A Reader Writes... (Advice for the First Year Principal - Part 12)

In response to the post, “Advice for the First Year Principal – Part 10,” the LYS leader referred to, writes:

SC,

Thanks! Funny thing with a crisis like that is that regardless how much you prepare for 'the moment' to finally come, no one really has any good advice.

The ‘lack of backbone’ piece has really opened my eyes. I've learned a lot in a very short period of time, to say the very least!

SC Response
What you are experiencing is the crucible of education leadership development, the principalship. Nothing you did before truly prepared you for it, and once you go through it, you have an edge on every other leader in education that didn’t sit in that particular chair. Because when push comes to shove, you won’t think that you can run a school, you will know that you can run a school.

When I was a principal, when the going got tough I would sometimes remind myself of the following:

1. They don’t pay me the medium sized bucks to do the easy stuff.
2. If they are going to fire me, it will be for exceeding my authority, not abdicating it.

Then later in my career, I would tell my principals the following, “We can work through the did something. I have no time for the did nothing.”

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...