A Day in the Life of a Charter School Principal and Administrator at Middle School
A typical day for this charter school administrator begins with a team huddle to set daily objectives and "get started on the right day and on the right kind of mood," followed by classroom walkthroughs and student interaction. The afternoon is dedicated to meetings, including check-ins with direct reports and board members, emphasizing the importance of administrator presence with students during lunch to build relationships and fostering a positive school culture.
Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving, Student Interaction
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Alma Zepeda
Charter School Principal and Administrator
Middle School
Yale College 2012
Johns Hopkins School of Education, MS in Elementary Education, 2015
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Operations and Project Management
International Student, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. A typical day begins with a team huddle to set daily objectives and share important news.
2. Administrators conduct classroom walkthroughs to ensure smooth operations and connect with students.
3. The day involves a mix of administrative tasks (budgeting, meetings), student interaction (lunch supervision), and communication with staff and board members.
Transcript
What does the day in the life of a school administrator look like?
It really depends on the school. For our charter school, we thought it was important to start with a team huddle. Every morning, we'd gather in a large classroom or the cafeteria, depending on the year.
We'd huddle with every staff member and give them the day's objectives. We might discuss something new to try during supervision or share news specifically about students. This helped us start the day on the right foot and in the right mood.
From there, I would typically do walk-throughs, ensuring everyone was in their designated spots. I'd also make time to be in front of students, connecting with them. Once the first periods started, it would be dedicated work time for things like budgeting, compliance, and board meeting preparation.
I would then take a break for lunch and do lunch supervision. This is important because administrators shouldn't be stuck behind a door. You still need to be visible to students and connect with them. They need to know who you are, as respect comes from the person, not just a title.
The afternoons were usually filled with meetings, such as check-ins with direct reports, like assistant principals or the director of operations. I might also be meeting with someone I reported to, like the head of school, or a charter school board member with a question.
Finally, it would be dismissal time. The last part of the day, we might have an end-of-school huddle if something significant happened that day and I needed to report it. Then, everyone was free to go.
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