Taking Advantage of Professional Development Opportunities as a First-Year Principal

Alicia Marsh has served at Marquette School of Excellence for the past eight years, but, this year, she’s taking on a new role as the school’s principal. She explains that even when certain aspects of the school change, its supportive culture has stayed the same. This is what has kept her coming back year after year. She loves being surrounded by hardworking people who are eager to collaborate with her to better support Marquette’s students and families. 

Another tool in her toolbox has been the CPS Department of Principal Quality’s New Principal Institute. This program equips new principals with the guidance and support they need to hit the ground running in their new roles. Get to know more about Principal Marsh’s story below.

How has your career trajectory informed your leadership style? 

My background is actually in special education. I was a special education teacher and case manager before coming to Marquette. As a leader, when I say something is for “all learners,” I truly mean it. I have a lot of knowledge about how to work with different types of learners, and that helps me create an environment where all students want to come to school and are excited about learning. 

Was transitioning from assistant principal to principal what you expected? 

There were definitely some parts of the transition that were a bit unexpected. I feel like you can never be all the way prepared for this role, even if you have experience as a school leader. There will always be some territory that you haven’t charted before. For example, I never really had to be involved with facilities issues as an AP, and now they are part of my responsibilities. I’ve found that once you get started in new work, you start to figure things out more and more. 

How has the New Principal Institute been going? 

It’s been great. I definitely appreciate that the District has prioritized this. When I was starting my career as a teacher, I didn’t receive these layers of support. Now, as a new principal, I don’t feel like I have to run in circles to figure something out. I am receiving guidance and know that I’m not alone in my work. This mentorship and having others to lean on will help me make a lot of progress. 

What are your top goals for the rest of the school year? 

My first goal centers on family and community engagement. This first year is an opportunity for me to have intimate sessions with parents to learn about how they want to be engaged. I need to ask them about their vision for the school because we are here to serve them, not the other way around. 

Another one of my goals is related to distributed leadership. There are some systems and structures in our school that I want to keep, but others need to be restructured. I am focused on making sure that each of our teams are supported so they can keep moving forward. 

What is your message to your students for the rest of the school year? 

I will do everything in my power to make sure that you have the things you need to be successful, and I will always be a listening ear. I had principals who listened to my thoughts and needs, and I still remember those relationships to this day. My students’ voices matter. This isn’t just my school. This is our school.