Applying to a school with new leadership

[Anonymous]

why dont you just meet with the new head and see what their philosophy is? I understand posters saying it isn't all about one person, however, I am a great believer that the principal of a school sets the tone and the mood of a place and often the teaching staff is a reflection of the principal - you usually only hire people who are like you in disposition.

I viewed one school where the principal seemed very superficial and distant with parents and looked everybody up and down when she met them - and the teaching staff appeared a little pretentious and affected too. I then moved on and found a school where the principal was energetic, bright, well travelled (internationally) and seems very at ease with people and interested in what they say - the teachers are the same way.

The school you choose has to be as good a fit for you as for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why dont you just meet with the new head and see what their philosophy is? I understand posters saying it isn't all about one person, however, I am a great believer that the principal of a school sets the tone and the mood of a place and often the teaching staff is a reflection of the principal - you usually only hire people who are like you in disposition.

I viewed one school where the principal seemed very superficial and distant with parents and looked everybody up and down when she met them - and the teaching staff appeared a little pretentious and affected too. I then moved on and found a school where the principal was energetic, bright, well travelled (internationally) and seems very at ease with people and interested in what they say - the teachers are the same way.

The school you choose has to be as good a fit for you as for your child.

Great idea in theory, but meeting with the new head is not always an option - especially at the application stage. For one, he/she may be located in another city and unavailable. Or consider Sheridan, they won't have a new head until Fall 2015 so there is no future head for 2014-2015 applicants to meet with.

[Anonymous]

New head at SSSAS too.

[Anonymous]

ok good point - I understand that it is not always possible to meet the new head. However, you would usually evaluate your school on an annual basis anyway to see how it was going and if it was serving your child's needs so if a change of head did not work for you then you could consider a change.