It was reported last week in the McLean Patch Kent Gardens Elementary School would start the new school year without a Principal at the helm because the previous one, Dr. Hooker retired with one day's notice to the school community. (Like you I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop at this sudden and shocking announcement but I can't worry about that right now because school is just around the corner. Priorities, people!)
The school board - more specifically Cluster 1 - in concert with the local community are doing backflips to find a replacement for a woman who had been the Captain of the SS Kent Gardens for over 30 years.
This blog post is not about Dr. Hooker and what she did or did not do during her tenure but rather a reflection of our expectations for the new Principal and the ongoing candidate search.
My wish list? A person who is firm yet kind like Mary Poppins, who loves children and teaching, is able to squeak out extra funding from those pesky school board members who just get in the way, knows how to lead and inspire teachers, ensures the school lunches are tasty and nutritious, and listens to all the requests from the hundreds of parents who know full well their little child is a genius who is destined for Harvard. Yes, my readers, I'm looking for a unicorn.
Now I know unicorns do not exist but its what we are all hoping for in the Kent Gardens community. It is kind of like wishing for lipstick that really lasts all day. The fact of the matter is that no matter how hard we try the fabled unicorn will elude us. A perfect Principal will elude us, too.
However, that does not mean we shouldn't continued to be involved parents or care about the selection process. And, the sudden retirement of a school Principal should remind all parents to stay involved especially when it could directly impact their kids and the future of McLean.
What do you expect of the new Principal? What kind of qualities are you looking for?
