Throughout the school day, administrators work hard to ensure that school is running smoothly. However, many students don’t see all the work that happens behind the scenes in the day to day. Today I tracked a day in the life as an administrator to dive deeper into what really happens at our school. Our chosen subject, Brannon Burnett, is the current Assistant Principal for the class of 2028 and last year’s dunk tank champion.
Where would one find Burnett? After walking aimlessly through the halls and checking his office, I headed over to the main office. I found him near the attendance desk and surprisingly, he agreed to my offer, signaling a good start to my investigation. After an hour-and-a-half administrators meeting, Burnett had a long checklist to complete.
10:30:
Maybe one of the most important items of the day: a job interview. In order to hire a teacher they must go through a series of interviews and if they are determined to be a good candidate, Principal Dr. Kevin Clark will conduct the final part of the process. Administrators need to make recommendations to Human Resources (HR) so potential candidates know as soon as possible. The candidate was interviewed for a job as a science teacher next year, specifically in the physics department. Even though I was essentially a fly on the wall during the process, the experience was daunting. I was surrounded by legends like Clark, physics teacher Deborah Waldron, and, of course, Burnett. I watched the candidate navigate the different questions about class expectations, school environment and teacher success as Burnett scribbled down notes. The interview finished, hands were shaken and the door was closed.
10:56
Waldron gave her approval and urged them to get the candidate to inform her that she was hired. Successful Interview? Check.
11:00
Burnett went back to his office, preparing for a meeting with a student. However, the meeting was canceled and Burnett decided to patrol the hallways in the meantime.
11:05
Patrolled the hallways, nothing out of the ordinary to report.
12:00
Burnett stopped by for snacks in Patriot Hall, compliments of The Yorktown Sentry.
12:10
Every Tuesday Burnett has to monitor B Lunch in the courtyard and atrium. On a cold day like today, most kids stay in the cafeteria to eat lunch. The annual art show blocked a clear view of student shenanigans and possible cellphones so Burnett positioned himself on the second floor for an optimal view. B Lunch usually doesn’t have any problems so sometimes Burnett is able to do other work. In this case, it was a reference check for the candidate earlier this morning.
12:21
A student approached to get a permission slip signed for dance.
12:33
Burnett isn’t just business; he enjoys the cultural experiences of our school as well. We walked through the maze of art, admiring the different photographs and greeting different students as they passed. Unbeknownst to some, Burnett speaks fluent Spanish. This became apparent after we stopped at the Spanish Honors table. While I take Spanish myself, I must confess that I couldn’t understand what he was asking them.
12:47:
Burnett took a phone call for a candidate hiring for tomorrow while students filed up the stairs for the end of lunch. As my time came to a close, I reflected on our productive day and all that was accomplished. Needless to say, after my experience today, I would make a great administrator.
