A school principal has lot of responsibilities. Different group expect different things from school heads. A common expectation however, is that the principal demonstrates leadership. The core task or business of the school is to provide quality education. Like a CEO efficiently running for a company or business establishment a principal needs to consider may things. First, the principal should put things first. He must start at the personal level developing his own trustworthiness by showing his character and competence. The principal must make the community feel that he was one like them by sharing his own personal experience of living a life of simplicity despite his position of power. As he performs various tasks(e.g. clerk, counselor, etc.) in addition to his responsibilities , he must exhibit his multifaceted tasks. At the same he must provide the community members opportunities to show their own trustworthiness by accepting their invitations for meals and soliciting their ideas for school improvement. As a principle-centered principal one must demonstrate personal, interpersonal, managerial and organizational relationship. It must be guided with the corresponding principle of trustworthiness, empowerment and alignment. He must also manifests the seven habits of highly effective people being proactive, begin with the end in mind, putting things first, thinking win-win solution, seeking first to understand, synergizing and sharpening the saw. With such trustworthiness as the foundation, the principal must succeed at the interpersonal level as well. Trust characterized his interaction with teachers, students, staff, parents and members of the local barangay. Once he had won over the whole community, he had a little difficulty getting their cooperation to achieve their goals. In his words, Leadership carries it with credulity… You should have a trusting relationship with your students and with the people you deal with. Trusting relationship can only be developed if they have trust in you At the managerial level, the school must nurture the mutual trust with the school’s key stakeholders by working on a “family” culture. One must proactively lead them to strive for the transformation. To do this, the principal must empower the parents to share the responsibility of creating and environment more conducive to learning. He must empower the teachers by helping them build their competence . He must encourage everyone to fight a common enemy—poverty. “ Labananangkahirapan at magingmatatagtayonamalampasannatinangproblemangkahirapanbasta’tmagtulunganlangtayo.” Improved pupils performance , increased in enrolment, awards and distinction, satisfaction of stakeholders are the evidences of what we call principle –centered leadership. This presumes that one has the necessary technical skills to be trustworthy. One should be a feeling principal , offering compassion when needed. Most importantly, one should have the zest for the meaning of life, and constant drive to improve oneself through observation.
By: Mrs. Modesta B. Abrantes | Principal II | Bagac Elementary School | Bagac, Bataan
