>> [MUSIC] There was a big transition for me.
I had been an elementary teacher
and a kindergarten teacher through fifth grade.
I had taught all the different grade levels
at elementary school and then become
an elementary assistant principal
and then an elementary principal.
And I had been an elementary principal for
two years when I was transferred to the high school.
That's a very different experience.
A high school experience
is very different from the standpoint with
just the vastness of what you
deal with here from student clubs and
organizations to the budget
to the athletic events that take place.
It truly is a seven day
a week responsibility because
there's just never a day that the building sleeps.
There are things that go on seven days a week.
Pretty much, I'd say 360 out of the 365 days a year.
We have things going on on campus.
So that part of it is very different.
On the other side, you're still dealing with students,
you're dealing with parents and
families and you're dealing with teachers.
And so from that end,
hiring the best teachers you can find,
supporting and partnering with families,
supporting teachers the best that you can,
engaging with students, that part of the job is similar.
But you have much bigger administrative staff,
a much larger faculty.
There's more delegation involved
when it comes to being a high school principal.
So the curriculum, of course, is different.
You're preparing them for college and having to
understand all the rules and
requirements that go into that.
So that part of it is very different.
It was interesting to come in
as being a part of the community here.
I already had lots of community connections.
I already was very familiar with our high school.
At the same time, I became a high school principal.
I became a high school parent in this facility.
So my oldest entered ninth grade
the same time I walked in the doors as the principal.
So I had that parent perspective, I think, as well,
and I learned a great deal through
my experiences as a parent here that I think
have helped me be a better principal here
and understand the perspective of the student,
the perspective of the parent, as well
as the administrative perspective.
So I think that's been beneficial. [MUSIC]