Principalship II

by Gayle Rhoads, February 1998
Keep your mind open to innovative ideas.
Don't take yourself too seriously. No one else does.
Lives are seldom ruined by one mistake. Humanity is resilient.
The loudest voice seldom represents the community.
Wisdom generally resides in understatement.
Don't be advised by only one person--unless, perhaps, that person is your superior.
Employ the best people you can find. Then let them do their work.
Eat and sleep regularly. An irregular life leads to irregular behaviour.
Finish what you start, but don't start too much.
Take mini vacations. An hour away changes the perspective.
Know the value of 24 hours. Many problems dissipate with time. Few worsen.
Listen to your Registrar. He/she knows things you don't know.
Don't impose your personal culture/values on others.
People don't always say what they mean. Look for the hidden agenda.
Don't leave the work to maintenance/subordinates. Lead the way in doing the dirty work.
Don't talk or act down to students. Respect their time and opinion. Don't assume a role of superiority.
Respect and guard classroom time. After all, that is what school is about.
Listen to the teachers. They know things you don't know or have forgotten.
The immature tend to take things too far. Don't lose your good sense or your good name by entering into the "spirit of the moment".
Don't think that what worked at the last place of employment will necessarily work here. You are not there. You are here.
Don't talk about your last school. This is your school now. Show ownership.
You don't always have to be right. Don't fight for your way. You won't always be right.
Detailed observation does not mean you see the big picture.
Adapt your posture and position to the situation.
Don't defend every hill.
Whenever possible have a witness.
Whenever possible work with the door open. Be sure your door has a window.
Evolution is preferable to revolution.
Society is complex. Simple answers to people problems usually don't work.
What we did "last year", and what we did "when I was in school", are not valid criteria today.
Be calm of spirit. If you do not exude calmness, do something else.
Enthusiasm and energy are important, but calmness is essential.
Listen and learn your first year. Make changes slowly and incrementally. Take your people with you.
Accept your new staff. They will become as good or better than you. Remember your past staff having been.
Kindness and goodness are more effective than brilliance.
Surround yourself with winners. Don't run with losers.
Don't accept too much responsibility. Some problems belong to others.
School behaviour reflects home behaviour. Parents understand more than you do. Don't let them deny it.
You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if you only knew how little they do.
"Planned ignoring" is a great tool. Some students need to be allowed to stop their own unacceptable behaviour.
If you do not (or a colleague does not) witness an event, handle all parties alike--or ignore it.
Trust your students. Accept their excuses or reasons. Then check it out. They cannot claim they were not trusted. If the excuse/ reason was not valid, then act.