You have ONE JOB as a high school principal. Graduate students. Is that the bottom line? Students who enter school in 9th grade trust your transformational leadership will create an education environment that graduates them in four years (or less).
No, they will not all fit in the neat box of attendance and completed assignments. Some will arrive behind their peers in academics and maturity. Some will get arrested, start an addiction or simply disappear.
Dropouts are not an option.
Principals who disagree may claim they are not in control of student or teacher choices. Some principals may claim it is their job to only create a safe environment for student to make choices. True, this is the baseline of responsibility. (More tips in Serving Smart Kids, Brenda Small, 2022)
A transformative school leader creates a predictable school culture. This leader inspects what they expect!
Examples to start a leader down the path of 100% graduation…
Analyze the non-graduates. If you graduation rate is 92%, find out why the 8% did not walk across the stage. Get the details.
Start a Graduation Campaign in their Freshman year. Posters, cafeteria banners, daily announcements, school newsletters, testimonials from graduates, etc.
Make graduating cool. Talk about it, keep asking students their plans after graduation.
Make 100% the goal. This is the school’s battle cry.
Be available to all students who want to talk about their school experiences. Develop positive and healthy relationships. Mentor and follow up.
Analyze student attendance. No student will say “Hey, I am dropping out.” They will simply disappear.
Create a competition between the guidance counselors or retention specialists. The fewer non graduates in their assigned students makes them the school’s hero. Call them out. Celebrate 100% graduation in a counselor’s alpha or grade level.
Recognize teachers who make a difference in the lives of students. Ask students to identify the teacher who has encouraged them to graduate.
Recognize when the “going gets tough” for individual students. Meet them where they are and if the school leader is not the right mentor, find a mentor that fits. Follow up often.
Be present before school, during lunches and after school. Keep the message clear. Positive school experiences lead to graduation. Listen to the student and teacher’s voices. Make changes to help them succeed.
One job….no excuses.
Each child in a school is important. The school leader sets the precedent in finding and meeting each child’s needs where they are…not where the system exists. (Find more ideas in Smart Kid Terminology, Brenda Small, 2022)
This school may be the last chance this child has to improve their adult life.
Educators work to discover the student’s passions, teach how to adapt to learning disabilities and dream of the future.
Take the needs of each child personally.
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