Successful leadership involves building a community of trust, pride and collaboration. Here's how this nationally recognized leader is doing just that.
Some of your best knowledge and expertise lies in your own school buildings, says this principal. All you have to do is ask your teachers what they need.
In this episode, we sit down with the NASSP's 2024 National Principal of the Year Andy Farley to learn more about his leadership philosophy and his advice for current and aspiring principals as the role changes.
"When you have a strong sense of confidence in yourself and where you came from, it helps you understand where you’re going," says Farid Johnson, New York's 2024 principal of the year.
Lori Colbert, co-principal of the Barack Obama School of Leadership & STEM outside Chicago, says it's all about giving her fourth- and fifth-graders opportunities to practice future-focused leadership skills throughout the school day.
It's all about bringing teacher voice to the table, explains Courtney Walker, assistant principal at Carrollton High School. Here's how she makes professional learning enjoyable.
Principal Natalie Page is leaning into the positives of leading a rural school despite the challenges that come with recruiting teachers and providing an expansive curriculum.
The student mental health crisis and high turnover in leadership have tilted the spotlight toward the wellness of K12 leaders. Superintendent Shane McCord, for one, finds his moments of self-care zen by spending time with his family, fishing and—surprisingly or not—doing yard work.
The National Association of Elementary School Principals recently announced its "National Outstanding Assistant Principals" of 2024, a cohort of 27 educators who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
"You remind them, you've got to make sure there's harmony in your life, there's balance, so you don't lose sight of the fact that you're not just that leader, you're also a human being away from the school," is a key part of Baruti Kafele's message to building leaders.
This year's finalists are recognized for their success in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. Learn what qualities make them such qualified candidates.
NASSP's National Advocacy Champion of the Year Chris Young recently joined several hundred leaders in a trip to the nation's capital to discuss student mental health and teachers shortages. He shares with District Administration why advocacy has always been his responsibility.
Principal Angel M. Rodriguez and his team at Lyman Hall Elementary School have seen record numbers of EL students graduating from language programs and being identified as gifted.
"Everybody has a role in being part of our kid's lives here while they're in the school," says Sham Bevel, a principal in Virginia Beach. "[Kids] want to be here. They know we care."
The key to improving student outcomes is helping educators find a comfortable place to start working toward big goals, says Danny Mendez, Indiana's Principal of the Year. "This is the one profession that helps create all the other professions. It's being a storyteller about our kids—who they are, what they need, what they want to be and what their dreams are."
"We're family. They will never leave," says Principal Dashe Rowland regarding her New Leaders cohort, an organization that provided her a direct pathway into the principalship.
"There were no traditions or routines yet," Principal Ahna Davis says of Cabot Freshman Academy. "We got to create the school that we wanted. Ten years later, it is still a fantastic school!"
A principal's role in student achievement is immense but some educators may not quite comprehend the full scope of a building leader's influence on outcomes.
The Colorado high school principal of the year was instrumental in creating a universal schedule that gives students access to a wider range of classes.
Melissa Brady, Delaware's national distinguished principal, views her students as more than scholars—they are leaders in her elementary school now and in the community of the future.
"I can count on one hand how many teachers of color taught me," Principal E. Rodney Walker says. "I never wanted any student under my care to experience this lack of connection."
Principal Nikol Youngberg says establishing a welcoming and nurturing climate for students is not a cliche—it's her "why" for being an educator and for leading Flour Bluff Primary & Elementary Schools in Texas.
At the beginning of each year, Pandora Mike introduces herself in the Navajo language to ask students, nearly all of whom identify as Native American, if they are also members of her family clans. "Those who raise their hands, I let them know 'I am your grandmother,'" Mike explains."'From here on,' I say, 'if you see me in the hallway, you can call me Grandma."
School leaders from Maryland, Virginia and Wisconsin recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals for "intertwining innovative mental wellness initiatives with academic rigor."
Principal Angie Krause's background as a reading specialist has come in handy this year as she gets to know each child's academic and social-emotional needs.
Being named a National Distinguished Principal reinforces Angie Krause's commitment to upholding high leadership standards and inspiring the teachers and students at Kansas' Community Elementary School.
37 middle and elementary school leaders made NAESP's 2023 National Distinguished Principals list for driving academic growth during years of disruption, diversifying their staff and improving outreach to non-English speaking families.
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