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School Assessment Scores Push Principal’s “Accountability”

By the time this newsletter reaches your desk, winter activity state championships will have been crowned and the school communities involved will be remembering their teams of 2008.  The setting of the state basketball tournament is really like no other.  You will have all factions of the school community represented.  The excitement will be at a fever pitch.  The competitive spirit brings a 100% support base to the students involved and school pride is at its highest level!  Now that you’ve got the picture – wouldn’t it be great if your school could capture this enthusiasm for bond issues for needed facilities or for teacher salaries, or for school improvement programs that lead to excellent state assessment scores?  As we all know, the sports page covers pictures and highlights of the big game each week, but the fact is that recently, most of the schools across Kansas have been in the news, as our state assessment scores have been compared to our neighbors.  The comparison may be by city, county, or area, but it all comes down to the fact that “pressure” is focused on the classroom teachers, the students, and the principals.  Schools have worked very hard to meet the demands of AYP and NCLB Standards are being taught, mastered, and tested to the best of the students’ and teachers’ ability, BUT—there is only so much that can be accomplished with the best interest of each child in mind.

Allow me to share a true story with you that occurred a few weeks ago to illustrate the point of pressure.  A school counselor decided to take a fifth grade student who was having a bad day, outside for a walk.  It was during the time that Kansas was honoring a young man from Hamilton, Kansas, that had given his life in Iraq, and the flags were being flown at half-mast.  The fifth grade boy observed the lowered flag and said to the counselor, “Do you know why the flag is down?”  The counselor answered “No,” in hopes of hearing his correct answer.  The young man said, “It’s because we are doing so bad on the state assessments.”  He continued on to say, “It will be put back up when we do better.”

Now, as you first think of this story, you have a tendency to smile and then I think, as you consider it, it really starts to soak in that this fifth grader feels the pressure of the state assessment issue.  The pressure is everywhere, from Washington D.C. to Topeka to the doors of every school.

It is my hope that you will be able to continue to lead your building and enable every teacher to teach to the best of their ability and for every child to learn to their potential.  Smile everyday as you serve in one of the most important roles in our society—and be proud to say, “I’m a principal!”       

ESH