Date: 10th August, 2015

How Principals think!

CAPTION: This reflection was included since it was a very unique experience for me. To be
able to engage with Principals of three very different schools and see a school through the
eyes of the administrator, was indeed eye opening. I learnt that as teachers (who dont have
to deal with the day to day running of a school) we tend to judge administrators unfairly,
since theirs is not an easy task. This session also changed my mind about my own
aspirations of one day becoming a Principal.

The participants in this session were three principals, a moderator, UWI lecturers and the
Diploma in Education 2015-2016 class.
The first speaker was Ms. Hicks Rae Burn Principal at Barataria Secondary; she was very
passionate about her job as was evident in her speech and the emotions it echoed. She accepted
the reality of her school; it had a history for being a high risk facility. The children because of
their social backgrounds came with many challenges. A very important point she made was that
she always had her sneakers on; because she had to be all over the school dealing with issues or
trying to prevent them. Ms. Hicks stated she always prayed and asked God for nothing bad to
happen at her school. Ms. Hicks came across as a principal that is open to change once it would
bring about a positive change for the stakeholders of her school.
It was mentioned during the session that schools were built to provide opportunities for students
not to provide employment for teachers and principals. Teachers are in essence servants to pupils
and that school is part of our culture.
Ms. Yasmin Rahaman the principal of Asja Girls San Fernando her school environment was very
different form the first speaker so her views and concerns was not as severe as Ms. Hicks. She
did however accept that all schools have issues may it be at different levels.

The last speaker was Mr. Dexter Saxal, Principal of Shiva Boys College. Mr. Saxal portrayed a
mixture of leadership styles. I found that in his presentation he accepted that some students were
slow learners and needed assistance and that there would always be those students that presented
challenges to the school. He seemed to have great concerns with teachers taking time off from
school. He recognized and accepted that teaches are entitled to casual and sick days but felt it
was abused. Of course this did not sit well with the audience as many teachers broke off in
smaller groups to discuss what he just said. Mr. Saxal seemed to be a man of no nonsense who
was strong in his beliefs.
The session showed that each school is managed by principals who are all entrusted with a task
by the ministry; their approach to achieving this task may be different. In the process there may
be differences in opinion between management and the teaching staff but dialogue can resolve
this.
After completing the Dip Ed programme and the ten year post teaching experience I hope to
become a principal maybe about fifteen years prior to retirement. I believe with my current
management experience acquired before entering the teaching service and the many years of
teaching experience that I would have acquired by then I would be an unbiased and
understanding principal. I will be a principal who will appreciate the importance of
communication, allowing all stakeholders to feel like part of the pie and therefore allow my
school to move in the right direction.
Comment:
All the best and work towards your goal

Ms. Lystra Stephens-James

Business Curriculum Instructor
School of Education
The University of the West Indies,
St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.