Principal Entry Plan

Lori L. Gensch
K.C. Ling and Hemlock Elementary Building Principal

Vision/Rationale
The purpose of this document is to communicate my commitment to establishing educational
excellence as your new building principal at K.C. Ling and Hemlock Elementary. I am honored
and excited to have the opportunity to lead, motivate, and inspire both staff and students to
reach their full potential. From my first day on the job, expect me to bring passion, motivation
and a strong belief in the future success of Hemlock Public Schools.

This entry plan is indicative of my dedication to promoting a positive school culture, providing
an effective instructional program centered on research-based strategies, and developing and
designing professional growth plans that empower teachers and staff members. I am excited
about creating a more unified school family and ensuring the future success of a district I am
honored to be a part of. It is my hope that you will join me in this collaborative entry process
designed to unify us through common goals and motivated by a belief in providing an education
centered on our mission, Kids First.

Goals
As the K.C. Ling and Hemlock Elementary Principal, I will.

Establish positive and productive relationships with staff, students, and community
members to better understand the traditions, climate, and culture of the elementary
buildings and continue to provide excellence in education.
Continue to establish and design a Multi-Tiered System of Supports not only to meet
students academic but also behavioral needs, and to clarify the role of every staff
member to ensure supports are in place for students.
Create a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying strengths and
opportunities for growth that are supported by student data and staff feedback.
Entry Plan - Implementation

Goal #1: Establish positive and productive relationships with staff, students, and community
members to better understand the traditions, climate, and culture of the elementary buildings.

Objective One: Establish positive and productive relationships with staff members to better
understand the traditions, climate, and culture of the elementary buildings.
Actions that will take place to meet this goal/objective Timeline
Attend introductory meeting with all staff members. June/July, 2017
Meet with departing administrator and Superintendent to familiarize myself June/July, 2017
with current vision, traditions, and culture of schools.
Schedule meeting with finance director to discuss budgetary procedures June/July, 2017
and establish expectations.
Communicate entry plan with school personnel via e-mail. June/July, 2017
Host one-on-one meetings with all staff members to discuss their current June/July, 2017
vision, identify needs, and promote positive relationships. These meetings
will include classroom teachers, instructional support staff (counselors,
special education, etc.), instructional assistants, secretarial staff, cafeteria
staff, media center staff, custodial staff, union representatives, etc.
Plan and attend grade level meetings prior to the start of the school year. August, 2017
Host first formal staff meetings: August, 2017
-Get to know you activities
-Review of current data (Where have we been? Where are we
now? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?)
-Instructional and non-instructional duties
-Instructional support staff
-Master schedule
Conduct first round of walk-throughs with staff members and provide Beginning August -
appropriate feedback. Walk-throughs will be purposeful and focused on ongoing
student engagement, intensive intervention and acceleration, and evidence
of data-driven instruction.
Send weekly updates to staff members including school events, Beginning August -
celebrations, and other relevant information. ongoing
Objective Two: Establish positive and productive relationships with students to better understand
the traditions, climate, and culture of the elementary buildings.
Introductory walk-throughs in classrooms after being announced as the new August, 2017
principal.
Host Family Meet and Greet with students and families. August, 2017
Host Back to School Open House. August, 2017
Interact with and supervise students during morning drop-off and afternoon August - ongoing
dismissal, in classrooms, lunch, recess, etc.
Recognize PAWS FOR APPLAUSE winners on a regular basis September - ongoing
announcements, drawings, bulletin board, etc.
Objective Three: Establish positive and productive relationships with families and community
members to better understand the traditions, climate, and culture of the elementary buildings.
Participate and attend extra-curricular activities to get to know Hemlock June/July - ongoing
families throughout the school year.
 Develop and conduct a parent perception survey and evaluate the data with October, 2017
teacher leaders.
Meet with business partners established by Hemlock Public Schools to October, 2017
continue to support and cultivate these vital connections within the
community.
Indicators of Success
I will determine whether or not this goal and plan was successful through thoughtful reflection and
through discussions/surveys that take place periodically throughout the school year. This feedback
will revolve around staff learning, culture, climate, vision and values at the elementary schools and be
used to measure my successes as an administrator. It will also be used to identify areas of
improvement for the next school year.

Goal #2: Continue to establish and design a Multi-Tiered System of Supports not only to meet
students academic but also behavioral needs, and to clarify the role of every staff member to ensure
supports are in place for students.

Actions that will take place to meet this goal Timeline

Meet with outgoing elementary principal to discuss strengths of current June/July, 2017
program, struggles, and future needs within a tiered intervention process.
Meet individually with staff members to determine their knowledge base, August/September,
comfort level, and success with designing interventions for students using a 2017
tiered process.
Develop a shared vision for the intervention process in Hemlock by meeting August/September,
with other administrators and Superintendent. 2017
Engage in informal discussions related to current reality of behavioral August/September,
interventions and identify needs. 2017
Design a Google Form for staff members to express their opinions openly September, 2017
and honestly in regards to the current system of supports related to
academics and behaviors.
Meet with the group of teacher leaders to set goals for the 2017-2018 September/October,
school year. 2017
Create a parent survey to assess their perception of the existing system of October, 2017
supports and general school climate.
Indicators of Success
I will determine whether or not this goal and plan was successful through thoughtful reflection on the
year. I will see teachers engaging in thoughtful conversations centered on how to meet students
individual needs both behaviorally and academically. I will begin to see teachers interacting with all
students rather than just those on their case load, while creating a positive and passionate learning
atmosphere.
Goal #3: Create a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying strengths and opportunities
for growth that are supported by student data and staff feedback.

Actions that will take place to meet this goal Timeline

Review performance data for the previous two years, specifically focusing June/July, 2017
on trends among entire student body, subgroups, and grade levels.
Meet with administrative team to discuss existing instructional initiatives June/July, 2017
and determine future instructional needs.
Encourage staff members to engage in grade level meetings focused on August, 2017
student data.
Conduct first round of walk-throughs to provide coaching and instructional September, 2017
feedback.
Meet with existing school leadership team (if available). Identify teachers September, 2017
interested in becoming active participants in the committee.
Hold data meetings with grade level teachers to set expectations, identify September - ongoing
common assessments that will be used to measure student growth, and
discuss intervention strategies.
Host first quarter school leadership team meeting, reviewing the current November 2017
School Improvement Plan, providing updates, and identifying needs from
student performance data.
Collaborate with school leadership team to establish learning targets, November - ongoing
create action plans, and identify strategies.
Indicators of Success
I will determine whether or not this goal and plan was successful through thoughtful reflection on the
year. A clear vision for the schools improvement plan will be established for all stakeholders and
areas of need will be addressed. Action plans will be created and strategies to address these needs
will be clearly articulated.

Staff survey questions to determine key understandings of the school:

1. Please tell me three important things about yourself.
2. If you had to choose one co-worker, who would you go to for advice?
3. What makes Hemlock Elementary/K.C. Ling Elementary a great place to learn?
4. What is holding us back from being ever better?
5. What do you see as the three key issues, in order of importance, that we need to work
on this school year?
6. What do you need from me as your principal?