On this episode of The Virtual Principal, my guest Dr. Maisha Otway shares her best tips and tricks to prepare for a new school year and set up a successful school culture before school begins.  

Dr. Maisha Otway is a transformational principal serving in the Atlanta metro area. She began her career in the advocacy of education in Massachusetts, served in the DMV and settled in the Atlanta metro area in 1996.  Having served as a teacher and school leader in a variety of socioeconomic demographics, she has a reputable track record within the more fortunate and the neediest of schools. Dr. Otway has earned multiple honors including but not limited to 2x elementary Teacher of the Year district finalist, 2018 North East Learning Community Fulton County Public Schools Principal of the Year, and most recently 2019 recipient of the “Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things in the City of College Park.

[01:10]  Dr. Maisha Otway Shares Her Background and Teaching Journey 

• Beginning at a young age with tutoring, education had always been part of Dr. Otway’s career. After serving as a teacher for many years in a variety of states and settings, she then went on to be an assistant principal and later a principal

[03:51] Planning For a Successful School Year  

• Why it’s vital to start planning as early as January-February
• Dr. Otway shares why planning communication is important for building school structure and culture

[10:47] Why School Culture and School Spirit are NOT The Same Thing 

• Peak Moments: Elevation, Insight, Pride, Connection
• Create a  communication plan that promotes the four buckets of peak moments for building school culture. 
• Build your culture on the core values of your school

[22:28] Closing Up

• Follow Dr. Maisha Otway. Links Below
• What is your favorite word?
• Desk room or car, which do you clean first? 

 

Key Quotes:

“When we talk about planners and organization, no matter what the other pieces are, you have to be clear on how you’re going to communicate it and who is on that communication structure.” -  Dr. Maisha Otway

“When we talk about school culture, the way you communicate or the methods of communication is part of that.” -  Dr. Angela Draper

“If you can define your school culture in an event, then that’s not school culture.” -  Dr. Maisha Otway

 

Connect with Dr. Maisha Otway on Instagram (@principalotway), LinkedIn, and Twitter. Email her at [email protected] 

To know more about me and my journey, follow me on Instagram (@thevirtualprincipal).

This season is being produced by Streamlined Podcast, making podcasting EASY FOR YOU.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to advance their leadership by sharing this episode or click here to listen to our previous episodes.

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/VirtualPrincipa)

Affiliate Links:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1491721
https://app.kajabi.com/r/n9rBF288/t/omihfpcu

Support the show