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Baltimore Principal Shares Her Passion For Education With Her Students

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "From 2012 to 2022, the number of students enrolled in schools is projected to increase. Some additional schools may open to accommodate these students, resulting in a need for assistant principals and principals."

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(Photo Courtesy of Katrina Foster)

Katrina Foster, Principal of Elmer A. Henderson: A Johns Hopkins Partnership School, offers some advice for others looking to go into the field of education.

How does your experience in formal education relate to your current role?

"I am the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college, so my experience in formal education has been invaluable to me as a school leader. As a principal, one of my primary responsibilities is to develop and implement systems that cultivate a positive, safe, and successful school culture and climate. Knowing how to delegate, collaborate, and manage multi-level projects are skills that I developed in school, and I transfer those skills into my current work on a daily basis."

How has your education helped to further your career and contribute to your success?

"Having access to a quality education is the key lever that has made a difference in my life. I became an educator because I wanted to share my love and passion for reading and writing with others in the hopes that I could make a difference in the lives of young people in my hometown.  In addition to the content knowledge I received through both my undergraduate and graduate coursework, my educational experience taught me how to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, work with a team, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and work through challenges from a solution-focused perspective."

What is some advice you can offer others looking to go into the field of education?

"The best advice that I can give someone looking to pursue a career in school leadership comes from one of my favorite quotes by Oprah Winfrey: 'Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.'"

Sara Lugardo is a professional writer out of Chicago, Illinois. She has a bachelor's in communication and is currently working on her master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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