Leadership. Leadership! Leadership?

Okay, we get it. In order to have an effective school, we need to have effective leaders in those schools. Experience, school data, and research tells us that a school’s principal is a crucial factor in determining student (and teacher) success. They set the tone as well as the rules. We have all probably been around a really wonderful principal at some time in our lives and we have all probably spent time in a school with a less than stellar principal. We know the difference between (How do you find time to sleep?) good and (How did you manage to get a degree?) not good. But where are they? Are they all in charter schools and private schools? Is there a farm where these ambitious, selfless, innovative leaders are grown? Can we buy a leader?

The life of a city principal isn’t glamorous. Their schools’ doors are often open for twelve hours a day with before and after school programs. And if I were the sole leader of that building, I would want to be there as long as those doors are open. And the actual job? Let’s face it. People don’t go to the principal to offer praise. If you want to see him or her, there is usually a problem. It truly takes a special person to run a school. There has to be trust, shared leadership, respect, pride, and of course the commitment to educating our students. So again, where do we find these visionaries and how do we get them to stay in our city? My advice for school boards and principal leaders: accountability, mentoring, recruitment and training.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for our city’s schools and principals. I am also eager to see if Dr. Alonso does stay with us for the full ten years. If he does keep that commitment, I believe it will be a big step in the right direction. He may be the leader that many principals have been looking to follow for years.