Thoughts on Administration

When the guys at CCSA mentioned that I would be the Executive Director, I was shocked.  I have no experience in administration and while I think it is important to have a teacher's perspective when in administration, I think that you also need to have an administrator's perspective.  So...I've been working on a mental list of the qualities that I have seen and admired in my administrators (and the qualities that I could do without).  Granted I get that administrators will NEVER be able to please everyone at the same time, but I figure I should at least start thinking about it.

Here are a couple of thoughts (incomplete to say the least)...

Great administrators...

  Spend time in the classroom - both observing and participating.

  Provide continual feedback to teachers from a mentoring perspective.

  Make themselves available to parents, students, and teachers alike.

  ALWAYS back their teachers in front of parents (kind of like parents do in front of kids).

  Have high expectations for their staff and students.

  Make a habit of publicly recognizing effort - with students, staff, and parents.

  Have concise and organized weekly staff meetings.

  Ask staff for input on professional development and scheduling needs.

  Foster an environment of mutual respect between staff, students, and parents.

  Communicate with parents on a weekly basis - through email, newsletter, coffee meetings.

PLEASE feel free to add other things that you have noticed about your administrators.  I'm focusing on the positive things at the moment, but I am mentally creating the opposite list as well.  I would love input from the community at large...parents, teachers, students...