Category Archives: Professional Development

There is Life After School Leadership

Being a school administrator is tough. The role of a principal or assistant principal requires much stamina. For many, they are overwhelmed, and they teeter on burning out. I see many social media posts of school leaders stating they are ready to walk away due to the overwhelming responsibilities of the job. However, they are afraid to leave because they assume they cannot work in other fields. What they do not know is that there is life after school leadership.

For this post, I created a video to describe some of the career possibilities an administrator can pursue based on their skills. In this video, I speak about my journey when I lost my career as a school principal. Over time and through trials and experience, I realized I had to think outside my box and develop a new mindset. Through the journey, I discovered my life after school leadership.

There is Life After School Leadership

Watch the video to learn more about my life after school leadership.

After watching the video, reflect on your next move as a school leader. Decide what is best for you and your family. Assess all parts of your health, including your mental, physical, and financial well-being. Weigh the pros and cons of your role. Revisit your “why” or purpose to see if it is relevant or has/should it change.

Being miserable, overwhelmed, and highly stressed is not an option. That’s no way to live life personally or professionally. Stay or leave is a big decision, and I understand the fear. However, life decisions are never easy. Take time to think, reflect, rethink, or consult. Always remember, there is life after school leadership.

Principals are the Lead Relationship Builders

Relationship Builders

Relationships are a vital part of our personal and professional lives. School buildings are ecosystems filled with children and adults from various walks of life. All look for positive interactions that help shape their school experiences. Educators are encouraged to foster and facilitate positive teacher-student, parent-teacher, and student-student relationships. Where should they begin? It all starts with the leader. Principals are the lead relationship builders in the school.

The lead relationship builder is a role that every school leader has in their list of responsibilities. Principals are well-known as instructional leaders in their schools. Still, you know they play a variety of roles in the position. As a leader, you will have various connections, associations, links, or bonds with stakeholders of the school ecosystem.

Why are solid and positive relationships meaningful in education? A school often serves as the hub of a community. The building is a safe space for students, parents, and staff. However, it’s not just the physical space of a building that matters; it’s also the human interactions in that space. What goes on among humans in that building is crucial to students’ success. Let’s explore the relationships that affect stakeholders and how the lead relationship builder can support all of them.

Relationship With Students

First, a principal’s relationship with students is most significant. Without students, there would not be a school. Children need positive, trusting, and supportive connections in their lives. We hope that students come to us with solid and positive familial bonds. However, some come from broken homes and families. They arrive in our schools mistrustful and guarded. 

The lead relationship builder must model trusting, healing, and supportive interactions for all students. Assure them that it is a safe space for all they physically and emotionally bring. Leaders must learn their names and stories. Talk with students one-to-one and discuss issues that matter to them. Be an active listener and also be firm but fair when needed. Building and maintaining strong “developmental relationships” help connect the principal-student connection.

Developmental relationships between adults and students must include: expressing care, challenging the growth, providing support, sharing power, and expanding possibilities. Educating yourself as a leader and the staff about developmental relationships requires research and professional learning opportunities. For more information about the developmental relationship frameworks, visit the Search Institute.

Principal-Teacher Relationships

Next, the lead relationship builder must focus on the principal-teacher relationships. Sometimes the bond between a principal and teachers can be tenuous. Both have high expectations of the other and must realize it takes both to develop successful students. Teachers want trust, support, and to be seen as professionals. It’s a two-way street for all three items. You earn trust over time through merit and actions. Teachers must work to achieve their principal’s confidence and visa-versa. 

School leaders, you must earn their trust, too. Show the teachers that you trust that they are professional and always be professional towards them. Give teachers the space and support to grow as leaders. Allow staff members to be part of the decision-making process. Show support by providing the resources they need to be successful teachers. Appreciate staff members for their hard work and dedication. Allow them to see your humanness and vulnerability. 

Principal-Parent Relationships

The principal-parent connection is more significant than most realize. Parents can be your greatest allies or your worst enemies. Parents want what’s best for their children, and they want respect. Being kind and showing your human side invites parents into a comfortable space.

A principal needs to look for opportunities to build cooperative relationships with parents. Leaders who embrace the chances to build relationships with parents will find it a worthwhile investment. Parents may not always agree with your decisions. Their response and support will be different based on your relationship with them. Still, they may better understand your professional choices if the leader-parent connection is strong. Being trustful and respectful may ease the gap when your decision is incorrect. 

Community Relationships

A good recipe for a successful school is community involvement. Community members want to have great schools for children to attend. Developing and building a strong relationship with community members, external partners, and agencies is also a priority. Positive connections to the community create success in gaining public support, minimal parent criticisms, and higher student and parent engagement.

Whether urban, suburban, or rural, the school is the hub of the community. Strong community connections can help improve student and staff morale, increase community support, build trust, and increase student engagement. As the lead relationship builder, you must find ways to reach out to and engage residents and businesses in the community. Often many alums of the school still reside nearby. They have memories and pride in being students. That pride is a valuable tool to bring in more support for the students and school.

Principal’s Responsibilities

Principals, leadership is a huge responsibility. The weight is too heavy for many. One way to survive the heaviness is to be the lead relationship builder. By connecting with students, staff, parents, and community members, they can support, lift you and help build a successful school. You must reach your stakeholders and form long-lasting bonds.

Relationship Building Tips

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, a small
commission may be paid.
Is it time for a career change

Educators is it Time for a Career Change?

This post contains affiliate post. 
Clicking on a link may result in a commision payment.

Career Change

The school year is almost finished. Normally, the summer is a time for educators to refresh and reflect. As you know, the education profession is not easy peasy and  202o and 2021 have been no less than traumatic. The pandemic, virtual learning, hybrid classes, or balancing both virtual and in-person learning are all enough to send some teachers over the edge.   All of these issues lead to a serious question. Educators, is it time for a career change?

Teacher stress and burnout continue to be prevalent across the United States and worldwide. Loud whispers of teachers and principals leaving the professions fill many ears of district administrators. School districts wonder how to keep teachers and principals from walking away from the profession. Educators are becoming more vocal about their well-being and why they’re willing to leave the field. Many are ready for a career change. Here are a few reasons for their departure.

Low Pay and Lack of Benefits

Low pay and lack of benefits are reasons for a career change. Many teachers work two and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. Plus, this year the COVID19 pandemic dumped more responsibilities on teachers.  We already know that many states do not adequately fund public education. Also, some states do not sufficiently support teachers’ pension funds. For many teachers, a raise is hard to come by. Even a cost of living raise is on teachers’ wishlist. Like doctors and attorneys, teachers must have a degree and state license to practice their craft.  Plus, think about how much of their money teachers spend on supplies and resources. Some educators begin to think about other possible job opportunities.

Lack of Respect

Another reason for a career change is teachers and school administrators do not feel respected. Many blame teachers for societal ills that they have no control over. Society relegates educators to many things other than educating students. During the beginning of the pandemic, educators were considered heroes. Parents realized how valuable we are when they had to teach their own children. Parents realized it is a big and difficult job. Then, the tide turned as the pandemic continued for many months. Suddenly, politics made educators into villains. Even before the pandemic, teachers played various roles as nurses, social workers, jack of all trades, disciplinarians, Miss Manners, and sometimes de-facto parents. They are all of these things while teaching kids how to read and do math.

Unachievable Expectations

Expectations and too many responsibilities are unachievable. Both cause stress and burnout. Consequently, educators are trying to leave the field and change careers. Politicians and others who’ve never taught set benchmarks and don’t provide the funding and resources to succeed. It’s all about the data and the numbers. It’s rarely about the children and their real needs. It is about standardized tests and school ratings. It’s time to look at more variables such as the social-emotional needs, socio-economics of a community, family structures, class sizes, etc.

Safety Issues

Safety played a big role during the pandemic. Normally, teachers worry about safety issues; however, COVID 19 took the worry to another level.  Now, educators worry about the traumatic experiences of students that occurred during school closures. Homelife for many students is not stable on a regular basis. Add a pandemic and school closures to disrupt students’ lives more.  Whether it’s a rural or urban school district, teachers and administrators always think safety first. Universities and colleges train educators to teach. A school building must be a safe zone or haven for the students and staff. All teachers only want to teach and not have anxiety about clean and healthy buildings.  When they feel as if they can no longer teach, it’s time for a career change.

Helpful Tips

Undoubtedly, many will see something that resonates in this post. You cannot take it anymore and are ready for a career change! Before you decide to leave the profession,  begin to prepare for new realities! The corporate world is vastly different than the education world. Here are a few helpful tips.  

A career change is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Upsplash.com

Look at your finances. Do you have money saved for a rainy day? If you don’t have a job lined up, how long can you survive on your savings?

Is your family supportive of your decision to change careers? If you’re single, then you only have one person to answer. However, if you have a spouse and children, you must consider how a career change affects your family.

Prepare for a Job Search

Prepare for a job search by thinking about your marketable skills. Educators, don’t underestimate yourselves. Your skillset is very high! Think about what you want to do and write a new resume. Network and communicate with anyone who may be able to support your search for a new job.

Be open to other things like pursuing a new degree or trade. For example, one teacher went to a truck-driving school. She learned to drive a truck, passed the test, and received her license. Now, she is on the road for a major trucking company. A science teacher enrolled in a nursing program. In 18 months, she received a nursing degree and now works in a hospital. Think outside the box and ponder the possibility of relocating.

While losing great teachers is not a good thing, sometimes a career change is good. Your sanity, physical and mental health are top priorities. You have various skills, experiences, and knowledge to share with the world. You can use your degree to become a professional consultant or become a corporate trainer. Becoming an entrepreneur is a great option, too. The possibilities are endless. Do you stay or go? It is all about you, so take the time to figure out what is best for you.

This is an update to a previous post from May 2018. 

This post contains affiliate links. 
Clicking on a list may result in commission payment.

Additional Resources

Time Magazine

http://time.com/money/longform/teacher-pay/