FORKS — At the end of the school year, Forks Elementary School principal Shele Kinkead will step down to become a mentor for other school administrators.
Kinkead has worked in education as an administrator and teacher for more than 30 years, and 12 of those years have been with the Quillayute Valley School District.
“I’m just moving into a different kind of teaching role,” Kinkead said.
“I feel like I’m still supporting kids, but through adults.”
There are many burdens school administrators and teachers face today that create an intimidating and often overwhelming atmosphere for those just entering the profession, Kinkead said.
Dealing with everything from having to meet higher standards with fewer resources, and an entire generation of students addicted to visual stimulation versus active play can take a toll on young professionals just entering the field of education, she said.
“There are some things the universities are doing very well” to prepare teachers and administrators, she said, “but there are some holes.”
‘Whole bag of tricks’
One of those holes is in classroom management and discipline.
While new teachers and administrators come fully equipped with assessment tools, they sometimes lack the skills needed in teaching children self-control, Kinkead said.
“And I have a whole bag of tricks,” she said.