How To Maintain Professionalism.... It's really hard sometimes.

When teachers don't do what's best for our children it is not only frustrating, but it makes it so difficult to maintain a professional relationship with those teachers. The education profession is challenging every single day; and if you're not up for the challenge then you are in the wrong profession.

If I Get One More Parent Call or Email I'm Going To Scream!

I've received more parent calls and emails in the last 5 weeks than I'd care to count. Some parents are upset because of something their child has shared with them. Unfortunately they don't have all of the information. In other cases, the teachers are dropping the ball. As the principal, I'm only going to support teachers if they are supportable.

Can I Make It Until The End of The Year?

Yesterday was, by far, the strangest day I've ever had a principal. I had a teacher not show up for work. She didn't call in and when we tried to reach her we were unable to do so. She was truly MIA.

Maybe I Should Have Stayed In My Office

As I conducted walk-throughs this afternoon I started wishing I should have stayed in my office. One of the classrooms was out of control. It took everything I had not to just take over. Another classroom was filled with so much negativity. I walked away wondering what could be done to help these teachers.

The Circus Juggler

I felt like a juggler in the circus today. I was juggling ARD meetings and office referrals all day. I definitely earned my pay today.

Dallas Student Inspires Teachers

Special Education Students

Everyday I become increasingly curious as to why some teachers have such low expectations of our special education students. Do they not realize that special education students can learn. They just learn differently. LD does not stand for Lower D expectations.

Data Drives Decision

Today was a good day. I conducted 5 classroom walk-throughs and one 45 minute observation. I also facilitated a lead teacher meeting after school. My meeting agenda included student data, goal setting, and special education students.

Every decision we make for our students should be based on data. We should be constantly collecting data and discussing better/different ways to reach our struggling students. We should also remember to have high expectations for all students; including special education students.

I Need To Talk To You About My Child's Attendance

A mom came in the other day and wanted to talk to me about her son's attendance. He has been picked up early several times this year and mom wanted to let me know what was going on with her family. I soon discovered that mom is ill and has to receive weekly treatment for the next few months so her son has to be picked up early.

I'm sure it was difficult for this mom to share such personal information; but I'm so glad she decided to share this information with me. The student's absences will be excused until mom completes treatment.

This is just another great example why it's so important to keep the lines of communication open.

Why Do You Have To Work So Late?

People seem to always be amazed at the fact that as a principal I may not leave school until 5:00 or 6:00. Most principals get the bulk of their work done after the students and teachers are gone. It's almost impossible to get anything done when there are endless interruptions from teachers who need help with this and help with that; and students who are misbehaving and cannot remain in the classroom. Today was a longer day than most because of our PTA meeting.

7:30-7:50 Greet Students

7:50-7:58 Prepare for announcements. Prep students on what they will need to do.

8:00-8:03 Announcements

8:03 Return parent call. (I had to leave a message)

8:05-8:25 Meet with one of our paraprofessionals to work on a plan to provide breakfast for students who can't afford to pay.

8:25-8:45 Check emails (This goes on throughout the day; and on any given day I might have 60 or more emails.)

8:45-8:50 Approve field trips

8:50-9:10 Unexpected meeting with a teacher about some students she's having problems with in the classroom.

9:10-9:20 Meet with the lead custodian to discuss some materials that are needed.

9:20 Leave for my principal's meeting

10:00-1:30 Principal's meeting (software and student data is discussed)

1:30 Pick up custodial materials

2:15 Arrive back at school

2:15-2:30 Unexpected meeting with a teacher about a few of her students

2:30-3:05 Reviewed campus data for grades 3-5

3:05 Called down to a classroom to help with dismissal. (I was with this class for 10 minutes. I helped escort them to their dismissal areas)

3:15 Another unscheduled meeting with a teacher. She needs advice about how to handle a conference with a parent.

3:25 Tried to contact the parent I called earlier in the day since I hadn't heard from her. I had to leave another message.

3:30-4:20 Meeting with a group of teachers to discuss the results of a survey we administered to our students about school safety.

4:20-5:00 Checked emails and complete paperwork all the while getting interrupted by teachers with a variety of questions.

5:00 Go get dinner

5:20-6:00 Brought my dinner back and ate as I check more emails and completed more paperwork.

6:00-7:00 PTA board meeting

7:00-7:30 PTA Student Performance

7:30-7:35 I talked to parents and thanked them for coming out. One parent told me how much she likes the changes that have taken place since I've been at this school. Another parent wanted to know what measures were in place to prevent the spread of swine flu.

7:35-7:40 Checked my last few emails and prepared to leave.

7:50 Arrived at home

Who's That At The Door?

I'm at my computer working on an agenda for our upcoming staff development and I hear a noise at my door. I turn around and a student is coming through my door visibly upset. The student sits in one of my chairs and refuses to respond when I ask why she's in my office. I inform the student that I'm going to continue to work and when she's ready to talk I will be ready to listen. She then crawls under my desk and sits there for a few minutes. As I work at my computer she stands up and tells me she's ready to talk. I soon discover that she the reason she was upset is because she wasn't able to pass out folders in the classroom. Wow! If I got this upset every time I didn't get to do what I wanted I'd be in big trouble.

Once A Teacher Always A Teacher

I thought that once I became a principal my days of teaching lessons was over. Boy was I ever wrong. I had two students in my office today and I spent much of my time helping them with their assignments and teaching skills they have yet to master. There was little time for me to do my work because I was doing the teacher's work, teaching. Of course it's not the teacher's fault. A student shouldn't stay in the classroom when he is hitting, kicking, and refusing to do what the teacher asks.

Best Princeable Ever

When I returned from a meeeting yesterday morning I had a note on my desk from one of my students and it read "Once upon a time there was a princeable name Mrs. __________ She is super nice. She is the best princeable ever." It's days like this that remind me why I show up everyday.

Consistency

If your want your child to be success you have to be consistent with consequences and rewards.

Gynaecological Exam

I've been an educator for many years and I have never had a parent ask if our clinic performed paps smears. Yes you read it right. A parent came to enroll her son and she asked the office staff if our clinic performed paps smears.

We educate, discipline, feed, and sometimes clothe students. Are we now going to be required to perform physical exams.

Keep them at Home

If your child is throwing up before they come to school please keep them at home.

Training All Week

I have been in training most of the week (3 days) and I can only imagine what awaits me in the morning. Each day I've been away from the building I've had at least 70 emails each day; and I'm sure I'll have plenty of paperwork in my basket when I return tomorrow.

Safe and Civil Schools and Diversity

I received training, along with the staff on how to create a more safe, and more civil school; and about how to embrace our diverse population of students. The training was great! It just reinforced how we need to continue putting students first regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Today was a good day

Today I was able to complete 11 classroom walk-throughs and put a dent in the ever growing paperwork.

Why do some teachers think Principals have all the answers?

It always amazes me how many time teachers come to me expecting me to have all of the answers and to solve all of their problems. When I was in the classroom I never looked to my principal for the answers. I knew my students best and it was up to me to figure out the best way to teach them.