If Only Teachers Knew.....

This past week as an administrator was a series of learning experiences for me. Our students come to us with so many issues and it is up to us as school leaders to support them academically as well as emotionally. Last week, I had to expel a student, dealt with a student who was so emotionally disturbed he put his fist through a window, breaking the window and bleeding all over the floor, a student who left her class to threaten a student in another class and through all of this, we were undergoing a 2-day instructional audit. I realized that my primary focus as an instructional leader is to keep the teachers and the students focused on teaching and learning. So while my Assistant Principal and I dealt with all the issues, the teachers were able to concentrate on teaching and the students on learning. I realized also that as a leader, I must be able to think fast and provide solutions to situations, even if it is only temporary. Finally, I learned that I cannot save every student, I have to let some of them go and as much as it pains me, I cannot jeopardize the futures of the entire student body for a few. If only teachers knew how much we do to make their jobs easier.....