Leaders Moving Up

This week, I read an article from The Atlanta Journal Constitution about Principal Stephanie Johnson from Maynard Jackson High School. This article caught my eye because I was so impressed with Principal Johnson when we visited her last semester. The article shared that Stephanie Johnson is leaving Maynard Jackson High School to work for the Georgia State Department of Education. She will oversee the Department of Education’s school improvement efforts. I think this is a very fitting role for her.

In this article, the writer discusses all of Principal Johnson’s accomplishments up until this point. She is an incredible leader who has made tremendous impacts on not only the schools she has been a part of, but also the teachers, students, and fellow leaders.

After reading this article, I began thinking about previous conversations I have had with faculty members at my schools about the great leaders. At my first school that I ever worked at, we had new principals frequently. The principal who opened the school was amazing but was only there for one year before being promoted to an assistant superintendent for the county. After that, the next principal followed the same path. I remember having a conversation with a fellow teacher about leaders at the school. She explained to me that the good ones always leave. The school had an assistant principal that was amazing and after just one semester at the school, she was promoted to become a principal of another school. The next school year, she moved from being principal of the school to opening up a brand new school. I understood what this teacher was explaining to me. But, it makes me wonder…. How does that impact the school? How does this impact all of the efforts of the leaders? How does this impact the teachers and students?

I would like to think that all of Stephanie Johnson’s efforts will be continued at Maynard Jackson High School. She worked so hard for the school, students, parents, and teachers. I would hope that whoever takes her place as the principal continues her hard work. I am excited to see what she accomplishes in her new role!