Should parents contact the school principal if they disagree with their child’s educational program?
Yes, your school principal is at the heart of the school community and is responsible for establishing an effective learning environment for your child. According to The Education Act, 1995 (Section 175), principals are responsible for managing all school operations. They manage daily school activities, coordinate curricula, and oversee and supervise teachers and other school staff to provide a safe and productive learning environment for students. Principals communicate and are the link between the school community and the board of education.
So, yes, parents should talk to the principal if there are concerns about programming. The principal and the teacher are key educational team members with the responsibility of determining appropriate individual programming for students. In fact, The Education Act, 1995, Section 231 says that the role of the teacher is to “plan and organize the learning activities of the class with due regard for individual needs of the pupils.”
Boards of Education know the importance of strong school based leadership. Principal leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to student success at school. Take time to develop a strong relationship with your child’s school principal.
About Elaine Caswell
At Elaine’s core, she is a teacher. Throughout her diverse roles as a classroom teacher, school principal, guidance counselor, superintendent, Director of Education and Director of Children’s Services at the Ministry of Education, Elaine has taught, mentored, built strong relationships with families and facilitated individual, group and systemic change.
About Louise Burridge
Louise is an occupational therapist. As one of the first occupational therapists to work in Saskatchewan schools, Louise has worked with numerous families to foster growth and development, facilitate accessibility and support inclusive education. Louise has continued this work as a Student Services Coordinator, at the Ministry of Education, and Director of Professional Practice with the Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapists. She now owns and operates OuTcomes Therapy in Regina.
