Two words of wisdom for new school leaders

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“The most valuable gift a principal can give teachers is confidence. Helping build their skills, and then encouraging and praising when appropriate, can go a long way toward cultivating this self-worth.”

- Todd Whitaker, What Great Principals Do Differently: Twenty Things That Matter Most

A colleague moving into her first year as a principal asked me if I have any words of wisdom for her.

I said I had two:

Trust teachers.

I became a head principal in 2011. Shortly after my hire, a teacher leader in my new building asked me if I would attend a literacy institute with other faculty. It was over the summer so I had time to commit to it. But instead, I declined. I cited the need to focus on finishing the master schedule and other managerial tasks.

Once that first year as a principal began, I realized what a mistake I made in declining to engage in professional learning with faculty. That teacher leader led our professional development based on the resources discovered at the institute. I fully participated in these sessions with faculty during the school year. But I understood too late what an opportunity I missed from declining that initial experience.

• We could have bonded, talking about the successes and challenges the school faced.

• I could have communicated the importance of professional learning in my commitment to attend the institute.

• I could have walked into that first day of school with initial trust established between faculty and me.

Instead, it took me longer to earn their trust during that initial school year.

When we say “yes” to teachers’ requests of our time and school resources, we also communicate that we believe in their ideas and decisions. I realize we cannot always say “yes”. But the more times we do, the more we show we believe in their capacity to lead.

This short article was originally published at Corwin Connect here. Join me today at #corwintalks on Twitter for additional tips and strategies for current and aspiring education leaders to engage students and amplify their voices.

Check out my free excerpt “Four Conditions for Trust” from Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H.: Five Strategies for Supporting Teaching and Learning (Corwin, 2022) below.