National Principals Month: A Message for Every Principal

Happy National Principals Month! This is the perfect time to talk about having strong relationships between principals, teachers, and students for the good of our schools!

Raquel Martinez started her teaching career as a biology teacher, eventually becoming principal of Sageview High School in Pasco, Washington. In 2024 she served as the first Latina president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, now known as the National Principals Association. We often feature amazing principals from this organization.

In this Thought Leader Thursday, we're featuring an episode we recorded on October 8, 2024, about how this trailblazing principal leader charted her course. She shares how a principal encouraged her to lead her science department, what a teenager working in the fields needed from her teachers, and her message to every principal who feels alone.

What you'll learn:

• What a "tap on the shoulder" really felt like for Raquel
• The day her principal told her "you don't have a choice"
• What one science teacher said to a teenager working in the fields
• The mindset that keeps principals and teachers on the same team
• Why Raquel calls a second language an advantage, not a deficit
• What fills a principal's bucket when the job feels thankless
• Where principals can go so they don't lead alone

If this episode encouraged you, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other teachers find the show.

Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1019