Taylor Connard

Education 650

Principal Interview

Crystal Gibson – Principal at Clay County High School

1. Tell me about your department/area.

My department is the center of the school and community. I manage everything. I am the

middle man for the board office and also the community director. Our high school is the

hub of the community and I have to schedule everything to fit. Our school does reunions,

bitty ball, blood drives, and everything else in between. I am responsible for creating that

scheduling and managing the phone calls relating to community events.

2. Tell me about your job duties and responsibilities.

As the head of the school, I handle all major discipline issues and even minor ones if the

other principals are busy. I do the Civil Rights document for the high school and the

strategic plan. I communicate with the State Department as well. I am in charge of all

activities at the high school, including athletics. I present professional development

opportunities to the staff. I could go on and on, but basically if it happens here, I have a

hand on it.

3. What are your strengths?

I am very persistent. If the door closes, I push it back open. I know what I want and I do

not stop until I get it. I set strong goals and strive to always meet them and typically I do

meet them. I taught English for 24 years and that helps me write documents and speak at

meetings. I am willing to be flexible and I try to not sweat the small stuff.

4. What are your goals?

 My goal is to leave the school better than I found it. I know that sounds cliché, but I just

want to create a strong educational program and be able to walk away once my son

graduates. I want the kids to leave here and look back and say that the school made a

difference in their life. I wanted to get the money for the school renovation and I

accomplished that, so that was a huge goal realized.

5. What are your present major concerns?

Covid-19. That has really overtaken everything this year. Keeping the kids safe is a huge

concern and I want to make sure that we can contain any outbreaks. I am concerned that

the kids are getting behind on their education and do not have access to technology.

6. What future concerns are anticipated?

I am concerned that this will set a precedent for the future. I worry that our kid’s mental

health and social-emotional skills will be stunted. If that is the case, we will see the

impact of that long after the kids leave school.

7. What have you done to improve this district’s capacity to better meet the needs of

students?

I have implemented more professional development for the staff. I have listened to the

teachers and students to provide them with more things that they need at the school. I

was able to secure the School Building Authority money for the physical needs of the

school. I have begun to get more and more technology so that we can better meet our 21st

century technology standards.

8. What do you need, expect, or hope for from your principals?

 I first and foremost need their support. I need them to trust me and for me to be able to

trust them in turn. I expect them to be able to handle things and keep the school running

when I am not there. I also respect them and want that in return.

9. From your experience from working with your district/school, what advice would

you give a new administrator?

Document everything. Keep a log for every meeting, conversation, and action that you

do. Take diligent notes and file them away, You will forget things, but you cannot forget

anything as an administrator. Always take a deep breath before you handle anything

involving a student.

10. What activities would you suggest I undertake during my internship to better

understand and/or work with your district?

You need to make sure that you know what the job entails and make sure that you can

perform those duties. The job does not end, it is 24 hours a day and sometimes 7 days a

week. The job is not for the faint at heart. Make sure you are prepared.