Administrator

Our task is not to fix the blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future.

~John F. Kennedy

• • First and foremost, all administrators should lead by example. It is very difficult to be successful if you don't practice what you preach.

  • Administrators often set the tone for the district or building, so it is important to be enthusiastic and enjoyable.

  • Administrators should communicate clear expectations. Students and staff can only follow appropriate guidelines if they are clear.

  • Decisions should be firm and well founded. As administrators make decisions, they should gather data on which to base their decisions. If however a bad or incorrect decision is made, the administrator should feel safe to make a change as soon as he/she notes the mistake.

  • Accountability is one thought that comes to mind when thinking of administrators. They should hold themselves accountable while also holding their staff and students accountable. As more and more data are available to the public, it is very important to be proactive in analyzing data and to hold everyone accountable for what the data uncover.

  • A mistake some administrators make is not being accessible and visible. It is important to attend school and community events so the public at large has a chance to talk about the schools and interact with the leadership.

  • As an administrator it is always important to remember that people are our business. Never forget that people and what they are trying to accomplish is very important. Poor administrators get caught up in all the politics, rules and regulations. They often loose sight of the real goals.

  • Two very important skills of administrators are organization and planning. Organizational skills help the administrator to be more consistent, while careful planning helps ensure a positive end result. At the same time it is important to be a risk taker, as long as the goals are communicated clearly and a detailed plan is in place.

• Probably the one skill that rises to the top for a successful administrator would be communication. People need to be informed, therefore oral and written communications skills must be very good. Methods of communication should be consistent and timely.

Nobody can do everything... but everybody better do something!

~Gill Scott Harris