Principal: Edendale Primary School (Southland)
People are the power of a school. Who they are. What they do and equally what they know not to do. It is people that make a school. Every single person is important and has a part to play.
Education is full of wonderful, others-focused people, who are willing to serve and sacrifice for the greater good. These people see being part of a school as a mission of change, one life at a time, for the benefit of that child, their future and the community that they live amongst. Amongst all this there is a collection of positions, that due to their nature and responsibilities, lift out from other roles, to exert a level of influence on the health, vibrancy and culture of the school in unique and special ways. These positions are The Big Seven to which the title refers. It is my belief that the success of a school is often associated with a deep understanding of the vital interplay of these seven positions. The Big Seven are as follows . . . 1. The Principal: The principal’s role is pivotal to the life and wellbeing of the school. Principals are the special gem of education, that when allowed to shine, bring a sparkle to all those around them. Principals are important because they have the widest range of influence in the school. The role has become diverse, detailed and extremely complex. The Tomorrow's Schools reforms of the late 1980s disestablished the Department of Education and effectively parked all the work that it did (for better and worse) on the Principal’s desk. The principal’s role was further put on steroids by them being deemed to be a member of the Board of Trustees. Thus, not only is the principal the day to day manager of resources (property and finance), they are the leader of staff and then on top of that they are charged with governance. Yet, that’s not all, added to this, is that for some principals, especially in smaller schools, there is a sizeable teaching component. Management, leadership, governance and teaching is a massive portfolio of responsibilities. Principals are a rare and endangered species who are fast approaching systemic cognitive overload. Education has its arteries clogged with inane bureaucratic compliance, is choked with political agendas and further complexified by multiple Ministry ‘initiatives’. The fact that schools continue on as great places for children and staff to be and learn, is a testament to the fortitude, stamina and resilience of principals. A principal is worth their weight in gold. They selflessly take what is next to unbearable and impossible and make it work for others.
Big props to principals. Of the seven positions they are the most important role to get right for the success of a school. 2. The Office Manager: An Office Manager deals with both the backroom and front of house needs of the school. The level of knowledge an Office Manager has about the school is phenomenal. Schools, being Crown entities, come under a heavy burden of rules, regulations and requirements. Crucial to surviving this bureaucratic onslaught is the Office Manager. The Office Manager gets to the technical nitty gritty, in a highly detailed manner, making sure things are done right, at the right time. The Office Manager is nearly always the first port of call for parents and their needs. A positive, personable first and ongoing
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4. The Presiding Member (Board Chairperson): The Board builds the school of tomorrow and ensures that the school of today is running in a healthy and professional manner. Leading the BOT is the Presiding Member (Chairperson). It is important that they grasp the bounds of their role and do not go off-piste. It is A DP is often still seen 3. The Deputy Principal: governance and not management. It is The role of middle management in a by teachers as a tomorrow and not today. It is review and school should not be underestimated, not do. It is slow and considered not fast fellow teacher especially that of the Deputy Principal. and reactive. The DP provides a place for which and so, when the DP Understandably for a school to be school initiatives can be developed and positioning itself correctly, the Presiding refined. Their critical friend eye, class supports new Member needs to be positioning the BOT based insights, curriculum depth and in the right space. They need to lift them connection to staff needs to be at the initiatives, there is a up out of the issues of today, of which decision table. They see the fish hooks and stronger likelihood there will always be many and get the hurdles and are able to take good decisions BOT thinking strategically in a forward and turn them into great decisions. that other staff will focused, improvement orientated manner. A DP is often still seen by teachers It is powerful when it operates correctly. as a fellow teacher and so, when the as well. It ensures the Principal and teaching staff DP supports new initiatives, there is a move with ongoing momentum. stronger likelihood that other staff will as well. Further, with the DPs support there is a united leadership which gives powerful 5. The New Entrant Teacher: In a primary school, the new entrant room is the first classroom momentum forward. The DP also puts out potential fires by dealing directly and and first teacher that parents meet. How the room operates and sensitively with what are often interpersonal staff issues or issues who that person is, is big. It is PR without knowing it. Parents talk and they want their child to have a good start to school. They around decisions. The role requires emotional intelligence, broad school wide want them to settle in well, learn and enjoy their time at school. When appointing to the role it is important to be cognisant thinking, a grasp of the future and a strong foot in today. Truly, of the unique place this classroom has within the school. a good DP makes for a good school. impression helps to relax parents and gives them confidence in the school and its systems. The role of Office Manager is integral to the success of the school. When a school office is running well, many problems are kept at bay or alleviated completely.
THE COMPLETE SPORTS PACKAGE Services we offer Maintenance and Management • Sportsfield construction and renovation • Linemarking • Goal post removal • Fertilisation and spraying • Building and asset maintenance • Cricket wicket maintenance and renovations • Design and development • Drainage and irrigation – installation and repairs • Mowing of surrounds and school grounds • After school hours maintenance • Full time grounds people • Gardening and landscape services • Furniture design and build • Playground builds and maintenance
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Experience with young children helps, but is not necessarily the sole driver for an appointment. The new entrant teacher needs to be personable, organised, and committed. They will be constantly dealing with parents, more so than most other teachers in the school. They are also the first step forward from early childhood education into the New Zealand Curriculum. What happens in the new entrant room can set children up for their entire schooling journey. 6. The Year Six or Year Eight Teacher: The last year at a primary school is a very special time. The children are the seniors of the school. They hold a special place in setting student culture and providing student leadership. It is a pivotal time for them. Parents are very aware of this. They want the final year for their child to be successful. That final year comes with a wide range of extracurricular opportunities that a good senior teacher will tap into for the betterment of the children. A strong teacher, expert at Level Three and Four of the New Zealand Curriculum, adept at management, organised and confident, is a strong contributor to school culture and fosters student leadership. Such teachers can make the final year at a primary school a very positive and memorable year for the students that parents really appreciate. 7. The Parent Body Chair: Parents are vital to a successful school. Their formalised interaction often comes through a PTA, Home and School or Friends of the School. Such bodies support the school in events and provide additional funds through fundraising. A healthy parent body can add a dimension of positivity and nurturing to the school. Having a good chair, who understands the role, is refreshing. A good chair will steer parents away from the negativity that can breed at the school gate. A good chair understands that governance happens with the BOT and management happens with the Principal. A good parent body chair is so uplifting to have, as they maximise the power of parents to come in behind the school and encourage and grow it. It is a healthy exercise to be conscious of the synergetic connections that comprise a school. Whilst all seven are crucial I have deliberately ordered them as I have, because that is how I see their significance to the health and organisation strength of a school. Reflect on your school. How do you see it? What order would you put them in? Are there other positions you would include? Are there some that you would leave out? The key point is ensuring that in our schools the right people, are in the right place, at the right time, thinking the right way, and doing the right things. Whatever the size of the school, we cannot leave the appointment of people to crucial positions to an accident of serendipitous chance. Clarity gives wisdom that informs conscious actions. When we get this right, the children benefit from a school that is focused upon them and their needs.
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