THE HEAD TEACHER
RODEN D. BARTOLO
The head teacher plays a vital role in school and in the education and learning processes. A well-informed head teacher, who has a vision, will strive to find a solution to the many challenges or problems encountered at their school .
Effective management of the school lies squarely on the head teacher, whose main task is to implement education policies. The school head teachers should be aware of the education system goals that are to be achieved based on teaching and learning. The school is a place where students are expected to learn.
Hence, schools need head teachers who are effective enough to ensure that teachers are providing learning to students every class day.
The head teacher should manage the school in such a way that all members of both teaching and non-teaching staff function as a team. This serves as a good example to students. Besides that, the head teacher should know that the staff and students have a big part to play in decision-making in terms of school rules, regulations and programs.
It is very important for a head teacher not to ignore the equally important stakeholders, the students and teachers. Parents should also be fully involved during PTA meetings.
A head teacher is also supposed to encourage and provide for the professional growth of his or her teachers. This can be achieved through properly planned seminars, workshops and in-service education programmes.
The head teacher also needs to be sociable for him to function effectively. He or she must have the ability to deal with human relations skills by being friendly, cheerful and approachable to the people. This can only be achieved if one becomes interested in the welfare and problems of staff and students.
In order for the school to prosper, it requires an efficient and effective head teacher. A head teacher pays attention to the voice of the students as far as school management is concerned. With an effective head teacher, students will most likely be accorded the much-needed conducive environment for learning.
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The author is ES Head Teacher I at San Francisco Elementary School, Lubao North District