In order to determine the leadership traits that would best describe the ideal principal candidate for Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy, staff and community members completed a survey providing feedback to develop a leadership profile. Staff and community meetings were held on June 20, 2024 and September 5, 2024 and the student meeting was held on September 5, 2024. The following profile summarizes the leadership characteristics and qualities valued by the school community:

Types/Years of Experience

• Knowledge of all grade level expectations
• At least 5-10 years of experience in an urban school at APS
• Experience in managing school budgets and resources efficiently
• We need a principal who understands that Hollis is a community school and is an advocate for all children and parents
• We need a principal that can innovate Hollis K-8 and keep it as a K-8
• Experiences in multi racial/ ethnic, multi socio/economic schools
• Counseling Experiences
• Understanding scholar athletes

Instructional Leadership

• Create a culture for the school
• Focus on students first
• Advocate for instructional practices that support the academic, social, and emotional development of students
• Listen to your staff who have been there in the trenches
• A principal that understands K-8 curriculum progression, instructional best practices and data- driven instruction
• Confident but willing to ask for help when needed
• Meet our children where they are and elevate learning, innovate middle school and understand learning levels
• Reasonable instructional expectations
• Social/Emotional Leadership

Discipline Management

• Be consistent and respectful
• Always being open and upfront, being consistent, forming a plan that would benefit the teachers, students and parents
• I feel the principal should be mindset trained
• Have special education training as well as adaptability
• Should be fair, but have zero tolerance for disrespect, misconduct, dress code and a stickler for policies and procedures being implemented
• Knowledge of restorative practices
• A connector who can work with our most challenging children also

Leadership Style

• Accountability
• Fair with integrity
• Ability to resolve conflicts and mediate disputes between the school and community members
• Someone who can separate personal feelings from business. Putting their focus on the success of the students, staff, and school as a whole
• Principal knowledgeable about Special Education and child find
• Principal working with the SELT when dealing with discipline of Special Education students
• Able to build strong relationships with parents, community and staff

Community Engagement

• Understands the culture of a low socioeconomic community
• Customer service and management
• Communicate with the community
• Understand that relationships/partnerships have been established and need to be nurtured ensure continued support
• Be visible
• Principal that can show examples of what they have done (successfully)
• Engagement with the community and open to receiving assistance and suggestions
• A principal who’s willing and able to meet and engage community and keep them up to date on needs and how the school is doing
• Allow more community engagement and opportunities for children to voice and showcase their talent
• Partnership with Chick-fil-A to reward/to support students
• Someone who helps kids that speak different languages