Veronica García
superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools
I’ve approached my work focusing on ethical relational leadership. The pandemic has placed the relational aspect of teaching, learning and leading at the forefront.
Relationships are the key to holding a student’s attention, to making a meeting effective or sensing that something is not quite right with a student.
Leading amid competing priorities is difficult. Some want limited screen time and less structure; others want the exact opposite. Others want or must remain on remote while others are ready for hybrid. I strive to hear all voices while prioritizing the safety and health of our students and staff.
Like everyone else, I ride the pandemic roller coaster, feeling encouraged, discouraged, emboldened and done. When the PED [Public Education Department] reentry guidance documents were posted this summer, I thought there weren’t enough days before the start of school to prepare, but we did it and we continue to meet the ever-changing requirements.
I have been encouraged by the candidness of our teachers, parents and school leaders, though visiting with them in online spaces is not ideal. I’m typically in front of a computer for eight to 12 hours a day, which is physically demanding and presents another set of issues that I haven’t yet resolved.
Overall, I remain optimistic because I know we are prepared and ready to welcome students back to the classroom when it is safe to do so. Make no mistake, when it comes to educating our students, we remain a continuous improvement district, learning from what does and doesn’t work and adjusting accordingly.