ACE Principal Profile Results
Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center: April 7,2016
Dear Edison Faculty,
Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to help create a principal profile for Edison MLC. Your feedback is summarized below, ranked by the number of responses. This analysis of campus strengths and needs along with corresponding leadership qualities will help ensure we find the best possible candidates; and you deserve the best!
I know you have encountered many challenges this year but you have persevered to provide a better education for our students. Although discipline remains a challenge, it has improved from last year. There are so many areas of opportunity and that is exciting - knowing that we get a fresh start to collaboratively build a premier school!
I look forward to sharing an update in a couple of weeks and then scheduling the campus panel interviews.
Thanks again for your partnership,
Best Regards,
Jolee Healey
Top Three Campus Priorities
#1. Safe, Orderly and Positive Environment: The effective school has a positive, purposeful, businesslike environment, which is free from the threat of physical harm and operates with clear rules and procedures. This environment nurtures interaction between students and teachers that is collaborative, cooperative, and student centered. Programs that teach self-discipline and responsibility, as well as early systems to support students at-risk are effectively utilized.
#2. Instructional Leadership: The effective school understands instructional effectiveness within a well-managed instructional program. The principal leads faculty in taking an active role in instructional leadership.
#3. Staff Culture: Great staff cultures come from consistent actions that are aligned to the school’s mission. Leaders seek input from stakeholders and build systems of cohesive stakeholders.
Top 5 Characteristics for a New Principal
#1 Discipline: Discipline refers to protecting teachers from issues and influences that would detract from their instructional time or focus. Instructional time is paramount to teaching; more time on task. The principal has the responsibility to decrease the amount of distractions that impact instructional time.
#2 Situational Awareness: Situational awareness is knowledge of what is going on in the school, feelings and emotions, day to day activities. This will allow the leader to anticipate any issues, or be better prepared should a situation arise.
#3 Culture: Culture is the shared values, beliefs, and feelings of a community, and is evident in the artifacts and symbols that illustrate those priorities.
#4 Communication: Communication seems to possibly be the most important responsibility because it is integrated into most aspects of leadership.
#5 Change Agent: It is the responsibility of the school leader to challenge the status quo, to challenge the practices that are in place and to push towards new practices. The leader's responsibility is to take the staff out of their comfort zone in an attempt to develop new and better practices.
#5 Order: Order is the set of processes established to allow for the flow of work to be standardized. Efficient procedures allows for effort to be focused on areas of greater importance, such as student learning.