| ◊ LEADership Q & A |
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First-year principal Linda Hajj reflects on her new role at Lake Anne Elementary School. Hajj, a 2006-2007 member of the LEAD Fairfax Aspiring Principals cohort, stresses the program’s leadership development and mentoring components help her meet the challenges of administration. We offer warm congratulations to Linda and wish her every success in the coming year ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ LEAD Fairfax: Tell us about your career history. Linda Hajj: "I was destined to be an educator and feel this principalship is a culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and aspiration. From the time I was 10, my friend and I would play school all summer long. We’d arrange dolls in chairs, create grade books, and assign homework: It was serious business. After graduating from Memphis State University with a bachelor’s degree in education, I taught in Memphis City Schools, in Columbia, South Carolina, in a bilingual school and at the American School in Kuwait. When I came to Dogwood ES in 1992, it was a real treat to see that FCPS had excellent materials and many staff development opportunities. Soon I joined the Teacher Research Network and the Virginia Tech cohort for aspiring reading teachers where I met new friends and colleagues. Together we formed a professional learning community long before PLC became a common “buzz word.” My experiences included:
Realizing I had developed big-picture thinking and was making decisions that influenced instruction, I decided to pursue administration. My first administrative positions were at Lane and Herndon Elementary Schools." LEAD Fairfax: How have your experiences as a member of the LEAD Fairfax Aspiring Principals cohort helped prepare you for this new leadership role? Linda Hajj: "The resources offered by the Aspiring Principals Cohort are outstanding and invaluable for preparation as a school leader. After attending the Multi District Leadership Institute (MDLI) in New York last spring, I was truly inspired to lead a school that has a vision of success for every child. MDLI speakers from LEAD Fairfax strategic partners— including Karen Dyer from the Center for Creative Leadership and Alan Blankstein from the HOPE Foundation—were informative and encouraging." "LEAD Fairfax also provides additional connections to school administrators and builds collegiality through monthly development sessions. This increased my awareness of the importance of vertical articulation. Because the LEAD cohort combines elementary, middle and high school levels, we communicate about challenges and needs across grade levels. This sharing continues in a more formal manner as I mentor two educators who have just begun their master’s program in school administration. We help each other by sharing insights, new ideas, and acquired skills. I am continually amazed by how much I learn from my colleagues." LEAD Fairfax: How do you capitalize on talents to forge staff consensus and impact student achievement? Linda Hajj: "A new principal has to quickly assess and prioritize school needs. I do this by visiting classrooms to gain insight into teacher and team styles, talking with staff, and intentionally building a trusting environment for open dialogue. I share my vision and give teachers the space and tools needed to carry out this vision. By working together in professional learning communities—not in isolation—my staff is better able to improve student achievement." LEAD Fairfax: In your new role as principal, what has surprised you the most? Linda Hajj: "I was surprised at how much time it takes to get to know the culture of a school. What matters a lot in one setting may not be at all important in another. A second surprise is that people listen when I talk. It seems I am always in the spotlight; therefore, I must be conscious of what I say, how and when I say it, and to whom." LEAD Fairfax: Complete this sentence: “Being a principal is the best job in the world because. . . Linda Hajj: “I influence lives every single day and each day is exciting, demanding, and unpredictable.” ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ Previous Q & A's: Nardos King: Principal - Mt. Vernon High School
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