Being a Principal

A parent recently asked me what was the hardest part of my job.  I smiled and causally said, "Keeping everyone happy." I didn't elaborate, and the conversation went into a different direction, but the question has been hiding in the dark corners of my mind ever since. When I started teaching in 1993, I never imagined that I was going to be a principal one day.  I feared the principal who hired me---he never smiled, never complimented, never really spoke.  I don't remember faculty meetings or parties---I just remember that I really struggled as a first year teacher, and I was too afraid to ask for help. As my career progressed, and I changed schools, I grew to love my profession.  I loved teaching--I loved kids---I loved school.  I spent hours creating lessons and grading papers.  I sponsored Student Council, Cheerleading, Prom, and Mock Trial.  I volunteered to be at every function, and I was the loudest voice at every school event, cheering on my kids.  Teaching was all I ever wanted to do---it was who I was---it was my heart. I didn't serve on the school leadership team--I wasn't department chair--I wasn't on Site Base.  I never knew what happened in the front office because I was too occupied dealing with my own little teaching world.  I could simply close the door and find my place as the Queen of my classroom. I was a teaching "goddess"--I could out-teach any of my peers.  The kids loved me, and they were prepared for college when they left my classroom. I never thought I would be a principal--it just wasn't me.

Then one day, something happened. I was called into the principal's office and questioned about an incident that had nothing to do with me. I saw kids who were victimized by an administrator who had no idea or clue what he was doing. I went to my classroom, and I sat and looked at all the desks in my room.  I realized that I could impact the 150 students that walked into my class every day when it came to reading, writing, philosophy, and a passion for learning, but I couldn't make a difference where it mattered the most---equity, social justice, fairness, responsibility, second chances, and the belief that education was a means to improve our society. I looked on-line and enrolled in a Master's degree program to become an administrator.

Some of my teachers have asked me if I have ever regretted my decision to become a principal.  Although I miss the classroom very much, I have never once thought I made the wrong decision. Being a principal has been the hardest, but the most rewarding career path. I wasn't joking that the hardest part of being a principal is keeping everyone happy.  I have so many people that I have to appease, motivate, encourage, and support, and they all have different demands.  It isn't easy to keep 1000 students, 2000 parents, 40,000 community members, 100 teachers/staff members, 3 bosses, and 7 school board members happy--in fact, it is next to impossible.  Yes, I work at it every day, with a smile on my face and love in my heart.  I may not be able to do everything, but what I can do, makes a difference every day.  :o)