As the new assistant principal of teaching and learning for Wahconah, what are your goals in ensuring a smooth, productive, and successful academic year? 

Mrs. Walsh: I have many, many goals, I work with the teachers in order to build an inclusive classroom, facilitate conversations, and help students in order to ensure that that process is happening and continues, while still connecting with the kids (more so personal thing [that] I would like to achieve). 

What are the primary roles and responsibilities that are associated with being the new assistant principal of teaching and learning? 

Mrs. Walsh: I do a combination of office tasks that Mr. Messina (the former assistant principal) would be doing. So I would be finding subs, covering classes, running professional learning communities for teachers, and some of the scheduling and organizing tests, with a primary is focused on teaching and learning 

What are your strategies to help teachers who are struggling with their students and vice versa?

Mrs. Walsh: I go into conversation amongst the teachers and their experiences and highlight things that work and things that don’t work, looking at things that we haven’t done yet, doing research and then integrating those ideas and techniques into the classroom, and move forward from there. 

In what ways does your new role as the assistant principal for teaching and learning work with the principal? 

Mrs. Walsh: So the principal is the instructional leader of the school. I work closely with Principal Shorter to figure out the direction we want to take within the school. She runs the show and I facilitate a bridge between her and the faculty ensuring that work gets accomplished.