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illustrating why our collaborative, team In addition, our team work provided us as a team also allows us to celebrate
model approach as school principals with many opportunities to converse successes with one another, think
was supportive of a higher level of together about educational topics and of new innovative ideas to increase
success as compared to if we had our general well-being, which was student achievement, and participate
worked individually. (Grant, 2013) and remains critical to fulfilling our in group projects (such as writing this
As a team, we continuously leveraged role responsibilities in a profession article) that supports our professional
our experiences as a high functioning that at times can be somewhat growth. As a team of three elementary
group to develop communication to isolating. school principals in the Madison
stakeholders, set timelines, organize In conclusion, in the life of a principal, School District, we are looking forward
school events, support teachers, track every day brings new challenges. to our continued participation, beyond
student achievement, and provide the We are grateful for the team we have the pandemic, in a team model
structures to maintain teaching and established, which provides us with an approach that allows us to grow and
learning. organizational structure supportive of benefits our learning community!
any challenge we may face. Working

Resources

Grant , Adam. “The Common Ingredients for Success .” Linkedin , 5 May 2013.
Hallenbeck , George. “The Benefits of Leadership Experiences and How It Drives Development.” Center for Creative
Leadership , 6 Apr. 2020, www.ccl.org/blog/use-experience-fuel-leadership-development/.
Harrell , James Hilton. “Making Space for Principals to Collaborate.” Edutopia, 5 Sept. 2019.
Sergiovanni, T.J. (2004). Collaborative Cultures and Communities of Practice. Principal Leadership, 5, 48-52.

About the Authors

Ileana Sing is in her fourteenth year as an educator and her first year as an elementary school principal
in the Madison School District. Prior to joining Madison, Ileana served as a K-12 Regional Curriculum
Coordinator in four school districts in Bergen County and a teacher in the elementary grades. Ileana’s
academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a Master’s
degree in Literacy from William Paterson University. Ileana enjoys spending time traveling with her family.
Thomas Liss is in his 20th year as an educator and his eighth year as an elementary principal. Prior to
his role as an elementary principal, he was an assistant principal, K-12 district supervisor, teacher, and
track and field coach. Thomas enjoys spending his spare time traveling and engaging in recreational
activities with his wife Michele, who is a reading specialist, and two boys, Michael and Vincent.

Kathleen Koop is an elementary school principal in the Madison School District and was a school board
of education member for four terms. She received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education, where she studied about the importance and benefits of working in
teams. Her dissertation research was about school board governance. Kathy enjoys spending her time
with her four amazing children, Hailey, Summer, Dakota, and Kai.

Educational Viewpoints -70- Spring 2021