Shadow Interview

Principal, MY Elementary School

Lead Teacher, MY Elementary School
1. How did you first get involved in leadership?
Hired to as a resource teacher to work with behaviors. Head teacher, MEA Rep. 2 years
with curriculum director as principal, head teacher in charge. Went back to get principal
license to get paid to do what he was doing to cover curriculum director/principal
2. What is your personal philosophy and/or definition of leadership?
There are 2 - 1. The best leadership is the one that is behind the scenes - not
authoritarian. Shared leadership - decisions come at different levels - some mine, yours,
ours Shared leadership - collaboration. YOu do not succeed if you dont fail.
Work is done in the room - whatever I can do to alleviate pressure
2. Authoritarian - sometimes you have to lay down the law.
3. Who is your leadership role-model/mentor? Why?
More comes from what has been negative - not necessarily positive.
(LEAD TEACHER) My Father......Courage, Strength, compassion, discipline, lead by
example, and most all of Sacrifice are qualities I think a good leader/role model should
have. My father has them all. In the 40 years I've known my father, I have never heard
him complain or make excuses. He has raised myself and a step brother and sister
without prejudice and has made multiple sacrifices for all of us throughout our lives. He
is a man of few words because his actions say it all. I would not be successful without
the stern and caring guidance he gave me.
4. What are some resources that every leader should know about?
Leadership Stark County - identify leadership style, learn more about you and who you
are as a leader
Utilize strengths, manage weaknesses - book, good leaders surround themselves with
people who are strong in weakness
5. What are the outstanding skills or abilities of effective leaders you have known?
Listening
Handle confrontation
Make hard decisions
Willing to make people angry - no is perfectly acceptable answer
Thick skin, but not rigid enough to keep everything out - cant be so far and cold away
from it.
Confidentiality - find someone to talk to. You cant talk about teachers to other teachers

6. Have you observed differences in the way men and women lead? If yes, describe.
If no, why do you think this is?
No, I dont think there are any differences. It comes down to personality. Seen some
inappropriate behaviors from both. Not sure if they (females) felt need to be so strong
willed because of gender.
7. What are the major reasons leaders fail in positions like yours?
Many-layered - what is failure? Feel we are failing because of report card - judgement
based on what you can see. Are we failing as a team? No. We work really hard and we
are doing what is best for students. Cant leave until feels done with work for the day.
Set up to fail?
Can cause leaders to change jobs - balance between work and professional.
State requirements trickled down from district office to school. Taking on
responsibilities that are not necessarily appropriate.
(LEAD TEACHER) I feel that leaders in my position fail when they cannot earn the
respect and trust of their teachers. Their needs to constant avenues of support not only by
the administrator but also their peers. If their is a lack of communication and facilitation
by the principal, then it leads to confusion and ultimately failure
8. If you had to train someone to replace you in your current job, what key abilities
do you search for?
People person - have to be.
Have patience
Swallow pride
Take a deep breath and let it go
9. What have been your biggest leadership challenges and celebrations?
Challenge - With so much more - being able to do all of it at a level of proficiency. You
are only glazing. You miss things when you are required to do so much. Prioritize, but
understand that you have to give some things up.
- Former student - connection with a student. Shared information with him that was
mandatory reporting. Abuse. Brutal, graphic. First grader. Shared that he was required
to report. Stood in lobby of school. Came back after incident - Thanks for ruining my
life.
Celebration - Some that arent academic - behavioral. Students who come back to say hi.
Academic continuous improvement, academic emergency
- started coming out of it by 2nd year of leadership was out of school improvement,
excellent. Report card takes away from celebration.

10. What are some words of advice that you would give to a new leader?
Dont do it. J
Be true to thy self.
11. When reflecting on your experiences as a leader, were there any moments that stand out as
causing you to change or alter the way you lead?
Challenges you to reflect - you may come out to a better understanding of situations.
Theres no cookie cutter way to deal with people
Always looking at different points of view
Accountability at the state level causes you to think about what is going on
(Stated that there has not been any events that have caused him to change the way he
leads or how he approaches things.)
12. What is something you wish non-leaders in education (such as teachers, students, parents)
knew about your position?
When people walk into a school who are not familiar with how schools work, they are so
shocked by what happens in schools. They cant believe what we do on a daily basis for
kids and with kids. They also do not understand that this is not a 9-5 job, or a Monday
thru Friday job. We are always working.
13. What does a typical day look like for you?
You do not know what a typical day will look like. You can go in with a gameplan, but
as soon as you walk through the door, it is likely to change. It isnt like a teacher with a
lesson plan. Teachers have some idea of what they will do each day and they are able to
carry out those plans to a certain extent. Being a principal is different because there is
always an unknown.
14. How do you promote professional capital with your employees?
(LEAD TEACHER) Employees are one of the most valuable assets an employer could
have. They are the link between you and the product (students). There needs to be an
environment that promotes growth and support. I try to lead by example by bringing
excitement and energy to work everyday. It is important to keep moral up by offering not
only avenues of support but also creating positive relationships of trust and honesty.
People don't care what you know until they know that you care, cliche I know but very
true. I would also provide positive incentives throughout the school year.
15. Which is more important: Good leadership or good colleagues? Why?
(LEAD TEACHER) A good leader. If there is someone who is a good leader in charge,
they will be able to guide and mold their staff to create a positive and friendly
environment that will lead to collaboration among colleagues. A good leader should also

know of any problems among staff and be able to facilitate a quick, fair, and positive
solution.