Almost Done!

Well I just handed in my personal growth plan and my school improvement plan for marking and just need to put a few finishing touches on my presentation and I will be done all of my course work. 10 classes completed, only 2 to go! We had a discussion on Monday at noon about why anyone would want to be a principal seeing as the increase in pay is not that significant. My comment was that there is a sense of accomplishment...a sense of being in control (even if you're not!)...a sense that a lot of what happens in the school is directly because of your own efforts (although the principal probably receives more credit than he or she deserves). I find it's the same sense of satisfaction that I get when I have completed the work for another class in my Masters program. There is a little bit of a high or rush that you get from knowing your hard work has paid off. I remember getting the same rush while being in the classroom whenever a student "figures it out" or "gets it". There is more to job satisfaction than just a paycheque...I guess it goes to show that teachers are special people (because we definitely don't get paid enough!).

Have a good one!
KH

Next Year Time

It's hard to believe that I have already started planning for the next school year already! One of my school division's goals was to complete staffing levels at our schools earlier than the middle of April so that ads could go out sooner. Well the division made their goal, as we have our staffing levels already, allowing me and other principals to begin planning teaching loads for next year. I find this exercise to be extremely fun and interesting as it is one big puzzle... and I enjoy logic puzzles. Also, planning teaching loads and course offerings and class assignments allows me to put into practice ideas and theory that I have developed to see how my ideas will work. Another interesting thing this year is that I have already had 3-4 teachers come to me already to discuss next year. It is exciting to see my staff excited and ready to not only complete this year but to start planning for the next one. Two years ago, when I became principal, I don't think the staff would have been thinking 6 months ahead in the middle of March. It tells me that things are on the right track and the school is moving in the right direction. I love it when a plan comes together!

Until next time...have a good one.
KH

Time to get caught up on some blogging...About a month ago I asked for volunteers to form a committee to develop a bullying policy for our school. We did not have anything formally written. The reason for the committee was because I just could not find time to do it myself and it would help develop leadership capacity in the building, part of my personal growth plan. The committee not only came up with a policy for the school but have taken on the task of organizing bullying workshops for students, surveys to collect data on bullying, and so on. When I was first told by the committee that they wanted to do more than just develop a policy, I almost said no we just need a policy. What a mistake that would have been! It has been a great experience to see the theory around shared leadership and building leadership capacity come to life and grow beyond anything I had ever imagined in this instance. As the principal of the school, I am still kept in the loop on what the committee is planning (they haven't tossed me aside yet!) but I mostly stay out of the way or offer advice, if asked. Now to further my evil plan of developing more leadership capacity so that I can put my feet up more often (I kid, I kid), I need to come up with other areas for staff to form committees and take on a leadership role as it has been clearly evident the enthusiasm that is created in that capacity.

Until next time...KH