Performance Under Pressure Nomination #1 - Administrators
We are living through unprecedented times in the world of education. COVID-19 has educators dealing with conditions that no one thought possible just a few months ago. Administrators, teachers, and support staff are going above and beyond to adapt and continue delivering for their students and communities.
iAspire provided educators an opportunity to celebrate their colleagues and recognize the good that is happening in education right now through a Performance Under Pressure nomination system. Educators could nominate up to three people in their organization whose attitudes, behaviors, and/or words have made a tremendous impact on those around them.
The nomination categories were:
Went above and beyond
Demonstrated extra sensitivity in a difficult situation
Kept a positive attitude
Extraordinary creativity
Other
In part 1/3 of this Performance Under Pressure series, we are focusing our attention on the many nominations administrators received to celebrate their performance under pressure!
Based on the responses received, it’s no surprise that administrators juggled many different hats during the shift from traditional to digital learning. They were tasked with the planning, coordination, and implementation of online instruction throughout their school/district while fielding questions from parents and community members. These administrators were oftentimes the face of their school or organization and maintained a professional presence while navigating this unknown for the first time. While they were facing their own set of unknowns, they were tasked to provide guidance and leadership to all members of the school community.
We heard several stories about the impact these administrators have had. They helped keep the balance between student learning and understanding many parents/guardians were also learning how to be successful in this environment. In fact, many nominations mentioned how calm, compassionate, and understanding these administrators have been. They have also been sources of great inspiration throughout this shift.
Another hat that many administrators recently wore was that of a teacher. Many administrators have recorded themselves teaching some type of a lesson for their teachers to post, engaged in webinars with their classes, and encouraged student reading. Several other nominations specifically mentioned the effective communication provided by their administrator and how much this mattered.
One story really stood out to show impact our administrators have in this digital learning environment:
“In light of the current educational setting and the sudden landscape changing, Amy has challenged her staff to rise above and to put forth a product that is a cut above the rest. Within a couple of days of having to shut down school, we were up and running with e-learning, and because of her, we really didn't miss a beat. Students were challenged right out of the gates! With that being said, she has allowed for fluid changes and feedback from the staff to adapt where needed as we work through this uncertain time. She has been a voice of consistency!” ~ Andrew.
Amy, thank you for your flexibility, being responsive to feedback from your team, and for still holding high expectations of your students and teachers during all the pressure! Being able to shift from traditional learning to e-learning within just a few days is immensely amazing. Kudos to you for leading with kindness, compassion, and collaboration. You’ve made an impact on those around you!
And thank you to all the administrators doing many of these same things in their own organizations. Without your leadership, guidance, and empathy, we wouldn’t be hearing all of these stories from educators across the world!