Linking Leaders PodCASt
Linking Leaders PodCASt features candid conversations with top educational leaders who come together to share experiences and explore pathways to success. In each episode, we engage with dynamic leaders to uncover real-life stories, practical strategies and bold insights on timely and relevant topics. Listen up to link up and let us help you expand your network of innovation and support!
Linking Leaders PodCASt
Leading Successful Schools: Insights from Dr. Lisa Romano
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In Episode 8 of the Linking Leaders PodCASt, host Dr. Alicia Bowman chats with Dr. Lisa Romano, principal of Maple Hill Elementary School and winner of the 2023 William Cieslukowski Outstanding First-Year Elementary Principal Award.
Discover the hallmarks of Dr. Romano's leadership success, which include maintaining a positive narrative, valuing each individual's contribution, and celebrating every victory, regardless how small or large. Join us as we glean actionable insights that will inspire current and aspiring leaders in the field of education.
Hi and welcome to the Linking Leaders Podcast. Linking Leaders Podcast features candid conversations with top educational leaders who come together to share experiences and explore pathways to success. In each episode, we engage with dynamic leaders to uncover real-life stories, practical strategies and bold insights on timely and relevant topics. Listen up to Link Up and let us help you expand your network of innovation and support.
Speaker 2Hello Linking Leaders listeners. This is Dr Alicia Bowman, host of the Linking Leaders podcast, and today I am pleased to introduce Dr Lisa Romano. Lisa is the principal of Maple Hill Elementary School in Naugatuck, connecticut, and the elementary level recipient of the 2023 Connecticut Association of Schools, william Czeslakowski, outstanding First Year Principal Award. Lisa, welcome to the Linking Leaders podcast. Hi, thank you for having me Happy to have you today. So, lisa, now that you're in your second year as principal of Maple Hill, when you reflect on the transition into your role, what key qualities or habitudes contributed to your success as a new school leader?
Speaker 3Yeah, sure, in some respects the second year is just a little bit more difficult. But I would say leadership has changed so much. You have to be so dynamic and multifaceted. But when I try and narrow it down to three qualities or habits that have helped me along the way, I would say the first is being adaptable. The adaptability piece is huge. You have to be ready to adapt to any changing situation. I think the pandemic is something that really gave us a crash course in being adaptable and not really having it throw you. So something that gets thrown your way, you have to take it with stride, lean into your people and know that you're going to be okay. So adaptability for sure.
Speaker 3Another one would be solutions oriented. So not just a problem solver, but as a leader you're going to get problems thrown at you all day long and sometimes it can be very overwhelming. And sometimes you can find yourself in a negative space where you look back on the course of your day and you feel like you've spent a lot of it in a negative space and it was very problem heavy. So I often have to remind myself to be more solutions oriented. That has helped me, and also working with our staff here to, when you bring a problem forward, to also bring a solution, because I've learned along the way that I certainly do not have all the answers, nor will I ever have all the answers, so that has helped me tremendously.
Speaker 3And then, of course, you have to be a great communicator. Here at Maple Hill we have a staff on any given day there's 85 to 100 people here and the first and foremost you know, most important thing is the safety and security of students and staff. So with that, having clear, concise communication is imperative. So I've learned that people really appreciate transparency, frequent communication, but very direct communication. So I'm not someone who sends out emails all day long.
Speaker 3I try to capture the day's events in a morning email, just kind of bulleting, and then at the end of the week I'll wrap up with this is what the next week at a glance looks like. These are the events, these are the things that we have going on and just kind of being really to the point and even I would go as far as to say respecting people's personal time with communication. So when I'm at work I try to keep people first and paperwork after, but I know that that's not how other people roll and I completely respect people's personal time and so setting those timers on the email so that about 9 o'clock at night on a Saturday or Sunday, whatever it is, they will not be receiving it until 9 am on Monday, so just being mindful there. So I would say, wrap it up with being a good communicator, being solutions oriented and being adaptable would be my top three at this point.
Speaker 2Those are great. I love them all and I think you're right that communication, in terms of building trust and credibility, and that transparency, goes a long way, and so finding those systems that work for you as a leader and that people can expect and predict and they know how Lisa's going to communicate really helps. So building that foundation is huge. So what options do lead learners like you take to grow individually?
Speaker 3A couple of things. I try to put myself in spaces where I don't have all the knowledge. Those situations that you put yourself into that kind of make your voice quiver. I got a little nervous to, you know, be sitting at that table. I tried to put myself in those spaces more where you're just a little bit uncomfortable and perhaps a little bit intimidated about you know, the caliber sitting around you, but that's where you're going to learn and grow the most and then try to have at least like one thing to contribute to the conversation, but always just listening and observing.
Speaker 3Wherever I go you know I was in Waterbury for a number of years prior to moving to Navitak Wherever I go, I try to find a mentor and someone who really just wants the best for you, is truly, truly happy for you.
Speaker 3When you succeed, there is not one thing that you need to give back to that person, and so I was very fortunate when I was in Waterbury to have a wonderful mentor. Actually was Robin Henry, principal at Rotella Magnet School, and there were a number of others too that really supported you and they were your cheerleaders. You can go to them for everything. So I always say, like you're never too old, too smart, too good to have a mentor. Right now I'm in the UConn's executive leadership program working towards my 093 certification Alison Villanueva and she's absolutely tremendous Someone who just pulls the curtain back and has honest, real conversations with you that you feel that you can say things without judgment. So I would say, for sure, find a mentor and just always be looking for opportunities for that seat at the table to learn and grow, even if it scares you a bit. That's how you know you're doing it right.
Speaker 2That's great. I love that, that vulnerability of being in those situations where maybe you are a bit out of your comfort zone. And then we also have that awesome responsibility to do the same right Mentor other aspiring leaders, find a seat for them at the table. But you're right, those are some of the best ways of learning. Those informal mentorships are so powerful. So, lisa, in your press release for Outstanding First Year Principal, you were described as a beloved figure who actively participates in the school and district community. So often our listeners want to know, like how do you find the time? So could you share maybe one or two of your strategies for successfully managing the many roles you have personally and professionally? And we can add to that that you're a student. So how do you find the time?
Speaker 3Yeah, so, like I said earlier, when I'm at work I try to put people first. So staff students, as much FaceTime as I can get with them in which I lead and, if you know, in the rare situation I'm not able to, my assistant principal would lead and we have a student as a co-host. But that Google Meet is piped into every classroom. So in a way there's FaceTime with every student, because even the little ones think that I'm right in there. Hey, I just saw you on the TV. But every morning they're seeing my face and seeing my assistant principal's face and we're bringing students in and staff are seeing. So I really have prioritized and protected that time and that's really just 10 minutes but I've found that the impact is huge. So we'll do things like highlight students. We'll have students as co-hosts, we'll highlight staff and student successes. So we sent out a Google form to parents and say chime in and tell us if your student's doing anything great outside of school, let us know and we'll highlight it on that spot. We'll celebrate the birthdays, kind of all in one shot, but it's 10 minutes and it has had such an impact. So, looking for those ways to find those high leverage, high impact things. I would say that that is something takes a little bit of prep and planning on my part but has yielded really great things for our school climate and culture.
Speaker 3In terms of finding the time, you know, I realized very early on in my career that just my two passions are family and education. There's not much, you know, not much else that comes in there, and so sometimes I don't, you know, I wouldn't say that I have a balance. Sometimes my professional life, you know, flows over into my personal and you know vice versa. But you know you work for good people. You know, in Naugatuck I've worked for really great people that understand family, their values kind of aligned with mine. Then same thing in Waterbury and then of course your family understands like this is who I am.
Speaker 3Education is it for me. There's nothing else I'd be rather doing and it's so ingrained in my identity that if I didn't have it I don't know who I am. So it doesn't bother me when it kind of ebbs and flows and spills over, and as a leader you're going to have times of your year where it's mayhem and super busy, and then you're going to have times of your year where it's not and you can kind of focus on other things, so you just take it all in stride, but it's the people kind of you surround yourself with will make it all happen and it'll be okay, okay, and I think it'll be okay, absolutely, and you're right, there is no perfect balance.
Speaker 2But recognizing that there's times in our lives or times in the life cycle of a school year where you're maybe pulled in one direction more than the other, or the same thing with family, and being okay with that and just knowing it and then you adjust accordingly I think that's one of the things I learned over the years as well is there's no perfect and that's okay. That's what life is right. And so just being able to know that I've been modeling that for those around you when your staff and your faculty have things in their lives, and setting that tone.
Speaker 3Well, and that's exactly it too. You know, it adds to our positive school culture, so I completely agree.
Speaker 2Absolutely Back to your people first. Leadership, that's for sure. So you spoke about this a little bit when you were talking about some of the different ways that you allow other community members to celebrate success. So when I was reviewing your website, I noticed that in bold letters it said we celebrate success. So when I was reviewing your website, I noticed that in bold letters it said we celebrate success At Maple Hill Elementary. We believe that every achievement, no matter how big or small, deserves recognition. So could you say a little bit more about that and maybe what that demonstrates about your core beliefs about education?
Speaker 3Sure, there's nothing too small that we won't celebrate. We have, you know, big things, like if it's a schoolwide achievement of reaching an attendance goal. We have a schoolwide dance party and you know we'll blast music, kids bop over the speakers and I'll run through the school with a bubble gun and we'll dress up as you know, dinosaurs. But then there's also little things, like you know, recognizing letters and sounds, and you know we have our district-wide specialized program here, and so a student using, you know, an AAC device as a communication, that's what one parent has submitted to us, as you know, an achievement, and so we're celebrating that just as much as we're celebrating, you know, proficiency on Smarter, balanced Scores or attendance, whatever it may be.
Speaker 3There's nothing too big or too small. We of course do things like you know where the Mabel Hill B is, so we'll have a B of the week and then a B of the month where students get a cool yard sign. Those are just more of kind of the traditional things. But I really like getting the parents involved and having them submit those achievements that happen outside of school. A student in our specialized program was able to go to the grocery store and walk through and have a successful trip to the grocery store for the first time. That's life-changing for somebody.
Speaker 2I love that. I mean when you think about building partnerships with families and helping students to feel like they belong. So knowing that you're aware of their successes outside of school and celebrating them and letting parents know that it means just as much to you is just so powerful. That statement alone. So for that one minute or 30 seconds it takes to deliver that shout out, seems like such a highly effective investment in getting that child and that family to feel as if they really belong and they matter. Yeah, that's a first. I haven't heard that one and I like it. So, of the many highlights of your leadership, lisa, your colleagues praised your ability to revolutionize. That was a word, that's a big word, that's cool Communication and branding efforts, and so often and we've talked about this a little bit, but we're, you know, trying to find ways to promote all the good things that happen at school. So you mentioned like one of your communication systems is allowing people to give shout outs. Do you have any other that you would share to keep that positive branding alive?
Speaker 3Yeah, I'm known for the branding thing where you know I stick to the same color scheme, I have the same fonts, I love the same font, it matters. It drives me crazy when I see like multiple documents from one place that have like a million different fonts. It's so small, but it's just something that people get to know and predict and it's just they come to expect it.
Leadership Communication and Staff Support
Speaker 2It goes back to what you said about effective communication. You're right, it is small, but it's predictable. They know what to expect. Like you said, it's clear and consistent. All those things do matter.
Speaker 3Yeah, another thing that we use. They call it the Maple Hill Communication Center. So it's a Google Doc and it has everything that you could possibly need, you know, listed in, hyperlinked in, so we all know our Google Drives can get just chaotic, yeah, and where is this form? Where is this form? And so everything is hyperlinked into this Google Doc. And I actually learned that from you know, an administrator I worked with in Waterbury. He had something called the flight plan and so it's all these things that needed to be done and checked before you proceed with the day or where to go for information. So I kind of took that idea. And you don't have to reinvent the wheel or revolutionize, you just have to kind of take the time, put it together. So that has been really helpful for staff. Take the time, put it together, so that has been really helpful for staff.
Speaker 3I would say too, I'm never going to miss an opportunity to talk positively about Maple Hill. You'll never hear me talk negative about this school ever. There was one time in my life where I was at a board meeting and I was asked to speak. It was a previous role and we didn't, and I regret it to this day because I should never have missed an opportunity to talk positively about kids, because I feel as though we as leaders are in charge of the narrative of our schools, because if we don't write it, somebody is out there will write it for us, and so, along with the branding and the communication, you'll just hear a lot of positive talk about our school. Not that we don't have things on the day-to-day that we have to work on, but it's a wonderful school and I think that permeates, where our staff hear the same thing and they're saying the same things in the community as well.
Speaker 2Great, so you ready for the Ignite round? We're going to go at rapid speed. Now we're going to kick it off. All right, here we go. So if you were to pick one or two of your best pieces of compression so kind of a condensed thought or a little mantra you say over and over what would you say? That it or they are.
Speaker 3One that kind of stuck with me for a good time was go where you'll grow. And so as leaders, we want to be in spaces where we're constantly pushing ourselves and growing. You never want to feel that stagnant. You know the feeling like you have to go where you grow, and sometimes that's a shift in where you work and sometimes you know it's just kind of changing your mindset.
Speaker 3Whatever it may be, you always just want to be in that place where you're continuously growing and continuously open to feedback and doing things better, revolutionizing or redesigning, because once we hit that kind of complacent area, that's not a great place to be. And then I would say another one which is hard for me is progress over perfection. So, as someone who's like type A and very data-driven, I love, love digging into data, I love how personalized student data has become, where you can get a data plan almost anything but knowing that it doesn't necessarily define me and my leadership, but it's a piece of it and it's a large piece that informs my moves, but it doesn't define me. And just continuously making progress and not everything has to be perfect, because it never will be. That's kind of, you know, unattainable.
Speaker 2Thank you so much. Share one thing that the bees have taught you. That's shaped your approach to working with students.
Speaker 3Gosh. Students can humble you. Students, when you need to ground yourself in the why of this work, go sit in a classroom. If you're having a day where you're like what am I doing? Like what am I doing? Anything right, you know. You know those days. Go ahead to the classroom, pull a lunch bunch with a group of kids and, just you know, talk. And they are just so incredibly insightful. They humble you, they bring you right back to why you do this work and that's why I just love at this point in my career, I love building leadership. Because I had some time in central office in a previous position. I know that I wasn't ready for that at that point to be one further step removed. So this is my home, this is my jam right now, because I just I need that direct line to students.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's wonderful. Is there something about leadership that you've rethought recently?
Speaker 3Not necessarily rethought. I look at different ways to make it more efficient, like there's a managerial piece to leadership. You know you want to be spend most of your time in that instructional leadership realm, but is there, of course, is that managerial piece to it, and I think the explosion of AI has really helped. So I'm rethinking my thoughts about how AI can make me a more efficient leader and how we can assist teachers in developing and using that tool and embracing it, because it's here to stay. It's not going anywhere, and so I think the faster that we embrace it and learn how to use it as a tool, the better off we'll be. So that's kind of where I'm exploring a little bit.
Speaker 2That's great. So, lisa, what's one thing I should have asked you, but I didn't?
Speaker 3I guess you could ask me about my incredible staff. Okay, I don't think I highlighted them enough, but the reason why I am here is because of them. Nothing moves forward without teachers. Teachers have the biggest impact on student learning, so I know that, as a leader, taking care of my teachers will ultimately have that impact on our students. Teaching has always been tremendously hard, but it is a monumental task at this point. So recognizing teachers always for their hard work, supporting them that's my main mission here is making sure that they're okay, they're supported, goes back to your people first yeah, and where can our?
Speaker 3listeners go to find out more about you and your work. I was very active on Twitter or X, which I'm kind of like kind of getting back to that now a little bit. So I have a Twitter or an X handle. It's Lisa Romano E-D-U and that's just kind of for educational purposes. Please connect with me there. Yeah, that's my primary source.
Speaker 2Great Thank you, Dr Lisa Romano, Principal of Maple Hill Elementary School in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and the elementary level recipient of the 2023 Connecticut Association of Schools. Recipient of the 2023 Connecticut Association of Schools William Cheslikowski, Outstanding First Year Principal Award. Thank you for this honest and upbeat, engaging conversation. The mission of the Linking Leaders podcast is to connect the great educational leaders across our small state and I'm confident that your humble, student-centered approach to leadership will spark ideas, create conversation and inspire others to be people-first leaders throughout the state of Connecticut. Lisa, my sincere gratitude for sharing your thoughts and reflections and, to our listeners, we'll see you next month for a new conversation of Ranking Leaders.
Speaker 1Thanks so much for joining us for this episode of the Linking Leaders podcast. This episode is brought to you by the Connecticut Association of Schools, serving schools and their leaders since 1935.