Administrators′ Corner
Moving on… what legacy
are you leaving?
By Leisa Simapili
T
he region’s schools have seen
their fair share of administrators
come and go. You could almost
say it is a way of life here. People
come to the region for a specific
amount of time and then they move
on or educators stay in a school for a
specified time frame and then they
move to another. During the final term,
many schools are getting ready to say
goodbye to either their principal or
other members of the senior leadership
team.
As administrators, we all want to leave
something memorable when we leave
a school. This could be something to
be remembered by, and/or something
for others to build on. Sometime soon,
maybe not this year, I too will leave
my current school and I wonder what
legacy will I leave behind?
When I took on my first leadership role
in a school in the United Kingdom,
I was very eager to make my mark. I
was very blinkered in my approach.
I thought I had to work harder than
everyone else to ensure that things
were done properly and that I made
a name for myself. Now that I am a
little older, my focus has shifted. Now,
when I think of the legacy I would like
10 | May - Jun 2015 |
|
to leave behind, I think of the following
four things:
A legacy of love
People may never remember all the
things you did in a school to change
its process or even improve grades
and working conditions, but they will
almost always remember the care and
kindness you showed them. Recently
while browsing the Internet, I came
across a quote which states, “people
may not always remember what you
say but they will always remember how
you made them feel”.
A legacy of encouragement
You have a choice. You can lift others
up or bring them down. Ten years from
now when people think of you, what do
you want them to remember? The way
you encouraged or discouraged them?
It is so easy for school administrators
to forget the power they hold over
how a teacher feels about their entire
career. Teaching is a hard enough
career choice, so encourage a teacher
today. Be that person a teacher or
even a student will call five or more
years from now to thank for the way
you encouraged and believed in them.
Class Time
A legacy of purpose
People are most energised when they
are using their gifts and talents for a
purpose that is greater than them. In
order to leave a legacy of purpose,
make your life and work about
something bigger than you. If your
purpose is to ensure quality education
provision for all students, even when
you have left that school the legacy
you leave and the positive impact you
have had will be felt by teachers and
students in years to come.
A legacy of excellence
To leave a legacy of excellence, try
to be and do your best every day.
As you strive for excellence, you will
inspire excellence in others. You serve
as a role model for your teachers,
the students and their parents. One
person in pursuit of excellence can
raise the standards and behaviours of
everyone around them.
All school administrators want to
leave a legacy, something that will
last. Remember, buildings crumble;
projects and initiatives come and go,
but most school administrators will
be remembered by the teachers and
students that they inspired.