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A
Body Without a Head Is....
A body without a head is without direction.
A body without a head is out of control.
A body without a head is ultimately dead!
The GEM academy, no matter how cute the acronym, would be "a
body without a
head"!
A school’s principal is its spokesperson to the world. The
principal is
its public relations advocate, its source for direction, its
creative
energizing force. A well-trained, dedicated principal is the
school's leader, its
HEAD!
A good principal is the person who arrives with the
custodian first thing in
the morning to make sure there are no broken pipes, leaks,
problems with the
lighting, etc. A good principal makes sure there is adequate
staffing in
all areas for the day’s learning experiences. A good
principal makes sure the
building is ready to receive its precious clients – the
students it educates,
(not merely houses). This is before any teachers or
students arrive.
Teachers, especially those who have not worked closely with
a good
principal, haven't got a clue as to what the job of school
leader/ principal involves.
Within the school it involves being an authority figure to
students,
teachers and parents. It includes being a counselor,
mediator, disciplinarian,
negotiator, legal resource, parent and strong shoulder to
cry on.
The principal oversees the school's budget, checks supply
request,
coordinates workshops and makes sure payroll sheets are
accurate and on time. If the
staff does not get paid you are in trouble. The principal
helps new staff
members become a meaningful part of that school's family.
Within the school system, the job involves attending
meetings at TPS
administration building, before, during and after school. It
includes negotiating
for supplies and for staffing of your building. It would
also be wise to
confer with other school principals in order to insure your
building is not
missing the latest equipment and helps.
Community involvement requires the principal serve as an
ambassador. You
would need to attend PTA meetings, after school programs,
athletic competitions,
special recognition ceremonies highlighting the
accomplishments of your school, teachers and students. You
would also speak before outside groups and
agencies as a promoter of your building.
A person cannot be a building "leader"/
principal/administrator and teacher
at the same time. There is NO TIME to regularly be in the
classroom with
their students, to do the things a good teacher does. If the
teacher is not
teaching, but is playing the role of the building
administrator she/he becomes
an administrator not a teacher, regardless of the title.
Thus,
you have gone full circle to having a building principal
without the title and probably without the training,
knowledge, and dedication to do the job well.
In Toledo we have two examples of failed attempts at running
schools without
an actual head, Libbey and Scott. There is lack of purpose
and chaos in
both of these buildings because no one is in charge! There
is no reason to
experiment with our really tiny ones who have no one to
defend and protect them
from the obvious inadequacies of the GEM Academy, other than
the members of
the Board of Education.
If TPS and TFT truly believe the concepts of the GEM Academy
will lead to a
successful learning environment try it at
Grove-Patterson. When it works
there, then transplant it into Pickett. Stop experimenting
with inner-city
children to their demise!
In the meantime, give Pickett a strong dedicated HEAD
principal – preferably
a Strong Black Male, dedicated creative teachers, a viable
curriculum which
teachers reading, writing, arithmetic and science. Provide
enrichment classes
and experiences that build self-esteem with a sense of being
loved and
having great positive expectations. These are the things
that will turn Pickett
around.
Even Toledo Public Schools would experience true positive
improvement with
these entities in place.
To members of the Toledo Board of Education,
This is a new year. You are a new organization. You have
been given the
charge to make important decisions on behalf of the children
of Toledo.
Please, be the leadership you have been chosen for and deny
this attempt to
throw our children into the clutches of a headless
experimental monster.
Avie
C. Dixon,
Retired teacher/educator
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