Page 16 - EdViewptsSpring2020

The Importance of Leaders

Connecting with Students

By Peter Rattien, Principal, South Brunswick Township Public Schools

Students always know many different ways to stay connected background noise, and we were just
what is “happening” in with the students in your school. For talking in the way a family would at
me, I recognize the importance of that
the dinner table. We talked about fun
the school, even in an positive rapport, which allows me to things like favorite foods, but also their
elementary school. gain valuable insight into a variety of favorite parts of the day. One thing led
to another and all of a sudden I was
aspects of the school.
As adults, we may want to think that One day, I grabbed my lunch and hearing about teachers they loved,
we have that magical insight, but we brought it to the cafeteria. I sat down subjects they couldn’t get enough of,
need to know better. We need to go with some students and just began and changes they wish could happen.
beyond having the mentality that we chatting with them while I ate. There Ever since, it has been fulfilling to
just know everything going on in and is something about food that brings find those moments where I could sit
about our school. There is real impor- people together. I know that is not a next to some students and just begin
tance and value in working closely with new concept, but the way in which chatting.
and listening to students. Some staff the conversation flowed was so I have been looking for a way to
members get to be with students on much more organic than chatting continually stay connected to the art
a regular basis. Administrators don’t with students in other settings. It was and skill of teaching. While I will go
necessarily have that luxury. There are
comfortable; there was a lot of other into classrooms to teach a lesson, I

Educational Viewpoints -14- Spring 2020