Follow the Leader!

Principals from Michigan's Diverse Schools Share Thoughts about Leadership

by Linda K. Wacyk, Communication Specialist

What is your personal leadership motto?

Many belief systems guide me, but one motto that keeps surfacing is the “Fish! Philosophy,” from the book, Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Lundin, Paul, and Christensen. Our school uses these four principles of the Fish! Philosophy to stay energized and engaged:

• Play. Find ways to make even the most serious tasks fun and playful.
• Choose your attitude. We DO have control over our attitudes, and positive attitudes are contagious!
• Be there. In a school, people are the priority, and they deserve a leader who is “there” not just visibly, but also mentally.
• Make their day. Make people feel involved and special about what they contribute.

Why did you choose to become a principal?

The idea of becoming a principal slowly crept into my head. As a teacher, I took on more and more building-wide responsibilities until I gained a well-rounded understanding of the work that principals do. However, I can honestly say that I hadn’t totally convinced myself that I wanted to be a principal until I was asked to be an “acting principal” in my district. That experience is what gave me the confidence that I truly could do the job!

If you could sign up for any course, what would it be?

One of the most growing experiences of my career was the Michigan Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), a national program of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL). I would love to continue this model of learning through a course that:

• Networks professionals from diverse backgrounds (not just educators) and allows them to creatively forge close, interdependent, and long-lasting relationships among themselves.
• Exposes me to the inside track on current educational issues of public policy and inspires me to effect change on a larger scale.
• Builds my skills as a facilitator and team builder.
• Prompts me to more deeply explore and hone my leadership skills and style.

What are the essential traits of a principal?

Although I am a principal, I still have to know how to be a teacher! A principal should be a capable instructional leader—know the curriculum well, be familiar with assessments, and use data to inform effective instruction. Beyond that, principals should be energetic; organized; efficient; resourceful; diplomatic problem solvers; and patient, attentive listeners. A principal also should be extremely level-headed and able to prioritize and juggle many tasks at once!

What factors lead to your success as a principal?

I listen to internal cues, especially when making critical decisions. I have learned that my “gut feeling” or sense of intuition is right about 99.9 percent of the time. I draw on the strengths and talents of others and let them lead on things they do well. I pride myself on having a friendly and inviting attitude. I am reliable, pay attention to details, and always follow through.

How do you help your staff meet the needs of diverse learners?

In our urban district, we have students receiving special education services, students with exceptional abilities, students at risk for failure, and students with ethnic and linguistic differences. To address this diversity, we study data to look for achievement gaps and incorporate strategies into our school improvement plan that address the needs of all learners. We take a team approach with our special education students so that we always are monitoring individual progress and adjusting our efforts to best meet each student’s needs. Our Student Support Team (SST), which includes a teacher consultant, school social worker, and school psychologist, holds bi-weekly meetings to collaborate and devise plans to better meet the needs of diverse learners.

What are your thoughts about the Board of Education Task Force’s recommendations to require certification for principals?

I believe that a “new system of endorsement” for school administrators is a very sound recommendation, and I believe that it will be most effective if implemented with many of the other actions mentioned in the report. We should be highly qualified for our work in education, and a foundation is certainly built by demonstrating competencies in educational and instructional leadership.

For more information, contact Tara Fry at Fairview Elementary School, 815 N. Fairview Ave., Lansing, MI 48912-3129, (517) 325-6784, tfry@lsd.k12.mi.us.

What is your personal leadership motto?

Be a servant to all. If you have a servant’s heart, no job is too big or too small.

If you could sign up for any course, what would it be?

Developing professional learning communities. I’m trying to move our building into that area. Also marketing our schools to the public.

What are the essential traits of a principal?

Passion for what they’re doing. If you’re lackadaisical about what you’re doing, that will rub off on students and staff. They respond to and respect a principal’s positive demeanor. What you model is much more powerful than what you say.

What factors lead to your success as a principal?

My colleagues, parents, and staff have rallied around me and helped me succeed. They say they appreciate my integrity, follow-through, passion, and high energy. Also, my Board of Education supports innovation.

How do you help your staff meet the needs of diverse learners?

I give teachers opportunities to stretch and be innovative. I encourage risk-taking and allow them time to explore together strategies that work. Also, we create diverse environments for different learning styles. We have categorical rooms, resource rooms, and inclusion. (Sinkel learned about the value of providing choices from his daughter who is deaf and hated being pulled out of the classroom.)

Do you have any words of wisdom?

Don’t go into this profession unless you love working with children. There is a real time commitment—more than just an eight- or nine-hour day, but be sure to create balance in your life. I take time every day for family. And I play with kids in my school. If we don’t have fun with the kids, we forget why we went into this job in the first place.

What are your thoughts about the Board of Education Task Force’s recommendations to require certification for principals?

I have mixed feelings. Many good educators and leaders are passed over just because—for whatever reason—they can’t pass a certification test. However, recruiting leaders from business and industry is risky. These areas are totally different from education. In education, you have no real control over your “raw materials.” You take everyone who walks through the door and teach and help them.

For more information, contact: Jerry Sinkel, Mackinaw Trail Middle School, 8401 S. Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601, (231) 876-5600, Jerry.Sinkel@cadillac.k12.mi.us.

What is your personal leadership motto?

"It's not about us; it's about the students whose lives depend on us."“[At our school] The main thing is the main thing: student achievement.”

Why did you choose to become a principal?

A great teacher made a difference for me. I had a dream that an entire school could be run with the warmth, fun, discipline, and enthusiasm of my classroom—a school that truly would make a difference for those whose lives had thrown them curveballs. I'm there today, with much work to do and much farther to go on behalf of kids.

If you could sign up for any course, what would it be?

"Saving Every Child, a Guaranteed Approach to Making a Difference in Every Situation." I just need to find a university that offers it.

What are the essential traits of a principal?

I think there are several:

• Compassion for the "human condition."
• Charisma, with an infectious hope and belief that anything is possible.
• Sense of humor and approachability.
• Guts and strength to operate on vision, mission, and principle, not politics.
• Outstanding communication skills—reading, writing, speaking, listening, and observing.
• A solid knowledge of effective instruction and leadership theory.

How do you help your staff meet the needs of diverse learners?

First, we provide a balance of interventionists and academic teachers on staff during all hours of the school day. Second, we meet weekly to design individualized academic and intervention plans for all needy students. I provide professional development for teachers so they can bring researched, effective practices to our school, and I share strategies on multiple intelligences and learning styles. Finally, I treat my staff as "surgeons" who should be respected as such when working with student learners. Interventionists keep these “academic surgeons” free from distraction.

Do you have any words of wisdom?

As my wife and I are expecting our first child, these words by Dr. Tim Quinn from the Michigan Leader-ship Institute are becoming clearer all the time. Every troubled kid who comes to us was once someone's newborn baby. Every parent who visits our school still has unconditional love for that child, no matter how difficult the situation. We must at all times, keep this in mind when dealing with our most challenged, difficult, resistant, and at-risk youth. We must respect them as valuable human beings—ones with hopes, dreams, feelings, insecurities, and aspirations.

What are your thoughts about the Board of Education Task Force’s recommendations to require certification for principals?

Standards are never a bad thing. Plus, they encourage staff to seek credentials as well. BUT, there is a shortage of principals. We want to keep an open door for good candidates. I would hope that principals who come into the job through non-traditional channels would seek credentials within a grace period. I wasn’t credentialed when I began this job, but I agreed to get what I needed within a reasonable period of time.

For more information, contact: Ryan Donlan, Bay-Arenac Community High School, 1608 Hudson St., Essexville, MI 48732, (989) 893-8811, admin@bachs.us.

What is your personal leadership motto?

A framed quote in my office clearly and constantly reminds me of my purpose here at Crary School. The quote is from Ghandi: "We have to be the change we wish to see in the world." If I want to see change in the world, I have to be a participant in the change process by positively impacting the lives of those with whom I come in contact.

Why did you choose to become a principal?

I didn't really "choose" to become a principal. I chose to become a special education teacher when I was in the sixth grade because of the very powerful love I have for children and young adults. When the opportunity for promotion presented itself, I reluctantly accepted. Although I would miss teaching, I felt as principal I could possibly have a greater impact on a larger number of children.

If you could sign up for any course, what would it be?

The course would be entitled: "How to Write and Illustrate Children's Literature."

What are the essential traits of a principal?

A principal must be passionate about children; committed to education; dedicated to the job and its responsibilities; and determined to provide children a safe, clean, and loving school environment. Principals must also have an understanding of the cognitive and affective stages of child development and how those stages impact children's behavior and academic performance.

What factors lead to your success as a principal?

My spirituality, love for children, positive attitude, determination, and sense of humor are all factors that have contributed to my success.

How do you help your staff met the needs of diverse learners?

We meet the needs of diverse learners by providing an environment that allows all children to feel successful through various school-sponsored events, clubs, and activities. Crary School has a broadcast club school store (run by students), honors club, "student of the month" recognition, and other activities.

What are your thoughts about the Board of Education Task Force’s recommendations to require certification for principals?

Certification for principals is an excellent requirement. Mentoring relationships between "seasoned" and aspiring or new principals would also be a "win-win" effort.

For more information, contact: Denise Powell, Crary Elementary School, 16164 Ashbury Park, Detroit, MI 48235, (313) 852-0612, denise_powell@dpsnet.detpub.k12.mi.us.

TOP of the Page