Although Burt has retired from being an administrator, he will contact a friend who has the job and go with you to check out the many different hats that a principal wears today. The managing and business side of the job will be shown to you, from overseeing budgets and personnel issues, to reviewing curriculum and advising staff on new research and strategies for effective teaching and learning, to analyzing and communicating standardized test findings and reports, to coordinating a calendar of meetings and events for the school and also for the community, to preparing for staff and school board meetings, to understanding and carrying out laws and school policies. From the teaching and education perspective, the principal will share how they evaluate teachers, what they do to coach and mentor new teachers, how they interact with colleges to be part of student teaching programs, and what their mission and goals are for their building. You will have a chance to give your opinions and ideas about discipline matters and see the difficulties that educators face every day with behavior problems. Learn about the ways the principal tries to work more closely with the community and parents.
Principals are leaders.
You will have the opportunity to see how complicated being a leader is in any kind of situation and, in particular, in an elementary school.