One of the most important qualities of an effective school leader is the ability to empower the entire school community to bring a vision of student learning to life.
One principal who has done just that is Carol Kitchens, principal of Campolindo High School in the Acalanes Union High School District and ACSA’s 2009 Secondary Principal of the Year.
Kitchens is known as a leader who is passionate about her vision of a school community where all students are challenged and encouraged to achieve at the highest levels. Since taking the helm in 2000, Kitchens has brought a renewed sense of academia, discipline and accountability, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Being the principal for nine years has enabled me to build relationships with students, their families and the community, and to bring a thread of continuity and a sense of tradition to Campolindo High School,” she said. “Watching students be challenged daily in the classroom and receive quality academic, technological, visual and performing arts, athletic and co-curricular experiences is the best aspect of my job.”
Kitchens’ leadership style is one that empowers her staff. She is not afraid to do things a little differently than they have been done before.
“I am never satisfied with the status quo,” she said. “I continue to press students and staff to reflect upon their work, take on leadership roles and be contributing members of our school community. I have strived to nurture my staff and students and to model respect, ethics and responsibility. Above all, I believe in being fair.”
Kitchens has set out to turn Campolindo into a professional learning community. Every meeting, whether it be curricular, department, staff or parent, centers on teaching and learning. In each, three questions rise to the top: What do we want our students to learn? How do we know if they’ve learned it? What will we do if they do not learn it?
Kitchens is known as a hands-on principal who makes continual classroom visits and has an open-door policy. Teacher Suzanne Russell said Kitchens has been nothing but supportive and encouraging.
“She has a positive attitude toward education and encourages each of us to reach our full potential as teachers,” Russell said. “Carol is supportive of new ideas and technology and encourages each of us to participate in staff development of all types… Carol appreciates that a well-rounded teacher can offer the students a broad perspective in the classroom.”
Promoting the school community goes much further than the school campus. Kitchens has worked to develop partnerships with the community, including the Moraga Education Foundation, the town of Moraga, and the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. She regularly speaks at the local Rotary and Kiwanis meetings. She participated in the “Slow Down Lamorinda” safe driving program and encouraged performing arts students to participate in community events. When three Campolindo graduates medaled in the Beijing Olympics, she helped make signs at the entrance to town, and brought the students back to the school to talk about their experiences.
Her relentless dedication to student success has led to Campolindo becoming one of the highest-ranked schools in California, with an API of more than 900 the past four years. In 2008-09, the school received a California Distinguished School designation.
But Kitchens said her success isn’t always easy, especially in this era of financial crisis.
“Trying to make do with less funding and personnel and find creative ways to deal with the financial crisis we are facing, while keeping up staff morale (is a challenge),” she said. “It is difficult to see knowledgeable, talented and dedicated certificated and classified staff laid off due to lack of funding for schools.”
Prior to taking over the principalship in 2000, Kitchens was associate principal at Campolindo and Las Lomas high schools from 1994-00, high school dean in the Pleasanton USD from 1990-94, teacher and swim coach in Piedmont USD from 1974-90 and P.E. teacher and coach in the San Francisco USD from 1972-74.
In addition, Kitchens has served as ACSA Region 6 secretary since 2008, president of the Diablo Foothill Athletic League from 2001-02 and as a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development since 2000. She is also advisor to the Moraga Education Foundation and participated in the Fulbright Administrator Exchange Program to Argentina in 2004-05.
Kitchens said she is honored to be named ACSA’s Secondary Principal of the Year and said success was really the result of hard work by the entire school community.
“To receive an award for something I love doing, which allows me to work with an incredibly bright and talented student body and staff, and to be supported by a community, district and a board of education that want the best well-rounded education for all students is truly gratifying,” she said. “Campolindo is a place where we all teach and we all learn together under the same roof.”
Each of ACSA’s 19 job-specific 2009 Administrators of the Year will be featured in EdCal through Nov. 2. They will be formally honored during ACSA’s 2009 Leadership Summit, Nov. 5-7 in Sacramento. To register for the event, contact the Educational Services Department at (800) 608-ACSA or click here for registration materials.