September presents educators with an eager anticipation for new beginnings and a sense of hope for limitless possibilities that lie ahead; for students – a hope in attaining their loftiest learning goals; for educators – a desire to unleash students’ fullest potential and for administrators – to empower their school communities to engage in cycles of continuous improvement.
This September I have started a new role as a system principal. Each day has been a new beginning filled with my own sense of anticipation and possibility. Many of the new experiences I have had so far have challenged me to think deeply and in new ways. One of the beautiful things about starting any new role is being able to learn about different moving parts of a system. I am fascinated by the ‘behind the scenes’ work that occurs at a system level to support learning in schools. I am hopeful that I can add value to the new frontiers I have begun to explore, the challenges that lie ahead of me and the new ways that I can ultimately enhance learning for students.
Amidst the excitement of starting a new role there are some things that I had not anticipated; for 
example, how challenging it would be going from a position of being a knowledgeable other to one who is almost exclusively the recipient of new knowledge. I do not struggle with not knowing everything. In fact, I have always prided myself on recognizing that I have much to learn, but the steep learning curve of a new role can have the potential to make one’s confidence wane. The uncertainties I am experiencing are bringing me out of my comfort zone but in ways that leave me inspired to challenge myself. It is my hope that the skill set and attitude that has brought me to this point in my learning journey will continue to help me be successful in my new role and to apply my own fresh lens to each situation to which I am presented. I remind myself to hold onto my long held belief that mindset is crucial to success in any role and that new challenges are meant to be embraced!
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