PMP201: Rebooting for the Summer with Jen Schwanke

On March 17, 2020, many schools across the U.S. began responding to the global pandemic of COVID-19 with school closures. Most school leaders were scrambling to figure out how to keep school communities safe while adjusting to a new norm. Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, was no exception. While her school community swung into action, she put everything else on hold as teachers, students and families transitioned to remote learning. Ironically, this was also the release date of Jen’s newest book, The Principal Re-Boot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership. Recently, Jen and I recorded a podcast episode dedicated to lessons learned during school closures as well as how principals can apply the lessons from her new book to this current crisis. Jen’s New Book In this is episode, we cover several topics, including: Content helpful for re-booting a principals’ careerWhat the pandemic did it for us, to some extentShaking principals out of a rutIdeas on rebranding, revamping instructional leadership, re-envisioning teacher potential, reframing data, revisiting operations, relaxing, rediscovering and reviving ourselvesConnecting common experiencesRelying on others’ experiencesRealizing we can’t do this alone! Handling Crisis Next, Jen shares some great reflections on how principals are not new to crisis. School leaders have been forced to manage many of the following: Social injustice/racismCOVID-19Natural disastersSchool shootingsIllnesses/deaths of staff/studentsAddictionsStudent anxietyFacility IssuesInequities in school fundingTeacher misconductChanges in student disciplineSexual assaultBullyingBudget cutsGRIT developmentTrauma-Informed Strategies Remember the lessons you’ve learned from these many situations as you look forward to what is next… Cycles of Reflection Jen shares how a cycle of reflection can be helpful in three ways: React: In every crisis, we first respond with both appropriate policy and emotion to ensure student safety and well-being.Recover: Afterwards, we debrief and identify areas that need attention, people who need comforting, and practices that may need improvement.Rebuild: Importantly, we must always move forward in growth and with new perspective, hopefully wiser and better able to serve students and school communities. This cycle of learning for leadership is essential if we are going to take care of ourselves and those we serve in whatever happens next. Recovering also means not going back to the way it was. We must allow what we experience to make us stronger. Leading with Equity Finally, Jen and I share personal reflections as school leaders are responding to new calls for eradicating racism and equity. We talk about the importance of loving those who are hurting most in our school communities. Lets’ Wrap This Up As you think about the common lessons you’ve learned in the past several months, allow yourself time to reflect on ways you plan to rebuild. What ways can you help your teachers and students through what lies ahead as you have helped them through other difficult times? You will not do it perfectly, but by keeping their best interest in mind, you can do so with the same commitment that has guided you through other difficult times. Now It’s Your Turn What is one lesson you have learned through the past few months that can make you stronger moving forward? How can you help your teachers and students discover their own strengths through adversity? The post PMP201: Rebooting for the Summer with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.