Principal Corner
Greetings,
My name is John Weemes and I have the honor of leading the Koyuk Malemute School. We will get to know each other better in the coming weeks, however, I wanted to share some information about myself until we have the opportunity to visit. I have the good fortune to enjoy the company of my darling wife and our two beautiful children. I enjoy getting out on the country or water for some fresh air and to practice subsistence activities. I appreciate and when I can find the time create functional art. I particularly enjoy listening to a good story and from time to time might even tell one. I have a number of life experiences that range from musician to industrial construction, raptor rehabilitation to commercial fishing, and wilderness guide to professional educator. I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to help create experiences that will enhance the lives of our youth. Below is a personal statement of leadership vision I developed proir to accepting the Principalship of the Koyuk Malemute School. I look forward to this school year with relentless optimism and welcome your input and participation.
Quyana
Vision Statement
My Leadership Vision has five overarching characteristics. I will draw stakeholders into the process of teaching and learning and engender excitement and commitment to the process. I will ensure that there is a clear purpose for why we engage in the process of teaching and learning. I will demonstrate excellence in my leadership and expect excellence from all stakeholders. I will lead evaluation of our program and make sure we have the capacity to move forward to meet future needs. I will lead in a style that allows the school to be innovative and responsive in new ways. The first step is to bring people into the process.
The strength of a school is found in the commitment of its participants. My vision is that of a school that is accessible and full of positive energy. This type of structure invites participation. A critical component of this is the development of a Shared Vision. When people are allowed to participate in the formation and transformation of the structures within a school, they are far more likely to feel commitment to the processes developed. Also, this ownership of organizational behavior will energize all those connected to the Shared Vision.
Clarity of purpose is essential in fostering participation in a school. All stakeholders will have a clear understanding of why we engage in the programs and opportunities offered by the school. This will be accomplished through a responsive curriculum, opportunities to apply learning to real world situations, and continual reinforcement of the value of education moving forward.
Excellence is attainable by every person contained within a school. It is the development of a culture of quality within the school that will provide the arena for participants to demonstrate personal excellence. The vision starts at the top. The leader must demonstrate this behavior if it is expected that others will consistently strive for excellence.
The ability to respond to change is, quite possibly, the most critical underpinning of effective leadership. The school must have the ability to analyze current reality and develop processes for realizing shared vision. It has been said that the purpose of education is to prepare individuals to meet their future. Therefore, the school must continually have an eye on the future and be proactive in responding to needs that are yet to be discovered in practice.
Finally, my vision of leadership contains the disposition for encouraging participants to see things in new ways and respond to reality with innovation. In these times of tremendous change, schools must encourage the development of transformational processes. This requires participants to think in new ways and value the perspectives of all stakeholders based on strength of merit. The realization of my vision will result in a school that is vibrant and responsive. Students will engage in appropriate and exciting experiences that are connected to genuine purposes. Parents will participate in meaningful ways to support the Shared Vision of the organization. Staff members will be committed to excellence and willing to engage in transformational activities that respond to future needs. The community will value the school and participate in the support and guidance of the learners served by the school. The outcome of this vision will be to deliver to the world students that are self-directed problem solvers, excited about learning, and committed to excellence.