Principal Disposition 

“Behind every good school, there is at least one good leader with vision and a passionate desire to make things better.”    (Brooks Publishing)  An effective school Principal has a vision for their school.  They can communicate and share that vision with all stakeholders in the community.   

Vision Statement:

My vision for my school is to create an educational environment that fosters a learning community where stakeholders are partners. Transparency in a school is a vital component of a healthy learning environment.  Parents and students should know the “why” of their learning and the value that this learning objective will play in their lives.  Teachers should have the autonomy to teach their students based on the Core of the State of Utah but using their own teaching styles.  I aim to create a trust, collaboration, and learning culture that will foster academic excellence, healthy mental stability, and responsible citizens.  In the words of a collective staff voice at Panguitch High School, “Effort equals success.”  Perfection is not expected, but effort is.  The more effort you put into accomplishing your goal, the more successful you will be. 

 Promoting Community Relationships

One of the most important aspects of a principal is to build community trust and rapport.  This happens by being available and visible to the school stakeholders.  A principal has to be approachable to the stakeholders, including faculty, parents, and students. School principals become approachable as they listen, pay attention, smile, use humor, show concern, and have communication skills.  Another good characteristic of a principal is to admit their mistakes and faults.  (Journal of School Administration Research and Development, 2016)  By modeling respect and empathy, I set the tone for the entire school and the community and foster a community where all voices are heard.

Addressing Personal and Professional Growth

 All people are constantly growing and want to improve their conditions.  Many times, we, as people, are trying to figure out how to improve our situation.  As a Principal, it is my responsibility to help faculty and students grow.  This statement goes back to my vision statement that perfection is not expected, but effort is.   By helping faculty obtain professional development that is beneficial to them, I will help them grow in their educational career paths. One means of acquiring this professional development is to conduct consistent observations and then communicate the results of the observations to the teachers.  After this, I will help them set a goal of improvement and find Professional development to give strategies to accomplish that goal.  

Core Values and Standards

A person has to be ethical.  Part of those ethics is to be honest in my dealings with others.  Being ethical includes recognizing and admitting when I am wrong.  Being ethical also includes doing the “hard thing” even when there is a more accessible alternative.  A principal should be able to exercise self-control, self-discipline, and integrity.  Working hard and accomplishing tasks is a value that I find essential.  Communication is a critical component of being able to work with people.  Knowing what is expected allows each person to rise to that challenge.

Promote Education Action Research

School success is based on analyzing data and setting goals based on the research.  Faculty and staff need to understand that we are a team.  We are all responsible for the outcomes that are happening in our school.  By realizing that we are each accountable for our actions on this team, I hope to foster an environment where the faculty is focused on the outcomes of our learning objectives.  

Stewardship

As a principal, I am responsible for students as a first priority.  I have to decide if what I am doing is in the best interest of the students and what type of impact I am making on their lives.  I am responsible for the relationships between the school and the community.  I am responsible for promoting the “good things” in the school.  I am also responsible for developing good relationships among all stakeholders involved with the school.  I realize that my decisions will be long-term and affect many people.  By serving the needs of the school and community, I can create a supportive culture that has shared accountability for the success of the students and school. 

Internship Reflection

I am responsible for the success of my students in the school.  I am responsible for the faculty in my school.  I also realize that this is more than just my school.  It is the school of the community, the students, and the stakeholders.  By creating a team of all involved where communication is open and transparent, we can put our efforts into making the school successful and where all stakeholders will value lifelong learning.  

Through the courses I have taken and also the two internships that I have been involved with, I have learned that developing a relationship with those you work with and serve is the most important aspect of being a successful school administrator and leader.  This positive relationship is built through consistent communication with students, stakeholders, and staff.  Parents and staff want to be involved with the functions of the school, but more importantly, they want to know what is happening at the school where they work and where their children spend their time.  Superintendent of Kane County School District, Ben Dalton, once said “You are the promoter of your school.  As a Principal, it is your job to let the community know what is happening at the school you are the steward of”.  Communication is the key to this relationship.  

Relationships also involve trust.  This trust comes through being consistent with following the policies of the school and the district.  When all stakeholders know that the policies are going to be followed, they are able to take ownership of the policies.  The stakeholders trust that the Principal is going to adhere to the policies provided regardless of the situation or the persons involved.  The faculty will know that as a Principal, I “have their back”, as long as the policies are followed.  The students and parents know that the policies will be enforced fairly and consistently.  All stakeholders know that the Principal will be fair but will enforce the policies and make the hard decisions.  

References: 

Brooks Publishing, Twitter, 2019

Lasater, Kara, (2016) School Leader Relationships:  The Need for Explicit Training on Rapport,

       Trust and Communication.  Journal of School Administration Research and Development 

Dalton, Ben; Superintendent of Kane County School District, Personal Interview, April 2024