Almost daily, AALA members seek respite from the untenable crush of district mandates. It is high time the District’s senior staff and Board members heed the voices from the field! As this administrator pointedly highlights, Where is the social emotional learning for site administrators? This also begs the question, has senior staff walked in the proverbial shoes of a school or office based front-line manager for more than a hot minute?
There is an enormous disconnect between District expectations and the ability of site administrators to deliver without the costly physical or mental toll that comes from stress. Worst yet, there is the lack of sensitivity and disrespect from what happens in the field minute to minute. The nonsense of refining and doing mid-course corrections to horses that have left the barn must stop! Those answering to the superintendent on contracts (non-AALA members) must tell the top brass the “Emperor has no clothes” and exercise their professional courage muscle and say no to the unrealistic demands coming from the top rather than rolling over, calling members to virtual meetings with cheerful faces and accolades, followed by “We don’t care you’ve already submitted the plan as due. Simply change it because central said so, I need my contract renewed, and I don’t care that I’m wasting your time! Just do it!”