Introduction As the new principal of Friday Harbor Elementary School, this principals entry plan will provide structure

and direction and help to ease some of the uncertainty associated with the change of leadership of a school community. Every member of the school community is curious about their new principal and is interested in how the new principal will motivate and lead. I am aware that individuals will assess a new principal within the first few weeks and months of the school year and a carefully thought out entry plan can be the difference between building assurance and creating uncertainty. A comprehensible and intentional plan to outline the first few months, can assure that the new change in leadership is a channel for enthusiasm and progress. In addition, teachers and students enter each new school year excited and energized. A thoughtful plan of action will maintain this enthusiasm and make the most of the unique opportunity for the cohesive transition for an incoming principal. In the absence of an intentional plan for the beginning of the school year, miscommunication can transpire; the prime opportunity to communicate a passion, values, and beliefs will be lost. The principals ability to move the staff, student body, and community in a positive direction is greatly weakened if this opportunity to create assurance and action is overlooked. This principal entry plan will concentrate on the following areas: 1. Create a community of trust, respect, and camaraderie built around effective and open communication. 2. Determine the instructional and organizational needs, objectives, and priorities of FHES based on the existing school improvement plan, current data, and constituency input. 3. Identifying the schools strengths, improvement opportunities, and challenges. Ultimately, the goal of this entry plan is to enhance the quality of the educational program offered to students at Friday Harbor Elementary School. Only through the creation of effective and positive relationships with staff, students, families, and community members can a new principal hope to sustain the tradition of excellence that distinguishes Friday Harbor Elementary School.

The timeline for the completion of the entry plan includes: a preliminary phase (July August), gathering information; a secondary phase (September- October), identifying strengths and challenges; and a final phase (December-February), building a foundation for the development of intentional components of the School Improvement Plan. Transitional Goals: 1. Provide an easy and positive transition of leadership. 2. Implement a structure for the principal to get to know all constituency groups listen and learn about FHES. 3. Ensure a variety of perspectives and insights are heard and create a community of trust, respect, and camaraderie built around effective and open communication. 4. Review organizational structure, climate, and the key components that support the instructional and academic aspects of school excellence. 5. Identify challenges/barriers that affecting our low achieving children. 6. Use data and input gathered to revise the schools improvement plan. The first days of school, classroom visits, and welcoming activities: Operating on the belief that spending time in classrooms provides a strong foundation for motivation and relationship building. The principal will visit each and every classroom on the first day of school. This will involve a getting to know you welcome and introduction. By the end of the second week, Mrs. Martin will visit each classroom, read a motivational story, and follow-up with a personal note. Listening and Learning: The principal will meet in a one-on-session with staff, students, parents, and community members. These individuals will be asked the following questions: What are the strengths of FHES? What are the areas of needed growth? What are you most proud of at FHES? What is sacred here?

If you were sitting in my chair, where would you begin?

In addition the principal will hold a principal coffee hour to give families and community members an opportunity to be heard and discuss current happenings in their childs school. In addition, a family and community blog titled principals caf will provide an ongoing arena for open communication concerning school improvement plan topics. Specific preliminary phase entry plan for constituency groups include: Staff
Send introductory and welcome-back letter to all staff. Involve staff in FHES Community Clean-up Day. Meet with each staff member in the fall. Plan opening day staff meeting with continental breakfast, celebrations, toast, and introduction of theme: Soaring to Excellence. Create a welcoming environment for staff, to celebrate the anticipation of a new year. Establish norms for staff meetings. Collaboratively establish staff Guiding Principles and Beliefs. Meet with SPED Department, ELL Specialist, Math Specialist, Title I Coordinator, and Classified employees. Attend team, grade level, and instructional meetings regularly.

Students
Send letter of introduction to FHES families. Involve students in FHES Community Clean-up Day. Hold Open House prior to school. Hold short, welcome back school-wide assembly to introduce staff and myself. Introduce theme: Soaring to Excellence. Collaborate with librarian to develop the Eagle Feather book rewards. Meet with various student representatives for input. Visit each classroom, read a motivational story, and follow-up with a personal note. Conduct walk-throughs on a weekly basis provide positive feedback to students.

Families
Send letter of introduction to FHES families. Involve families in FHES Community Clean-up Day. Hold Open House prior to school.

Develop website and blog. Develop school newsletter. Hold meeting with PTA executive board. Establish community volunteer coordinator. Invite a family member to serve on our task force.

Community
Involve community in FHES Community Clean-up Day. Develop website and blog. Post information/pictures about myself and staff on website. Develop school newsletter. Meet with various community representatives. Attend civic and community meetings. Attend School Board Meetings. Develop/continue strong relationships with community organizations. Invite a community member to serve on our task force.

Administration
Invite Administration to FHES Community Clean-up Day. Meet with Superintendent Meet with other Administrators Invite Administrators to events that take place at FHES. Attend weekly Administrative meetings. Initiate a regular meeting with HS principal. Establish regular meeting with Superintendent to discuss district goals, initiatives, needs, and progress.

Three main areas of focus will be my areas of specific concentration:

Developing a common vision and focus

Preliminary Phase ~ Gathering information Conduct a meeting with every staff member in the fall. What are the strengths of FHES? What are the areas of needed growth? What are you most proud of at FHES? What is sacred here? If you were sitting in my chair, where would you begin? Organize a Data Carousel with all FHES staff. Documents to Review OSPI Report Card for years 2008-now

 2010-2011 MSP Data 2010 2011 2010 2011 Formalized Assessments (Dibels, DRA, MAP) 2010-2011 School Improvement Plan 2010 2011 Student/Parent Handbook Mission and Vision Statement Parent Satisfaction Surveys Staff Satisfaction Survey 2010-2011 Title Report 2011-2012 Title Plan Secondary Phase ~ Identify Strengths and Challenges Evaluate and organize data collected from staff input and documents reviewed. Draft a written report summarizing data. Create a presentation to share information with staff. Meet with Superintendent to share findings. Final Phase ~ Building a Foundation Establish norms to guide our collaboration. Establish a Task Force (Building Leadership) to create a plan for moving forward. Develop a shared vision based on findings. Establish content teams consisting of all staff members to oversee three content areas of School Improvement Plan (Math Reading Supportive Learning Environment). Establish check points for share out of progress made by each team Present revised plan to staff for approval Present approved plan to Superintendent and School Board

Frequent Monitoring of Teaching and Learning

Preliminary Phase ~ Gathering information Conduct weekly walk throughs. Gather information during walk throughs. Conduct Professional Growth Goal meetings with each staff member (connect to SIP). Conduct Pre observation meetings with each staff member. Conduct Post observation with each staff member. Have each staff member fill out a post observation reflection form. Attend all Teacher Principal Evaluation Pilot Meetings. Secondary Phase ~ Identify Strengths and Challenges Evaluate and organize data collected from staff input and documents reviewed. Draft a written report summarizing data. Create a presentation to share information with staff. Identify areas of concentration for next year based on observations and SIP. Meet with Superintendent to share findings. Final Phase ~ Building a Foundation Create a Professional Development Plan for next years Early Dismissal Days. Connect all Professional Development to the SIP. Provide engaging Professional Development opportunities (book studies, webinars, etc).

 Allow opportunities for Staff Leadership Share out of knowledge Collaboration opportunities. Offer clock hours for all Professional Development workshops.

Developing High Levels of Communication

Preliminary Phase ~ Gathering information Meet with parents, students and community members in the fall. Study survey information from past 4 years. Secondary Phase ~ Identify Strengths and Challenges Evaluate and organize data collected from input and documents reviewed. Draft a written report summarizing data. Create a presentation to share information with staff. Meet with Superintendent to share findings. Final Phase ~ Building a Foundation Build a Website. Develop a monthly newsletter. Incorporate an email distribution list through skyward. Develop a weekly staff bulletin. Develop a Principals blog. Hold monthly coffee hours. Collaborate with PTA. Communicate with community members (ieschool board, Kiwanis, Rotary, Various foundations, etc Send out Principal Survey in April for feedback.