Old TILS C-k

Grade Level Chair

Activity: I have been the Freshman Academy lead teacher for three and a half years. With this
role, I have been delegated roles and responsibilities from the Assistant Principal/Freshman
Academy Principal.
Description: This role was created when our administration decided to transform our school into
academies: STEM, MBA, Humanities, and continue with the Freshman Academy. The
administration decided to have two lead teachers within each academy to represent the
teachers of each academy.
a. What went well?
The overall position as a lead teacher went extremely well. The first two and a half years
of this position, I served under the most influential Freshman Academy principal, and
principal overall, I could ever hope to learn from. He mentored me and allowed me to
learn first-hand what it will be like as an administrator. He was open to allowing me to
take on responsibilities he delegated, as well as, develop new roles that helped to improve
the academy and school. He trusted me and believed in me, but most importantly he
worked with me and treated me as an equal. Through working for him is what gave me
the drive and desire to pursue administration.
b. What did not?
There are a few things that did not go well. First, when I was asked to be in this position,
there was some definite pushback from two particular teachers in the academy and one
being the other lead teacher, so that made a difficult collaborative partnership. This issue
was that she felt another teacher in the academy should have been the other lead teacher
instead of me which is where the issue with the other teacher came into focus. The idea

that she could do it better was what was on their minds, so nothing I did was good
enough for them. This was a struggle for about the first year, but I just focused on
everything else except that.
The second struggle has been the transition this past year with a new Freshman Academy
principal. She has not been the supportive administrator that my former one has been, but
I am also aware that change is difficult for all involved.
c. Given the chance to do it again, how would you do it better?
If I were to go through this again, the first thing I would do differently is meet with those
to teachers who disapproved of my role and talk through their concerns because we
should all be professional adults. Communication is key to working through any issue
because at the end of the day, their issue was not with me specifically because I was
asked to be in that position. Their issue was more the fact that the administration asked
me and not the other person- not my decision. Secondly, I would be more open-minded
and not compare the new principal to the other principal because it is not her fault that
she is not like the former. There is a lot that I would do differently; however, the
experience was great overall. I realize that I cannot expect perfection from myself or
others, but I can communicate effectively and lead by example!