The following interview took place between a building Principal and myself on June 11, 2004.  The questions that we discussed were made up by a group of colleagues and myself during a group discussion of areas in education.  They represent topics that we collectively felt needed change in our school systems. 

Principal Interview Questions Professional Development:

So many teachers regard Professional Development as a one shot deal. Do you have suggestions to embed Professional Development into the daily lives of teachers?We need to create a culture of reflection in our schools from the inside out.  The possible ways that this might be achieved would be through grade level collaboration as well through faculty curriculum meetings

Authentic Curriculum Connections

It seems many students find education disengaging. How can we increase student involvement in the curriculum process?

Students need to be actively engaged in meaningful and fun curriculum experiences.  The teacher needs to make realistic choices for the curriculum and they need to be enthusiastic about the material that they are presenting.  This atmosphere will then promote a contagious atmosphere for the children.

The New 3RsÓResearch, Reflect and Retain:

Many regard standardized testing as an ineffective measure of assessment. How can we change current assessment practices to better evaluate all student learning?

I feel that standardized testing isn≠t always an ineffective tool to access information.  This data is needed to better evaluate ourselves and our students.  Testing should include a combination of both norm referenced and criterion referenced data.

Community Connections across Contents:

We often hear the criticism that students are not making connections across the curriculum. How can we restructure curriculum to prevent subject matter isolation?

We need to create a balance in what we are teaching.  Teachers need to constantly tie together what they are teaching with what the student already knows so they can draw their life experience into the process. 

Teamwork: A Personal Commitment:

Teachers often feel isolated in their classrooms. How can we foster a more collegial atmosphere/environment?

We need to encourage them to work together and share their ideas especially the good ideas that can only benefit everyone. 

Building Citizenship Through Discipline: Positive Approaches to Traditional Procedures:

Often district disciplinary policies promote the exclusion of students who break rules. How can we make our disciplinary policies more inclusive?

We can make our disciplinary policies more inclusive through the use of counseling our students.   Teachers and administrators should attempt to help them learn from these experiences.  They need to have constant feedback in order for them to develop positive interpersonal relationships.