Expectations of principals

[Anonymous]

It’s probably because that’s how PP’s principal is and he is trying to justify it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just started at a new school w/ an established principal. He:
- Is often outside to greet students/parents on the way in (and made a real effort to greet each person on the first day).
- Greeted parents/students at club sign up night.
- Did the first day of school spiel for parents.
- Did the back to school night spiel for parents (x2, since they split the grades in half so his remarks could focus on different things & parents w/ children in different grades could do the in-the-classroom bit for both kids).
- Did a last year's test scores spiel for parents (x2, so parents could attend pre- or post-work).
- Sent a back to school email over the summer and one or two other updates since school started.
- Responded personally to my email about a bureaucratic snafu (I had just asked him to pass it on to the right person since his was the only available address and I needed an answer before school started).

I would be really sketched out if I hadn't heard from him at all yet!

Yes, so for instance at our Back to School Night, new principal didn't greet anyone just left other staff to speak, although she was there. She has not sent out anything yet to parents by way of introduction (except one message embedded in the newsletter). I think perhaps she is letting the communications staff person, the AP, the ED, even the board do all communication and is staying behind the scenes, but it is odd and doesn't bode well to me.

At our school, we don't even have that. We do not have a school newsletter. No staff seems to think that they are responsible for sending out information so, you have to ask about every little thing and then maybe there will be a message sent out maybe not.

Honestly that was us until about a year ago when admin changed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably because that’s how PP’s principal is and he is trying to justify it.

Or... I work in schools & see parents run out great school leaders. You all are running everyone ragged. And to the pp, I know it’s 2019. Having coffee with a SAHM does not a good school leader make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably because that’s how PP’s principal is and he is trying to justify it.

Or... I work in schools & see parents run out great school leaders. You all are running everyone ragged. And to the pp, I know it’s 2019. Having coffee with a SAHM does not a good school leader make.

Expecting the principal to be present at school for 1/2 hour at drop off, attend a few nightly school events like back to school night, host 3-4 coffee meetings a year, send out 1 general email to the school community 3-4 times a year, and be accessible via email is not running out great leaders.

BTW, I’m the PP you are referring to and I’m not a SAHM. I’m an educated working mom with an advanced degree in a successful career who is very busy. I manage and lead a team at work. So I know what it takes to lead successfully. And that is not hiding out from parents and blending into the background. It’s being present, being accountable when things go wrong and offering solutions to fix it. It’s effective communication to the team and listening to everyone’s suggestions and providing feedback why something might or might not work.

And if you don’t feel that the parent community is part of your team along with the teachers and staff - all with the same goal in mind in helping the school succeed - then you are the problem.

Lastly, our principal is hosting the first coffee meeting soon. She has notified everyone that there will be 2 times that day, after am drop off and in the evening. She is astute enough to know that not all families have a stay at home parent and accommodating her schedule to provide all parents the opportunity to attend. That is a sign of a good leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably because that’s how PP’s principal is and he is trying to justify it.

Or... I work in schools & see parents run out great school leaders. You all are running everyone ragged. And to the pp, I know it’s 2019. Having coffee with a SAHM does not a good school leader make.

Expecting the principal to be present at school for 1/2 hour at drop off, attend a few nightly school events like back to school night, host 3-4 coffee meetings a year, send out 1 general email to the school community 3-4 times a year, and be accessible via email is not running out great leaders.

BTW, I’m the PP you are referring to and I’m not a SAHM. I’m an educated working mom with an advanced degree in a successful career who is very busy. I manage and lead a team at work. So I know what it takes to lead successfully. And that is not hiding out from parents and blending into the background. It’s being present, being accountable when things go wrong and offering solutions to fix it. It’s effective communication to the team and listening to everyone’s suggestions and providing feedback why something might or might not work.

And if you don’t feel that the parent community is part of your team along with the teachers and staff - all with the same goal in mind in helping the school succeed - then you are the problem.

Lastly, our principal is hosting the first coffee meeting soon. She has notified everyone that there will be 2 times that day, after am drop off and in the evening. She is astute enough to know that not all families have a stay at home parent and accommodating her schedule to provide all parents the opportunity to attend. That is a sign of a good leader.

Why does every parent think they know what it takes to ‘lead a school?
I had to call a plumber this weekend. I have an advanced degree. I know what it takes to manage plumbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably because that’s how PP’s principal is and he is trying to justify it.

Or... I work in schools & see parents run out great school leaders. You all are running everyone ragged. And to the pp, I know it’s 2019. Having coffee with a SAHM does not a good school leader make.

Expecting the principal to be present at school for 1/2 hour at drop off, attend a few nightly school events like back to school night, host 3-4 coffee meetings a year, send out 1 general email to the school community 3-4 times a year, and be accessible via email is not running out great leaders.

BTW, I’m the PP you are referring to and I’m not a SAHM. I’m an educated working mom with an advanced degree in a successful career who is very busy. I manage and lead a team at work. So I know what it takes to lead successfully. And that is not hiding out from parents and blending into the background. It’s being present, being accountable when things go wrong and offering solutions to fix it. It’s effective communication to the team and listening to everyone’s suggestions and providing feedback why something might or might not work.

And if you don’t feel that the parent community is part of your team along with the teachers and staff - all with the same goal in mind in helping the school succeed - then you are the problem.

Lastly, our principal is hosting the first coffee meeting soon. She has notified everyone that there will be 2 times that day, after am drop off and in the evening. She is astute enough to know that not all families have a stay at home parent and accommodating her schedule to provide all parents the opportunity to attend. That is a sign of a good leader.

Why does every parent think they know what it takes to ‘lead a school?
I had to call a plumber this weekend. I have an advanced degree. I know what it takes to manage plumbers.

I mean, it sounds sensible to me what PP said. But you’re also right. This is why I asked the question. Any teachers can chime in?