Leading with Empathy and Purpose:

Key Lessons from 35 Weeks as a First-Year Assistant Principal

Step into leadership with heart and purpose through Wadadli Native’s blog series, "Leading with Empathy and Purpose: Key Lessons from 35 Weeks as a First-Year Assistant Principal." Discover real challenges, impactful insights, and practical strategies to balance work, build relationships, and create lasting impact. Subscribe now for weekly reflections that will inspire and empower your leadership journey!

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The Leadership Gap: Women of Color in K-12 Education

Despite making up a significant portion of the teaching workforce, women of color remain underrepresented in K-12 educational leadership roles. Women of color often face additional hurdles, including bias, limited mentorship opportunities, and systemic barriers to advancement.

Karima Hughes, M.Ed. 10/2/24 Karima Hughes, M.Ed. 10/2/24

Week 5: Own your Time!

In Week 5, I focused on streamlining workflows by leveraging my strengths, particularly my Achiever theme from the Strengths Finder assessment and my passion for technology. This week taught me that understanding both my strengths and areas for growth is crucial in navigating the fast-paced demands of school leadership. The chaos of unexpected interruptions and numerous tasks can feel overwhelming, but I turned to technology to create systems that enhance my productivity.

Week 4: Sound the Alarm!

In Week 4, I realized that my "Achiever" qualities, while making me highly productive, also sabotaged my work-life balance. For instance, although I scheduled a lunch break, I kept pushing it back until the day ended, leaving me without a meal or a mental break. I recognized then and now that I was neglecting my basic human needs. Similarly, when family obligations arose, I often told myself I would stay "just 10 more minutes," which quickly turned into 30.