Nuances in Education

Education is a rewarding field. As the principal of a K–3 building a rural town in the middle of Michigan, I work with several wonderful teachers and about 250 awesome youngsters. Most days are a great deal of fun.

A few third graders, a teacher, and I produce a daily five–minute TV show. It's a lot of fun. We share the daily news, menu, information about weather, and discuss Character Counts! Several times throughout the day, the youngsters remind me that, "I saw you on TV today."

Last week was a busy one, though. Several things happened that took me outside of the school building and away from my number one job, helping kids achieve. What else does a principal do beside "principal?"

Monday, I had to attend a Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) meeting. The MEAP window begins on October 8 and runs for three weeks. Our philosophy is that the MEAP is a test that is an evaluation of what we do and what our children have learned. That night, I attended our district's meeting of the Board of Education.

Tuesday featured a trip to Greenville, about 15 miles from my school. Two other principals and I are taking part in a Classroom Walk Through (CWT) series wherein we learn the value and technique behind a short three–minute visit to a teacher's classroom. Deep stuff — not to mention a steep learning curve since it involves watching the "what" of teaching not the "how."

Wednesday looked good on my weekly calendar to teachers. However, because of a major change in our transportation department, our business manager scheduled a short meeting for 9:30 a.m. Well, prior to that meeting, a few of my teachers and I had to meet with some intermediate school district (ISD) employees to set up some special education paperwork for some children we are trying desperately to help succeed. That lasted past 9:30, but I excused myself (and apologized) at 9:25 and headed to the meeting at our district's central office.

Following that meeting, I had to meet with some additional personnel about another concern in our district. Finally, I returned to the elementary where I work and "got to work." I visited all the classrooms, talked to some children, and found out some information I needed to look into.

Thursday's out–of–office experience was back into Stanton and a visit to the ISD to take part in a literacy leaders workshop with another district principal and two Title I teachers. I left this meeting early because we seemed to be missing some important documents back at the building and United Parcel Service showed they were delivered on September 12. Yikes. They were located in a classroom because they were addressed "interestingly."

Friday's trip was to Shepherd for a Central Area Title I Committee (CATC) meeting. A great time for visiting with Title I personnel from other districts, this meeting concluded around noon and then I returned to the office.

It looks like I'll be in my office (or classrooms) most of this week. Sometimes it seems like everything happens at one time. It's amazing how much "stuff" there is to do in education.

Don't read anything crazy into this post. I love my job and look forward to it every day. I just know that I've heard the question before, "What does a principal do?" Well, to sum it up, a principal is a building manager, instructional leader, student proponent, teacher supporter, counselor, friend, listener, community relations expert, marketer, receptionist, etc. It's a lot of fun!!!

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