TILS A-m

Shadow Principals
Activity: I was to shadow leadership at all three levels of education: elementary, middle and high
school levels. I was to work with a program director for a Kindergarten activity, shadow a middle
school assistant principal, and work closely with and shadow numerous levels of secondary and
high school leadership.
Description: I was able to work with a program director for a Kindergarten activity. I helped
register students, make sure their contact information was correct and that all parental forms
were accurate, and I had to make sure that all students were accounted for at every checkpoint. I
was also able to work with and shadow the middle school assistant principal for a day and see
what a typical day was like from student discipline issues, lunchroom responsibilities, loading
and unloading students, teacher evaluations, and teacher management. I had several opportunities
to work with high school leadership from instructional coaches, to district personnel, and
administration. I was able to work with and shadow several different people over the course of
this program.
a. What went well?
The overall experience at all levels went well. All of the leaderships willingness to
explain and train me in what they were doing and why they were making the decisions
they were making is priceless. I was able to gain perspective on how to handle a various
amount of people and issues. My favorite and best experience was shadowing the middle
school assistant principal because he introduced me to everyone, and he allowed me to be
a part of all the things that arose in the day.

b. What did not?

I am not sure if this is so much what did not go well, but my experience with the
Kindergarten exposure with the program director was not pleasant. It was very chaotic
and unorganized, to me. However, I learned that it was not unorganized to the level where
the childrens safety was in jeopardy, but it is just not how I would handle those situations
with those students or their parents.
c. Given the chance to do it again, how would you do it better?
I am not sure that this is so much of how I would do this better, but what I learned is that
I have zero desire to work with elementary students. I realize that this is probably a bad
and negative thing to say as an aspiring leader, but I am being honest with my expression.
I may have just had a bad experience, but I learned that my ideal situation as a principal
would be to be in a middle school to begin. I realize that is what this experience is about
is to learn my strengths and weaknesses and know that just because elementary level is
not my strength, it does not mean that it cannot one day be a strength. I would be doing a
disservice to myself and community by not being self-aware though.