We are in the process of hiring a principal. We've several teachers approach the hiring committee, wanting a new principal that, in their words, they can be friends with.
I am totally against having a principal as a friend. To me, it's the same as having a parent as a friend. I have nothing against a friendly, approachable person; I just don't want this best buddy mentality to prevail again, as it did with our last principal and some of the teachers!
As someone who hopes to move into administration sooner rather than later, I wouldn't use the term friendly as much as approachable. To have a "friendly" principal leads to accusations of favortism and principal's pets. Trust me, I had an AP a few years back who did "friendly" stuff with certain teachers - the CLIQUE - and it led to serious confidentiality problems (they knew who was losing their job before the person losing their job!) and school climate problems. It's a good thing to have a principal that you are able to freely talk to without worrying about being judged. It's interesting that at my school, it was a lot of the young 1 - 4 year teachers who were involved in this. The older, tenured lot didn't feel the need to brown nose and be selective in who they involve in their outside activities.
I think it would be interesting to ask (if possible) in the interview about the fine line between admin and teachers and the interviewees POV about it. It seems like our society is going to this buddy buddy thing that as we've seen in our classrooms with parents and their children isn't the most beneficial thing in the world.
I agree totally with you, Jennifer. I like the words approachable and open. An effective administrator has to keep some distance from his/her faculty for the very reasons you cited.
In our case, it isn't the young, non-tenured teachers who want the "friendly" principal -- it's the older, tenured teachers! The ones I am thinking of specifically have taught 15+ years!!They are also the ones who were buddy-buddy; like as Jennifer stated, they knew who was being hired, fired, moved, etc. before the actual person did and I disagree with that!
I agree. I think that the principals I have had the most respect for have been the ones who get in there and aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. They are friendly, don't hide in their offices, and are very visible. They are "friendly" and welcoming of all staff members and don't show favoritism. I'd hate to say they can't have "friends" but they must be very careful not to show favoritism or give preferential treatment to some staff members. That is a recipe for disaster. When you hire a teacher don't you want one that relates well to all students and makes each student feel important and special. I think a good principal can make staff feel the same way. It's not easy, but it is possible.
I think Principals should be someone you are on a friendly basis with, and feel like you can call or talk to if need be, but *not* as a personal friend.
We have a few teachers who are close personal friends with the P and it smacks of favoritism. he is a little too personal with those people, and they with him. It makes it a little uncomfortable for others. I am on good terms with my P. I can go to him with problems, chat with him about nothing, go to him to share things going well in the classroom, whatever, but we are not "friends" in that we would not sit and gossip about people or hang out together outside of school (except for school social gatherings we have occasionally).
For me, a principal relationship is strictly professional... then also when other things come up you know- the things we all feel obliged to do without payment... then it's not so hard to say no
I am young BUT my Principal is 4 years younger than I am- that's not that easy to work for him either- he's pretty 'cool' and there are plenty of teachers always around him, drinking on Friday afternoons and wanting to be his fake friend!
I am not boring, but I totally against cliques- I treat work as work with a twist of smurfy fun.
And a side note to Jennifer... can I just say that I agree with what you said about the subject for sure. However, I don't know why teachers move into Admin positions-- if I am experienced and want to go higher up the pay scale and NOT want to teach kids or be with children much, then I would move into an admin or management job in the business world and be paid a just and fair amount! Have you thought of that- you'd be paid sooo much more!
I don't have the "business" persona that it requires in the business world. I am an educator who enjoys the day to day changes tha occur with children. I just feel for me it's the best place to advance to. The money would be nice, but I wouldn't be happy with the daily grind. And hey, having about 6 - 8 weeks off in the summer is a nice perk to staying in schools.
I agree on the principal who is approachable more so then friendly, I can't stand when teachers are buddy buddy with the principal. I also really would like a principal who is supportive of the staff, I want one who I know has my back when I deal with difficult students and parents.
05-29-2008, 03:06 PM
is a nice perk to staying in schools. 
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