question for teachers: do principals matter?

[Anonymous]

The recent threads about new principals at some schools have gotten me thinking -- while our kids have had some great teachers (and a few duds) they and we have barely had any encounters with the principals of their divisions. Maybe it's just been our experience -- so far, at least -- but the principals just don't seem to have been been big factors in our kids' educational experience (this includes all 3 divisions, BTW). Are we missing their hidden significance? Teachers, what are your thoughts on this? Do principals matter and if so, how?

[Anonymous]

They may not matter as much to your kids if they never have any contact with them. If your child has special needs or behavioral issues, they do make a difference. I do my job the same no matter who is in charge. Some principals just make it harder or easier for me to do my job. The do set the tone for the school but if it is a good school, it will most likely stay that way as long as the same kind of families enroll and the same teachers are there.

[Anonymous]

A bad principal can drive out good teachers.

[Anonymous]

Yes, principals do matter (I'm a teacher); often because of their behind the scenes work in supporting the teacher. I work at a school where the principals get it right, I think -- they are receptive to reasonable parent complaints but they shield the classroom teachers as much as possible from unreasonable demands/abuse. I have friends at other schools who have occasionally been undercut/thrown to the wolves to satisfy a vocal and/or powerful family -- that saps morale like you wouldn't believe. It's a bit sad, but I think one of the number one jobs of private school administrators these days is to shield teachers from the parents.

Also, the students don't see it, but the principal is a big part of the hiring process. The fabulous new teacher beloved by all the kids was hired in large part due to the principal. Of course, this works the other way too, so gazes turn in the principal's direction if new teachers routinely don't work out.

I would also second the 09:21 post that they the qualities of the prinicpal will matter more if the child has special needs/behavioral/disciplinary issues.

[Anonymous]

Principals matter enormously. They set the tone for the school. They decide what and who they will support and won't support. They decide and lead what programs / curriculum / philosophy the school will take. They have say over budget. They determine how higher up policies will be implemented in their school. They determine what is and isn't important within the school. Some are real team players, some aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principals matter enormously. They set the tone for the school. They decide what and who they will support and won't support. They decide and lead what programs / curriculum / philosophy the school will take. They have say over budget. They determine how higher up policies will be implemented in their school. They determine what is and isn't important within the school. Some are real team players, some aren't.

This exactly. It doesn't matter whether the principal has day-to-day contact with the student. As a PP said, they set the entire tone for the school. If the morale is poor due to bad administration, that will wear down the teachers and will eventually trickle down to the classroom.

It's like any other workplace. If the leadership sucks, the company will be dysfunctional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals matter enormously. They set the tone for the school. They decide what and who they will support and won't support. They decide and lead what programs / curriculum / philosophy the school will take. They have say over budget. They determine how higher up policies will be implemented in their school. They determine what is and isn't important within the school. Some are real team players, some aren't.

This exactly. It doesn't matter whether the principal has day-to-day contact with the student. As a PP said, they set the entire tone for the school. If the morale is poor due to bad administration, that will wear down the teachers and will eventually trickle down to the classroom.

It's like any other workplace. If the leadership sucks, the company will be dysfunctional.

So true-Look at Mclean School. That school is a mess and it all starts with the head of the school. I would disagree about the day to day contact. At my DD school, the head of the school knows every kid. It makes a difference in how the kids feel a part of the school and when their is an issue, the head knows the players involved.

[Anonymous]

I concur w/ 13.01. Signed- a good teacher FINALLY at a good school w/ a good principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principals matter enormously. They set the tone for the school. They decide what and who they will support and won't support. They decide and lead what programs / curriculum / philosophy the school will take. They have say over budget. They determine how higher up policies will be implemented in their school. They determine what is and isn't important within the school. Some are real team players, some aren't.

Some are good managers with a strong vision for the school and handle difficult parents deftly. Many also, if they are a head of school, spend a large part of their time fund raising, their ability there has a lot of impact. Some are great wearing all these hats and are well paid for that ( 300-450K a year if also a head of school) I have seen other principals in action though who may have been hired from within due to being a popular teacher and lack strong management skills, and just try keep parent complaints from reaching higher up and, as a result, will sacrifice a good teacher to the wolves (demanding parents)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals matter enormously. They set the tone for the school. They decide what and who they will support and won't support. They decide and lead what programs / curriculum / philosophy the school will take. They have say over budget. They determine how higher up policies will be implemented in their school. They determine what is and isn't important within the school. Some are real team players, some aren't.

This exactly. It doesn't matter whether the principal has day-to-day contact with the student. As a PP said, they set the entire tone for the school. If the morale is poor due to bad administration, that will wear down the teachers and will eventually trickle down to the classroom.

It's like any other workplace. If the leadership sucks, the company will be dysfunctional.

So true-Look at Mclean School. That school is a mess and it all starts with the head of the school. I would disagree about the day to day contact. At my DD school, the head of the school knows every kid. It makes a difference in how the kids feel a part of the school and when their is an issue, the head knows the players involved.

I agree that it's important that the Head knows the students well; that's not really what I was trying to say, though. My point is, regardless of whether the principal sees a student on a given day, s/he is still impacting what happens in the child's classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bad principal can drive out good teachers.

This.

[Anonymous]

Where did the post about Sidwell's new LS head go? It disappeared.