1. Rookie Principal
Tyler Amidon
Disclaimer: I make no claim to know it all, obviously.
2. Practical and Personal
• Outline
• Brief History
• Introduction
• Personal Professional Growth
• In my building
• Personal
• Q & A - if we have time
3. Brief History...
• Been in education for 20 years so I felt ready.
• Our Principal resigns in May to be with her
little ones at home.
• My staff “throws me under the bus”
• Gig is confirmed in July... game on!
• Interim “tag” removed in January
• Today
4. My Perspective
• My view is unique to my experience, all may
not be relevant to you. I apologize in advance.
• Each school/district has their own
challenges. You’ll hear some of mine
tonight.
• My school is in a super intense and
demanding community.
• I am going to spend a little bit a time at
50,000 feet and a little bit of time at 5 feet
5. Shockers
• So much out of my control
• Pulled in 1,000 different directions
• I thought I was flexible, but I had to
learn how to be super duper flexible
with my time... sometimes.
• Emotional ups and downs are brutal
7. Seek Mentors
• Develop a network of administrators.
• Administrator from your district
• Similar to your school’s culture
• Various experience levels
• Not necessarily local people
8. P.L.N. (Personal Learning
Network)
• Develop a network of professional leaders.
• Twitter
• Start by following the hashtag #cpchat
• Read... Read... Read...
• Short articles or blogs
• Leadership books
• Leadership Conferences
• Ask questions
10. Culture
• Ultimately responsible for the school’s
culture - daunting but awesome
• So tough - changing a school’s culture
is like pulling a U-turn with the Titanic
• Be patient - may take 3 - 5 years to
reset the school culture the way you
want.
• Access your students’ knowledge.
• I started with those that supported
me and built from there.
11. Listen
• Listen first and offer advice second (or
later).
• I often jump into “fix it” mode and I
am realizing this isn’t always best.
• Listening first can validate the opinions
of all the “players in the game.”
• Earns respect in the short term, allows
for influence/growth in the long term.
12. Relationships
• With students and staff
• Be kind in your relationships
• Be caring in your relationships
• Be respectful in your relationships
• When necessary admit when you’re
wrong
• Stand firm when necessary
13. Be Visible - Be Connected
• Intentionally Schedule “kid time”
• Put it in your calendar
• Be seen in the classrooms
• Be seen in the hallways
• Be seen in the lunchroom
• Be seen on the playground
• Have a mobile office
14. Thick Skin
• All of a sudden there is a target on my
back.
• My “enemies” have multiplied
• I used to “own” one room and that’s all
I had to manage/worry about.
• Now I “own” every square inch of
my campus, more to worry about.
15. Budget
• It’s your responsibility
• Learn as much as you can as soon as you
can
• Study it and know it backwards and
forwards
• Challenge why things are the way they
are.
• Get your questions answered
16. Communication
• Clear and concise!!
• Too much, in my opinion, is better than too
little.
• Find tools that work well for your staff,
students, families.
• Might be different for each group.
• This may require lots of trial and error
• Possible tools: Newsletters, email, web site,
twitter, blog, in person, etc. etc.
• Pictures, pictures, pictures - Tell your story
17. Communication
• Be available, but be smart about it.
• It can feel sometimes like you’re a
counselor to the whole community.
• People think that just because you’re
the leader that all of a sudden you have
an added counseling degree.
• Listen... listen... listen...
18. Lead Learner
• Lifelong learner
• Constantly trying to improve myself as a
leader and educator.
• Know your school inside and out.
• Share resources with your staff on a regular
basis
• Keep up with best practices but you don’t
have to be the resident expert in every field.
Allow your staff to be that expert as well.
20. Be yourself
• You can only sustain your true self
• Lead as you lead
• Constant checks - find an
accountability partner to help you
keep “on track.”
21. Balance
• Keep balance in your life.
• This job can consume you.
• Spouse or significant other needs to
recognize this.
• I’m terrible at this
• Must practice being in the moment.
• THIS IS my biggest challenge.
• This takes focus, concentration and
practice like you can’t imagine.
22. Personal Health
• If I don’t serve myself, I can’t serve others
• Physically
• Exercise
• I joined a basketball, flag football,
volleyball league and I’m an avid
runner.
• Emotionally
• Mentors, friends, spouse, counselor, etc.
• Socially
• get out and be social - that’s how I recharge
