Featured Principals: September 2024

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How and why did you become a principal?

I have always loved serving others. My parents were huge on volunteering and giving back which made me drawn to servant leadership from a young age. I truly enjoy bringing people together to help others in ways that would not be possible without a strong team.

What are you most proud of in your work?

I'm most proud of the relationships that our schools have built. We focus on student strengths and connecting with families. Our staff have made countless positive phone calls home, many have conducted home visits, and we have our administrative team visit all Kindergarten and new students over the summer.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

At a previous school and now at my new school, we have tried to build MTSS systems that are data driven and will match interventions to student need. Through PRESS, Fastbridge, and IM4 trainings, our staff feel confident that the tier 2 and 3 interventions that they select are matched to the needs of each individual student.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

I once heard that work life balance is a juggling act. You have to keep all the balls in the air as much as possible. As a principal you are constantly juggling family, professional needs, school needs, and community needs. However, the professional needs, school needs and community needs can all be seen as a rubber ball; if they drop, you can pick them up and keep juggling. Your family has to be seen as a glass ball. That is the ball you CANNOT let fall.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

Few things are ever too broken to be fixed. When you make a mistake, learn from it and dig in to solve the problem.

How many years have you been a principal?

8 years

How and why did you become a principal?

When I became a teacher my goal was to make a positive impact and improve the educational outcomes for all students but especially for those who have been marginalized or underserved. As I grew in my profession-I realized I could have a larger impact on students if I tackled the systems-the principalship is optimal position to impact change.

What are you most proud of in your work?

Being a leader is a privilege. Each day I strive to serve and deliver on the commitments that we make to our students, teachers, families, and our school community. As a Latina leader, who is bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural, I am proud to serve as a bridge and advocate for bilingual education-broadening the system’s understanding of how to better serve our multilingual students and families.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

I something we have done well at RSI is our work around biliteracy instruction. We have been intentional about increasing our capacity to meet the needs of multi-lingual learners and approach our work from a culturally responsive and multi-lingual perspective.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

Honestly, this does not come easy for me. I try to be very intentional about my family time every week. I am a female leader with a young child-the balance often feels like a juggling act-and I am trying to keep all the balls in the air. Time with my children, family, and friends is key for me. I give myself grace and permission to carve out time to do the things that bring me joy and reenergize me.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

Be intentional about carving out a network of support. People you can go to for ideas, guidance, and even a venting space. The principalship can be a high pressure job and can feel very lonely at times. I have been fortunate in cultivating a circle of mentors and friends to go to bounce ideas and ask questions. Also, having a vision doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers. Be intentional about creating space and time for collaboration creative ideas to flow.

How many years have you been a principal?

5 years as a principal and I served 8 years as an assistant principal.

How and why did you become a principal?

I started in education over 28 years ago. I became a teacher to effect change in the scholars in my classroom. I feel like as a principal I am able to reach more students to effect change in their lives. I want to feel seen, heard, recognized, and accomplished.

What are you most proud of in your work?

The relationships I have developed. I have always taken the time to develop relationships with everyone that I serve. I always say I am the proud principal of Nellie Stone Johnson because I love serving the Northside community.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

SEL: I am big on meeting the social emotional needs of our scholars. Last year I started a sensory room to give all scholars access to this space to help them regulate. I staff it and when students need a break they can come and self choose how to get their emotions regulated. We have a menu of options and they choose, then they are able to safely and calmly return to class to work. Some scholars, based on need, have regular breaks they take. This reduced my classroom referrals by 70%.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

Take time to decompress. I like to read and just relax when I am not working.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

Self-Care. This job can be all-consuming, you have to take care of yourself

How many years have you been a principal?

12