Why did I become an administrator????

I've almost completed my first week as a principal and I couldn't help but try to reflect on the "Why?"

Why did I become an administrator?

-It has become clear to me this week that the light was lit by my prior administrators before I ever knew it. Leaders that inspire other leaders.

-I also love teachers, I love students, and I love school business. I believe that public education is still the light that ignites our future generations.

-We are the game changers and the developers of our future leaders. I want to make a difference in the lives of the students, teachers, and parents I serve.

As I reflect, I found the last paper I wrote finishing my master's degree in educational leadership so I wanted to share:



The Educational Platform

Jessica Hanson

Tarleton State University

What is Possible? What is True?

My Beliefs:
I believe that all children can learn and should be engaged by teachers to explore and develop a natural love of learning. With my background in special education, regular education, and Response to Intervention: I have discovered that not all teachers have this belief. It is disheartening to hear other educators with the same career as me describe a student as “unteachable.” The older I have become and the more experience I gain helps me to stand up for those children and myself. All students can learn. I keep reminding myself of the quote from Maya Angelou “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I try to base my entire teaching day off of this quote alone, and I will continue to base my entire administrative career on that as well.

As a teacher going into administration I believe that servant leadership is key. In Jim Boyd’s book, A Servant Leader’s Journey he states, “The leader’s temptation may be to retreat into the safe confines of the office. If so, he or she is headed in the wrong direction. If there is difficulty in the organization, on the battlefield, or around the supper table, the leader needs to be visible. If the leader is away from the action, naysayers are emboldened, communication breaks down, and hope fades” (Boyd 2008). This is dangerous, and I have witnessed leadership that “retreats” it is disastrous and unfortunate for all faculty.

I believe in servant leadership so much that I base it as my single most reason for wanting to become an administrator. As a teacher, I love for my administrators to involve me in all school decisions. I think this is very important to build culture and improve climate. Teachers feel invested in school vision and mission when they are the ones involved in creating that mission and vision.

Being honorable, doing what we say, keeping our word is the most important thing as a leader. Follow through and feedback is also essential. I don’t believe in making teachers do “busy” work, in same way that I don’t believe in making children do “busy” work. The work we do should be valuable, engaging, and fun. We should come to work excited and positive. I believe we should lean on each other when we need help, ask for ideas and share strategies.

I believe that we must not only teach state objectives but we must also teach a love of learning and inquiry. Not to focus on how many grades we get in the grade book, but to focus on mastery of skills. I believe that that in order to teach this love of learning and knowledge we must get all teachers on board with technology.

As a future administrator, I hope to embody what it means to be a servant leader. I hope to inspire teachers to believe that all students can learn, and to always be teaching myself new ideas and concepts to stay current in my field. I truly hope to build a positive, nurturing school family who cares about one another and lifts each other up. “The leader is the keeper of the dream” (Texas School Business 2006).

Boy, Jim. (2008). A servant leader’s journey: Lessons from Life. New Jersey: Paulist Press.

Texas school business. March (2006) 23.





This week I am having my teachers write letters to themselves.

The prompt is: I want to teach somewhere that…."

They are to return them to me, signed and sealed. I am not going to read them. At some point in the school year when times get tough, when morale gets low, I am going to slip their letter in their box to remind them of the vision they had when they started this year. I hope it helps them like reading my paper has helped me.

Self-reflection is the single most important ingredient to the recipe of life.