Celebrating National Principals Month – Jennifer Seidel, Principal of Greenwood Elementary School

October is National Principals Month. During this month we recognize the dedicated leaders who guide our schools and support students, staff and families every day. To celebrate, we did a Q&A with a few principals around the county to learn more about what inspires them and the impact their role can play in the community. Each principal answered the same set of questions, giving us a glimpse into their leadership, their passions and even a few fun facts along the way.

How long have you been with MCPS? 
I started my career in MCPS in 1994 as a third-grade teacher at Sherwood Elementary School. Though I left the system for a few years when my own children were young, I have been in MCPS for about 25 years in many different roles having worked in the central office as an instructional specialist and in schools as a teacher and as an administrator. I have truly enjoyed each and every experience along the way.

How long have you been the principal at Greenwood Elementary School? 
This is my fifth year as the principal at Greenwood ES, and I have been grateful for every day in this role!

What inspires you each day? 
I am inspired by the people around me every day–the students, the staff and the families. I wake up excited to come to Greenwood where I have the incredible opportunity to interact with the most amazing people. I truly learn something new every day!

What advice would you give to a first-year principal? 
My best advice to a first-year principal would be to stay student-centered. You will be faced with many decisions every day, and you can never go wrong if you make the choice that is in the best interest of students. Listen to your staff, students and families, as you can learn so much by listening. Remember the value of teamwork. We serve students so much better when we collaborate–none of us can do this alone. Above all, embrace the opportunity–being a first-year principal is truly an incredible experience.

What’s your top win/biggest accomplishment from this past year? 
We have been so very proud of our students’ growth in the last year, particularly in the area of literacy, so that absolutely has to be acknowledged, as our team has been really purposeful about honing in on individual student needs. Additionally, we are very grateful to have a strong home-school partnership, which truly benefits our students. Most of all, I am so proud to be part of a warm community of students, staff and families who truly look out for one another. That’s what being a Greenwood Gator is really all about!

What job did you want to have when you were a kid? 
As a child, I wanted to be a newspaper reporter. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area, and I spent Sunday afternoons developing a whole newspaper devoted to the days’ football games. I also spent a lot of time recording my family and friends, asking them countless questions in “interviews.” Though I started out as a journalism major when I headed to college, teaching captured my heart, and that’s where my heart has been ever since. 

What’s an interesting/fun fact that not everyone knows about you? 
I took tap dancing for 13 years. I love music, I love to sing and I love to dance. I still catch myself doing the time steps…just not in front of anyone else! But if there’s music, I am drawn right in.

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What impact do you think principals have on the greater community? 
The principal has an important responsibility in community building, which starts with establishing the conditions where everyone feels as if they belong. Each year we have chosen a focus that is threaded throughout the year, grounded in relationship and community building. Last year, for example, we focused on kindness, and this year our focus is on belonging. We want to ensure that every student, every staff member, and every family member knows they are a welcomed and important part of our Greenwood community. That is the foundation of everything we do.