Now that all of my clients have settled into running their schools from home, more and more decisions are having to be made away from campus. And as a lot of my clients are new school leaders or are aiming to become a principal in the near future, they’re dealing with a lot of these decisions for the first time, and the distance isn’t making things any easier.

I want to share with all you listeners what I’ve been coaching my clients through the past few weeks. I’ve had clients interviewing for their first principal position, giving interviews to candidates for teaching jobs, helping new staff settle into their jobs, and even having to fire people. I’ve been coaching on all these things for years, but social distancing has brought a whole new dimension to all of this.

 

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As I’m sure you’re aware, there are many discussions surrounding education at the moment. Everything is changing, so I’m going to use the podcast this month to walk through some of the issues that are coming up in the media and the conversations on social media and offer some more positive and productive ways to approach leading our schools now and into the future.

I was reading one article this week and the theme running throughout it was that, because of the circumstances born out of this pandemic, our schools and students are behind. This is a word that the educational world has always used to describe underperforming schools or kids who are struggling, but does the notion of being behind really help anyone?

 

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Throughout the month of April, I’ve been discussing the coronavirus and its impact on your role as a school leader. Now that the dust is settling and we’re all getting used to what’s going on, I want to start discussing how we can begin moving forward in a way that serves our schools and us as leaders.

It can seem like the realization that we have a total lack of control at the moment is a thought that we are thinking. However, it is actually a circumstance: a true fact that is indisputable. And the sooner we can accept this, we can adapt to our new situation and really start to make the difference we really want to make for our school community.

 

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Our schools are going through a period of real chaos right now. Even though we’re in the midst of a crisis, kids still need to learn, your job goes on, and your staff and the parents of your students are still looking to you for direction. And all of this is going on in a very uncertain atmosphere.

As a leader, people are going to look to you for answers. And the truth is, this is the first time you’ve dealt with this too, so you’re not always going to be able to help ease their nerves in that moment. And the sooner you can be comfortable with that, the more you will be able to serve in the ways that you actually are capable of.

 

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I have a guest this week who I just know all of you are going to love. I met Gina at a women educator’s leading and learning workshop, and we have become close professional and personal companions. There are a lot of changes happening in our school system right now, so Gina is here to share her advice for principals during these early stages of this crisis.

Gina Yonts is the associate director of the Association of Washington School Principals. Gina is an experienced teacher and principal, who now works in a principal support role, where she works with school leaders around mentoring and induction, helping principals grow amazing leaders for her local area. Gina has a real overview when it comes to how principals are leading their schools through this pandemic and some great advice on the virtues of remaining calm.

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