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All too often, the names of school principals are brought into the public arena in newspaper and other media accounts about some type of crisis or turmoil at their schools. An evacuation, a fight, a weapons offense, or a staff member charged with a crime sends reporters – rightfully so – in search of comment from a principal. It is unfortunate, though, that it is largely through these occurrences that most in our county become acquainted with our school principals. Charged with leading our nearly 6,000 teachers and thousands of support staff in formulating visions and plans that will help every single student achieve his or her full potential, principals are the engineers who drive the train of instructional success. Moreover, they are multi-tasking, balancing-act magicians whose passion and dedication all too often go unnoticed and underappreciated. Like our teachers, school principals do things every day – and night – that most will never see and can’t fully comprehend. They spend countless hours poring over data, analyzing trends, and determining the necessary steps to empower their staff, in turn, to propel students to greatness. Meetings with parents and students. Professional development sessions. School improvement planning. Classroom observations. Standardized test preparation. Student discipline. Athletic scheduling and oversight. Attending community events. Supervising student arrival and dismissal. Reviewing report cards. And that’s not to mention the various systemwide initiatives and committees to which a principal may be asked to lend his or her time. They do it not for fame or glory, but because they are committed to creating a brighter future for every child who walks through the hallways of their school. Even if the rewards are great, it is a time-consuming, and sometimes all-consuming, task. Beverly Jarrett, principal at Far West High School in Oakland, Calif., put it this way in a recent article in District Administrator magazine: “You’re never in this place where you can relax. You’re always thinking about the next thing that needs to be done.” It is easy to understand why a principal could feel, as one put it, that “everyone is your boss.” After all, these capable leaders are simultaneously answering to students, parents, faculty, parents, community and business partners, not to mention their supervisors. Yet, many will tell you unequivocally that the rewards are innumerable, and that being a principal is the best job in the world. We believe our principals do that job phenomenally, and others see that as well. William Heiser of North County High School and Jason Dykstra of Southern Middle School were named Principals of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals recently, a rare double feat for any school system in a single year. Kay Panagopulos of Riviera Beach Elementary recently received a statewide award for her work in leading the school’s arts integration efforts. Last week, Walter Reap of Germantown Elementary was named a Distinguished Educational Leader by The Washington Post. They are not alone. Arundel High School’s Sharon Stratton, Annapolis High School’s Don Lilley, Solley Elementary School’s Bob Wagner, Linthicum Elementary School’s Fran Nussle, and others have received similar accolades from state and local groups in recent years. And every year, the Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs acknowledges a Principal of the Year at its Founders Day event. Good principals do far more than simply ensure a smooth operation of a school day or year. At every level they empower teachers and collaborate with them, with parents, and with community members to lay the foundation for the successful futures of students.
The writer is superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools |
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Principals: Education’s
Multi-Tasking Magicians