It Ain't Easy But It's Interesting

The work of a school principal is extremely complex. The range of demands and expectations are unending. There are structural duties like hiring and evaluation and human relations. Motivating the staff and developing rapport with those the principal supervises is of prime importance. There are political activities such as dealing with conflict, and interacting with influence groups.

Traditions must be maintained, adjusted or cast aside. Shared values can be enhanced. Principals, like other managers, must develop the necessary skills and knowledge of each of these organizational arenas in order to run an effective school.

The duties of an air traffic controller at Hartsfield – Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia comes to mind. There are 2,700 arrivals and departures every 24 hours. Air traffic controllers sort this out under tremendous pressure. Make a mistake and people die.

People may die when the principal makes a mistake. When the crazed shooter arrives on the campus the principal must instantly make the right decisions.

Many air traffic controllers, ATC’s, work their way up from small to larger airports. The principal may start as a vice principal and work his way up to being a principal. Like an traffic controller the principal must keep all the pieces in the air waiting to be caught and processed. Sometimes there is no plan.

Here’s an example. Emerson School was built in the style of a Spanish colonial hacienda around a patio. In the center of the patio was a flag pole. On weekends naughty boys would climb over the fence. They’d? grab the flag pole rope and climb to the top of the cafeteria roof. Then they would swing off the roof like Tarzan searching for Jane. Sometimes the rope broke. When it broke I would have to call Flag Pole Man, his real business name. He was a skinny dude about the size of a racehorse jockey. Like a professional cat burglar he’d shinny up the pole and attach a new rope. Total cost. $95.

One Saturday afternoon I went to the school to pick up some documents. As I parked I could see the tip of the flag pole sticking above the roof line. It was moving back in forth. Yippie! They were at it. They didn’t know I’d arrived. Running through the parking lot I opened the outer door to room One. I crossed the room, flung open the interior door facing the patio and burst out.

Three boys took off like bats out of Hell. Roof Top boy had the advantage. He must have dropped down on to the playground and beat it. The two boys in the patio made for the fence. One was up and over but I caught one by his belt and pulled him back down. I frog marched him to the office.

Tony Garcia and I had a talk. I decided to call the Temple City Sheriffs department. The dispatcher said an officer was enroute.

Tony was probably weighing his options. On the other side of the office counter was the door to freedom. He could make a break for it. If he reached the door he was home free. Of course I’d try to stop him. We might come to blows. That wouldn’t work. “Principal punches teenager.” Bad headline. Kid decks principal. Not a headline but it would hurt. What to do?

I asked Tony to lie face down on the office floor behind the counter. He did. I was surprised but now he was in a position where I had some control.

I kept one foot lightly on his back and watched out the window for the deputy. I saw her pull up in front of the school. She got out of her car and started towards the office.

Tony couldn’t see this. I supposed he was figuring he had to make a break for it so I increased my pressure. Just as the deputy opened the door I found myself standing with both feet on Tony’s back.

“ Mister Davis, how are you?” The Deputy said.

“Perhaps you don’t remember me. Teresa Mozqueda.? I used to go to school here. Mrs. McVey was my fifth grade teacher. I was a little girl then. You seem taller now.”

“ I do remember you Teresa. I’m not as tall as I look.” I stepped off of Tony.

Tony stood up. For a second he gave me a look that could kill but wiped it when he saw the Deputy.

Deputy Mozqueda took him home to his parents. Monday morning his mom and dad brought Tony in to apologize.

That was our last broken rope.