The principal who participated in The Educator’s ‘A Day in the Life series’ interview below agreed to speak with The Educator on the condition of anonymity.
I commence my day at 7.15am, a quiet time when I am not responding to calls from teachers being kicked by students, participating in meetings with the Victorian School Building Authority to manage building works, requiring the shifting of furniture and resources.
I need to protect the time to meet with teachers and plan their professional learning and in the case of underperforming teachers manage the support.
I am at the school gate every morning and afternoon, greeting families, listening to concerns and arranging follow up meetings. I meet with my business manager to ensure the financial position and accounts are accurate.
I communicate with my School Council regularly outside of my working hours. I meet with Department staff to discuss student needs, to plan professional learning, to meet with parents to develop behavioural plans.
I organise trades to undertake building works and meet trades early in the morning and on occasions wait after hours.
I leave work around 6.00pm – a normal 11-hour day. In the evening I make the list I hope to achieve the next day, visiting classrooms, speaking with students, however I’m aware that I may need to contact legal branch, complete surveys to inform the Department as to my stress levels, meet with aggressive parents who threaten my safety, deal with overflowing toilets, support behavioural issues.
I need to recruit teachers who aren’t there and respond to emails from parents as to why their child has a Casual Relief Teacher (CRT). I attempt to meet with my leadership team to examine data; however, they might be covering a grade as a CRT is not available. I deal with attendance issues, meeting with parents and social workers. I have manned the school crossing, swept overflowing urinals as well as meeting with cleaning companies.
My day today started at 7.15am and ended at 6.00pm. The focus on teaching and learning was minimal. I rang legal branch, I met with teachers, and I completed paperwork…that is focused on everything but teaching and learning.