Be the Boss

Thursday, February 12, 2015

My experience as an administrator has been really educational.   Because I embrace conflict as a positive, an opportunity to improve student achievement, I approach the administrative duties with optimism.   Some of my experiences include:

• A noticed difference in the behavior of the learners in response to my role.
• An opportunity to really multitask; like dealing with a meeting, two parents, and a student simultaneously.
• Teachers and fellow staff members have strongly supported my new role.
• Fights between students and expulsion meetings.
• Investigating obscene images as well as thief.
• Extracurricular activities (band, football, volleyball, basketball). 
• Watching the parents sometimes get too emotional and coming close to being asked to leave the facilities.
• Working with students after the games to pick up trash.
• Forming strong relationships with staff and students.
• Break ups between girls/boys. Young love (or like very strongly) can be a very emotional time for young boys.

Why become an administrator?  We are all created with a gift.    One day it hits us what our gift is.  Then the "Decision".   Do we embrace what it is that we can do better than the average person or do we turn from our destiny?   Me, I have always been told that I was going to be somebody.   Throughout life, when doubt manifest there was someone to intercede and keep me on the path.   This stop on my journey, began with my first principal, Mrs. Stauss.   She saw principal before I did.  Then there was Mrs. Massey.  Nearly six years ago, when I first started here at Life School, she suggested I give principal a try.    Since then there has been teacher, after teacher, principals, district leaders, and even some friends/family who saw a kind of leader that had not been labeled.   Assisting others to do more, become more, and have more is what comes kind of easy for me.   The role of principal is a natural fit for me.  The aforementioned experiences just confirm it.