A Day in the Life of a Principal at California High School
A typical day for the Principal begins early, checking emails and addressing staff absences before welcoming families and students. The day unfolds with a mix of meetings, professional development, classroom observations, direct student interaction, and constant communication with staff and parents, reflecting the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the role, with the Principal noting that "every day is different".
Communication, Problem-Solving, Leadership, Teamwork, Organization
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Name
Job Title
Company
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Grad Programs
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Jennifer Movsessian
Principal
California High School
UCLA 2013
LMU- Masters in Elementary Education and CSUSM Masters in School Administration
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Education
Video Highlights
1. Principal Jennifer starts her day by checking emails and planning for staff absences to ensure consistent student instruction.
2. Throughout the day, she balances administrative tasks like meetings and professional development with direct interaction with students, including classroom observations and behavior management.
3. She emphasizes open communication, maintaining an open-door policy for staff to address concerns and collaborate, highlighting the importance of relationships in her role.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of your role look like?
It's busy and non-stop. My mornings usually start with checking emails, which is the first thing I do. Then I check our subsystem to see who will be out.
Once I get to school, I answer emails and plan for those absences. I make arrangements for where students will go if I don't have coverage. I figure out who I can move to provide kids the instruction and support they need.
Around 8 o'clock, I'm welcoming families. You'll find me outside greeting them and helping kids get to their classrooms. Throughout the day, I attend multiple meetings, usually on Zoom.
I also plan for or run professional development sessions during the day. I do lots of classroom observations, as we're in an early education program. I work with kids directly, playing with them and supporting them in the classroom.
I also handle behavior management as necessary and answer parent questions as they come up. This involves lots of phone calls and conversations. I have an open-door policy, so staff can come in anytime with concerns or questions, or if they need a thought partner. I talk a lot throughout the day, and every day is different, which is super exciting.
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