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Lanier principal credits mentors, celebrates school's first 'A' in 15 years
Summary
An administrator identified as Lanier's principal credited mentors and community ties for her career path and for school improvement, saying the school earned an A this year for the first time in 15 years; she described daily school duties and offered advice for new leaders.
An unidentified speaker who identified herself as the principal of Lanier said mentorship and close community ties shaped her path into school leadership and recounted that Lanier earned an A this year for the first time in 15 years.
The principal said the Advanced Certification Program (ACP program) and successive principals who offered leadership opportunities and mentorship were decisive in her development as an educator and administrator.
"So what inspired me to become a school principal was the fact that I had some mentors all throughout the process," the principal said. She described moving from teacher to assistant principal after receiving leadership opportunities and later becoming principal.
The principal emphasized Lanier's neighborhood character and relationships with families as central to the school's success. "What makes Lanier the special place that it is is we're a true community school. Everybody comes from within the neighborhood," she said, adding that staff and leaders know the families and aim for open, candid conversations.
She recounted a staff celebration during pre-planning after the school learned of its A grade. "This is the first time in 15 years that Lanier has achieved an A," the principal said. She said staff did not have a chance to celebrate when the news arrived over the summer, so seeing their reactions when they returned was her most memorable moment as principal.
On daily work, she described a mix of predictable planning and rapid changes: "You come in every morning with a plan, and that plan can change very, very quickly... So being flexible and having that flexibility is key and for me it's the most exciting part of the job." She gave examples ranging from classroom celebrations to handling injuries and cafeteria issues.
For new school leaders, the principal advised staying true to oneself and building a support team of experts. "You're not an expert at everything, but you do need to have people that can be those experts in your corner and push your thinking," she said.
The remarks in the transcript were descriptive and personal; no formal actions, votes or policy decisions were recorded in this excerpt.
