A New Principal Learns What It Takes To Survive The Storm

Learning Forward

Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.

A new principal learns what it takes to survive the storm

By Tim Stanley

Categories: Career pathways, Leadership, Teacher leadership

When I arrived at Freedom Hill Elementary School in a driving rainstorm two years ago to be introduced as the new building principal, my umbrella would not open on the way into the building. I got drenched. What a fitting sign — with a professional staff of more than 100 adults and a student body of 500 children, I was feeling underprepared and overwhelmed. The skills and knowledge I had gained over 25 years as a teacher would need to be completely retooled, much like my umbrella. Honestly, I feared that I would be a failure. However, my mentors and my wife listened and reminded me to hold tight to my mission. A former principal told me to approach every decision thinking of what was

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