This week’s focus is on empathy in leadership. Empathy is the ability to sense other people's emotions, and acknowledge them. Why is this important in school leadership? Leading with empathy builds trust, provides stability, creates hope, and shows compassion. School faculty have been faced with worrisome situations and decisions this year; and as leaders, we grapple with finding a balance between empathy and sympathy as it relates our actions and making the “right” decisions.

The Mentor’s Way Rule #5: Balance Empathy and Action is a resource that has a helpful description of the difference between empathy and sympathy, and offers specific steps to support your leadership with engaging in empathic conversations.

We leave you with this, leading with empathy begins with listening to your stakeholders. Brené Brown says it best, “Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of You’re Not Alone.” For more resources on empathy in leadership, see the Empathy Resources to Support School Leaders section of the TIP Sheet.

Larkin has deep roots in the Morse Community. Prior to becoming a principal at Morse, she was a teacher there for 13 years and a vice principal at Clairemont High School for four years. This is her fourth year as principal.

She believes in the motto: "You must love the school that you lead" and feels this motto is really about being the principal of a school.

"I can honestly say that I LOVE Morse High School. I loved Morse when I was a classroom teacher and I love it even more as the principal," she says. "Being a principal is NOT an 8-5/ Monday-Friday position. It is not easy leading a school with over 1,700 students and over 100 staff members. My days are long and I even put in work on the weekends. But I honestly could not see myself leading any other school. There is something special about our students, staff, parents, and community members. So loving the school one leads makes all the extra time and effort absolutely worth it."

Larkin conveys that leading through distance learning has been challenging, especially working from home. "There is no separation from work and my personal life. I have found it hard to disconnect from work while at home," she says. One thing she has been doing personally during this time is to establish some healthy habits by engaging in regular meditation and physical exercise, so that once she returns to on-site learning, these habits will be ingrained, and part of her normal weekly routine.

When asked, what's one positive change you plan to make at your school site as a result of experiencing distance/hybrid learning, Larkin points to hosting virtual meetings via zoom. "While face-to-face meetings are great, sometimes parents find it hard to make it on to our campus. I have even had parent/teacher conferences via Zoom. It's just an easy way to connect with parents and other stakeholders when needed."

Moving beyond COVID-19, Larkin reimagines Morse High School heavily involved in working toward educational equity. Her vision includes "reimagining a school where we eradicate all of the racists practices and policies that create inequitable learning experiences for our students."

Larkin reveals, "I love being transparent and vulnerable. I have been known for keeping it real. My stakeholders truly get the real me. Even when I was a classroom teacher, my students got the real me. It's too hard to show up as someone else each day. I just can't do it. I love being my authentic and true self and I have been told by others that they appreciate my realness."

During this time, Larkin has really appreciated the support from her Morse High School vice principals, the various committees at her site, and her school community.

I would love to have dinner with Barack and Michelle Obama. I think they are both pretty down-to-earth and we would have a great conversation.

If I were not an educator, I would probably be a pediatrician. I really enjoy working with children.

I spent 13 wonderful years in the classroom. My most treasured possession are the notes my students wrote me when I left Morse to pursue an administrative career. Teaching students is really what it's all about and is truly the highlight of my educational career. I have been out of the classroom since 2014. I will NEVER part with those notes my students wrote me because they constantly remind me of WHY I pursued a career in education and WHY I do the work that I now do.

Thank you, Principal Larkin, for your Principal Spotlight contribution and for the work you do for the Morse High School community!

Giving targeted feedback is a powerful skill and an important tool to support teachers as they grow their practice. It can help leaders give immediate feedback to a specific learning goal or area of focus. The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) partners with the nationally recognized University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership to offer the Targeted Feedback Institute. Learn more and register for the next institute, which will be March 17-19 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

New! SDCOE Learning and Leadership Guidance Document

The Learning and Leadership Services Division recently released a new guidance document titled Engaging Students Through the Pandemic and Beyond. The document serves to provide resources and information in six distinct areas:

Title: Academic Enrichment Grants

Title: Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese-Language Courses 

Title: Brave of Heart Fund Grant

Title: Computers for Learning (CFL)

If you have any questions or comments about The TIP Sheet newsletter, email SDCOE Executive Leadership Coach Erin Dare or call 858-295-8913.