I have seen enough posts to know that a new Principal can be a problem for a PTO. If you are lucky, you will have a Principal that understands things had a certain flow before s/he started on the job and that it is a good idea to observe and discuss more than direct and demand for the first year. But there are too many who think they need to take control or make an impression right from day 1.
Since the new person is a blank slate, you need to prepare for either case. Start by introducing everyone and then asking the Principal what s/he expects to get out of the meeting. Try to get a sense of her/his philosophy and hopefully you will start to cultivate a working relationship or even better a parnership.
If it is going well you can start to talk about the main PTO events during the year and what your expectations are for the new Principal. Expectation can be discussed by going through your Charter or by-laws (you do have this, right?). Is attendance at meetings (and a report) expected? Is the Principal on the Exec Bd? What voting rights? Does the Principal chair any committees?
If you are not getting a warm and fuzzy that the PTO and the Principal will work together, you need to have the same kind of conversation but you need to keep reminding the new person of all the things the PTO does for the school and the students (and ultimately the Principal's own reputation). This will be more of a sell job than a working meeting, but hopefully the newbie will come around.
Ditto what Pals said. I would just phone him to set up a time that is good for him to meet with you. I would begin the conversation by asking him what expectations or ideas he has for the group. It will be a good way to feel him out to see if you are on the same page and see what kind of person he is. I would listen first and talk second. Good Luck!
we just went through this this last fall, if I had only one thing to tell you it would be to go in open minded and realize that he needs to learn from your group as well as you need to learn from him.
Other than that chances are he will sit back a little and watch the first year and then you will see him wanting to add his touch...our principal is really gung hoe to do a few different things and we are so ready to spice things up a little.
Also remember that he needs your parent support as much as you need his support....good luck. I know it is hard, I was no way going to work with anyone else but have found it's okay!
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
New Principal coming on board, although not new to the school system. He has worked his way up from a teacher to the principal of another school in our district over the course of 20+ years. We don’t know him from Adam. Our PTO board plans to meet to discuss what activities we would like to do this coming year and present him with these, but I’m nervous about how to approach him. Any suggestions?
