Summary: <br> As you are re-engaging with your school community, what lessons are you learning as you walk through this new journey with your staff, students, parents and community? <br> <br> <br> <br> Photo by Julian Wan – Creative Commons No known copyright restrictions https://unsplash.com/@julianwan?utm_source=haikudeck&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit<br> <br> <br> <br> This week, Jen Schwanke joins me again to share what she’s been learning during re-opening school. Jen is the Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio. She’s also the author of You’re the Principal, Now What? and The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. Listen to this week’s episode for valuable takeaways. Here is a summary of some of our conversation:<br> <br> <br> <br> 10 Lessons for Principals to Remember:<br> <br> <br> <br> 1. This hasn’t been done before.<br> <br> <br> <br> When things are new, they feel unstable. This is all brand new for all of us. Reassure yourselves with this knowledge and comfort yourself that it’s new for everyone else too!<br> <br> <br> <br> 2. This has revealed how much we depend on schools.<br> <br> <br> <br> I’m not sure we realized how emotionally healthy our communities are because of our schools. Now that parents are unable to be as dependent on schools with COVID precautions, the instability makes everyone question if what they are doing this right. We need to give each other a lot of grace during these days. <br> <br> <br> <br> 3. As people re-connect, principals are rediscovering their purpose.<br> <br> <br> <br> National surveys showed an increased number of principals considering leaving the profession. I’m curious if that sentiment has changed now that principals are reengaging with teachers, students and parents. When we are not connecting with those whom we are serving, we lose our purpose. Now we’re re-connecting.<br> <br> <br> <br> 4. It’s all about keeping your students safe while providing them the opportunity to learn.<br> <br> <br> <br> At the end of the day, the question is not what do I prefer. The question is how can I still reconnect with the purpose of my leadership: serving students. <br> <br> <br> <br> 5. Principals need to be the ones bringing others back to calm and rationality – poking holes in the outrage around us.<br> <br> <br> <br> We are living in an age of outrage before rationality and empathy. When others have a knee-jerk reaction to become angry, it should remind principals that others do not need to hear our ranting. Leaders have a different purpose: bring people back to compassion and calm and civility. At the end of the day, outrage is not productive. Just because we do not agree does not mean someone is always right and someone is always wrong. <br> <br> <br> <br> 6. Do not forget the promises we made about race relations and equity. <br> <br> <br> <br> These are still important conversations where students need safe places to learn how to talk with civility. Also, think about how you will lead during a time when teachers may be introducing topics that were front and center during the pandemic. For instance, in race relations, as teachers may be introducing content or books that raise these issues, go back to your board policies and previous practices that guide the curriculum or books teachers use in classrooms. Principals do what you always do in these challenges: focus on instruction, standards and intent of lessons.<br> <br> <br> <br> 7. Communication is more important than ever.<br> <br> <br> <br> It is exhausting but it pays big dividends on the back end. Everyone needs to know what you know when it comes to processes and protocols. Even as you are overwhelmed with the various tools for communication, keep evolving as you find a new groove for this time...
