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Teachers Learn of Grad School From Dean -- Community Knowledge Important in Leading Schools

Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By Jimmie Covington covington@desotoappealcom

The dean of the University of Mississippi School of Education had some advice Tuesday for prospective graduate students who want to become school principals.

To avoid failure, a new principal must know the community he or she will be serving and know the values the community holds to be important, Dr. Tom Burnham told a group of teachers and others who are considering studying educational leadership.

Burnham was among several School of Education faculty members and leaders who attended an open house at DeSoto Center in Southaven to talk with people who are exploring the idea of pursuing advanced degrees in education.

"If you are going to be effective in school-community relations, you have to know the culture of that community," Burnham said. "It doesn't mean that that culture drives your decisions, but it does mean you have to understand and respect it.

"You may go in a different direction than the culture would take you, but if you know the culture and respect the culture, it will allow you to blend what you are doing with the values and traditions of that community."

Burnham said one of the major strengths of the university's education program is that it combines an emphasis on knowledge, theory and reason with an emphasis on the "practical side."

Also, Burnham said he has found the major reason that principals fail in their jobs is they "think they are supposed to know everything" and they don't seek advice and help from others in dealing with difficult situations.

"It doesn't cost anything to ask and you don't have to accept any advice you get, but the broader base of knowledge you are listening to will help," he said.

An ability to write is one of the keys to success in the university's graduate program, Burnham said.

"The biggest issue I have seen over the past year as dean is that at all levels, at the master's, specialist and doctorate levels, we have students who cannot write," he said. "You are going to learn how to write or you are not going to make it through the program. We do have some good resources available. We have an excellent writing center on campus that will help."

Darcas Wallace, 39, a fifth-grade teacher at Guthrie Elementary School in North Memphis, was among teachers who attended Burnham's session.

She said she came down for a counselor education session but after that session, she decided to explore educational leadership.

Mario Keys, 39, music teacher at Sacred Heart School in Southaven, also attended the educational leadership session. "I want to get my doctorate," he said. "My goal will be to be an administrator."

- Jimmie Covington (901) 333-2010

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"If you are going to be effective in school-community relations, you have to know the culture of that community."

Tom Burnham

Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Education

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Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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