This week we learn more about Coastal Academy High School Principal Samantha Bartrom and her experience leading during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bartrom began leading Coastal Academy High School in 2017. Prior to becoming a principal, she was an assistant principal, director of the associated student body (ASB), writing specialist, and middle school teacher. Her career has also included working for the U.S. Department of Defense as an educator in Okinawa, Japan and serving as the regional program manager for Keep Youth Doing Something (KYDS), a non-profit organization committed to serving students who are identified as low-income or at-risk youth.
One belief Bartrom likes to live by is “always assume positive intent.” She shared, “In any given moment, I like to believe that everyone is doing the very best they can.” Bartrom finds this to be crucial for leaders to live by, especially during difficult conversations. She reminds herself that sometimes external emotion (anger, frustration, etc.) can be masking fear, anxiety, or an unmet need, and having this perspective helps to support her in challenging moments.
Coastal Academy High School is a unique and a very special place to be, Bartrom said. The school has a unique parent partnership and a collaborative, diverse learning community.
“At Coastal Academy High School, it is truly inspiring to see how my teachers have partnered with their students and parents alike to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together. Part of our partnership includes a mentoring program that connects each student with an adult teacher or support staff. This person provides bi-weekly 1-to-1 mentoring and serves as the student's champion throughout their four years of high school," she said.
We asked Bartrom about her experience this past year leading during the pandemic and she said, “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators across the nation found ourselves separated by physical distance and space. Gone are the days where I could physically touch base with my team to informally check in throughout the school day. As a result, I learned how to leverage the collective capacity of my leadership team I refer to as my Guiding Coalition. In the infancy stages of distance learning, my Guiding Coalition, which had both certificated and classified site-based leaders, met multiple times a week to conduct a 'pulse check,' assess our current challenges, and create a plan moving forward. Almost a year later, my site-based leadership team is stronger than ever.”
As leaders have experienced the challenges of distance/hybrid learning, many have embraced some new practices they plan to continue. For Bartrom, that's virtual meetings.
“Zoom truly has been a blessing in disguise! Prior to COVID-19, we hosted in-person weekly teacher office hours. During this time, students could visit any of their teachers on campus for personalized support. We are actually seeing better attendance for office hours when conducted virtually. Removing the barrier of transportation provides easy access for all students. It is likely we will continue to offer some version of virtual office hours in the future," she said.
Many leaders struggle through tough situations, but a lot can be learned from those times. We asked Bartrom to enlighten us on what values she holds true during tough times and she indicated, “I am a firm believer that strength is built through adversity and we GROW through what we GO through. When I find myself in challenging situations I remind myself of this. As a school leader I also practice being a fair, clear communicator. Brene Brown once said, 'Clear is kind.' During tough situations, people are looking for someone and something to believe in. Clear, kind conversations ease anxiety, build confidence, and provide the foundation necessary for everyone to move forward.”
On moving forward, Bartrom said, "School-wide improvement plans will be imperative. As students return to school more frequently, utilizing a variety of assessments to gauge students' current skillsets will be essential to setting short- and long-term goals. It is our job to meet students where they are at and it's likely, as a result of distance learning, the spectrum amongst students will be greater than ever before. I am excited to continue to support my teachers and parent partners in personalizing learning through academic choice at Coastal Academy High School."
Fun Facts
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?
It would be my great grandmother Margaret Begelman. She passed away when I was 16 years old, just three weeks shy of her 98th birthday. She was extremely influential in my life and encouraged me to pursue my passions and dreams. She was a strong, wise woman who I miss very much. I would love to have dinner with her to show her the impact she's had on my life.
What would you do (for a career) if you were not an educator?
If I were not a principal, I'd like to work my way up to being a judge, maybe even on the Supreme Court.
What is your most treasured possession?
Meaningful relationships. Relationships and connection are everything to me. I cherish my inner circle of family and friends.
