Connections Matter: New Beginnings and Big Impacts

Terry Harness • Cahn Fellow 2022

Successful leaders know how their schools function as an organization, as an entity. Leaders think through all aspects of that organization to provide guidance, a vision and a mission on what and how that organization will work towards a common goal. Leaders consider how best to move forward and they reflect on whether things are going to plan while adjusting and monitoring consistently. Leaders consider their role within the organization as well as the role of those hired to help guide the work. 

But what happens when a leader, in this case, a principal and administrative team has to do this from the ground up in a school? What happens when that school is not a welcomed change? What happens when the majority of all stakeholders do not see this as something positive? 

Establishing meaningful connections with teachers and staff in a new school is crucial for the overall well-being and success of the school. This abstract explores the various reasons why these connections are important and how they contribute to a positive experience. Collaboration and support from colleagues, teachers and administrators, allow each of us to enhance our teaching practices, better utilize our resources and implement strategies that improve outcomes while learning and growing together. Mentoring relationships fostered through shared experiences and connections offer guidance and insights into school procedures, curriculum and instructional practices, and a smoother transition into a new environment with new colleagues.  Collaborative projects and think sessions allow for interdisciplinary learning experience and promote unity within the new school community. Finally, these connections encourage the sharing of best practices that enable educators to incorporate effective methods, classroom management techniques and assessment strategies into their own classrooms which will lead to improved student outcomes. Through the power of connections, where everyone has a voice, while simultaneously building and nurturing relationships, a school can create a supportive and collaborative environment that enhances professional growth,  positively impacts culture and morale and student success and can turn something that is seen as negative, into a positive.