Mr.

Al Benskin
Principal Entry Plan

Rooted in Learning Grounded in Excellence

Waxahachie High School

April 25, 2014

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
Al Benskin strives to be an excellent building principal. I believe the characteristics that define an excellent building principal follow.
He should be a good communicator and be a fair, firm and compassionate professional with experience in leading and managing adults and
students in high stakes/high risk environments. He should have a vision to create rich, collaborative working environments where stakeholders
from all walks of life through support, nurturing and celebration of their uniqueness are inspired to become passionate members of the society.
He should be an effective relationship builder, problem solver and change driver with commitment to strong, sound financial responsibility and
fiscal management. Certain qualities or traits should be evident: display justice in daily work by being firm, fair and consistent in personal
encounters within the entire learning community. An excellent building principal should be just in delivering praise as well as delivering
discipline. He should have the ability to utilize good judgment appropriate to the situation at hand; thinking clearly, calmly and keeping the
entire learning community at the forefront of his thoughts while making decisions.
He should be a dependable person who can be relied upon to complete tasks as directed by those whom he follows as well as those whom he
may lead. He must be being willing to adhere to the policies and procedures established within the organization. He must exhibit initiative:
taking appropriate action on behalf of the organization without being told to do so. He should display decisiveness in making professionally
sound decisions while taking into account the circumstances that will affect the whole organization. He should at all times exhibit tactfulness in
dealing with all stakeholders in a manner that maintains good working relationships even when disciplinary actions are warranted. An excellent
building principal should have integrity and be enthused and excited about the work to be done on a daily basis; being optimistic even when
tasks and assignments are uninteresting and mundane in nature. An excellent building principal should have bearing: carrying himself in a
professional manner at all times both in and out of the workplace. He should display competence, confidence and a can do attitude. He should
be unselfish by being considerate of others within his learning community; giving credit when and where it is due. An excellent administrator
should demonstrate courage and remain calm even in tenuous situations; having the wherewithal to do what is inherently right for and within
the learning community; especially when it is not the popular thing to do.
An excellent building principal should be able to make tough decisions no matter which way the wind is blowing. He should be knowledgeable
about a broad spectrum of things regarding the learning community--from knowing personnels strengths and weaknesses to subject content.
An excellent administrator should be loyal to those within the learning community and devoted to the tasks of educating all students and
helping all stakeholders. An excellent building principal should have the endurance and stamina to work through fatigue and work in stressful
environments. He should be willing to accept correction and open to new ideas from all stakeholders. This is my administrative philosophy.

April 25, 2014

GOALS SUMMARY
Goal #1: Cultivate positive, constructive relationships with members of the WHS
Team and community to minimize the potential disruption caused by a change in
school leadership

Goal #2: Build a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying WHS

strengths and targeted areas for growth as identified by the available data

Goal #3: Create a shared vision for WHS that sustains our strengths and
addresses our identified areas for needed growth and acknowledges the staffs
beliefs and values.
Goal #4: Planning with Data: Lead the development, implementation and
evaluation of the data-driven plan for improvement of student achievement.

April 25, 2014

AL Benskin Principal Entry Plan

Goal 1: Cultivate positive, constructive relationships with members of the WHS Team & community to minimize the
potential disruption caused by a change in leadership
Objective 1: Develop positive, constructive relationships with WHS staff members
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Send welcome back letter to all staff
Meet with staff members beginning in summer and through the fall
Plan opening day staff meeting with a focus on introductions and Celebrations, Why We Teach,
etc Starting New
Utilize the September faculty meeting to set faculty meeting norms
Conduct regular walk-throughs of classrooms
Staff breakfast on October to celebrate a successful first month
Objective 2: Further relationships with Central Office personnel
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Meet with Human Resources Superintendent
Meet with Director of Transportation
Meet with Director of Student Services
Meet with Director of Child Nutrition
Objective 3: Develop positive, constructive relationships with Hachie parent community
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Send and post to website introductory newsletter to families
Establish and communicate a school to home communication protocol
Meet with STUCO members and Outisde School Oragnization Presidents
Meet with 7 parents per grade (randomly selected)
Objective 4: Develop positive, constructive relationships with the student body
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Introductory walk-through on first day

April 25, 2014

Timeline

Status

Welcome Back letter - August

Ongoing
August
September
Ongoing
October 1st
Timeline
August end of September
August end of September
August end of September
August end of September
Timeline
August
School Messenger & Newsletters
Ongoing
September-Through Completion
Timeline
Monday, August 25nd

Status

Complete
Complete
Status
Complete

Status

Be a strong presence at drop off and dismissal, in classrooms, during transitions, in the cafeteria
On-going
Meet with 7 students per grade (randomly selected)
September-end of October
Additional Information - Objective 1: At each meeting, each person will be asked the same four questions:

What are the strengths of WHS? What about WHS makes you the most proud?
What are WHS areas for needed growth? In what areas would you like to see WHS grow?
What do you need from me as Principal?
What should I expect to see in your classroom?

AL Benskin Principal Entry Plan

Goal #2: Build a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying WHSs strengths and targeted areas for growth
as identified by the WHS School community

Objective 1: Identify WHS strengths and targeted areas for growth in the area of curriculum and instruction
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Meet with Curriculum Coordinators

Timeline

Objective 2: Identify WHSs strengths and targeted areas for growth in the area of culture and community
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Meet with each staff member
Maintain a culture journal
Identify core values of WHS - Elicit buy in to create a school Vision / Mission Statement
Consider Conducting a wellness check utilizing the 12 Norms of Healthy Cultures (Saphier and King)

Timeline

AL Benskin Principal Entry Plan

Goal #3: Create a shared vision for WHSs future that sustains our strengths and addresses our identified
areas for needed growth

April 25, 2014

Timeline

Status

Status

Status

Objective 1: Gather data

Timeline

Status

November-December
Timeline

Status

Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives

Review data from goals #1 and #2
Objective 2: Communicate Findings to School Community
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Meet with staff members that wanted to create a shared Vision to share findings
Present findings to the faculty
Objective 3: Used compiled data to create plan moving forward as faculty
Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives
Develop a shared vision based on the findings presented
Create a committee to create an action plan moving forward
Present and discuss the action plan with the faculty

Goal #4: Planning with Data: Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the data-driven plan
for improvement of student achievement.

September
TBD
Timeline

Status

Timeline

Status

Timeline

Status

TBD
TBD
TBD

Ongoing

Action(s) for Accomplishing Objectives

Objective 1: Create and sustain a culture of Data Driven Decision making for Student Improvement
Seek out multiple data sources

Ongoing

Analyze and interpret multiple data sources to inform school-level improvement efforts

Ongoing

Develop a culture among admin team and staff for Data Driven Decisions

Ongoing
Ongoing

Student Growth: Assists staff to use data to guide, modify and improve classroom teaching and learning.

April 25, 2014

Personal Professional Goals

Complete Doctorates December or May Graduation
Take and Pass Superintendent Exam during 2014-2015 School Year
Be a successful principal and learn continuously to improve

April 25, 2014