From Boardroom to Classroom: Business Principles for Miami-Dade School Principal

Miami, FL , July 25, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Principles of the business world are of significant value to school principals. Now, the fifth class of principals from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools is benefiting from that multidisciplinary idea, the basis of the Principals Leadership Development Program from the Center for Leadership at the Florida International University’s College of Business.

“A principal is the CEO of their organization and we empower Miami-Dade County principals to become more effective leaders and change agents,” says Dr. Mayra Beers, director for the center and a Knight Research Fellow. “A generous grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided for the development of this program and underwrites a significant portion of its delivery.”

Today I Feel Fired up!

Derrick R. McKoy , Principal, Eneida Massas Hartner Elementary School

Launched in 2010, the Principals Leadership Development Program welcomed its fifth class this June. The initial five-days of the program for this class were held June 9-14, 2014. The cohort will then complete the program in the spring of 2015, bringing the number of program alumni to 149 principals. The Center’s brand of executive leadership development this year earned its programs the number one ranking amongst academic institutions, by Leadership Excellence and HR.com

Anna Rodriguez, Administrative Director for Professional Development for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, has high praise for the program. “The Center for Leadership delivers an out-of-the-box perspective that reinvigorates our seasoned principals and our brand-new principals,” she reports.

Ms. Rodriguez herself participated in the program in 2011, when she was a school principal. “I also participated in a leadership program from Harvard University and, quite frankly, the FIU program at the Center for Leadership is more hands-on, more user friendly and more effective.”

SUBHEAD: Today I Feel Fired Up!

Principals from the current cohort not only seem to share Ms. Rodriquez’s sentiments but are genuinely excited about the program.

“After 26 years in education, today I feel fired up!” says Derick R. McKoy Sr., principal of Eneida Massas Hartner Elementary School, at the end of June session. “I have so many notes about how I’m going to craft my leadership plan moving forward. I learned techniques from all these educational minds, research-based information about what makes for good leadership. I have a vision of where I want to lead my school.”

Mr. McKoy says one of the biggest insights he gained is to “trust, trust, trust” in his support system.

“Everybody has a particular strength. When I allow others to impact children in such a way that the successes are materialized, it’s a win-win for everybody including the people I’m leading,” he says.  

“Plus the opportunity to network with other principals has been exceptionally helpful,” Mr. McKoy adds. “The experience here has been truly fantastic.”

Ana Gutierrez, principal of Auburndale Elementary, who calls herself a “rookie principal after completing her second year in the role, added that the Principals Leadership Development Program helped her achieve balance between her professional and personal lives.

“I suspected I needed to work on being a better delegator but this week confirmed it,” she says. “When I give a responsibility to another team member, I’m not going in 20 different directions. More importantly, when I’m mentoring and empowering others to take a leadership role, I’m building a strong team which benefits the entire school. Too often leaders have tunnel vision about getting the job done. Through this program, I learned the importance of making connections with teachers and staff, a practice that can change the culture of a school.

“I have learned and grown professionally,” Ms. Gutierrez adds. “The program has completely reenergized me for the coming year to make changes in a good way, a positive way.”

The principals return to FIU and the Center for Leadership this fall as well as in spring of 2015 for additional sessions and to complete the yearlong program.