Chapter 2: Support

In this chapter, Hensley addressed the importance of support in the educational system

and how it is needed by each employee on a school campus to feel valuable.  Support can be

offered in many ways, including emotional, physical, moral, and even in a financial sense.  When

a school leader offers support to teachers in a variety of ways, that support can lead to

appreciation and encouragement.  When teachers feel that their school leader has a positive and

effective support system in place, it can all lead to the ultimate goal of achieving high student

success.

            One of the most important topics addressed in this chapter that I hadn’t considered before

is visibility.  Great school leaders make themselves available and visible to not only teachers, but

to students, parents, and classified staff members as well.  Hensley provided great insight by

stating that great leaders schedule their duties and obligations around times that may interfere

with their ability to be visible on campus at times when there are high numbers of people outside

the classrooms (lunch time, recess, before and after school, etc.)

            Another way that school leaders can offer support to teachers is by offering the feeling of

protection.  This can occur when a teacher needs to schedule a meeting with an irate parent, or

whenever the teacher feels that some guidance is needed regarding any student matter or

important decision.  Teachers understand that their school leaders have a great amount of

expertise in certain areas and need to feel that their principal can offer that type of support to

them during situations that will arise when the teacher feels hesitant on how to move forward.