Real Relationships and Connections with Marianne Lescher Transformative Principal 587

How she stays at the same place for so long. RelationshipsStreet cred and reputation exist, but they don’t know me personally. Each family is a new relationshipHonesty and transparencyPeople don’t always love the news I give them, but they do appreciate the honesty and directnessDon’t need to sugarcoat things because it doesn’t actually help. Call and connect with new families. Calling to share good news. Our students deserve our A game every dayDeveloping teachers when you have a good relationship. Be a good listener, open the door for reflection. Work together, rather than against each other. 90% of teachers want to be here for the right reason. Seeing brillianceThe meat of your work is not in doing observations. Small moments of walkthroughs are where the growth really happens.Keep a sense of humorWeird, hard, and funny happens every day. Don’t make rash decisions - Somebody else thought I should make a decision quickly. Don’t let anyone rush your decisions.How to be a transformative principal? Think about students you’re worried about and make a phone call to the family. 

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Marianne Lescher is a life-long educator. Her 40 years in public education span Massachusetts and Arizona.  Dr. Lescher started as an elementary and special education teacher and Assistant Principal in Westwood, Massachusetts and eventually moved to Arizona, where she has been in the Kyrene Elementary District for over 26 years.  In Kyrene, Marianne started at the District Office as a Specialist and Director in Curriculum.  Marianne’s heart is with children and families, so she moved to an elementary school and has been a K-5 and K-8 principal for 25 years.  Over these years, Marianne’s schools have achieved the A+ School of Excellence Award from the Arizona Educational Foundation four times and her current school was honored with the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Recognition in 2015.  This is the highest honor a school can achieve from the Department of Education in Washington DC.  A highlight of Marianne’s career as a Principal has been her work to envision and bring to life the goal of a K-8 campus for Kyrene Traditional Academy.  Marianne was charged with not only developing and training a staff in new curriculum and instructional strategies, but also to work with architects and construction crews to add two new buildings to campus and overseeing the renovation of the existing school building, all on an active school campus!   With her staff, students and community, Marianne’s school has almost doubled in enrollment and continues to achieve amazing results and has been recognized with numerous awards.  Marianne is a life-long learner as well, and received her undergraduate degrees from Boston College in elementary and special education, her M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and her Ph. D. from Boston College in Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation. She is a proud Double Eagle from BC!  Marianne continues her own professional development and study through her work with the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) where she trains and mentors new and aspiring school leaders. She also works closely with the Arizona Educational Foundation in supporting school leaders and is an adjunct with Grand Canyon University.

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