5 years ago, I made the decision to accept a position as an Assistant Principal. I got the congratulations and tired jokes about joining the Dark Side you would almost undoubtedly anticipate if you were in the same position. Also, equally as predictable, I made that vow to be that administrator who never lost sight of what it was like to be a classroom teacher. But how do you do that?
After all, the volume of things any campus administrator is being held responsible for continues to grow just like a teacher does; and most of the items being put on their plates are things that can seem like they're being forced to be away from the classroom. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I can't get to every class every day or even every week. But physical presence is not the only thing being in the classroom is all about. Yes, it's a piece of the puzzle without a doubt, but there are more ways to be plugged into the classroom than just your average appraisal, walkthrough or casual visit. So, in a world that seems to force administrators to anywhere but the classroom, how can you stay connected to the classroom when it's only up and running a few short hours of the day? Twitter Chats If you follow me at all on Twitter you know that I began my journey on the Twitter Chat full force during the '17-'18 school year. It began as part of my action research project for my district leadership. While I certainly found my share of times feeling redundant, I also found something unique, I felt a greater connection to the classroom. I particularly enjoy chats that are teacher heavy. Chats like #tlap and #kidsdeserveit really have given me a lot of great perspective and insight into the classroom. What's working? What needs improving? It's opened my eyes to great things educators are doing all over the country and the globe. It's also given me some great ideas to take back to my own school. Not to implement as some sweeping reform, but more of along the lines of "I'm going to leave this here in case anyone would like to use it." Social Media Recently I've become a big proponent of following, friending (or any other term that's used) the people you work with. No, not as a gotcha for the things you post but as a way to get to know you. I'll be the first to admit that I don't go to work in order to expand my close-knit group of friends and I do enjoy some secluded moments when I'm not working as a campus administrator. However, I also know that no matter your opinion about how good, bad or indifferent it is, people live a part of their life on social media. As educators, what we do impacts so much of our lives and it comes out on social media. It might not always be in the glowing form of celebrations that we would like but there is no denying it's there. It's also a great look into a classroom. No, a post that reads as a negative or challenge is not something to be balked at, dismissed or labeled as naysaying. For starters, if one educator is feeling it odds are so are others. It can become a great opportunity to close a gap at your campus that you otherwise might not have been aware of. It can also be a great way to help bring a classroom or campus together. No matter what, I would encourage you to challenge the notion that somehow being connected on social media outside of school blurs the lines of professionalism. Office Out of a Classroom As I said earlier, physical presence isn't the end all be all but it is a piece of the puzzle. I get that there are some conversations and points of business that just have to be held in private. There are also quite a few that don't. There are also a lot of opportunities for conversations that get missed because we're in our offices. This year, I'm going to try to find some classrooms that I can office out of. I'm going to start by playing it safe and using classrooms where the teacher is on their conference period and students aren't generally present. I want to be able to talk individually with teachers about successes, failures, student struggles and student celebrations on their home field, not mine. My ambition is to eventually find a way where I can just be present in a room where learning is taking place without it being tied to something evaluative. It seems simple enough but all of us in education continue to get second helpings on our plates despite the fact that we're already full. As simple as it sounds I know it won't be that easy to make this happen, but I want to do it. The classroom is still the most important place we have on our campuses. I, as an administrator, cannot afford to lose sight of what it takes to guide students through the learning process on a daily basis. I want to see and hear about the struggles and successes first hand to ensure that all teachers, support staff and anyone else who calls a classroom home daily for 8+ hours know that I'm not too far removed from the experience of being a classroom teacher.
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AuthorJeff Lahey Archives
January 2020
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