Principal Philip Wright on Building Relationships at YES Prep North Central

TL;DR

A principal at a charter school describes their daily routine, which includes early mornings, meetings, and working late into the night.

Transcript

I generally wake up, 5:30 every morning. Some days mo-- try to work out and get all the running. I go to the gym and then try to get to school around 7:00, 7:15. I wish I could get here earlier, but you can't. Working after school is impossible. So that has to happen in the morning if it's gonna to happen. Then from there, I generally sit down, p... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫡 Relationship building with students is essential for educators and administrators, requiring vulnerability, understanding, and respect.
• 👻 The size advantage of smaller schools allows for better quality control and personalized interactions.
• 😀 Principals face numerous demands, including meetings, paperwork, and discipline issues, making time management crucial for effective leadership.
• 💯 The core mission of preparing students for college is a shared goal that brings the school community together.
• 👨‍🏫 Charter schools aim to provide an alternative education option and contribute to improving education in larger school districts.
• 👨‍🏫 Learning from successful practices in both charter and traditional public schools can benefit education outcomes in the city.
• 😘 Developing a focused and identifiable mission, like Southwest Airlines' low-cost approach, contributes to an organization's success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the principal balance their morning routine and work responsibilities?

The principal prioritizes their morning routine, which includes working out and getting to school early. They believe that if these activities don't happen in the morning, they won't have time for them later.

Q: How does the principal build relationships with the students?

The principal believes in putting themselves in their students' shoes, sharing their own vulnerable experiences, and being open about the challenges they have overcome. They also maintain an authoritative presence that students respect.

Q: Is the principal's approach scalable to larger schools?

The principal believes that their approach is scalable because of the size advantage their charter school has over large ISDs. They can know each student personally and focus on relationship building, which may be challenging in larger schools.

Q: How does the principal manage their workload?

The principal realized that they were getting pulled in multiple directions and not effectively managing their time. To address this, they started blocking out time for specific tasks and implemented a more structured approach to their open-door policy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The principal wakes up early, goes to the gym, and arrives at school by 7:00 am.

• Their day includes meetings with students and staff, individual check-ins with grade level chairs, and meetings with the admin team.

• They work long hours, often until 6:00 pm or later, and have to continue working on projects and replying to emails at home.