GES principal talks on what it takes and the challenges that come with being a principal 

By: Connor Dacus 

 

Germantown Elementary School Principal, Stacy Johnson, faces challenges every day, but enjoys making an impact in students' lives. Johnson loves working in education and has been doing it for 31 years. She was an assistant principal at Germantown Elementary School for 24 years and is now in her third year as principal. While she was an assistant principal, Johnson was awarded the Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week. The principal is the most important person in an average school day. Principals make sure that the school runs smoothly every day. They also deal with student discipline and council students, while also overseeing the staff and all that they do. Every decision ends with them and they can make a huge difference in a student's life. Johnson enjoys working with students and trying to impact their behavior and help them make better decisions that meet the standards that are wanted at GES. 

 

Connor Dacus: “What made you decide to become a principal?” 

 

Principle Johnson: “So when I was a teacher, one of my principals asked if she can meet with me. And she told me long story short, that she could see me being a school leader. And there was a program at the University of Memphis for a summer, and attendees had to be recommended, but you it was, you know, no cost to the attendee, and you got hours and two areas, you got graduate hours and curriculum and instruction, and you got some hours in leadership and development. And before I finished my program, I got at the time, it was called a curriculum coordinator position. So, I got that position. And I was an assistant principal for 24 years and then appointed principal, this is my third year. So, I respected her opinion. And just followed her recommendation, and it led me to where I am today.” 

 

CD: “What traits make a good principal?” 

 

PJ: “I think a good principle has to be a lot of things. For one, you have to be very convicted and firm and who you are and know what your values and virtues are. Because a lot of times you're kind of on an island by yourself, and you have to be able to really deal with what you choose and stick with it. So I think you have to be convicted, I think to have an agenda other than what's best for children is not going to fare well for someone because it's a position that I think you have to be selfless. Because you have to put others first and be willing to make decisions and stick with it and know that what you did is best for the children. I also consider my staff a lot. Because without a cohesive staff and a dedicated group of people that believe in you and your work, then nothing can happen for the children. So, I think that you have to be truly, sincerely concerned for the children and your staff. And you have to be honest and have integrity. You have to be flexible, but you have to be you have to have boundaries and limitations. And again, like be willing to stand in those things.”  

 

CD: “What do you enjoy about your job?” 

 

PJ: “Everything. It's hard. It's very hard. It can be very lonely. But it is so rewarding. I look forward to coming every day. And even the challenges, or the hardest days, I'm thankful for them because I grow, and I learn. My favorite time of the day is the morning, when everything is fresh and new, and everybody comes in, there's just this buzz in the air. And yeah, I just, I really truly enjoy my work. I can't imagine not doing it.” 

 

CD: “What challenges do you face?” 

 

PJ: “Well, we're in a unique situation where I work at Germantown Elementary, because we are a part of Memphis, Shelby County Schools. Yet we're in the city of Germantown, and a challenge that we're currently facing aside from like, the usual challenges, like pleasing, you know, or having enlisting parents support and parents understanding your choices and employees, understanding your choices, and, you know, looking at all the data and getting checking off all the boxes in a day, I mean, your work is never done. But there's something that kind of overshadows us out here. And that's how long are we going to be a part of Memphis Shelby County Schools, because at some point, we will be transferred back to the city of Germantown, and we don't know what that's going to look like. So that impacts my ability to retain families and students. So also, that brings staffing challenges. In my last budget, I lost two teaching positions, a position that I was so excited to create. We had an in-school suspension and a supervised study monitor. And I lost my assistant principle. And that's all due to my enrollment. So yeah, so that those are just some of the challenges.” 

 

CD: “What is your approach to student discipline?” 

 

PJ: “So when you're working with students around choices they make that might not be the best, it's really important for the consequence to fit the choice. So, my approach is to fully investigate what's happened, why it happened, who was involved. I also think that the people that work directly with the students need to also be involved in learning about the choices that students make. How can we prevent them, and really, hopefully modify or change their behavior? So progressive discipline is really important. A lot of times your tendency, and I feel it, too, is that five days out of school, but you can't you're accountable to that student for giving them consequences that are progressive, and that are going to, again, change their behavior, and helping them understand the consequence that you chose.” 

 

CD: “What do you want students to gain by attending GES?” 

 

PJ: “I want our students to be kind. No matter the circumstance, you can be kind and respectful to people. So even if you disagree, I want them to learn how to communicate effectively. Even if they disagree with someone or someone is not their best friend, and not someone they would choose to be with in their personal time. You can learn something from everyone. Usually, the people that are most different from you are the people you can learn the most from. So, I want them to be well rounded. I want them to be able to communicate effectively. I want them to be independent. I want them to be accountable and responsible for themselves and if they make choices, be willing to whether it was a positive choice, then, you know, reap the rewards of that. And if you made a choice that wasn't the best for you or for others, to own it.”