Arthur Cervinka, principal of Mather High School in Chicago, Illinois, discusses the need for principals to trust the judgment of teachers and delegate authority to them, and for teachers to be committed to prevention. Excerpted from the video series Pathways to Prevention, videotape #3, Lessons Learned (Chicago Public Schools and the Midwest Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, 1994).
"A good principal needs to be able to find quality people and to give them the power and delegate the authority for them to get into specific areas of concern, and that's what we've done in the PIT program with Ms. Rollinger. We have found a quality person who is willing to give the time and effort and is knowledgeable and will work at it, and it's just not knowledge, though, gangs or drug activity or things like that, but of kids, who understands kids, how they operate, who's been a successful teacher, and not only in the academic area, where she was superior, but in relationship with kids and being a role model and a mentor for kids."
This Critical Issue was researched and written by Mary Kleusch, Education Consultant, Student Services, Prevention and Wellness Team, State of Wisconsin, Department of Public Instruction, in conjunction with Ann Freel, Program Assistant, Center for School and Community Development, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
Date posted: 1996