Part 1: Leading in a Time of Crisis – a Conversation with Principal Carol Kampa
“I’m also worried about staff. Our staff are social beings, which is why they got into education. They have big hearts, and now they’re working in isolation. So I worry about how I can help them feel connected in this time of educational transformation.”
Principal Carol Kampa
Today on Getting Unstuck
Most of us are living in an unprecedented time. Not since World War II, have we experienced something that can literally impact every person on the planet. Getting through the COVID-19 pandemic is taking incredible resources and resourcefulness. It is also forcing us to look at one another and work with one another differently. And one place of work where that is extremely evident is in U.S. schools
What follows is one conversation in a series of conversations we’re having with educators across the country on how they are leading their schools in this time of crisis. Because these educators are extremely busy helping their schools and communities to pivot, we’ve intentionally limited these conversations to approximately 15 minutes.
It’s our hope that these conversations will provide nuggets of solid advice and emotional support to other educators on the front lines of change.
In this episode we hear from:
Carol Kampa, Principal of John F. Kennedy High School, Bloomington, MN
Listen for:
Beyond coordinating the logistics of online instruction, the work is all about
Maintaining and strengthen relationships – the connections with students and faculty members
Empowering department heads; leaning on the expertise of others
Supporting the community at large
“A lot of leaders are managers. And so sometimes in a crisis they fallback into that management mindset. I’m a big believer in a three component framework: there’s management, there’s instruction, and then there’s support. Leaders need to challenge themselves to step back from the one that they’re most comfortable with and figure out ways to support their staff, their students and their families.”
We’re pleased to announce …
…that our book Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change is now available for pre-order from Corwin Press or Amazon. Order before April 7 for a 20% discount. If you purchase from Amazon, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Thank you!
From our publisher:
In Shifting, educators and leadership experts Kirsten Richert, Jeff Ikler and Margaret Zacchei empower educational change leaders to proactively and coherently navigate complex change in schools to achieve the desired outcomes. Using a three-part framework—Assess, Ready, Change—this book leads educators to examine a school’s imperatives and readiness for change, identity the tools and abilities required to manifest change, and take action by defining the roles and processes necessary to effectively implement both sweeping change and smaller day-to-day adjustments. Change leaders learn to
• Shift the emphasis in the change process from procedure to the people implementing change
• Move from an environment of “command and control” to one of leaders creating other leaders
• Reframe change as an essential shift in school culture rather than a series of episodic event
Rich with leadership insights, stories, podcasts, and hands-on activities, Shifting offers an integrated tapestry of wisdom and support for change-makers intent on meaningful collaboration in a positive, engaged workplace.