A Leader I Admire

 I have worked for many different administrators over the years and have seen a variety of strengths and weaknesses among them. I have never respected one quite as much as the one that I currently work with and for.  He works hard to make his staff feel respected and appreciated. 

He became an administrator during the pandemic and was introduced to his leadership position at the craziest of times. I know that he was alternating between providing support to teachers who were worried for their own health and safety, and trying to work with parents who were opposed to our masking policy. Meanwhile, he was spending weekends contact tracing. I can't imagine the hours that he put in. Some days he would look more tired than others, but he continued to be ready to drop everything to listen and offer support if one of his teachers was struggling. I received multiple hand written notes from him to thank me when I did anything extra, making it clear that he was noticing every little thing. I am fairly certain that almost everyone on our staff has received the same. As we have been asked to help out and cover recess duties and lunch duties during this past year while we have been unable to find substitutes to cover all the absences, he always volunteers to pick up the least desirable duties.  Seeing him signing up made more of us willing to chip in as well.

At the same time, he is not afraid to communicate openly about issues. When he becomes aware of unprofessional behavior, he is great at recognizing whether it is widespread enough that everyone needs a reminder of expectations or if it only needs to be addressed with one or two people. As an NEA rep, I have sat through meetings with staff members who needed to meet with him personally and have been impressed with the compassion that he brings to even those meetings when he is having to say the hard things.

I feel like our school has more of a feeling of safety and respect than it has had before. People are more willing to admit to their weaknesses and ask for help to get better at their job because they feel such support and respect from their leaders. A good leader makes all the difference.