The principal sets the tone for the school. The new MCS principal must be a leader who creates an environment in which the teachers and students are happy to be. Productivity depends upon an optimistic, encouraging environment. Teachers, especially, must be happy working with the principal. The principal must be progressive and support an education program that is forward-thinking. I would like to see the new principal support and help bring a healthier school lunch program to MCS. We are way behind in this area. There are many wonderful local organic farmers in our community. High quality food is available, and currently our kids are not getting it through the hot lunch program. I would like to see the new principal encourage other healthy practices; plenty fresh air and exercise during the school day, and more outdoor science projects.
The principal sets the tone. I would like to see a thoughtful principal who listens, respects and reasons, and is open to trying new ideas. The principal should recognize that many parents work, and while the school is not childcare, the reality is that the school is where our kids are during the day. To that end, the prinicpal should respect parent schedules. The teachers of Monkton are, for the most part, very good but the principal should not be afraid to step in when a teacher is creating problems.
One of the most important qualities my child identified in what made our previous principal an excellent leader included an ability to make each student feel known, appreciated for his or her talents, and valued as a member of the school community. The principal should want to know each child's name, a bit about that growing person's strengths and dreams, and be the chief cheerleader for each student and teacher, providing support and encouragement when needed. The principal must see this as not a chore, but as an honest responsibility. Friendly acknowledgment in a walk down the hallway, or when visiting classrooms should continue to be the norm for our incoming leader. Our school is home for our kids during the day and their workplace. Enjoy your job and the students will enjoy theirs.
The ability to make the children feel important. Work to bring some of the administration tasks and school information into the online age. Provide the ability to work through issue resolution between parents, teacher, and students.
If we are going to continue to have student populations which fluctuate from year to year, we need a principal who feels it is important to have a consistent, cohesive policy regarding class size and the appropriateness of multi age classrooms. A background in this sort of balancing act (maybe even some training in the PRINCIPLES of multiage ed) would benefit a school like Monkton. Maybe a principal who feels very invested in straight classes (not multiage) and is willing to work with teachers to build capacity if they have a ballon year (with a greater number of students than other teachers.) I feel this is the single area that Monkton is the weakest in. We practice willy-nilly multiage ed, there is not training in maintaining the principles of good multiage ed, we let the numbers run the show. Although this doesn't effect some students some have strange swings in their classroom assignments. This year I know a student who had one teacher for 1,2,3rd grades ,so last year he was in a classroom with second graders and this year is in a multiage classroom with 5th graders! Some of the "specials" curriculum gets repeated, some gets lost altogether.Addressing this is very important in meeting the social and academic needs of our children.
The principal sets the tone for the school. The new MCS principal must be a leader who creates an environment in which the teachers and students are happy to be. Productivity depends upon an optimistic, encouraging environment. Teachers, especially, must be happy working with the principal.
ReplyDeleteThe principal must be progressive and support an education program that is forward-thinking.
I would like to see the new principal support and help bring a healthier school lunch program to MCS. We are way behind in this area. There are many wonderful local organic farmers in our community. High quality food is available, and currently our kids are not getting it through the hot lunch program. I would like to see the new principal encourage other healthy practices; plenty fresh air and exercise during the school day, and more outdoor science projects.
The principal sets the tone. I would like to see a thoughtful principal who listens, respects and reasons, and is open to trying new ideas.
ReplyDeleteThe principal should recognize that many parents work, and while the school is not childcare, the reality is that the school is where our kids are during the day. To that end, the prinicpal should respect parent schedules.
The teachers of Monkton are, for the most part, very good but the principal should not be afraid to step in when a teacher is creating problems.
Administrate wisely!
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important qualities my child identified in what made our previous principal an excellent leader included an ability to make each student feel known, appreciated for his or her talents, and valued as a member of the school community. The principal should want to know each child's name, a bit about that growing person's strengths and dreams, and be the chief cheerleader for each student and teacher, providing support and encouragement when needed. The principal must see this as not a chore, but as an honest responsibility. Friendly acknowledgment in a walk down the hallway, or when visiting classrooms should continue to be the norm for our incoming leader. Our school is home for our kids during the day and their workplace. Enjoy your job and the students will enjoy theirs.
ReplyDeleteThe ability to make the children feel important. Work to bring some of the administration tasks and school information into the online age. Provide the ability to work through issue resolution between parents, teacher, and students.
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to continue to have student populations which fluctuate from year to year, we need a principal who feels it is important to have a consistent, cohesive policy regarding class size and the appropriateness of multi age classrooms. A background in this sort of balancing act (maybe even some training in the PRINCIPLES of multiage ed) would benefit a school like Monkton. Maybe a principal who feels very invested in straight classes (not multiage) and is willing to work with teachers to build capacity if they have a ballon year (with a greater number of students than other teachers.) I feel this is the single area that Monkton is the weakest in. We practice willy-nilly multiage ed, there is not training in maintaining the principles of good multiage ed, we let the numbers run the show. Although this doesn't effect some students some have strange swings in their classroom assignments. This year I know a student who had one teacher for 1,2,3rd grades ,so last year he was in a classroom with second graders and this year is in a multiage classroom with 5th graders! Some of the "specials" curriculum gets repeated, some gets lost altogether.Addressing this is very important in meeting the social and academic needs of our children.
ReplyDelete