Principal reflects on today’s education

What a time to be an educational leader with all the changes to education. In the last 10 years, education in Ohio and nationally has become a political match. How do we teach new standards? How do we assess students? How do we evaluate teachers, administrators and school districts? How do we fund schools?

These topics have all been analyzed, politicized, legislated and rescinded. Most of the changes have, and will be, beneficial for our students as it prepares them for the competition in the global economy. The biggest challenge, as an educational leader, is navigating the changing educational scenery to best train and give teachers the resources as they masterfully create an environment to best prepare our students. Technology has also changed the way we interact with others and our world. Technology has the awesome power to change our world and is used as much as a means to hurt others. Social media may be the biggest social challenge that our students face. Many students use this medium to communicate and collaborate with peers; however, some use this as a way to cut down and intimidate others.

Unfortunately, technology used in this manner does bring challenges to social interactions that individuals have when they face each other in person.

So, why do I do this job? I want to create global citizens that can think, reason, analyze, care, create, and make our world better. I want our students to be the most prepared for that college they might want to attend or career they want to pursue. I want our students to know how to think and work hard. I want students to take pride in their work and to strive for excellence.

If I can best prepare our teachers, they can prepare our students in the most excellent way.