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1.) Tell us about your role as an educator. What does your typical day look like?

 

As an elementary principal my daily routines can change at the spur of the moment.  A typical day includes morning car duty, walking the halls to peep in on each classroom to say good morning, email and office paper work, class observations, lunch room visit, parent phone calls, student discipline, grade level or data team meetings.  Being visible around the building is very important in my role.

 

2.)  What’s your education philosophy summed up in one sentence?

 

Our mission as educators is to reach every child, every day.

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3.) Why did you become an educator?

 

I became an educator to inspire, challenge, and encourage students to go beyond their own expectations and to accomplish things they thought might be impossible.  I want to be the educator that allows students to think, discover, and problem solve.  I want to teach students to be a good person and to use their strengths to help others.  I want to make a difference in their lives..

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4.) As an SCASCD Emerging Leader, how do you hope to have a greater effect on education in your community and beyond?

 

Through this program I want to learn from others the things that are working to make their school a success.  I want to challenge myself to look beyond my own opinions, to learn from others, and expand my influence in the community to positively promote public education.  

 

5.) What types of professional development (books, DVDs, webinars, courses) have made a difference in your career?

 

Todd Whitaker is one of my favorite authors.  I have used his books with my teachers several times.  I have also been trained by the Leadership and Learn center to implement data teams in the school.  Our faculty went through this training and our data teams have had a positive impact on scores and how well we know our students.  Jon Gordon’s book, The Energy Bus for Kids, has also been a great addition to our character education for students.  This coming summer we are receiving professional development in the 7 mindsets to help our students and faculty learn to give back to our community.

 

6.) Was there a pivotal moment when you realized your career choice in education was the correct one? Describe that time.   

 

Education is so rewarding in many ways, but I think the moment I realized that I had made the right decision was when a parent of one of my students came to thank me for what I had done for their child.  You do not always see the impact you have made on a child’s life, but when they told me how much I meant to their child, I knew I was in the right profession to make a difference. 

 

7.) If you could make one major change in education, what would it be?

 

Receiving funding for initiatives can be difficult and dispersed very differently among districts throughout the state.  I would like to see money not be a factor in the type of educational experiences that we afford our students.  All of our students deserve the very best education, funding should not limit the school in the curriculum and instruction that they provide to their students.  I would like to see every school have equal funding opportunities to provide the highest quality education to all students.

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8.) What is your most rewarding experience as an educator?

 

As an educator there are many small rewards each day. That reward might be a smile on a child’s face, a hug, or a thank you note from a student or parent, but the most rewarding experience is seeing your hard work help students to be successful.  When students celebrate meeting their academic or personal goals that you worked with them to achieve, that is the most rewarding experience as an educator.