Principal Job Description – Add Fearless to the Term Leader

There is no doubt that one of the toughest jobs in education is the role of the high school principal. While many in America want to see that person be an educational leader, that descriptor represents an incredibly simplified notion of what it takes to be a principal today.

The challenges associated with the job have been on full display in Brooklyn over the last week where the principal of Canarsie High School recently received a gift package, the term gift being used loosely. The package consisted of a string noose and a racially charged letter that had the signature of a white administrator at the school.

The first-year principal of Canarsie High School is Tyona Washington. She happens to be black as is about 85% of the school’s student body. The 44-year-old Washington proved she was not going to be intimidated by remaining at school throughout the day after receiving the threat.

The incident is being investigated by the hate crimes unit of the Police Department. There are no suspects as police believe the signature was not genuine.

The letter reportedly included the words “white power forever” and “I’ll give you enough rope to hang yourself.” Police indicated the letter also contained a racial slur.

According to the police, the noose is the eighth to have been discovered in New York in recent months.