Greater Harmony In A School Community

by Lin Walden

Imagine greater harmony and less tension between yourself, staff, students, and parents.

At the end of 1998 I undertook a powerful professional development program, The Avatar Course, which enabled me as a principal to experience and create less tension for myself and within the school community.

My first job as a principal was in a small school, by the bay, close to my passion for sailing. It was what I had dreamed of, and I stood in my office in a bubble of joy and excitement about the possibilities. My dream was to inspire and empower the staff, students and parents to create a large thriving, vibrant center for learning and excellence with more options for the students.

That was going to require huge changes in the culture of the school—and, as it turned out, in me.

I had had ten years’ experience as an assistant principal in the largest metropolitan single campus secondary school in the state, been a consultant to other school communities and devoured professional development throughout my teaching career in my desire to create optimum learning conditions for students.

After three years of striving to create possibility, I hit the bottom and bounced.

Conflict, mistrust, heated arguments, threats and undermining were common. This workplace had been functioning this way for years. I held myself personally responsible for my inability to address the stress created in the environment and gave myself a hard time for not being able to transform it quickly. There were times when I did not know whether to run and hide, quit, pour oil on troubled water or retreat—none of them appropriate strategies for a school principal.

I had already done the Covey Leadership program and found it to be incredibly useful for myself. I used the concepts to help with individual staff members who were open to making or had been considering change.

But my beliefs about conflict and about my own perceived inadequacies brought me to the brink of despair and depression.

At rock bottom, a friend said, “Lin, you cannot continue to live your life this way.”

My stress level was way off the scale of “distressed principals.” Many principals will have experienced a measure of that for themselves.

On her suggestion I phoned and found out about The Avatar Course. I did the next course available to me. It was the most precious gift I had ever invested in. I found an inner peace I did not know existed. Everything changed.

I tackled the key issues, created a plan, kept focussed on the goal and was able to be present with staff, parents and students as the changes progressed. There was anger, intrigue, drama, mistrust, negotiation and reconciliation. Staff and School Council were fully informed, as was the regional education office.

I held weekly meetings with the students. Every question was answered. If I didn’t know the answer, I said so and found out.

Tough times, but good ones. Parents, staff and students were empowered to have their say and be heard. Some extraordinary events took place.

Before the course there was a constant conflict between myself and a senior staff member. After the course there was compassion and understanding.

Change which had been passionately resisted was able to take place.

Students benefited from the simple tools that I was able to share with them. Tears evaporated, anger dissolved, rational discussion of many viewpoints were explored.

I took my reactions off automatic. Consequently the explorations became more open and expansive. People could feel that what they were contributing in debate and discussion was valued and respected.

Major changes took place and the dream was achieved.

Lin Walden is an Avatar Master/Wizard from Australia.

 

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