Communities In Schools of Georgia
10/26/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/26/2021 16:13
Celebrating Principalship – CIS of Baldwin County
Each October, National Principals Month recognizes the essential role that principals play in making a school great. Principals are among the hardest working, yet often least recognized individuals in education. This October Communities In Schools of Georgia honors these unsung heroes for their tireless efforts in pursuit of excellence in education.
She's an amazing educator and certainly is deserving of recognition-Janet Cavin, Executive Director, Communities in Schools Milledgeville Baldwin County
Q&A with Principal Clark:
Q: What inspires you?
A: To see my staff and students being successful. To continously try to make a difference each and every day with a student, staff member, or parent.
Q: What's the best thing about being a principal?
A: To me the best thing about being a principal is the interaction with students, staff, and parents. You never know what you will encounter. However, the relationships that are built through being a principal is priceless. I love when I am out in the community and I have my students come up to say hi, tell me things about school, or just what they are out doing.
Q: If you had to describe Communities in Schools in one word?
A: Nurturing
Q: If you had to describe your Communities in Schools site coordinator in one word?
A: Passionate
Q: What has been the biggest change in your school because of CIS?
A: The biggest change would be the mentorship and tutoring that our students receive. The connections the students are able to make with that one special person who is there for them.
Q: What is the biggest challenge the school is facing now?
A: I would say there are 2 at this time. I would say the change in the learning pattern of students. I don't want to say learning loss because it may not be they lost the information during the pandemic, but simply they were not exposed or exposed to the material in a way that fit their learning. Where teachers had a few students who were not on grade level they now have 1/2 the class who are not where they need to be. The teachers have had to back up and meet more students where they are which changes the pattern of what they are normally learning at the certain time. The other would be the social emotional needs of our students. Students have had to adapt to different situations at home and then try to come to school to determine how they are to react to situations they have not been in before. I can see CIS evolving into a "responsive" team to the needs of our students. They will be responding more and more to what each individual child needs; whether academically, socially, emotionally, and possible behaviorally.
Q: Does having a CIS site coordinator in your school have any effect on the way teachers teach or the way they relate to their students? Any other benefit to teachers?
A: They are able to see outside people making these connections with the student. They see the change in the student when they have that one special person. They see how the child has built a relationship and responds in a positive way when they meet with their tutor/mentor. The teachers are grateful for the work of CIS and want to get their children connected with someone to help them in whatever way. They are seeing the benefits to what CIS does with their students.
Q: Do you feel that your CIS site coordinator has improved students' social-emotional skills?
A: I do. She is passionate about what she does and here for the children. She does not hesitate to make sure they have whatever they need. She works hard to find tutors/mentors to help with those aspects.
Q: If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?
A: That anything is possible!
Q: How do you think students will remember you?
A: I hope they remember me as being a caring person who looked out for them. That I took the time to talk with them and build relationships.
Q: Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
A: Worry gives attention to problems you may never have. I tell my staff this all the time. Don't stress yourself about things that you can't control or may never happen.