Two Fridays ago, our Principal announced his resignation and that he would not be returning to our school for the 2017- 2018 school year. Shortly after that, 3 days later, the assistant principal was named the replacement principal. Many parents wanted there to be an interview process to determine the next educational leader, and others found that to be preposterous. Currently, the school community is waiting on the decision of the governing board to determine if the assistant principal is fit for the job. There is so much uncertainty and change going on all at once and still, no one has addressed the elephant in the room.
Each teacher at the school is there to serve the student body. We are all deeply committed to the mission of the school. Yet we have this divide. It grieves me to work in this environment because I am such an extrovert and there is so little positive energy. It also hurts because I know the students are aware enough to feel the same tension that is around the school.
How does a school community rebound from something like this? I may be moved from my current role into the position of Dean of Students. Are there any suggestions/ideas out there for how I can close the gap within the school community? I have some of my own but desire as much input as possible.
Davy
Davy, I certainly feel for you and I sure can relate. Last year, our principal abruptly resigned in November, leaving us with an interim principal (who was amazing), until the County could name someone new. In December our current principal was named and everything is wonderful but those two months in which we were without a permanent leader, our school climate suffered dramatically. The school was divided by staff who supported the former principal and those, who quite honestly, were happy to see her go. We reverted into groups where we felt comfort and became a little disjointed. It took an new leader to come in and really address these divides before we were able to begin the healing process. It was helpful that many of those who supported our former principal left at the end of the school year but others remained. I wish there was an easy answer, but there is not. We are still healing, our current principal is assisting in this healing process by celebrating and uniting us as a staff and promoting a climate of cohesiveness but it has not been easy.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that your school is going through this as well. Our school is like our second family and when there is dysfunction there, it impacts our lives and the lives of everyone connected. I'm hoping for a positive outcome for your school and a leader who will be able to unite your staff and assist in forming a cohesive staff.
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. It helps to hear that there is an end to these sort of things.