What It's Like To Be... cover image

What It's Like To Be...

A High School Principal

Dec 12, 2023
Marcus Belin, high school principal in Illinois, shares insights on managing parent complaints, dealing with teenage social media, and the challenges of being an emergency substitute teacher. He discusses the importance of building authentic relationships with students and recognizing them as individuals. The chapter also explores the impact of social media on high school experience and the need for better digital citizenship education. Additionally, educational terms like IEP and 504 are explained, and advice for a better high school experience is shared.
30:13

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Being a high school principal requires flexibility, as duties range from substitute teaching to managing parent complaints.
  • Building genuine connections with students and making them feel valued is crucial for shaping their future paths and career choices.

Deep dives

The Unpredictable Life of a High School Principal

Being a high school principal is a dynamic role filled with unexpected challenges and diverse responsibilities. The principal, Marcus Beelin, shares his experiences of being a substitute teacher when needed and the importance of being flexible in a role where you never know what each day will bring. He emphasizes the value of being present in classrooms and building relationships with students, how his unconventional approach creates a different dynamic with students, and the significance of making students feel seen, heard, and valued. Marcus also discusses the various duties that fall under the "other duties as assigned" category of being a principal and the emotional toll and constant scrutiny that comes with the job. He also highlights the impact of social media on high school experiences, both positive and negative, and the challenges of digital citizenship for students.

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