Questions | Answers |
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What do you actually do for most of the day? | I am in hallways between classes -- my presence affects the building climate and behavior; I observe and provide feedback of instruction daily; I address discipline referrals; I track down every single unexcused student absence and multiple tardiness; I approve purchase requests; I supervise and evaluate over 60 teachers, 6 custodians, 3 administrative assistants, 10 educational assistants, several psychs, counselors, etc.; I respond to parent emails and phone calls; I intervene many times all day long with student "drama" and crises of all sorts. These are "daily" tasks that don't address the budget, course guide, curricula, departmental classes and course offerings, IEP meetings, school board meetings, building goals, administrative team meetings, RtI implementation, student intervention team meetings, community ATODA task force initiative, scholarship review, etc. The list is seemingly never-ending. And kind of depressing at times. |
Are you as serious about student absentees as Mr. Rooney? | Actually, yes. I know right. |
I see you put "drama" in quotations. What do you really think about the drama? | It's everywhere, every day. I should have an honorary PhD in dealing with 16-year old kid drama. |
Did you block reddit on the computers? | Yup. Our district tech director and I figured that /gonewild may interfere with student learning. |
Should have blocked imgur instead to really screw with them. | I did. That's the backbone of /gonewild anyway. Or so I've been told... |
All of Reddit for just nsfw subreddits? Reddit can be a valuable resource at times. Also, the students are probably trickier than your "tech director" and some have gotten around it. | I'm sure kids are taking advantage of my naiveity and getting away with shit every day. |
Can't you just block anything along the lines of https...gonewild and other nsfw areas, but allow the "nice" areas? Or at least allow certain subreddits like askscience? | It wouldn't be worth it. I'll be honest: I want students at school learning our curricula. Reddit -- and many other sites -- would be a huge distraction. |
I like how you link to it everytime. | Errr. Oops. Heh. |
Craziest situation that has occurred in your years as an educator? It could be anything... | Wow, not even sure where to start on this one. I once had a senior near graduation discreetly release a flock of pigeons in the upstairs hallway. We once had a HUGE pile of manure dumped on one of the entire building entrances. I've experienced deer carcasses in the building, strung out incoherently intoxicated students, among other wacky incidents. |
Would love to know more about the pigeon incident...I'm long past high school but somewhat impressed with the creativity of that one, and curious as to how you got rid of the pigeons... | I rounded up all the science and Ag teachers and told them to get busy! |
Haha thanks, didn't expect an answer to this! Was there poop everywhere? Did anyone get in real trouble? | It was part of several senior pranks on the last day and we never could prove which kid did it. Yes, some pigeon shit was dealt with on that infamous day! |
What's the worst thing someone has said to you while working as a principal? | I think "fuck you you old ass fucking prick!". I was 33. Is 33 really "old ass" category? That one still hurts a little. |
Maybe they were just calling you old and "ass fucking" was the combination. A blow at your age and sexuality? | Ouch. Never thought about it like that. :) |
Thanks for doing this AMA! Always cool to see teachers using reddit. How do you feel about teachers' unions? Do you think that they are helpful or harmful towards education? That said, how do you feel about giving high school teachers tenure? Do you wish you could fire some and keep the good ones? | I have some mixed feelings about teachers unions. Full disclosure: my wife is a teacher and belongs to a union. I believe that teachers and other educational staff should have the right to unionize. Truthfully, I believe that weak administrators are a bigger barrier to removing poor teachers than are the unions themselves. The union in the district I work is excellent -- they have great leadership, they work collaboratively with the school board and administration, and they have yet to get in my way when it comes to dealing with staff that need to go. In regards to tenure: I just don't think it's necessary. Good instructors have very little to worry about anyway, in my experience. |
What's your favorite teen movie ever? And do you have a favorite principal/dean antagonist? | Edward Rooney in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is classic, largely because that movie itself is a classic. |
Have you ever had to enforce a rule but didn't want to or felt guilty about it? | For sure. I can think of an incident where one kid student punched another student who happened to be a student with a history of bullying/harassment type issues. The kid pretty much deserved it, but the kid who threw the punch was disciplined both via school consequences and police consequences. |
I think you may be talking about my situation( was the excact same thing) was the kid who deserved it named alex fortin. | Maybe. |
As a current procrastinating high school student who uses Reddit to cope with school life, how do you do it? | Find a balance. I'm a principal who also uses reddit, plays Xbox, WoW, etc. Do what you need to do first, and reward yourself with what you like to do afterwards. Google "Premack Principle." Now live it. |
This begs the question: Do you raid? Do you overhear students talking about it and think "Hah! Demonology is sooo 4 years ago. Affliction's where it's at these days." I want to believe, I really do. | I used to be a WoW raider, and before that (which really makes me old) a big time Everquest raider. I just simply don't have as much time although I am fortunate to not need more than 5 hours of sleep each night. That helps. I almost finished Assassin's Creed 3 last night and probably would have had I not been answering AMA questions! |
Out of curiosity, if a student found out somehow and asked you to raid with them would? If not because of conflict of interest would you after they get out of your school? | Nah. We have an acceptual usage policy that actually prohibits us from online gaming with students, or Facebook friending students, etc. |
How do you feel about the No Child Left Behind act? | It didn't work, which was predicted from day 1. Unrealistic expectation. |
What is your approach to teacher performance evaluation? How do you measure student outcomes, and how much pressure do you get to achieve certain test scores, etc.? | I'm a believer than school is about LEARNING. Not homework or busy work completion. Not chasing an arbitrary percentage grade that is then transformed into an oftentimes more arbitrary letter grade, which may or may not be a valid reflection of actual learning. There is still so much bullshit in education that needs to evolve and overcome years of antiquated bad 'factory model' practice from traditional high school service delivery. If teachers are on board with my philosophy about learning and subsequently demonstrate it via classroom practice, performance evaluation is then an easy rubber stamp. |
I once threw a bottle at my headteachers head, I didn't mean it to hit him, but he stood in front of it. He then took me into his office and we proceeded to laugh at it.. has anybody ever threw a bottle at your head? | The kid who would throw a bottle at my head probably wouldn't have a very good day after that. But nope, hasn't happened...yet. |
Are there drug problems you're aware of at school, and if so, any interesting stories? | I think schools are microcosms of the towns/communities of which they exist. The better question is probably related to drug problems in our greate community. The answer: definitely. Even pot is a major issue if it interferes with learning (which it oftentimes does in habitual users). |
How do you feel about charter public schools? | I've never worked in one and don't have any firsthand experience; however, contrary to some legislative/political belief, charter schools are not the magical answer to large, failing urban high schools. |
What drove you to select becoming a principal? Are you proud of how your school functions? How do the recent budget cuts affect your school? I ask this because I am sure some schools handle it better than others. Favorite school subject? | When I started in my first year of my career as an educator 13 years ago, I had a principal who could not connect with kids or with staff, was weak with student management, and was overall just plain ineffective. I realized that year that my greatest means to make a large difference in kids could/would be as a principal...but one who would do many things differently than this guy was doing. I worked with him another four years before I left that district for another district. |
I've been wondering this forever. Principals are always so busy -- I have to make an appointment a few days in advance if I need to talk to my school's -- but what do they do?! | I try to accommodate parents' meeting request that day. It's kind of a dick move to pretend I'm so busy and be so aloof as not to be able to find a time to meet with you and address your concerns until next Wednesday. |
I am in a precal class, and our entire class recently failed a test. i mean big time. like not one person got above a 65%. the average was about a 30 percent. We all think our teacher is terrible and this is proof. however he even told us that if we tried to go to our principal he would say his other precal class did fine and its (and i quote) just this stupid class. they averaged a 75 by cheating. they freely admit this to us. what should we do? | Tell your teacher, respectfully of course, that his responsibility for yours and your classmates' learning is not absolved just because the test is over. Furthermore, the class performance should suggest that there's a huge disconnect between his intended curriculum that he taught and the curriculum that was received by you all. if I were you, I would request a meeting with the teacher and principal if you felt like you were getting nowhere with what I first suggested. |
Do you think that it's possible that when you are evaluating teachers, they 'fake' being good until you leave? One of my past teachers said that if we don't 'act' like we are learning while the principal in in the room, he would assign a crap load of homework. | If I were only in classrooms once every two months on a scheduled basis, sure. But I pop in unannounced all the time. It's hard to fake that. |
In highschool I never really did anything, but when the Principal was in I pretended to make my teachers look good. | Good guy slacker student. I'm sure there's a meme for that! |
I think Reddit calls it "lazy college senior" but it could go both ways. Also, what's the mascot of the school you work at? | I'm leaving for work in two minutes and I'm already nervous that students of mine have read this and might suspect this is me. I'm definitely not mentioning our mascot! |
How do you feel about schools that restrict hugging? | Eesh, Do those high schools also prohibit dances and shorts/skirts on girls? It's 2012, not 1962... |
How do you encourage an "esprit de corps" in your school? My daughter goes to a private school and there are currently a significant student unrest and at least 25% of the students in her year are looking for alternate schools to transfer to... | I have a rule that all incoming 9th graders must join at least one co-curricular activity, sport, or club. Whether you play soccer, participate in the Xbox Gaming Club, or are part of the FFA, I could care less. I just want kids to be connected to the school in more ways than just the 7 hours of daily class work. This way, kids feel connected and want to be there, which is hugely important obviously. |
What about the "recreational psychoactive chemistry club"? | Nice try. |
Worst thing you've ever had to punish a student for? Doesn't matter what kind of punishment. | Probably two kids who were caught with their pants down on a bus, under a blanket, on an interstate band trip. That was the worst in a couple ways because on one hand, it was a totally ballsy move that the former 17-year old in me wanted to high five the boy for, but at the same time, it was totally inappropriate and probably traumatizing for a couple other kids on the bus. But that was far from the most severe punishable behavior I've dealt with. |
What's the MOST SEVERE behavior? | I've seen a couple pretty nasty fights. Fist full of hair, roots and all, from one chick fight -- that visual will haunt me forever. |
If you had a teacher whom honestly was the most talented teacher on staff, connected with kids, helped increase funding for a program, etc etc, but you knew he participated it activities typically not condone for teachers, would you look the other way? (i.e. alcoholism/weed/extremist activism/etc) | Probably. As long as their behavior didn't become public and wasn't harmful to anyone. Teachers are held to a different, higher ethical standard than the average citizen -- and given their exposure and impact on teenagers, they should be. But I ask myself "if my own son's teacher was absolutely phenomenal...but she was a big time drinker and pot-smoker outside of school, would I care.". Nope, don't care -- just continue ensuring my son learns like a mofo! |
Wow, that's an incredibly small high school. Mine had 2700. Are all schools where you live that small? | I live and work in a fairly small town. I think 600 kids is the absolutely perfect size of a high school. It's not so small that kids are stuck for life in cohorts of 30 kids, and it's not so big (e.g., 2700) that kids fall through the cracks. My school is a school that most people would want their own kids to attend -- that's definitely saying something, in my opinion. |
I want to be a high school History Teacher, and will be going to college at K-State next year to achieve that goal. Any tips to give? | Yes -- double major and get a dual certification in Special Education. HS Social Studies teachers are a dime a dozen. Set yourself apart from your competition, and at the same time, learn skills and theory related to differentiation, scaffolding lessons to meet all students' needs, etc. |
1.) Do principals have direct influence over which teachers they hire? 3.) What do you think of programs like AmeriCorps and Teach for America? | I don't have a lo of experience with those programs, but they seem to have a reputation for sticking brand new, 22 year old white teachers into the toughest urban teaching assignments imaginable. Maybe that's just a bad stereotypical reputation -- I truthfully don't know. |
2.) What are the credentials for your teachers to be hired to teach a certain subject. Say would they hire an engineer, who only had a BS, to teach a calculus course? | Credentials are determined by the state. If said engineer was also a certified teacher, then sure. |
On this have you ever thought of adding a senior student on to the hiring panel? | Not really...but I do use students to give applicants building tours, then ask them their impressions. |
What is the craziest scenario you have had to deal with during your time as a principal? | One student screaming while running out of a bathroom because (after investigation) another student in the bathroom (with a disability) was throwing/wiping poop on him. |
What percentage of your students use drugs? | Including marijuana? I'd guess up to 35 percent recreationally. Maybe 5 to 10 percent daily. But maybe I'm naive and it's more. |
On a given day how many do you think are high/drunk? | Very few high. Drunk? Probably never since kids aren't typically that stupid. Alcohol is so easily detectable whereas Rx pills, pot, etc, is not as easy. |
ZERO tolerance policies, what's your opinion and have you had to enforce them? | Zero tolerance usually doesn't leave much room for common sense. |
Do you do that cheesy "I put the 'pal' in principal," line to incoming freshmen? Also, 600 students seems really small. That was the size of my graduating class. | Nope, heh. I think 600 is an awesome school size. |
I have a question about suspensions. How do you feel they help a student realise the thing they did wrong and how do you see it as a punishment? The suspensions here work as basically the student gets time at home, no homework no nothing. Is this really the most effective way of doing things? I personally know that students that have been suspended, do it intentionally to get time off school. They don't learn anything in this time, and teachers don't have time to catch them up on what they missed. We also, rarely, had in school suspensions, which i see to be more effective. Shut off from friends, had to bring lunch to that room and was forced to be in a room all day with the days work brought to them. And all they could do was be in that room. This seems to be a much more effective way. So in short. How do you feel about suspensions? | I really don't have a wide range of options for major behavioral issues, but I definitely try to in-school versus OSS. Effective? Sometimes, but oftentimes it's more punitive than it is restorative or educational. But at times it's important to send the message to other students, and staff, that certain types of behavior are simply not tolerated. I also have no problem including the local police foe issues of fighting, harassment/bullying, major profanity toward other adults, things like that. |
Do you try the food the school serves the students? | Most of it's shit. I like the fresh fruit/vegetables at least. |
How often, if ever, do you give in to a parent's demands? My wife is a high school teacher and her principal will throw the teachers under the bus for asinine complaints just to make parents happy. | I don't operate like that. I have no problem whatsoever saying "no" to parents. I certainly hope that if my teachers were anonymously surveyed they would indicate that I am supportive and have their backs. That's very important to me. I will always defend teachers publicly but there have been times that I have had an immediate follow-up closed door conversation if that said/did something stupid. |
Im planning on becoming a high school math teacher. I love learning and teaching math but I have no desire to take part in student life types of activities; sports, non academic clubs, dances etc. i see the value in those things but i just dont see myself as that sort of teacher. if you were interviewing, me how would you respond to this? | Don't admit any of that in an interview. :) |
Have you ever had to side with a teacher over a student merely to preserve the natural order of things? Or have you ever had to punish a pupil for acting out or talking back in a situation that made you think, "Hey, this kid's got a point." or, "you know, that may have been inappropriate for a classroom, but it was pretty darn clever."?? Or something like that. | I've agreed with students over teachers, but not publicly. |
This probably isn't a great question, but I'm curious. I went to a pretty low-grade high school and, not to toot my own horn, but the curriculum was just far too simple for me. I was "left behind" because the teachers didn't have time for a bored straight "A" student. As a result, I spent most of my time being a general thorn in everyone's side - doing whatever I could to push the limits all the way to the principal's office. Do you encounter students like me and how do you deal with them? Or not, as was my case. | Yes, we have kids like you. I work with a brilliant G/T teacher who is good at collaborating with teachers and parents to ensure your kind is challenged every day. It's pretty effective but not perfect. |
4)Have you ever had a kids that you just knew was a lost cause? (please elaborate) | Lost cause? A few, yes. They were evil. I can think of three very specific examples and I truly believe the world would be better off without those three individuals. Two of them are now in jail. One is a serious crime waiting to happen. It's sad but it's reality. |
My principal is actually very chill, just today we were discussing thanksgiving break plans, and we even exchanged PSN I.Ds do you try to develop friendly relationships with your students? | Establishing connections with kids is crucial. I am friendly but am not friends, if that makes sense. |
What is the biggest drug bust you have encountered on school property? | A trunk of a car that contained a full blown drug dealing operation including baggies, scales, and thousands of dollars worth of pot. |
If you're married or in a relationship does being a principal get in the way of it? Or affect it in any way? Working with teenagers does it sometimes make you wonder if you have children, will they come out being like them? | Being a principal has taken a toll on my marriage largely due to the number of hours I work and the many evenings my wife takes care of our kids by herself. It sucks sometimes but she knew what I was getting into. |
Do you believe that marks and scores are fair ways to judge a student's skills? | Yes, if done right. |
I'm really bad at high school math and I'm starting to think it's just the way it's taught (Teachers clicking through slides on a smartboard and drawing sample problems that they solve themselves) is this seen as an effective teaching method by the teaching community and am I just bad or is this really just a shitty method? | If you're not learning, something instructional is likely not working. |
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