principaling in a
PANDEMIC a conversation with OAESA Federal Relations Representative,
KATIE NOWAK Tell us about your background and current position.
What is the culture/climate like in your school?
As a leader, I’m honored to serve our community of students, staff, and families, in supporting the academic, social-emotional, and developmental needs of our students. Now more than ever, in the midst of a global pandemic, I believe our purpose is to love, serve, and care for our students and each other, to meet the needs of the whole child. I believe our calling as educators is to make a positive impact on the lives of others, and to build a positive collaborative school community that puts students first.
I would describe our culture as positive, caring, and collaborative. Our school utilizes the PBIS Framework of Eagles RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empathy) as well as The R Factor. The R Factor is a culture and decision-making framework used by staff and students to successfully navigate school and life experiences. One of the premises of the R Factor is E +R=O, Events + Responses= Outcomes. We teach students that they own their responses to events, and this can impact their outcome.
This is my 17th year in education, with my journey starting as an 8th grade science teacher, and shortly after teaching 6th grade. I have served as a Middle School Assistant Principal, and now an Intermediate Principal in two different districts. I spent 12 years in South-Western City schools as a teacher and an administrator working in both urban and suburban settings. For the past five years I have served as the proud principal at New Albany Intermediate School in the New Albany-Plain Local School District, located north-east of Columbus. Our building serves over 1100 students in Grades 4-6. New Albany Intermediate has been recognized by the Ohio Department of Education the past several years with the Momentum Award for Student Growth and Overall A Award for performance on the State Report Card.
We also like to celebrate both staff and students. One way we celebrate is with our Eagles RISE Wall of Fame, where students get a positive phone call home, sign a wall, ring a bell, and get recognized on morning announcements. We like to thank our staff and celebrate them with fun surprises such as a Woot Woot Wagon of treats delivered to their door or handwritten notes of our appreciation.
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principal navigator
What do you view as your most important contribution to the day-to-day operations of your school? Being visible, accessible, and present to love, serve, and care for staff, students and families.
