Prompt: What worked well as you reset expectations of your role this year as an aspiring/assistant principal? What do you wish you would have done differently? What are the implications for your leadership now?
Introducing myself in a new role as an aspiring principal this year has been rejuvenating in some contexts. In particular, I have re-established myself as a new type of leader within the department I oversee and the close teams I work with like the Instructional Leadership Team. I was able to leverage beginning of the year meetings and gatherings with my teams to reset norms and explain my new positionality. I had a one on one meeting with my new lead teacher to lay groundwork for work and potential demands for the year and once again relied on establishing the why so that my collaborative leadership understand purpose and could serve as an ally. Those who work closest with me know my purpose, they are collaborators, and they are cheerleaders for the work. At the same time, introductions in my new role are limited to the contexts in which I have created them. They have not necessarily penetrated the whole staff or macro level change at this time. The only whole staff level introduction of roles came from a principal email introducing the role and a brief statement of the work for the year. The whole staff does not yet know of my work or even what APA really means. I do believe my focus needs to be on where my work is and not on explaining basics to every staff member. In that regards, I don't anticipate spending too much time being retroactive and sharing more with the full staff. I do, however, think it is important every staff member understands what an aspiring principal shift means and how that might shift even the simplest of interactions as I seek to elevate my practice. I have the opportunity to be front facing with our entire teaching staff through professional learning structures and plan to include more of an overview of what I'm doing in that context so that everyone is aware. This will be particularly important as I hit the ground running on my listening tour with my team of interdisciplinary staff. I will need to spend some strategic time resharing my story, explaining purpose, and modeling being a lead learner with that group as I get going next week.
Your message makes me think of "Action Speak Louder than Words". While that introduction surrounding "Principal in Residency" landed in a black and white email, you are a natural when it comes to leadership. I can't wait to see how it comes full circle through the intentional planning of professional learning structures. This new role will radiate from you and your decision-making and leadership moves - just like it does in our sessions!
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