Experience a Day in the Life of a Teacher at Concordia Shanghai: Middle School Principal

This is one of my favorite parts of the day, walking through the hallways as students head to class.

6:15 a.m.
My day begins with the sound of my alarm and morning kisses from our dog, Nala. As I get dressed and sip my coffee, I FaceTime my daughters in the United States and my mom, who lives in Puerto Rico.

7:00 a.m.
I wake up my son so he can get ready for school. By now, Nala is ready for her walk, and my husband and Nala walk me to school, rain or shine. I love starting the day this way, greeting parents, staff, and community members along the path and wishing everyone a good morning.

7:50 a.m.
This is one of my favorite parts of the day, walking through the hallways as students head to class. I welcome everyone with a smile and check in on teachers to see how they’re doing or if they need anything from me.

8:00 a.m.
I meet with our division assistant principal for a quick check-in to review the day and hear any updates from our secretaries.

8:30 a.m.
I begin classroom visits, supporting teachers and spending time with students. I love seeing the incredible things happening in our classrooms. When I’m not visiting classes, I’m usually in meetings, working with others to make Concordia the best school it can be for our community.

10:55 a.m.
Another highlight of my day, lunchtime! Every day, I spend lunch in the PC Commons, building connections and making sure students are enjoying their time together. I split my time between the 6th and 7th graders and then with the 8th graders.

11:30 a.m.
Now it’s my turn to grab lunch. Whenever possible, I join a staff member or an administrator from another division. It’s a wonderful way to build relationships and learn more about the great people in our school.

12:55 p.m.
I take part in grade-level meetings to stay connected with what’s happening in each grade. These meetings help me understand how I can best support teachers, identify resources they might need, and discuss how we can meet student needs together.

2:05 p.m.
Afternoon recess! I head to the Café to support teachers on duty and to spend more time with students, connecting and sharing small moments that mean so much.

2:20 p.m.
I meet with my leadership team to reflect on the week, plan ahead, and address any concerns. We also review feedback from parents, teachers, and students to ensure we are always striving for excellence.

3:30 p.m.
As school ends, I stand in front of the office to say goodbye to our students, reminding them how much I look forward to seeing them again tomorrow.

4:30 p.m.
Time to head home. Just like in the morning, my husband and Nala walk with me. I love seeing them waiting for me at the end of the day. By now, my son is home, and I get to help him with homework and hear all about what he’s learning.

5:30 p.m.
Dinner is family time. We talk about our day, share new experiences, and dream about future adventures here in China. Afterward, we unwind with TV, board games, cards, or simply listening to each other’s stories.

9:00 p.m.
Before bed, I take a moment to reflect on my day, thank God for the blessing of being part of this community, and prepare myself for another day of doing what I love.