overcoming Adversity

Posted on August 15, 2023 Written by

Imagine you’ve just become principal of a middle school with a highly-diverse population where hate speech, discipline referrals, on-campus vaping, and physical conflicts are major issues. Then as the school year begins, add a major disaster that displaces hundreds of your students! How can a principal deal with overwhelming challenges like these?

This is the type of situation that Katherine Holden faced as a first-year principal in Oregon. In this article, she discusses what it’s like to dive head-first into the lead administrative role during challenging times, and she shares her tips for overcoming adversity.

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Principal Retention

Posted on February 21, 2023 Written by

Getting (and keeping) good principals is increasingly difficult these days. This five-year study shows that despite what some believe, salaries are far from the only issue. The study also offers some clear take-aways how districts can do a better job of keeping excellent administrators.

While many of you have already experienced some of the issues addressed in this article, it might be useful to share with your superintendent so that they can share it with your school board. It offers solid research support for what most of us already know.

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A Culture of Fun!

Posted on January 24, 2023 Written by

David Arencibia, one of three finalists for “Principal of the Year” (National Association of Secondary School Principals) says he and his team focus on setting high standards and establishing a culture of FUN! By focusing on the positive instead of problems, Arencibia says the school’s atmosphere is warm, friendly, and challenging. This creates a highly-engaging environment for students, and that is supported by professional development for teachers.

Arencibia says polarizing topics are less of an issue at his school because “we don’t get into those things … because we’re focused on providing the absolute best for each of our students, and that’s a common goal we can all agree on.” 

This article in Smart Brief provides additional details about Arencibia’s unique approach and the process involved in developing “a routine of excellence.”

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Buy-In vs. Ownership

Posted on September 6, 2022 Written by

As an educational leader, a significant part of your job is to motivate and encourage your teachers. Creating that kind of positive school climate not only requires time and effort, but also a deep understanding of the process.

In the previous post (The Language We Use), we explored the importance of avoiding language that seeks to impose. This concept is so vital that it deserves a deeper look. In the “Community” chapter of his online book on Conversational Leadership, David Gurteen provides additional insights on the difference between “Buy-in” and “Ownership.”

Like many educational leaders, I’ve used the term “buy-in” for years … so combined with the information in the previous post, Gurteen’s perspective served as a startling wake up call. I’m now committed to revising the language I use when talking about the importance of involving teachers in the decision-making process.

Hopefully these two posts will give you some additional food for thought, too.

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