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How I Survived My First Year as Assistant Principal at a South Side Chicago High School
…spoiler alert…whiskey, ibuprofen, and steroids did not help anyone.
By Dr. Benjamin M. Drury
My first year as an assistant principal at a high school on the South Side of Chicago was a hot mess. I came into the role green as grass, and I left the role as scorched Earth. Ultimately, a year after the fact, I am filled with a profound sense of growth, purpose, and dedication when I think back on all that I accomplished and I did for my students. I am also reminded of being filled with an overwhelming sense of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial exhaustion. Working in a public school is not for the weak of mind and spirit. Inside the walls of any public institution even the most hardened and battle tested educator can be broken, especially in the midst of a global health catastrophe that is being willfully ignored by your superiors. Reflecting on the past year, I have witnessed the transformative power of education in the lives of our students, particularly those who have endured significant trauma and adversity. As a one and done public education administrator, I want to share my experience with others coming into the role so they can know what to expect. I want to explore and unpack some of the most pressing challenges and overwhelming triumphs we…
