Principles of Principals

I got a report of a fight on the playground while I was away at a district meeting.  Standard protocols ensue, call to parents, and a promise to investigate upon my return to my office. Upon my return, I find on of the two 3rd grade boys who went at each other over who was faster in a foot race.  On the surface, a typical scuffle right? While waiting for Dad to arrive, Seth (name changed) tells me about his Dad's return from surgery, how excited he is to go camping so that they can get out of the shelter for a spell, and how he's having trouble with his Mom.  She's been knocking him down "...a lot more than usual."  Now...I have to call the police. I'm informed that Dad is up front, Seth leaves, quickly returning with tears in his eyes and a staff member in tow, paramedics have been called, Dad's having a heart attack in the front office. Contrary to stern advice, Dad refuses transport to the hospital, citing trouble with his wife hitting the kids ...

In a school of homeless, refugee and at-risk children - it's a big deal when the nurse calls in to tell you she's stuck on the freeway and is going to have her car towed.  Fortunately, we can call in a temp agency and they fill those shoes quite aptly. I always like to make the guest staff/crew/teachers feel welcome.  Its no fun being a sub .  So I welcome them and check in. So I'm chatting with our guest nurse and I get a feel that she's had a rough past year with her high school aged daughter.  Turns out the daughter's been bullied so severely that the high school staff had to escort her to her mother's car day after day!  Nothing improved so Mom chose to transfer her to another school without her district's assistance. I'm crushed by this.  And, you should know that it's unethical for the district to ignore this child's cries for help. Recently I wrote an article for Dr. Hunnicutt, Legal Counsel for Arizona School Administrators high...