What you did the day you said, “It’s ok! I’m going to be a great principal.”
· I actually managed to leave after only 10 hours! (New Principal)
· Completed a huge report on time! (New)
· A tough parent came to apologize and began to be a team player vs an adversary!
· I “herded” students to the GRAD rally and we all returned after having a great day!
· I began to understand the power of delegation (New)
· The evening the school board voted for my recommendation not to renew the contract of a successful cross country coach who was a hometown boy. (16 year veteran principal)
What happened the day you said, “Whoa! Why did I think I wanted to be a principal?”
· After a heated board meeting a disturbed parent grabbed me by the throat (11 year veteran)
· When I heard nothing but complaints (New Principal)
· One custodian in my office quitting; at the same time a cafeteria monitor was on the phone saying she has found a full time job (New Principal)
· Enrolled a family of 3 with all different and difficult issues
· What I planned to do never happened! (New Principal)
· Several events took place that needed my attention; these events defined me/my leadership style. (New)
· Staff member filing formal complaint against me
· That was today
· The incident involving a male teacher and a 10th grade girl. Yes, imagine the worse. 1986 was the year, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. (16 year veteran)
· All within a 4 hour period: a K child was missing, actually hiding from everyone while the faculty & staff looked frantically for him; a parent came to school angry that breakfast was cut off too early even though class was in session at 8:30; a teacher’s car was vandalized and a volunteer fainted (New)
Looking back, what is funny now that wasn’t then?
· We used a fire drill to avoid a student walkout (11 year veteran)
· A 350 lbs truck driver wanting to fight because I turned him in to DFCS
· Student being left at SciTrek after field trip!
· When I found out I had to replace half the teachers and all the custodial staff before I could even think about students! (New Principal)
· The need to redirect staff in meetings in a manner similar to redirecting students during instruction (New)
· Excuses that I get for NOT being able to do something (New)
· The time I was showing the executive director how nice, quiet and focused my students and staff were, when Bill came screaming and careening around yelling at the top of his voice “They’re after me!”
· We had someone leaving surprises all over the school (to keep this clean) we named this person the Phantom Pooper.