Abigail Bansen

Education Practicum

Principal Interview

11 October, 2020

Principal Interview

On October 5, 2020, I had the opportunity to interview Principal Brad Anshuetz.

Anschuetz is the principal at Madison Middle School. He has been an assistant principal for four

years and a principal for twenty. Prior to becoming a principal at Madison Middle School,

Anshuetz worked for four years as a mathematics teacher. Anshuetz also graduated from Eastern

Michigan University where he earned a bachelors and masters degree.

During the interview, the first question that was asked was, “how is the school curriculum

decided? Who decides what textbooks to use?” Anshuetz stated that the curriculum is decided by

stakeholders. Stakeholders include, parents, businesses, and other members of the community.

Along with including stakeholders in the decision making process, Madison Middle School also

uses focus groups to determine the curriculum. These focus groups conduct interviews and

meetings to discuss what should be taught in the classroom. Anshuetz also mentioned the

importance of getting cross curriculum input. For instance, if a teacher is teaching a biology

course, the teacher would also interview English and history teachers. This creates a well

rounded curriculum, and it ensures that all classes are teaching similar and grade appropriate

topics. When responding to this question, Anshuetz put great emphasis on the importance of

gaining input from a variety of backgrounds. Both the community and teachers are heavily

involved in the decision making process.

 Along with asking about the curriculum, I also asked the question, “what are your school

rules and how is discipline handled?” When asked this question, Anschuetz nodded and stated

that there are concrete rules stated in the school handbook. The handbook also includes

punishment, and the punishment becomes more severe if they have more than one offense.

Anshuetz also stated that punishment is not their main focus at Madison Middle School, though.

Anshuetz mentioned that they focus on the reinforcement of positive behavior. For instance, if

they see a student showing exemplary character, they will give praise to that student. This

encourages students to act in an appropriate manner.

In order to conclude the interview on a more positive note, I asked the question, “what do

you enjoy most about your job?” When I asked this question, Anshuetz’s eyes seemed to

brighten and he mentioned that he loves to be a part of something bigger than the individual

person. He enjoys watching students grow and seeing them graduate. He also mentioned that he

loves seeing students want to attend Madison Middle School. Madison is over 50% school of

choice, so Anshuetz feels pride knowing that students choose Madison over the other local

schools.

Overall, my interview with Principal Brad Anshuetz was a positive experience. It was

like a breath of fresh air to see someone so passionate about their job and their role in student’s

lives.