Q&A With Deborah Monroe, Associate Head of School

What are you most excited about with your new position at Sierra Canyon School?

I am absolutely thrilled to be in a position at a Pre-K - 12 school where I can work with students and faculty in all three divisions. 

I want the SC community to know that I feel tremendously grateful for this opportunity to join such a warm, caring, and kind community, especially as I am also a parent of twin boys who are in third grade at Sierra Canyon. Being a mom of twins is something that brings immense joy to my life, but it can also be very challenging! While people say I look like Elastigirl of The Incredibles, I am definitely not a supermom like she is. I am deeply thankful to partner with a learning community that shares similar values to our family’s, which in turn, helps me be a more effective parent. I live by the African proverb that it takes a whole village to raise a child!

 

I am inspired by this generation's courage and conviction to have their voices heard on political and social topics that are relevant to their lives. It underscores the importance of finding a good school fit for the Pre-K -12 formative years. I am hopeful that my children, after their years as Trailblazers, will feel as confident and passionate about effecting positive change in the world as this current generation of high school and college graduates.

 

First, I believe an effective leader should be a strong communicator. Thinking strategically and providing clear expectations are essential when starting new initiatives and outlining goals.

 

For a leader to be successful, there must be people willing and able to carry out those goals. A capable leader is also one who motivates and empowers others to take on responsibilities as well as someone who encourages and supports them along the way.

 

Thirdly, in today’s shifting educational market, an effectual leader has to be creative and innovative. The world as we know it will be drastically different for our children’s children, and educational leaders have the daunting task of nimbly steering schools toward this unforeseen future all the while tackling complex problems and obstacles.

 

Lastly, I believe inclusive collaboration is a valuable characteristic of a strong leadership team. Sierra Canyon has so many talented faculty and administrators that it would be an oversight for a leader not to collaborate regularly with them. Additionally, research shows that gathering diverse points of view helps teams focus on facts, show fewer biases, demonstrate more compassion and sensitivity to others, and produce more innovative solutions.

I am currently trying to teach myself to play the guitar by means of online lessons. If I had one more hour in the day, it would be to invest in taking one-on-one lessons with a teacher.