Teach Middle East Magazine Nov-Dec 2018 Issue 2 Volume 6 | Seite 11

Administrator's Corner
I once asked a director in an interview,
what is your mission? What do you see
as a successful school?
The reply was “Happy parents! Happy
students! Happy teachers. Everybody
happy”
We all know that is impossible. As the
poet John Lydgate stated “You can
please some of the people all of the
time, you can please all of the people
some of the time, but you can't please
all the people all of the time”.
These kinds of statements scream
“Buyer Beware”. Do not be afraid to
ask your immediate supervisor what
their educational beliefs, goals and
missions are. The answer to these
kinds of questions will give you clear
insight into what to expect in their
leadership. It also can help to ensure
that you share the same values, which
is the key to your happiness as a school
leader.
3) Which part of the school
operation am I expected to
oversee?
One thing I have learned about this
region, is that there are two types of
school leaders Administrators and
Instructional Leaders. School battles
have been fought and lost in the
understanding of what a principal's
role is. Before you say yes, be sure you
know what your role will be and do not
assume anything. Eastern and Western
philosophy of school leadership is
different. Ask questions like:
Who oversees the hiring and salary of
teachers?
Who will oversee the maintenance and
upkeep of the school?
Who will oversee the ordering of
school supplies and resources?
Will I have a say in what is being
ordered? What are the procedures?
Do I have the authority to make
curriculum changes and implement
instructional strategies?
What procedures if any, must I follow
to implement a change or reform in
the school?
4) What nationality is the
majority of the staff?
This may be the most important
question of them all. The answer to this
question will give you the best insight
into the organisation. For example, if
you are taking the leadership position
for an American school and there are
no Americans on your staff. This can
give you an insight into the type of
training and Professional Development
(PD) you may have to provide.
The answer to this question also gives
you clues into the culture of the school.
One of the greatest things about living
in the UAE, is that there are people
from all races, colors and nationalities,
each coming with their own work
culture. Having knowledge of the
people can give you the opportunity
to weigh within yourself if your skill set
and abilities are aligned with that of
the existing staff.
School Leadership in an international
setting can be exciting. When you
consider taking a position you want to
be sure that you are equipped with all
the necessary information to ensure
your success. Take the time to ask the
tough questions and WAIT for the
answers.
Loretta Sanders is a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist who has gained her
work experience in both North Carolina, USA and the United Arab Emirates.
Her passion is to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about this field with
fellow educators and ultimately have an impact on learners in classrooms
everywhere.
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