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Susan Ray's post to the Middle-L listserv in April '96 makes the point
simply and powerfully -- schools don't get better without good principals.
Several of her comments echo points made in the essay The
New Principal, published elsewhere in MiddleWeb.
The principal can make or break a middle school
I really do believe with all my heart that the principal can "make
or break" a middle school. When I first went to work in my present
school, there were no teams, poor morale, lack of discipline, little if
any parent interaction. The principal seemed to have the "divide and
conquer" theory of school management. As teachers, we were totally
responsible for discipline. Any unruly student need not be sent to the office
because they would come back and let the rest of the class know that nothing
was going to happen.
There was no discipline in the school as a whole, either. There was a lack
of expectations. Teachers were often times belittled in front of other faculty
members -- the faculty meeting seemed to be the favorite place. The principal
wanted no hassles from anyone.
Even the truly outstanding teachers had difficulty. They often got dumped
upon (with the toughest assignments). Since they had a knack for teaching,
they were successful but not without a great amount of stress. These teachers
just didn't have much of a network of support since we were all so fragmented.
The next year, the principal took a position in the district office. We
began the year with a new principal. She came in thinking that for the first
year she would spend most of her time observing and questioning. It took
her about a week to realize that things had to change, so she rolled up
her sleeves and started to work.
She began a club for the 8th graders called The MOB (Making Ourselves Better).
Two teams were formed that year, and a professor began working in collaboration
with the sixth grade team. We became a Professional Development School for
the University of Louisville.
We joined NMSA, a first for our school. Our teachers were encouraged to
attend conferences. We began a schoolwide progress report system that has
all be eliminated discipline problems. She made it possible for any 8th
grader who was willing to do their best in academics and behavior to go
on a trip to Washington, DC.
The next year, our entire faculty began teaming. We were given common planning
time. Now, when we have to refer a student to the office (and we seldom
do), the problem is dealt with. Our administrator supports us.
At first, she used a "top-down" approach. It has become less and
less that way each year. We now have a site-based council made up of the
principal, three teachers, and two parents. Teachers in our building have
been featured on KET (the state public television network), they've published
in teacher periodicals, presented at national conferences, and they are
mentoring student teachers as part of the Professional Development School.
In our case, the principal was a catalyst. She was the change agent we needed
in our middle school to become what we are today. Yes, it's possible for
one principal to make or break a middle school
-- I know, because I've seen it happen at our school.
Susan L. Ray
slray001@ulkyvm.louisville.edu
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