Online professional support for principal colleagues

 

Mr Roger Pryor New South Wales Primary Principals Association New South Wales, Australia

‘By principals, for ‘principals' is the driving idea behind the virtual community that has grown steadily amongst NSW primary principals, helped along by the primary principals' association web-based services.

As with so much of Australia, the tyranny of distance is still a very real concern. Just how is it possible for a professional association of school leaders to communicate with, and give a voice to, a membership that is spread across a vast area? The NSW Primary Principals' Association represents the principals of almost 2,000 schools, across a diversity of settings, from Tibooburra to Eden, and from Wentworth and Gol Gol to Tweed Heads.

The answer is, of course, to use electronic communications, and the internet in particular. In NSW, as with other state associations, the NSW Primary Principals' Association (NSWPPA) created a website. This was established early in internet history by a member of the Executive. In its lifetime, it has become an invaluable tool for publishing information, reports, links and a host of useful bits and pieces. Throughout all of this time, it has been managed by a serving member of the Executive, who manages updates and additions ‘on the fly', in addition to running a school and taking part in the business of the association.

As anyone who is the leader of an organisation knows, there are times when the role can be a lonely experience. Most school leaders look forward to the collegial environment at conferences and meetings, often acknowledging that the real value in such gatherings comes from the sharing of ideas and frustrations that takes place over morning tea or during social events. Often we need to make decisions based on the knowledge we have at hand, and often it is difficult to gain quick access to the types of information we need. Sometimes, the questions seem so basic, yet access to creative answers can make such a difference, and save so much time, energy and effort, which can then be spent on other things.

For a number of years, Roger Pryor, had a vision in mind of a site where principals could ask the silly questions, and where ideas and resources could be shared. This was nothing new. The potential for mailing lists to provide a forum for people in geographically diverse locations had been recognised previously with the creation of a Teaching Principals' Listserv. In November 2002, it was decided to expand the same concept for all principals and to create an environment in which they were able to share ideas, concerns, the highs and lows, and to feel a sense of belonging. With this in mind, the Principals' Association Self Help Network was commenced. In this world of rampant acronyms, PASHN began to gain a foothold.

Publicity for PASHN was deliberately low key. A link to the listserv registration page was placed on the NSWPPA website and a general message sent to all principals to let them know about the idea. Since then, over 400 principals have used the subscription page links to join PASHN and to take part in discussions about an enormous range of topics concerning principals.

As some principals were heard to remark at a District meeting:
‘It's like having a conference every day!'

PASHN has continued to grow and assume an atmosphere all of its own. A key factor within its growth has been the trust that has been established between all users, where ‘put downs' are not seen and very experienced senior principals willingly, and patiently, share their knowledge or frustrations with colleagues somewhere across the State. For many, it has become a place where they know they can get information quickly, without fear of judgement.

‘It doesn't take long to get back into the race. Barely a week and I am already going cap in hand to my learned colleagues. We are reviewing both our rewards and discipline policy and our portfolios. If anyone out there has the time (I know, I know!) to email me a sample of what is working at their place it would be very much appreciated.'

And so it goes: everything, from ideas on how to provide a workable solution to the dilemma of providing soap in school toilets, to requests for information on class formation, calculation of part-time entitlements, dealing with irate parents, and writing mobile phone policies for staff. The list goes on.

A request for some feedback during 2003 led to many of the users of PASHN writing their thoughts.

‘As a new principal, PASHN has been great because I have often picked up information by just reading the information that other people talk about. This means I don't feel like a complete idiot all the time because of continually asking questions, and I can more or less "eavesdrop" on what others are doing.'
 

A number of principals clearly identified a sense of isolation within their jobs and saw PASHN as a medium that could assist in easing the effects of this.

‘ Isolation, professional or geographical, now has an effective antidote.'

And, from a teacher in a small school:

‘As a PP6, I spend a lot of days with just myself and the students.  While this is an aspect of the job that I love, sometimes I need a chat with another adult!  I feel that the principals' list serves, both PASHN and the Teaching Principals, bring me a little closer to my colleagues.'

One principal picked up on the key issues really well, when she wrote:

Dear Roger and fellow PASHN8's

Apart from the obvious and very specific support and sharing that occurs on PASHN, through the questions, shared documents, policy and resource advice, for me the greatest strength of PASHN lies in the linkages established between principals.

In reality, being a principal is a lonely job. You are the only 'buck stopper' on site, are responsible for a plethora of things and often deal with confidential issues that can not be shared with others. Strategically, you need to have open and honest dialogue and reflection with someone else, but this is often not appropriate to be doing within the school. The question about how to make changes in school staffing to better meet the needs of the students and school was a good example of this.

For me PASHN has created another community. We communicate, we share, we laugh.

When I get upset and frustrated, it is heartening to know that others are sharing the anger and frustration and that there is a support base other than the local one.

The only other aspect I might add is that the electronic communication allows all those good things as, and when, time allows. Time management is, I think, one of the most challenging aspects of our job and I simply can't give the time I would like to some targets of communication when it is face-to-face or on the phone. PASHN, and some other forms of electronic communication, allow me to pick up information at my leisure so to speak.'

The website for the NSW Primary Principals' Association continues to play a key role for the association and in providing information and support for principals. Like so much of what we do, it operates at minimal cost and relies on the goodwill of many, many principals throughout the State. The result is, however, a virtual community of support that has a vast store of resilience waiting just below the waterline: a shared store of experience and willingness to help each other. The growth in trust and collegiality, whilst hard to quantify, is nonetheless a tangible outcome.

The PASHN list continues to grow and the NSW Primary Principals Association is looking forward to another year in which we hope to achieve so much ‘by principals, for principals, and with principles'.

 

Mr Roger Pryor is the President of the NSW Primary Principals' Association. He has been principal at Waitara, Toronto, Mayfield, Wyee and Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre and has also worked in special education settings and a number of schools as a classroom teacher. Mr Pryor is committed to developing a quality culture amongst school leaders and has a strong interest in the way that our view of the world must change as we move from the linear paradigm to an internet model of life. He has a strong interest in building capability and resilience amongst school leaders. Mr Pryor has also created a website for the Australian Government Primary Principals' Association.

Join the online discussion for all supporting papers from Monday 19 June to Sunday 26 June 2006.