Howdy TEPSANs, and Happy New Year!
Each new year, we typically view this time as a season of looking back to reflect while also looking forward with hope. As your TEPSA President, I proudly reflect on the work our Association has done for our members this year in continuing to serve as a beacon of leadership and child-centered service for Texas. I also look forward with hope knowing that TEPSA will continue to support and guide our up-and-coming school leaders.
Speaking as a fellow school leader, though, it can prove more challenging to maintain such an optimistic outlook and perspective. Across our state, we see the devastating impact of continued budget challenges and staffing hurdles. We see schools closing, and class sizes growing. For many of us, this past fall semester was perhaps one of our most difficult as educators.
I recently had a conversation with a parent, and we talked about the changing dynamics of public education. We commiserated around many of the ways that schools have changed… but then our chat shifted. I shared with the parent a way that my perspective as a principal has recently evolved, and I share it with you now to encourage you as we embark on the new year and find hope for our profession and our calling.
The role that we fill as school and district leaders is a role burdened with responsibility and stressors. It is also a role, however, that is gifted with influence and impact. We have very little control over many of our current challenges (budget, political hot-topics, staffing). We find ourselves bound by scheduling requirements and board/state/federal policies and mandates. The beauty of our profession, though, is the control and influence we have over how messages are received and how people are treated.
As we move into the new year and look for hope in our schools, I challenge you to claim the privilege you have of being the “chief climate officer” in your workplace. You as a school/district leader hold tremendous sway and impact over how people are valued and respected across the thousands of schools that we represent and lead. As you lead, TEPSA will continue to provide you with resources and professional learning to guide your work.
Here’s to a great spring semester and thank you for being the “Pride of Texas!”
Cooper Hilton is a principal in Coppell ISD.
