Focus on Leadership

Kelly Callahan, Site Leader/Principal for SIATech Albuquerque, has been selected as New Mexico Principal of the Year.  Read the RAPSA interview to learn her strategies for leadership success.

RAPSA Interview:
Focus on Leadership with Kelly Callahan, New Mexico Principal of the Year

How do you inspire your students and staff to want to achieve success?

I believe I inspire by modeling the desire to achieve success.  I have a very positive attitude and strong work ethic.  By staying consistently focused on the students and their success, I find that the desire to succeed becomes a part of our daily norms.

How do you stay focused on the SIATech mission and vision?

I stay focused by my unwavering commitment to the tenets of the SIATech mission and vision.  A significant reason for our success is because I support and model a school environment based on respect, integrity, service and learning—our Core Values.  The students’ learning makes the acquisition of knowledge and skills come alive for both the students and the teachers.  They are using real-life skills that they will utilize as they pursue their next level of learning.  These are examples of education that will never be measured on a standardized test, but will nonetheless be invaluable to each student’s demonstration of Real Learning for Real Life.

How do you involve your staff in decision making?  How do you help them feel connected to the overall success of the school?

Collaborative Leadership is the focus of my entire principalship.  To be an effective school principal, I must rely on the collaboration with and by the members of my school community.  I can’t act as a “Principal on high” who would seem to know everything there is to know about education.  In fact, it is quite the opposite; I solicit participation about the school’s direction and process from all stakeholders—from the SIATech Governance Council to the Student Advisory Team.  Everyone who has a stake in the school is involved in the planning and direction of our goals.  By modeling collaborative leadership, the entire school community is responsible for the success of our school.

How would you define your leadership style?

I would describe my leadership style as empowering.  I truly believe that by allowing both the staff and students to take educational risks for the betterment of the students and the school, we have made great strides to improve our program and, most importantly, made a difference for our kids. 

What are you most proud of for your work as site leader/principal? 

That’s easy….365 graduates!   And, also, for being a part of the transformation of the Albuquerque Job Corps Centers from being ranked 110th in the nation to 16th in less than two years.  I think SIATech has been an incredible support and partner to the AJCC….demonstrating the synergy of our partnership.

Who or what inspires you as a leader?

I would say that the thing that inspires me as a leader is the absolute commitment to the success of our students.  I left the Albuquerque public schools because of the tremendous bureaucratic barriers that prevented us from intervening on behalf of students.  When I came to the charter schools, I found a means to truly impact our most “at promise” students…and in SIATech I truly feel that I found the job I was meant to have.  It’s a daily inspiration to see the work of our staff and students…and, most especially, watching our graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas—100% dropouts who changed their lives!

What plans/hopes to you have for your site?

I would like to see our school move toward more service learning in the community.  The students do a tremendous job of applying the curriculum to their daily work in the school….  I would like to see them apply these skills out in the community working on projects that develop their communication skills, problem-solving, and personal commitment.

What advice can you give to other site leaders?

Relationships, relationships, relationships….the daily work we do with our students, staff, Job Corps, districts and community is critical to the success of SIATech.  Honing those relationships is a daily exercise, just like working-out physically.  Sometimes your work-out is strong and very fulfilling and other times it’s a struggle...either way, sticking to it and working through the rough parts can be just as satisfying….and, hopefully, worth it!