Seven Things My Principal Did Well

When I was hired, I promised my principal that I wouldn't write or tweet about him. However, now that he's going to another district, I want to point out a few things that I appreciated about him this year. Note that this could just as easily be my assistant principal, because they worked together as a team:

1. Practical Support: Randy came through in practical ways. I know it's not a huge deal, but I remember needing a few office supplies for my classroom and I wondered if it would be a month or so before I got it. Instead, he made sure I had what I needed within a few days. 
2. Disagreement: He wasn't afraid to challenge me on ideas. I remember one point when Randy and I got into a discussion about data, test scores and achievement. He and I still disagree a bit on the issue, but I appreciate his willingness to engage in a discussion. 
3. Encouraging Autonomy: On a larger, school-wide scale, he didn't micromanage. But on a closer level, he knew how libertarian I tended to be and he let me do my thing. I always felt like he trusted me as a teacher and empowered teachers to do what was best for students.   
4. Celebrating teachers: Twice we had a chef come in and cook us a meal. On several occasions, he made sure to give a compliment. There was always a sense with him that he was appreciative of what we were doing. 
5. Honesty: I appreciated the fact that he was honest with teachers in the staff meetings. The same goes for the classroom. It's easy for me to believe encouragement when that same person has been honest about my weaknesses. 
6. Differentiation: There is often a one-size-fits-all mindset in leadership. What I appreciated about our administration is that they saw us as real people. They understood that some people have little kids and can't stay crazy late. They understood that some people are working on advanced degrees. But it was more than that. They knew that some people need more instructions or less instructions. Some people need more humor and others find it to be a waste of time. 
7. Respect for Children: Although our school is low-SES, I always felt that the our principal cultivated a climate of respect and was a bulldog about avoiding the "these kids" mindset. He wasn't blind about our context. However, he was a constant advocate for respecting the minds of our students.