Favorite Parts of Being a Charter School Principal at Middle School
Alma, a charter school principal and administrator, finds fulfillment in having "a voice within the larger system" to advocate for teachers' concerns, born from prior experiences as a teacher. The most rewarding aspect of their role is the "constant innovation" and community-focused problem-solving inherent in the charter school model, allowing for personalized education that addresses the unique needs of each community, unlike "a blanket education system".
Leadership, Problem-Solving, Community Engagement, Education Reform, Innovation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
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. Being a voice within the school system and advocating for teachers' concerns.
2. The problem-solving and innovation required in a charter school setting.
3. The ability to personalize education to meet the unique needs of a specific community.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your role?
When I was a teacher, some decisions came down that I disagreed with and wanted to make a difference. Ultimately, it was me in my classroom with my students, and I really enjoyed that.
When I stepped into administration, I had a voice within the larger school system. This was one of the things that really drove me to want to go into administration. I wanted to be one of those voices, to bring the concerns I had as a teacher into the room and show that perspective.
I also really enjoyed the problem-solving elements. Being a charter school principal administrator means constant innovation and thinking about how to serve this particular community. That's why I enjoyed the charter school world so much.
It was small and personalized. You might see a problem developing in the community and think, "How do we tackle that as a community?" How do we develop a program that's unique to these students and this location?
Ultimately, education is not one-size-fits-all. I think that's part of the reason our education system is struggling; we try to do a blanket education system that won't work in every community. I really enjoyed that personalization aspect.
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