Hugs, Handshakes, and High Fives!

I have said it once, and I will boldly say it again here.  Being a principal has to be one of the toughest jobs in education.  Of course this is my own opinion, and it’s my website, so I can pretty much say what I want to here.  🙂

I still remember my first principal job.  I remember one of our teachers telling me later in my first year that she thought I would be a push over because I had a big smile on my face in the press release that was in the paper.  It didn’t help either that I was a young fella.  One thing that I enjoyed as a teacher and an assistant principal was that I always had pretty good student-teacher and administrator relationships.  I figured out early on that if they knew you cared, they would never let you down.  I struggled though early on because I did not want the students to not behave well.  The previous principal did a great job with them, and I didn’t want to lose that.  One thing I had to realize was that I had to be Herbert.  I simply couldn’t be anyone else.  I wanted to enjoy the students, and I wanted them to enjoy the school.  So I woke up one morning and decided that I wouldn’t let anything get in the way of having great relationships with our students.

It hit me!  Everyday had to be a day of hugs, handshakes, and high fives!  Why? Because kids need it!  You do not know what they are bringing into the school, and as the school leader you have the ability to brighten their day each day.  I challenge every principal to greet their students with either a hug, handshake, or a high five each day.  My students learned quickly that I would show love, have fun, and cut up with them everyday.  With that in mind all students had to live up to the expectations that we set for them, and I meant it.  They knew I didn’t play.  Their education was far too important.

At every level, intermediate, middle and high school I continued to give hugs, handshakes, and high fives.  It worked for me, and I never allowed the effective operational management of the campus to suffer.  It was quite okay that some of them liked their principal.  By the way, it made for a much better day!

So whatever it is: a hug, a handshake, or a high-five, find what works for that particular student.  Get to know their names, and have fun with them.  You have a tough job, you might as well have fun with the students while you do it.

Herbert