Great Principals Build Relationships
Our school leaders need a good team! So principals must work hard to develop trusting relationships. They must be able to connect with several people daily. Plus, having solid relationships with the staff, the parents, and the kids can offset problems. Also, relationships help achieve school visions and promote a positive working environment.Keywords from Teachers:
- Kind/Friendly
- Approachable
- Listens
- Gets to Know staff, students, and families
Great Principals Listen
A school principal needs to come across as compassionate and kind. And the staff needs to feel safe approaching them with anything, including problems and ideas. Principals must listen to the people around them, including students and families. So, great principals show active listening, listening to the perspectives of a variety of people, and going beyond their own sets of ideas.
Keywords from Teachers:
- Compassionate
- Easy to Talk to
- Understanding
- Caring
Ability to Empower and Lead
Principals must help the teaching staff reach their fullest potential. People follow influential leaders because they trust them. They share leadership responsibilities with the right team for any job. We want principals who recognize our skill sets and appreciate our greatness. And, they seek opportunities for teachers and staff to grow and improve. Principals who perform at their greatest can set the bar high for their teachers and students. A school is a team of professionals who work together. Everyone wants to achieve the best for the students and families they serve. Keywords from Teachers:- Knowledgeable
- Respectful
- Delegates effectively
Communication is Important!
Let’s face it: principals must deal with so many people and problems in the day. Being a direct communicator but maintaining a sense of kindness and humor is critical. Teachers want to be given clear messages to understand their expectations. With communication comes confidentiality and discretion. Principals must hold firm to a high level of professionalism. No teacher wants their information, evaluations, and conversations put on blast for others to hear!
Keywords from Teachers:
- Sense of humor
- Easy to talk to
- Clear messages
- Clear intent
- Approachable
Support, Support, Support!
The best school principals see that the teachers they work with are trained professionals. Principals should encourage collaboration. They should provide time for teacher planning. And they should offer constructive criticism alongside meaningful praise. Great principals have their teachers’ backs and never give up on the students or staff. “Teachers quit principals, not schools.”Keywords from Teachers:
- Helpful
- Team Player
- Remembers what it is like to be in the classroom
- Empathetic towards workloads
Great Principals are Present
Principals must be seen in the classrooms, the gym, the lunchroom, and the playground. By walking around their school, they can observe their teachers and students, foster meaningful relationships, and gain tremendous insight into the ins and outs of their school. They should know what the teachers are teaching and what the students are learning. Being visible shows principals who are invested in their building.
Keywords from Teachers:
- Involved
- Visible
- Knows the staff and students
- Real
- Decisive
