Educational Leadership

Shadow and Interview

ALYSSA KING
Principal Shadow

u What types of behaviors did you explicitly observe?

u Considerate: displayed concern for a sick teacher
u Enthusiastic: celebrated students achievements
u True to her word: committed to dancing on the roof
when students read over 90,000 minutes for during the
Read-a-thon week and enthusiastically fulfilled her
commitment
Principal Shadow

u Did you notice mostly managerial behaviors, leader

behaviors, or a combination of both?
u I noticed a combination of managerial behaviors and
leadership behaviors. In some situations, my principal
took on the manager role and in other situations she
took on the leadership role.
Principal Interview
u How did you first get involved in leadership?
u As Guidance Counselor, approached by Superintendent
to take on Administrative Intern position
u Considered getting licensure in administration to have,
but not necessarily to use
u What is your personal philosophy and/or definition of
leadership?
u There is no I in team
u Effective leadership takes collaboration from all
u You are only as good as your team
Principal Interview
u Who is your leadership role-model/mentor? Why?
u Superintendent who inspired her to become an
Administrative Intern
u Great person and leader
u Effective at implementing and rolling out ideas
u What are some resources that every leader should
know about?
u Join Professional Organizations
u Network and learn from others
Principal Interview
u What are the outstanding skills or abilities of
effective leaders you have known?
u Communication delivery of message
u Ability to collaborate and develop leaders
u Leader, rather than a manager
u Have you observed differences in the way men and
women lead? If yes, describe. If no, why do you think
this is?
u Yes, women lead with emotion
u Men are matter of fact
Principal Interview
u What are the major reasons leaders fail in positions
like yours?
u Lack of commitment, team work, collaboration
u Think they know it all, have difficulty forming
relationships, lack of vision
u If you had to train someone to replace you in your
current job, what key abilities do you search for?
u Desire, passion, love children, ability to get along with
others
Principal Interview
u What have been your biggest leadership challenges
and celebrations?
u Challenges: changes in education, keep up with ongoing
changes and expectations of building, district, and state
u Celebrations: Earning the Blue Ribbon School Award
(November 2016), celebrating students and staff
u What are some words of advice that you would give
to a new leader?
u Be organized
u Find a balance and prioritize
Principal Interview
u What are your behind-the-scenes duties and
responsibilities as an administrator?
u Create a safe learning environment for students and a
safe working environment for staff
u Ensure staff has resources and materials needed to do
their jobs
u Balance Budget
u Communicate with parents
u Construct a schedule conducive to learning, creating
equal opportunities for all
Principal Interview
u What are your favorite and least favorite parts of
your job as an administrator?
u Favorite: Smiling faces, interaction with students,
celebrating students and their accomplishments
u Least Favorite: Politics, ongoing changes in education
mandated by the state
Principal Interview
u Teaching is affected by the environment and the
culture of your workplace. (inspired by Professional
Capital). How do you facilitate the creation of a
culture that is conducive to working and learning?
u It takes a village to raise a child. Culture is of a
school building is everything. You can tell the culture of
the school as soon as you walk through the doors. The
culture of our school is created by the foundation set
by the principal and it is carried out by the teachers
and staff members.
u Open door policy, encourage communication and
collaboration to contribute to the culture of the
workplace
Principal Interview
u How are you an original leader? (inspired by
Originals)
u Take information learned, applies it to her own
philosophy/leadership approach and presents it to
staff/colleagues
u What are your career goals for the future?
u She does not want to be a principal forever, but she
does not know her next step. She plans to take
advantage of opportunities that come her way within
education.