In Praise of Principals (in Hard Times)

By Elena Aguilar

TLN

For the last few years, I have worked as a school leadership coach in Oakland, Calif. Primarily, I support principals to develop their capacities—work that gives me a wide-angle view on the daily lives of our public school leaders. I have long recognized that principals’ jobs are challenging, but this year I have seen Oakland’s principals rise to tackle a new array of difficulties. As 2011 unfolds, I often find myself in awe of the work they do, as well as their commitment and tenacity.

A Glimpse at the Work of Urban Principals

Administrators in Oakland must fulfill the same roles and responsibilities as principals across the U.S. However, as urban school leaders, Oakland administrators must also be adept at communicating with families from a range of backgrounds, cultures, and religions.

Like many other inner-city principals, most of Oakland’s school leaders operate with their heads in the noose of No Child Left Behind: They must raise test scores or lose their jobs (there is no such thing as tenure for principals). This is the "either/or" with which they live, regardless of the fact that social and economic factors outside of a school’s control make these mandates much harder to meet.

More than 80 percent of Oakland’s schools are located in neighborhoods that experience disproportionate amounts of crime and violence. I work with principals who have witnessed shootings on their campuses, who have been the victims of violent crimes at their schools, and who are accustomed to arriving at work on a Monday morning to discover vandalized property. Our district also has a high rate of teacher turnover: 50 percent of teachers in Oakland leave within three years of being hired, which makes building a high-capacity teaching staff challenging. Our principals are called upon to be emotionally resilient, culturally competent, dynamic instructional leaders, community builders, and so much more.

Let me be clear about one thing, however: A majority of Oakland’s principals accepted jobs in this vibrant, diverse city because of many of these conditions. They are passionate about improving the experiences and outcomes for low-income children of color and about transforming communities into safe, healthy, thriving places. Many of our principals have led remarkable improvements in our schools in the last decade.

The Deepening Budget Crisis

Many of these gains are in jeopardy, however. The estimated budget cuts in California for 2011-12 would be catastrophic. We would most likely drop to the bottom of all states in funding of public schools (we’re currently 47th). In Oakland, we’ve already had three years of budget reductions, and next year another $850 per student would be slashed. Educators here are hoping for an 11th hour miracle, but this spring, principals planned for Draconian cuts. Next year, class sizes will be at a maximum and not a frill will be found (“frills” defined as after-school homework support, counselors, field trips, art, music, nurses, secretaries, security officers, coaches, funds for professional development, yard supervisors, parent outreach and education, and much more). Our classrooms will be stripped to the bare necessities.

But what are “bare necessities?” At Melrose Leadership Academy (MLA) in east Oakland, Principal Moyra Contreras is realizing a life-long dream by leading a Spanish dual-immersion school. For next year, MLA needs 40 kid-size chairs, but Ms. Contreras has no funding for this. Recently, she described daily visits to the district’s warehouse where she scavenges for old chairs. “The Ed Code doesn’t say that kids must have chairs,” Ms. Contreras said sardonically. And so, the principal will be creative: she has a brilliant (but time-consuming) plan to fundraise for chairs.

In February, district principals were informed that more than 500 teachers would receive lay-off notices. If worst came to worst, dozens of schools would be closed. Principals re-directed more energy to support their teachers—counseling them, helping them make decisions, trying to be optimistic. In mid-April, many of these notices were rescinded, to our great relief. However, the damage has been done. This spring, much time and energy has been diverted to career triage, and morale is at a new low.

Hanging on by a Thread

When principals meet with me, it’s their time to let down their brave front. I hear the anxiety, …

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Elena Aguilar has taught elementary, middle, and high school, and is currently a school improvement and leadership coach in the Oakland Unified School District. Her recent articles for Education Week Teacher include Coaching Teachers: What You Need to Know, How Teachers Can Build Emotional Resilience, and Teaching Secrets: First Days in the Elementary Classroom.