Featured Principals: April 2024

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May 2024 >

How and why did you become a principal?

My main goal for becoming a principal is to serve and give back to society what was given to me, and to change lives, one student at a time. More importantly, I became a principal through a combination of dedication, education, and experience in the field of education. With encouragement and push from my former middle school principal who saw the leadership qualities in me, I listened and engaged in continuous professional development to enhance my leadership skills. Further, motivated by a deep passion for education and a desire to make a positive impact on students' lives, I embraced the opportunity to lead and create meaningful change within the school community. Becoming a principal was not only a career advancement for me, but also a fulfilling journey driven by my commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment where students can thrive socio-emotionally, academically and otherwise.

What are you most proud of in your work?

As a principal in a school with very high poverty level, I am most proud of the collaborative efforts that have led to tangible improvements in student outcomes and the overall school environment. Through fostering a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement, I've seen our staff come together to implement innovative teaching methods, as in our Polytechnic model, develop tailored and intentional interventions for struggling students, and create inclusive initiatives that promote diversity and equity. Coming out of corrective action, witnessing the positive impact of these initiatives on student achievement and well-being has been immensely gratifying. Additionally, I take pride in cultivating strong relationships with students, parents, and community stakeholders, as these connections are crucial in fostering a supportive and thriving educational community. Overall, the collective achievements and positive transformations within the school community are what I am most proud of in my role as an educational leader/principal.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

One thing that has had success in our school is our innovative parental involvement strategy in the absence of a PTO. Working with a community that believes in a handshake rather than a written contract, and one that does not feel comfortable coming to school for educational discourse, we had to employ several strategies to get their attention. We know that our families care a lot about their children, but the system as designed does not seem to lend itself to their ideas of involvement, so we had to find less traditional ways to get them involved. That way is through what came to be known as "Common Ground Conversations".

This strategy has been employed to involve even our most reluctant families in school activities and initiatives. We asked them whether they would like to meet with us to just discuss our common interests- the students - and they said yes. These conversations were non-threatening, collaborative and respectful.

First, we personalized the outreach strategy by going to families' homes (on invitation) to visit them, where we talked about their experiences as parents and what they would like to see in their child's educational pursuit/programming. Once they were comfortable with us, we then asked how they would feel if we came together once a month for a conversation and a meal, to which they said yes! We then talked about the need for all families to meet, greet and network, especially because they share a lot in common and some are new to this country. The rest is history.

Now, families meet once a month or as necessary, since we also use the help of our bilingual interpreters for our non-English speaking families during those conversation sessions. Through these common grounds conversations, we have been able to meet some of our Title One goals of holding an annual meeting with families, hosting informal meet-and-greet sessions or tea mornings where parents can engage in casual conversations with teachers and school administrator. This has helped break down barriers and build relationships. We have been able to work together on more serious topics like our School Comprehensive Improvement Plan (SCIP), Family Engagement Plan and our Title One COMPACT.

We provide food and transportation and allowed families to bring siblings no matter the number when an in-person meeting is held. During COVID when physical attendance became difficult, we offered flexible scheduling, and other opportunities that accommodated varying schedules. We now have the option for in-person and virtual meetings post COVID. Providing clear communication about the impact of parental involvement on student success and offering incentives or recognition for participation has further motivated reluctant parents to engage with the school community.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

To keep my work and life somewhat balanced, I prioritize effective time management by setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. Even if I end up not following it sometimes due to circumstances beyond my control, having this plan helps to keep me focused. I try to establish designated periods for work while ensuring dedicated time for self-care, hobbies, and quality time with family and friends. Implementing efficient organizational systems and prioritizing tasks based on their importance and urgency helps me to manage workload effectively, allowing for timely completion of responsibilities without encroaching on personal time as much. Additionally, practicing mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or regular exercise, helps to alleviate stress and maintain mental well-being, contributing to a healthy work-life balance. More importantly, even though one might think it is still work, attending MESPA and other professional activities such as the Institute, conferences, etc. gives me the opportunity to adjust schedules as needed and adapt to evolving demands while preserving time for both professional endeavors and personal fulfillment that help me to reset, refresh, renew, and rejuvenate self.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

One valuable piece of advice that I would give a new principal is to prioritize building strong relationships with staff, students, parents, and the broader school community. Investing time and effort in cultivating these relationships lays the foundation for effective communication, collaboration, and support, which are essential for fostering a positive and thriving school environment. By actively listening to the needs and perspectives of stakeholders, demonstrating empathy, and consistently seeking opportunities to engage and connect, new principals can establish trust and rapport that are crucial for successful leadership. Embracing a collaborative approach and valuing the contributions of every member of the school community not only enhances morale and teamwork but also facilitates meaningful progress toward shared goals and aspirations. In the same vein, I will also advise that they be themselves, not to take anything personally and understand that there will come a time when they will have to tip the scale a little in favor of their professional responsibility.

How many years have you been a principal?

22 years

How and why did you become a principal?

I taught for over 13 years before becoming a school administrator. After completing my doctoral degree and principal license I went to Mexico City to teach for 3 years. Our goal as a family was to provide our children with an opportunity to become more fluent in Spanish. By the end of the 2006 school year, I had two job offers. One job was teaching at a university in South Dakota and the other was to be the director of a small international school in Venezuela. Our family decided to continue our international experience in Venezuela and two years later, we came back to Minnesota and I became a charter school principal in Rochester. I decided to become a school administrator because it allows me to be closer to students and families, work with school staff to improve the learning experience of our students, and to help eradicate racist and discriminatory practices at the building level. I love teaching but my impact was limited to my group of students. As a principal, I have influence over all the students at the school. I can empower my staff and influence the district with my ideas.

What are you most proud of in your work?

The deep relationship I develop with students and their families. Nothing compares to the level of trust a student has in me. A few years ago, during an IEP meeting, a parent asked her student, “who do you trust at school?” the student responded, "Dr. Salazar." I earn student trust by being present every day at least three times during the school day. I welcome students in the morning, I do one or two rounds of classrooms visits during the day, I help with recess, and I dismiss buses. Many students also have lunch with me just because they want to have lunch with the principal. It takes time and energy being present, but I need to develop strong relationships with my students to be able to influence them. Position power has limited impact on students and staff. Relationships are powerful and help me lead my school. I am proud of my relationships with the students, staff, and families. Parents know that I know their students and even when they may disagree with a decision I made, they know that I have their student’s best interest in mind.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

Our school committees are strong, they help make decisions and they lead the work. For example, our PBIS team collects data including staff concerns and ideas. They meet the first week of the summer to review data and make changes for the following year. They also prepare documents and create a presentation for workshop week. During our school workshop week, they lead our PBIS planning session for the year and monitor its implementation. My role is to find the funding for the summer work session and to support them during the school year. The same is true about all the teams such as arts integration, academic leadership team, PLCs, and the building leadership team.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

I tried not to read emails at night as much as possible. I go to the YMCA twice a week. Saturday and Sunday are family days and Sunday is also church time. I began my day with a devotional and we have a family breakfast. Most nights we also have dinner as a family.

At least 4 weeks during the summer are dedicated 100% to the family and we travel to Costa Rica to visit my siblings. I love to read and I spend a lot of time reading fiction or topics that are not related to the principal profession. I love to listen to music.

I think the most valuable tool I use is to reach out to other administrators when I am dealing with work related issues to learn from their experiences. Talking with other administrators helps me reduce my focus and be able to enjoy the rest of the day/evening as much as possible. The reality is sometimes we cannot balance work and life outside work. Thus, my approach is to be aware that I need balance and do my best to work towards achieving it.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

Connect with other administrators. Connect with your professional association. Attend conferences because the time you spend at a conference will provide you with new tools and energy for the rest of the school year. You are not alone and you are not the only one dealing with this type of situation. Reach out, do not become isolated, MESPA and all administrators around you are here to help you be successful.

How many years have you been a principal?

18 years

How and why did you become a principal?

I started my teaching career working in small schools on the White Earth Reservation. As I worked with two different Superintendents they asked if I would be interested in moving into administration. While working at Pine Point my mentor guided me to apply for the Principal/Superintendent role for interviewing experience. I ended up getting the position and being the Superintendent/Principal of Pine Point School. My passion for leading started there as I saw how leading a school district could really change the lives of so many people. My goal has always been to help support individuals to make the overall system better for our students and our communities.

What are you most proud of in your work?

While at Bemidji School District I have been working on implementing a tiered approach in addressing behavior and mental health. I coordinated training for Responsive Classroom and implemented RC across the district. We saw significant decreases in behavior referrals and suspensions. At Lincoln Elementary we have RC as our Tier 1 approach for all of our students. We have written grants for Tier 2 support of a full time Social worker to provide small group and whole groups skills. I have worked closely with our local agency's to provide Tier 3 support of mental health Therapy and CTSS skills to students who have been identified. This tiered support has addressed the behavior and mental health needs of our students at a high level as well as providing support to the teachers.

What's something that's had success in your school that you think other principals could borrow?

We have had huge success in developing a monthly theme for behavior and culture in our building. We incorporate Responsive Classroom and Ojibwe culture into our monthly assembly. We have also incorporated Ojibwe language into our morning announcements and morning meetings.

What are some strategies you use to keep your work and life balanced?

I really try to leave work behind on the weekends and after school hours. I have found that the work if not urgent can wait until the next workday. I set aside time to go explore trails in the woods and spend time on the boat in the summer. I have found that my google calendar is a necessity in keeping on track.

What piece of advice would you give a new principal OR what piece of advice have you gotten that has been most useful?

As a principal there are times that you have to sit down with staff and discuss difficult situations and assign discipline for that staff member. This can be hard on you as a principal. I always tell myself and other principals that it is nothing I did to cause this. The individual made a mistake and you are the person responsible to providing guidance to them so they can be successful in the future.

How many years have you been a principal?

17 years