Friday, August 22, 2008

What is School Leadership?

I am once again "promoting" a comment to the front because I think it does provide a great opportunity for comment. I happen to disagree with this person's opinion on what the role of a principal is...I see it as being much more than the narrow defination the person uses.

Contrary to the posts on this particular topic, leadership is not consensus building. Running the day-to-day operations of a school in particular is the furthest thing in the world from running a customer-friendly retail store. The Principal's job is to provide an environment that is focused on student achievement which includes intellectual,social and emotional growth. The "business" of education, particularly Catholic Education is to foster Faith and independent thinking.

The best that we as parents can do for our kids is to support the teachers and the administration in this daunting task.Control what you can at home. Teach your kids to be responsible with their words and respectful of authority. But give your kids a true opportunity to be independent. Come out from behind your anonymity and demonstrate to your children what courage and change are all about!!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

For the person who posted this, read that last person's post in the "Control" part about the parent who wasn't "invited" back to HC. That's what happens to people who speak out.

The Quizzinator said...

I'l beg to differ from our anonymous poster on many points, but the first is what they think educational leadership is. They claim it isn't about consensus building, but most theories on school leadership don't have that belief.

Most have some variation of this...

School leadership, or educational leadership, is the process of enlisting the talents and energies of teachers, pupils, and parents toward achieving common educational aims.

I probably would include community into the groups to include, as well...especially in a church sponsored one.

Anonymous said...

J. "leads" through intimidation. There is no working together as a team. I have been witness to her style. I hear that yet ANOTHER teacher has chosen not to return. How many teachers will leave before the pastor and diocese realize that it is not just a big coincidence that there was such a large departure this year?

None of the the non-returning teachers left because they are moving from the area, none have left because they hit the lottery, none have left because they are having a baby.

Teachers have left because there must be a better, less stressful, less demoralizing place to work than under the "leadership" of someone who does not seem to value their dedication and seems to look for things to be angry about.

I'm not suggesting that J. should be fired but something needs to be addressed with her. She is in no way, shape, or form a good example of a Catholic leader. There is no compassion, no love, no warmth. It is painful to witness her pretending to show any of these traits, it is just not in her soul.

What she has tried to change seem to be ego driven and not for the greater good of Holy Cross. I pray that God will touch her soul and soften her heart this year so that the anger does not continue. The children deserve better and the teachers are working with all-time low morale and scared to death to speak out if they do not agree.

Anonymous said...

As noted in the last "control" section, "motivation" through "intimidation" is a sign of insecurity.

The poster who disputes that educational leadership requires the skill of consensus building focused on the difference between a school and a store. As far as "leadership", however, I think it really doesn't matter "what" your are leading, but "how" you are doing it. One is either a "positive" leader--(fostering a positive environment), a "negative" leader (associated with an abrasive "my way or the highway" type of personality) or not a leader at all (passive bystanders).

The negative leadership style will not persist in the long run because the success of any organization is based on the morale of the people in it.

The present principal is not a good leader and is harming HC--just as she harmed her previous school. She should probably be fired for ineffectiveness, but will not be because she understands that those nominally in "positions of authority" (pastor and sup't)over her do not have the personalities for confronting her--so she "bullies" parents and subordinates and, in a way, is protected through the hesitancy and weakness of her superiors (another form of "bullying").

One remedy for this situation and only long term hope for Holy Cross is for tuition paying parents to demand the respect they are due (by requiring engagement, information and a role in the decisions of what type of environment the school will have), and to confront and question not only her decisions, but her fitness to lead others. This can be done respectfully, but needs to be done.

This idea that some have posted suggesting that parents can only "support" the school and its teachers by simply handing over their children and hoping and praying for the best is misplaced. HC parents have an incredible stake in the long term success of Catholic education at Holy Cross--their own children. Taking responsibility for that interest involves continuous and fearless articulation of concerns to her, to the pastor, to the diocese and to the bishop. It isn't "whining" or "gossiping" or "undermining"--its exercising one's parental responsibility.

Over time, this articulation of concern should get some sort of response. IF, however, it does not, then only at that point is the parent faced with a simple choice of accepting a bad situation or moving on to another parish or school.

Think about what Catholic values are and how those values need to be transferred to our children. The most fundamental value is to treat others as you wish to be treated. A Catholic school should be a place of peace, support and love. Is Holy Cross that kind of place? The answer is it isn't--and that is because the person pesently in the leadership position of principal does not convey those fundamental Catholic values in the workplace.

Confronting someone who is failing to live up to the professional standards expected of a Catholic leader is not, in itself, "un-Christian" if it is done honestly and without personal rancor. I would suggest that NOT to confront the person is actually the irresponsbile act.

Anonymous said...

If these problems were serious and widespread why didn't someone from the community step forward to work with Mrs. Jacono? Perhaps even a better question is why didn't the community rally around and try to provide her with some assistance?

The first I heard about any trouble was at the mysteriously coordinated winter-time meeting. From my then uninformed perspective, the meeting appeared to be an attempt to undermine Administration. Never, (underscore never) was I approached by a parent, staff-member or even my children to tell me that Mrs. J was struggling (and "struggling" is the term that best fits).


I have since heard some rumblings that folks did not like the process the diocese followed in selecting her. So she had at least one strike against before she walked through our doors.

The upshot: this blog is a continuation of a whisper campaign to discredit and to undermine an admittedly struggling administration.

Anonymous said...

If these problems were serious and widespread why didn't someone from the community step forward to work with Mrs. Jacono? Perhaps even a better question is why didn't the community rally around and try to provide her with some assistance?

The first I heard about any trouble was at the mysteriously coordinated winter-time meeting. From my then uninformed perspective, the meeting appeared to be an attempt to undermine Administration. Never, (underscore never) was I approached by a parent, staff-member or even my children to tell me that Mrs. J was struggling (and "struggling" is the term that best fits).


I have since heard some rumblings that folks did not like the process the diocese followed in selecting her. So she had at least one strike against before she walked through our doors.

The upshot: this blog is a continuation of a whisper campaign to discredit and to undermine an admittedly struggling administration.

Anonymous said...

In response to the double-posted anonymous...are you living in a cave or just uninvolved at Holy Cross School?

It makes me angry that you suggest that the people should have supported her and rallied around her to provide her assistance.

What do you think we are so upset about? There is no working with her. She is THE worst listener that I have ever encountered. She can not hold any kind of discussion without interjecting, twisting things around, referring to her old school, making asccusations, gossiping, and completely missing the whole point.

Believe me when I tell you that for a long time I tried to rally around her, assist, gave her the benefit of the doubt, and even defended her.

She does not accept help. She did not even take the advice of the leader of the state police when he told her the dismissal fiasco would not work.

No, I am not bringing that up yet again, but it is typical of her response to many ideas and suggestions. She does not want to hear anyone's opinion. If it worked at her old school, then it must be carved in stone.

So go ahead and keep your head in the sand. If that works for you then...lovely. When the time comes for you to have a discussion with her - good luck.

The Quizzinator said...

I will second that MANY people have stepped forward to help in a multitude of ways, but you can only get b-slapped so many times by her before you give up.

Example: At least THREE professionals in two widely different areas who offered their free services were bluntly told that she wanted "a professional". What she meant was someone she could pay and maybe eliminate parental involvement, but the insults were not forgotten.

Yes, she is struggling, and I can assure you that many folks have gone to either her, Father Dan, or both and have given them suggestions on how to get her out of the hole that she continues to dig. The revival of the school board, against her deepest wishes, was one...but notice how she has dragged it out?

She may well be lost, but she has thrown away the maps, the GPSs, compasses, and the cell phone to call for help.

Anonymous said...

Well said. At this point I don't know of too many people who would even be willing to help her out of her hole. She has been downright rude and mean to people who have offered help and many others are afraid to approach her knowing the treatment she doles out.

I live in fear of having to ask her any type of question, much less make a suggestion that very well may be construed as criticism. She might even pull out the "un-Catholic" label for you.

Anonymous said...

I am involved. My kids are involved. Never, ever did I think that she experiencing something deeper than the normal growing pains that go with change...

Why no comment on the selection process? It may lead one to believe that you were part of the whisper campaign that must have begun before she walked through our doors...

Anonymous said...

What was the selection process? I doubt if most people know or care about it anyway. It isn't the issue; it's her attitude. I have been involved at school and tried to give her a chance, but she's still been incredibly rude especially to those who don't believe every reason she gives. Don't know anything about the whisper campaign, but I do know that from very early on, teachers, faculty, and others went to the pastor (and the Diocese). Something was wrong.

The Quizzinator said...

You are partially correct. He is one of the three I was refering to, but I am not him. I may delete the reference to the specific name if he rejects it....I hope you understand.

However...has the "professional" fixed the Internet yet?

Anonymous said...

Please feel free to delete the specific name reference.

What exactly IS the problem with the internet that you are referring to?

Anonymous said...

"However...has the "professional" fixed the Internet yet?"

If that comment is meant as sarcasm you may want to reconsider. You may be mistaken in your idea of who the "professional" is. Who is to say that it isn't an innocent party whom you speaking ill of? Just one more person to endure the harmful/hurtful/hateful comments that have been made already.

The Quizzinator said...

Rather than rehash what we've already discussed....

http://downstatede.blogspot.com/search/label/Filtering

gives you the thread when we talked about it last month.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't figure out how to edit a comment, so I deleted it, changed the item requested by the poster, and am reposting it....



"I will second that MANY people have stepped forward to help in a multitude of ways, but you can only get b-slapped so many times by her before you give up.

Example: At least THREE professionals in two widely different areas who offered their free services were bluntly told that she wanted "a professional". What she meant was someone she could pay and maybe eliminate parental involvement, but the insults were not forgotten."

If you are using the term "professional" to refer to yourself, ______, then it's time to get past what you have or have not been allowed to do. There are so many things at school that are/were in disarray because they were put together by so many different people over the years. That is not to discount all of the wonderful volunteers the school has had over the years, I simply mean that it is difficult to maintain any sort of consistency with any one thing because as one volunteer leaves & another one enters the process changes. Eventually the original idea is sometimes degraded. It just makes sense to have ONE paid professional come in and fix whatever needs to be fixed and be done with it. That way there is no working around a volunteer's 9-5 work schedule. Having a paid professional also eliminates the possibility for any "hard feelings" between the school and volunteer if something goes wrong. It also means having programs or services that are guaranteed or warrantied in some way. You can't have that when it's a volunteer that implements the program or service for free.

Let's get past the "she doesn't want my help" thing and stop causing dissention among the troops. This blog is equivalent to playground bullying. You are rallying the troops hoping to back Mrs. J into a corner so she has no choice but to come out swinging or leave. All of your gripes are being posted for everyone to see, which helps NO ONE. It just makes you feel better and more important. It does not help HCS in the least. The saying goes: You are either part of the problem or part of the solution. And I think here you are definitely part of the problem. How is this blog helping???

August 27, 2008 10:05 AM