Elementary and
Middle School Principals Respond
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“When asked, principals will tell
you that they took the job to help kids and to improve instruction,
but that they find themselves burdened with increasing and
often conflicting responsibilities. Among the conflict-generating
elements cited most often are special education, school
improvement, annual reports, accountability, core curriculum,
student safety, gender and equity issues, mission statements,
goals and outcomes, staff development, building level decision
making, curriculum alignment, student achievement, Michigan
Educational Assessment Program assessments, other assessments,
and accreditation.”
Elevating Educational Leadership
Task Force Report, August 8, 2002
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Editor’s Note: Members of the Michigan
Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMPSA)
responded to the following question, posted on the MEMPSA listserv,
in collaboration with Leading Change and Joanne Welihan,
Executive Director, MEMSPA. The Michigan Department of Education
offers assistance on these and other topics challenging school
leaders. Visit www.michigan.gov/mde
or look for additional web linked resources at www.cenmi.org.
As a school leader, what is the biggest
challenge you are facing this year and what are you going to do
to address the challenge?
“As a relatively new principal, I feel overwhelmed by some
of the special education issues that we are faced with in public
education. I want to meet everyone’s needs, and it seems
quite overwhelming some days when some students require so much
of my time and energy. I plan on continuing to educate myself
on these special education issues and network with other administrators
to see how they are handling difficult needs. I will continue
to plan for time to spend with ALL students rather than allowing
a few to dominate my time.”
Melissa Schaedig
Alpena
Public Schools
Schaedigm@alpenaschools.com
“As a principal in an urban school district, I face many
challenges. The biggest is getting students to school every day
and on time. Staff complains that the main reason that students
are not achieving is because of attendance. Some of the incentives
that the school is considering are:
- Scuba lessons for grades 6-8.
- Concert tickets for grades 6-8.
- An all-grade luncheon.
- AAA offered three bikes per grade level that students will
have an opportunity to win with tickets for having completed
a full week of school.
- A volunteer telephone bank for calling students home each
morning.
We are interested in any additional suggestions.”
Ora Beard
Detroit Public
Schools
Orabeard@detroitk12.org
“I am a special education director with Lenawee
Intermediate School District and we’ve just reviewed
and updated our strategic plan (our 3rd time since the late 1980s).
One of my challenges is to address and balance the tactical issues
and the strategic issues. I often refer to this challenge as fire
containment and fire prevention happening at the same time. One
example where a need for this balance occurs is with our high
number of students with learning disabilities. We have to ask
how we can impact current curriculum changes and literacy development
with the general education population, while addressing the current
needs of students identified with learning disabilities, while
providing appropriate assessments and services. This balancing
act flows across all the initiatives.”
Vicki Carpenter
Vcarpent@scnc.lisd.k12.mi.us
“I think our biggest challenge will be making Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) as it applies to Education YES! Through our North
Central Accreditation (NCA) and school improvement committees,
we will work as a team to assess areas of needed growth and develop
action plans to address these areas. Professional development
and parental support also will be necessary to ensure a steady
increase in student achievement. With budget cuts, we will need
to be creative with regard to professional development sources
and funding. We plan on requiring a curriculum map from every
teacher as well as benchmark checklists that teachers use to check
off/date when benchmarks are taught. Our goal is to make sure
that all the benchmarks are being covered at every level... As
the year unfolds, we will refine our plans, always keeping our
eye on the target.
Susanne Price
Lake
Orion Community Schools Schools
Sprice@lakeorion.k12.mi.us
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