Principal Support

As mentioned in earlier posts, I teach only .1 in the Library - 2 classes once a week and we have another super TL teaching the remainder of the 7 classes. So, having just started in the role of TL at my primary school, I feel fortunate to have the support of my principal. Support being, anwering ICT questions that arise, signing off for release teaching time for future TL inservices I want to attend and basically leaving me alone! However, after reading Oberg's article(2006) I am now looking at my principal in a different light. Oberg talks about the four key roles of the principal. These being: 1. Supervisor working directly with teachers 2. Model demonstrating personal commitment. 3. Manager enabling the program 4. Mentor providing visibility and importance. In the supervisory role, my principal does allow time at Staff meetings for discussion relating to programs. He does not require evidence of collaboratively planned projects. This is of course,in our programs. Is that the same thing? As a model demonstrating personal commitment, my principal is not exactly "visible" in the library but frankly, I don't feel he need be that visible. I do not hear him spouting the importance of the library program to teachers and parents, but he doesn't do that for Music, PE or Drama either. As a manager, my principal does support the budget for materials and information technology. We have a brand new library with adjoining computer lab hosting 30 computers. Though my principal supports team planning time at stage meetings during staff meetings, I have never known him to use his admin time to release teachers for planning time with the TL. And as a mentor providing visibility and importance for the TL, I have not yet been encouraged to take time for personal and professional development. Hey, it's only week 9 and I'm not complaining yet at all. While still cheering that I got the job, I am also slightly freaked out by the enormous roles I must fill. I do feel my principal supports me. Oberg has made me think about the respect bit of it!

Just a quick note before bed about Haycock (2007) and his article on collaboration. I like his definition stating collaboration depends on trust, shared vision and communication. And I completetly agree that time is always an issue with collaboration. Yes, I trust the two classroom teachers I am collaborating with this year and yes, we have a shared vision to provide a positive and worthwhile learning experience for these students. Just need to finetune the communication bit...working against the time all the time.