New School Adminitrators Spend Summer Developing As A Team

By DAVID A. FONSECA
When the new academic year begins, three of the school district’s top administrative positions will be filled by new hires.
Sharon L. Bellao and Thomas Daniels earlier this summer took over the principal positions at the Forestdale and Oak Ridge schools, respectively.
Mary Ellen Johnson, who served as the district’s director of curriculum for a year, will begin the school year as interim superintendent.
For the trio, the summer has been a time to become familiar with each other and the challenges of the district.
“We’ve spent the summer really developing as a team,” Dr. Johnson said. “For us to be successful, it’s not going to depend on how we perform as individuals, it’s going to depend on how we work as a team”
To that end, Dr. Johnson said, the summer has been packed with in-service and team-building days.
And, to Dr. Johnson and her new colleagues’ apparent delight, the work appears to be paying off.
Ms. Bellao, who was the principal of the Woodsdale Middle School in Abington before coming to Sandwich, said that earlier in the summer she invited each of Forestdale’s teachers to sit down with her individually in her office. And, according to Ms. Bellao, almost every single one of them has taken her up on the offer.
“They’ve really taken the time to get to know me, and I appreciate that,” Ms. Bellao said.
Mr. Daniels has reported having similar success with his own staff. However, in his estimation, there’s no rush to get to know everyone in one summer. After all, getting to know people takes time.
“You don’t have to get it all done in one summer,” he said. “It takes a long time to develop relationships, and that really is the key to it all.”
Both Mr. Daniels and Ms. Bellao said the challenges of the summer, which they describe as being just about as busy as the regular school year for administrators, will allow for a smooth transition.
“The rhythm as an administrator is very different from the rhythm of a family or a teacher, where the first day of school is very meaningful,” he said. “We’ve already started, we are in it.”
For Mr. Daniels, who was previously the principal of a K-5 school in the Reading school district, the challenges of the summer have proved to him that he is ready for the school year.
“It’s all felt very consonant, and I’m very surprised at that,” Mr. Daniels said. “All my previous experiences have played right into this job, and I haven’t felt that really anything was out of my range of comfort. I’m sure something will happen, but it hasn’t yet.”
Another surprise, Mr. Daniels and Ms. Bellao both said they’ve encountered, is the openness of parents and teachers to change.
“All the parents I’ve talked to have been very receptive,” Ms. Bellao said.
“...which is really surprising,” Mr. Daniels continued. “Most districts with this much change happening at the same time would not be this welcoming.”
Parents have also been open with their questions and concerns about the district, Mr. Daniels said.
“People have been very open about the past and even about the present,” he said. “What they’re looking for is open communication.”
Ms. Bellao, who replaces longtime Sandwich teacher and principal Douglas A. Jenkins at Forestdale, said being available to parents is also a top priority.
“I know that Doug was very well respected, but we also have some things we’d like to move forward with in the school,” she said. “What I would like to offer is that I always make connections with students and parents.”
She said she’s eager for the school year to start, so she can meet the students she hopes to be able to bond with.
“That’s what’s missing,” she said. “The building is open, teachers are here, we’re ready, but where are those kids? I can’t wait to get to know them.”
Dr. Johnson is eager for the first school bells of the year to ring as well. She’s excited to see how the new staff will take advantage of their fresh start.
“That’s the great thing about working in education,” she said. “With what other job do you get to start a new year?”