EDUCATION’S LEADERS

By Amy (Kean) VerSteeg ’96, Publications Editor

Franklin College alumni are serving as principals at three of five elementaries in the Franklin Community Schools District of Indiana. They bring varied experiences and leadership styles to their respective roles but share in common a deep commitment to student empowerment and achievement. Each sees their transition from teacher to principal as a way to engage beyond more than one classroom and make greater impact on students’ school experience.

A love for education is as fundamental to their work as principals as the practical skills that were honed throughout their Franklin College academic and cocurricular opportunities. Their grounding in liberal arts skills supports the dynamic nature of their daily work, from communicating effectively with students, staff and other stakeholders and finding solutions to complex problems, to balancing needs and interests of the school community and making data-informed decisions. These principals handle new issues every day while also addressing budgets, teaching evaluations, student-disciplinary actions, facility maintenance and more. They are in a word, adaptable. More importantly, they are dedicated.

Keep reading to learn what shaped their desire to transition from teachers to principals and about the college experiences and relationships significant to their success as leaders.