Action Research...Really? Really!

One should approach the task of finding time for inquiry the same way one finds time to approach anything. It first and foremost must be placed as a priority. As a new administrator, I have found the idea of making time to do what is essential, being an instructional leader, must be a priority, yet it is often pushed to the back of more immediate and seemingly pressing problems that arise. The first days I spent in the role of principal felt unproductive. I could not quite articulate why this was. I made decisions, but they were not decisions of consequence. Yes, the cheerleaders could leave for camp earlier in the day, but was that how an administrator really made a difference? Most of the professionals I knew who chose a career in education did so in order to make a difference. Did my new role satisfy my initial goal of making a difference? I soon realized that if I continued on this path, my day would consist of answering procedural questions and putting out the proverbial fires. Nothing more.

That is where reflection proved to be necessary and beneficial. I had to prioritize and decide what my points of emphasis were going to be. The principal could be a manager who merely orders supplies and makes decisions. However, upon reflection, I realized that to be truly effective and honestly make a difference, I had to go beyond the day to day operational duties and step into the classrooms as a true instructional leader. I then identified areas of concerns that directly impacted instruction and instructional techniques and realized that to be effective, I needed more information. This is where the idea of action research comes into play.

While attending the TASSP conference in Austin, I made it a point to attend any session that dealt directly with the idea of time management and instructional issues. I didn’t have a name for it at that time, but I was attempting action research on the most basic level.

I guess one author put it best when he likened the principal's journey to be like being a taxi cab driver in New York City. You might encounter a few potholes, but you can navigate those if you keep your true destination in mind. I have decided to do just that.