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Featured Principals: February 2024
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How and why did you become a principal? I really love teaching and working directly with students. The idea of becoming a school leader was something that began to intrigue me when I was on my district's continuous improvement team. The idea of impacting the learning of many students and supporting families across the entire school seemed intriguing. What are you most proud of in your work? I'm really proud of the teachers and staff at my school. They are amazing educators-kind, hard-working, and driven to improve. I learn things from watching them teach and work with students. What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow? We have been working on increasing the sense of belonging at our school. One thing that is unique to our school is that we have Husky Time once during every 6-day cycle. There are about 10-12 students in a multi-age Husky Time group, so they are able to connect with other students and an adult that they normally wouldn't see to form connections, learn something new, or just have fun. | What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced? I try to work out a few times a week before school. I also try to make sure I get enough sleep. What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful? A former mentor always stressed the importance of listening rather than talking. It's easy to fall in the habit of talking a lot as a principal, but I find that listening is usually more productive and important. How many years have you been a principal? 3 |
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How and why did you become a principal? Becoming a principal was not something I had thought I would be! I actually went to school for Accounting and Business. In my last semester at Concordia College, I had a "a-ha!" moment. I did not want to sit in an office all day punching numbers. I wanted to work with kids so I went back to school for teaching after I had graduated with my Accounting and Business degrees. I worked as a 6th grade Language Arts teacher for five years. I LOVED my time in the classroom working with kids and making an impact.... but I wanted something more! I became a principal to create a bigger impact on my students' lives and to support and inspire teachers in the classroom. Interacting with all 700 of my students on a daily basis is my favorite part of my job!What are you most proud of in your work? Last year was my first year in an AP role. It was also the first year our two elementary schools in my district merged. It was year of learning! Learning new staff, new procedures, new construction... the list goes on! I am most proud of our students and staff for being resilient through it all and how they continue to be because in education, there is always something new that arises. :) I am proud of the systems we have created, the schedules we have built, and the collaborative work we have done as a team. What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow? Every Friday, we have "Rebel Pride Fridays." Staff nominate a student and a colleague that are displaying the "Rebel Way" of Respect, Responsibility, and Right Choices. We call these students down through the morning announcements. They receive a shirt and gift card for their positive choices and are also acknowledged on our district social media pages. Staff also send me Positive Office Referrals. I call the student down to my office and we call home to parents. It is so fun to see students' eyes light up and their smiles when we get to tell their parents how well they are doing in school. Another favorite part of my job. :) | What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced? My pencil and paper planner, Google Calendar, and Google Keep - all things to keep my life organized at work and outside of work. :) Being it is my second year in my principalship, I will be honest - I have a hard time unplugging, but I know that is what is best for my family. Being that I rely on my planners so much, I have to schedule "Leave From Work!" in there.What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful? Always ask yourself, "Is this benefiting our students?" Keep your students at the heart of your decisions. You are going to have to make hard decisions (and ones that some people won't like), but if you keep a student-centered mindset, you will have more peace when making them. A book that I have gotten a lot of ideas from is: If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students! by Neila A. Connors. So much great advice... "The best teacher is the one who NEVER forgets what it is like to be a student. The best administrator is the one who NEVER forgets what it is like to be a teacher." How many years have you been a principal? This is my second year of being an Assistant Principal. |
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How and why did you become a principal? Historically, the education system was designed for only some, not all, and school data all across our nation indicates we still operate in the same way. I have an overwhelming belief that we can redesign our educational structures and practices so that schools are truly a place where all students can learn and thrive. I want to be a part of that change. I love learning from others invested in that same change and the principalship provides me with many opportunities to connect with a variety of people. Change in isolation (one school, one district etc.) is not enough. This is collective work and I want to be a supportive colleague alongside others as we do really difficult systems change work together.What are you most proud of in your work? I think I'm most proud of my unwavering commitment to being a culturally responsive leader. It helps me to act with ethical and value-based decision-making. I work hard to center historically underserved communities in all of my decision-making. My willingness to unlearn and learn allows me to take action with a sense of both urgency and humility. What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow? Our office staff, including me, take each grade level's students three times a year for about 90 minutes each time. We provide activities for the students while their teachers visit other teacher's classrooms across our school. This has allowed teachers to make their practice public, be vulnerable, and increase their sense of efficacy and trust. It has allowed them to have richer conversations about vertical alignment. Our students have a great time participating in a variety of activities while our teachers share ideas and collaborate. As an office team we get to build relationships with students in a new way. | What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced? This is something I'm getting better at but still learning. My dad passed in May of 2021, he was an administrator for many years. During the last days of his life, he reminisced about many things but it was never about work. That sticks with me. I probably spend way too much time thinking about work. Even though I encourage our staff to let work stay at work, it can be hard for me to do the same. I'm still figuring out that balance. Not returning emails I receive over the weekend until Monday has been a really good start for me. What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful? Being a principal can feel very isolating at times, finding your own community of support is essential to your success and emotional well-being. Sometimes it's hard to see the progress in the middle of the journey. When you see progress or have a moment you want to hold on to, journal it. Then read those entries on your tough days. How many years have you been a principal? 3 years principal, 3 years associate principal |
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How and why did you become a principal? I am passionate about education and have a strong desire to make a positive impact on young students' lives. My commitment to helping children learn and grow started long before becoming a principal. Even as a young child, my mom said that I exhibited leadership and organizational skills by creating lessons and learning environments for my younger siblings and cousins. I started my educational career in early childhood classrooms as a preschool teacher and child care center director. It wasn’t until my own children progressed in age that I moved into the elementary school. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching third grade, but felt a calling to continue my education and hopefully have a larger impact on education. Six years ago I started my administrative journey at Ada-Borup-West and I haven’t looked back! What are you most proud of in your work? I am most proud of guiding our team to create programming and initiatives that help students grow, learn, and succeed in their educational journeys. Our Cougar PAWgress, or “what I need” time, helps create individual learning plans to truly promote each student's needs. Through this program, we have seen positive changes in curriculum, teaching methods, and educational programs that have benefited our students. What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow? One thing that our school has done well is to efficiently use staffing to create a unique schedule where we are able to commit to small-group learning for all of our students for an hour each day. | What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced? I am constantly trying to find a healthy balance between work and life. I admittedly have had a heavy career focus. Recently, I had a reality check due to a significant health crisis, which gave me the perspective I needed to prioritize my daily schedule. With the help of family, colleagues, and professional development, I am working on organizing my time and schedule to ensure that I leave work at work! What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful. One piece of advice I would give a new principal is to listen more than talk. I think that in our profession, we have to make so many decisions that sometimes we get caught up in the, "I need to make a decision now," scenario and we don't take the time to understand the issue. How many years have you been a principal? This is my sixth year. |