“You will make a great leader,” said the principal as I sat in his office. He had just approved my participation in a teacher leadership program.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I never felt comfortable in the principal’s office. This was no exception.
“And you know, we really need a new principal.”
by wemy principal meant the Ministry of Education. needhe was referring to Recent exodus of school administrators in the state of Hawaii.My condition is more than just suffering from an illness teacher shortageHowever, the mass retirement of administrators has also created a shortage of qualified leaders in schools. In response to this alarming trend, Hawaii Governor Josh Green recently approved the following plan: Encourage admin roles The position of assistant principal will be changed from a 10-month position to a year-round position, with a 20% salary increase.
The Hawaii program focuses on providing leadership training and resources in hopes of attracting fresh talent to principal and administrative roles. But I still don’t know if wanting to be a principal is enough.
Weigh the advantages and disadvantages
After nearly 20 years as a teacher, I have been reflecting on other ways I can contribute to the field of education outside of the classroom. Working with in-service teachers at university level or becoming a professional development provider are interesting options. However, all I can think about is school management.
Over the years, I have been humbled and inspired by the outstanding work principals and other administrators do in our schools. I am honored to have worked with and learned from these amazing role models. We are also extremely grateful for their leadership, vision, and unwavering encouragement. I want to be the kind of leader they were for me, and I feel somewhere in my heart that I should honor their guidance by becoming a leader in my school.
In considering whether to pursue a career as a principal, I have paid close attention to what the job entails. Unfortunately, my conversations and observations did little to increase my confidence. In fact, based on what I have seen and heard over the past five years, I fear that no one is actually capable of fulfilling the responsibility that rests squarely on the shoulders of a principal.
Based on my observations and conversations with friends and colleagues who are principals, here are some of the things a principal might be expected to do on a given day.
- When the cafeteria is understaffed, offer a spoonful of spaghetti to hungry students.
- Monitor packs of aggressive dogs roaming the campus until animal control arrives.
- If a health care worker calls you sick, they will apply an ice pack to you in the health room and take your temperature.
- Observe the trauma in the eyes of teachers who are told to “run, hide, fight” during class. active shooter drill Submissions by local law enforcement agencies. and,
- A personal call will be made to all school staff to share the tragic news of the passing of a beloved member of the school community.
Nurses, psychologists, mediators, cheerleaders, sous chefs, and animal caretakers are routinely required, which is why the number of administrative positions in schools across the country is increasing day by day. No wonder. Schools lack strong leadership It’s not just a school problem —That’s everyone’s problem. Students need strong teachers who support them, and teachers need strong principals who support their students. When leadership is compromised, everyone suffers.
Despite knowing all this, I’m still reluctant to step into the lead role. Current mistrust of administrators, a polarized political climate, and an unfavorable work-life balance make the prospect of becoming a principal unattractive.
you will need a better solution
After much thought and reflection, I realized that the issues plaguing school leaders are only a small part of the larger context of undervalued and underfunded schools. These problems cannot be solved with conflict resolution workshops, self-care days, or higher pay. These issues require large-scale systemic change. Here are some of the things I (and probably others like me) would need to change in order to consider pursuing a major role.
- Political leaders must demonstrate tolerance for other people’s ideas to restore civil discussion in our communities and schools. When prominent politicians publicly disregard traditional norms of behavior in favor of personal attacks, they normalize the bullying behavior that educators aspire to eradicate from their schools and communities. Moreover, routine disregard for traditional norms of public behavior reduces opportunities for safe sharing of disagreements. This atmosphere of disrespect is deeply felt by school leaders and principals, who are uniquely positioned to listen and respond to the voices of their school communities.
- More funding from policy makers will be allocated to staff who adequately support the roles schools need to function. Teachers often talk about setting their students up for success by making sure they have the right supplies and materials to thrive in school. The current situation with school principals is a perfect counterexample. Without sufficient funds, you are essentially setting yourself up for failure.
- Input system to protect administrators from getting caught up in partisan issues. When I imagine myself becoming a principal, I honestly worry about the hostility that might be directed toward me over controversial issues. In this intense political situation, principals who take the following positions: ban on books and curriculum war You could put yourself or your family in a dangerous position. We need a system to reduce the possibility. meeting It was so divisive that the speakers could not be heard over the booing and shouting. Fortunately, Hawaii has largely escaped conflict, but I’m concerned about what will happen as we approach an election year.
The lack of school leaders is a big problem and we need better solutions. I realized that there is not a shortage of principals, but rather a shortage of qualified people willing and able to work in the current situation facing school leaders. Principals face so many challenges every day that they shouldn’t solve them alone.
Choosing to become a principal in the current climate feels like I am walking into a position knowing that it could be detrimental to myself and my family. Although my heart is in service to public education, I cannot ignore the risks that outweigh the benefits.
