As a teacher, I have learned a lot about myself and the values I wish to instill in my life. I truly believe in the power of building a strong school community, developing relationships, and increasing communication at all levels. 

Community: A school is only as strong as its community. From my experience as an educator, the roots of our school come from our leadership. As a leader listening and learning from the students, staff, and community members should come first. Learning what is valued, what could use improvements, and how you can make a difference is so important to show others you are listening and supporting these community decisions. School Aids, Teacher Assistants, and secretaries have some of the most important roles in our schools. Listening to their concerns and being solution-oriented will go a long way in building trust and impacting student learning. 

Relationships: Building relationships in a school building is vital, and this doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, it takes effort and you build trust amongst each other. As a teacher, building relationships with my co-teachers has been a blessing. With our relationships, we can build on each other's strengths and work together to create the best learning environment for our students. As a Dean of Students, I listen and learn from teachers and support them find a solution to various behavior management situations. I have found my job in this role has made me develop a stronger bond with our teachers and it gives me an inside look at the different challenges they face. 

Communication: To grow a school community and build relationships you have to be a great communicator when leading a school or a classroom. Just like how every student learns differently, adults respond to various forms of communication differently. Knowing when an email is appropriate compared to an in-person conversation matters. Having the ability to be seen in the school to take a few moments and check in with students and staff members goes a long way in building relationships and opening lines of communication. 

Once these pillars are built, focusing on instructional practices and using our teachers' masteries in the classrooms to reach our student's needs is essential. Our teachers are the heartbeat of our schools. As a leader I want our teachers to want to come to work every day feeling supported instructionally and with behavior management. Being visible in the hallways and making daily connections will go a long way in continuing this support.