Assignment:
Discussion - New Kid at School
After completing Readings and Resources, respond to the following questions.
You have just become the new principal at a school in your town. You have followed a well-loved principal who has been at the school for fifteen years. During discussions at staff meetings, you constantly hear, "When Ms. A was here, she would" and the teacher expounds on the strategies of Ms. A. Someone verbalizes a problem that exists, and you hear a teacher say, "Now when Mrs. A was here, she" and this teacher explains how Ms. A would have handled it. (It reminded you of the days when you were a substitute teacher, and the students would constantly remind you of the way their teacher would have responded).
Additionally, in one of the first staff meetings early in the year, the teachers inform you that on Fridays their former principal would bring all the students into the gym and allow the teachers to leave 30 minutes early. Keep in mind the suggestions of Ms. Bohn as you respond to the following questions:
- What should you say when teachers remind you of Ms. A. and her wonderful love for them.
- You know that the school is about to be placed on the district's list of low-performing schools. Should you remind them of that as you defend your own leadership? Do you even need to defend your leadership?
- Lastly, how will you respond to the fact that for many years the staff left thirty minutes early on Fridays while the principal handled student dismissal from the gym? (Maybe you are all for it)!