Opening a brand-new school…
Man, I have missed y’all! I have missed blogging. I have missed The Bossy Principal. I know—I’ve been gone for a minute. Probably because (1) I was enjoying actually having a summer break—something educators very rarely get to do, and (2) when I finally did start back working, things took off so fast! The first opportunity I had to come up for air and look around, I was already 30+ days in!
My first official day as Principal was September 6, 2020. Before then was just Zoom meetings with the leadership team, minor planning efforts, getting logistics in order, and much more. I want to say that I’m mad at you all for not telling me exactly how much went into opening a new school, but I can’t—because one of my mentors, Dr. DeShawna Gooch, definitely tried to tell me! She’s aided in the founding of a few institutions in her career, and I vividly remember her mentioning frequent personal sleepovers in her office.
At the time, I couldn’t imagine how one would have so much to do that would keep them in their office overnight, but after my first 20+ hour workday while prepping to open this school, I humbly dismissed those thoughts. Yes, 20+ hour workdays! Some days, the only breaks I took were bathroom and food breaks. I’d nap for a few hours, and wake up right back at it. My average workday was easily 12 hours. I barely even took weekends off! It was so much to do, and plan, and prepare, and create, and establish, and much more—all before October 11th, which was our first day with students.
A snapshot of my typical workweek’s calendar. My favorite item(s) here are the 1-on-1 conversations with my teachers, as well as the virtual yoga session hosted by one of our teachers. This was embedded into our faculty/staff induction period because “well-being” is one of our school core values & beliefs.
Our faculty/staff induction was September 20th, and that was an adventure in itself! Leadership had to dress up in regalia for our convocation, just as if we were in person. Then, witnessing the rainbow of culture across my screen was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. I met faculty/staff from all races, backgrounds, and cultures; and even some who spoke several different languages while on Zoom!
Me on Day 1 with my teachers….
AirPods in, on Zoom, regalia on, and ready for my first year as a principal!
What makes the difference is that while existing schools already have practices and procedures in place, founding a new school makes you and your team responsible for everything. Nothing existed! We had to create it all. Practices, policies, procedures, rules, consequences, beliefs, values, mission, vision, codes of everything, hiring from the ground up, templates, accountability measures, emergency plans, you name it! So for those wondering exactly what I was doing for 20+ hours, it’s not as easy as just walking into a school building, setting up your office, orienting teachers, printing off a roster of students and welcoming them in on day one; it’s creating and establishing everything up until you can even walk into that building!
And let’s talk about that part—because let’s not forget that I can’t even walk into a building right now. I am currently still in North Carolina, awaiting the day I am able to get to Kuwait, which is where my school is. So imagine doing all I’ve been doing, virtually; working with people all across the world and at different times during the day. I am the secondary school principal; the elementary school principal I partner with is 8+ hours ahead of me, along with many other leadership team members being in different time zones. My workday is now midnight-10am due to the time difference. And let’s not forget—all of this in the midst of a pandemic.
We have had people in our international headquarters office diagnosed with COVID-19. We also have experienced the passing of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah. Both of these events not only brought on unexpected emotions, but also caused several delays in our school opening process.
Our official work e-mail announcement regarding the passing of the Emir of Kuwait.
All in all, opening a brand-new school was definitely more than I bargained for, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. I have learned and grown so much as a school leader, and have truly found out what I’m made of. I mean, I always knew my work ethic was on 10, but now—whew, baby! Now, I can honestly say I know the true meanings of “get it done”, “by any means necessary”, and “see it through”. My team and I are the real-life definitions of grit, resilience, and getting it done. We all have been pulling 12-20 hour workdays for the past month plus, and have a bomb school policy and procedural foundation, functional e-learning structure, supportive school community, and successful inaugural opening to show for it…
But man, I WAS TIRED! Which was why I took a mental health day on the third day of school; I sure did. Burnout is a real thing, and it is so prevalent in school leadership and the professional world as a whole. I am a firm believer of taking time off when you need it. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Take a day, or 2.
I now feel refreshed, reenergized, and ready to jump back into the fold and give my best self to my work and school community; look at the difference one day made! However, the work definitely isn’t done. I am looking forward to more long days and nights, foundational efforts, and principal tasks to complete…
Along with a mental health day or two built in along the way.
