Head Of The Class

Thu., Sept. 7, 2000

By Carlos Acevedo carlosa@spokesman.com

Being principal of a school is not easy. On any given day, you’re a teacher, site supervisor, leader, liaison, confidant and diplomat. You hold the future of hundreds of children in your hands, and you are accountable to the school district and to parents.

Talk about stress.

And yet, principals don’t talk about the stress. They talk about how how much they love interacting with students, the excellent performance of their staffs and how rewarding they find the experience.

It’s a tough job, and they love it.

“It is the most fulfilling experience of my life, outside of my family,” said Brian Melody, who was Sheridan Elementary’s principal for six years. A commercial fisherman before he became a teacher, Melody decided that as a “lifelong learner” he needed to test himself yet again.

On the South Side of Spokane, Spokane School District has hired three principals to take over the helm for administrators who retired or moved to other jobs. Medical Lake hired one.

Look inside for profiles of the longtime educators who have decided to roll up their sleeves and take the challenge of being head of the school.

Local journalism is essential.

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