GRADUATE SCHOOL

General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

MEGAN, THE YOUNG PRINCIPAL

A few weeks before assuming her position as the newly appointed principal in 2019,
Megan Gonzaga was well aware of how big the responsibility she is about to fill in.
Nonetheless, she was ecstatic and excited to take on the new milestone in her career.
However, upon taking on the new position, Megan realized that what she did not see
coming is the kind of treatment she would receive from the more experienced faculty
members. She recounted: “I have already anticipated challenges prior to accepting the
principal position. I have expected the worse, but my actual experience is far worst from
the picture I have in mind.”

Now at 28, Megan is facing a lot of challenges and dilemma. Two of her senior faculty
members, Tess with almost 20 years of loyalty to ITS University and Angie with 15 years
of experience in the same institution, are reluctant to acknowledge her position as the
principal and doubted her capability to lead the school.

One time, as Megan passed by the corridor, she unintentionally overheard Tess talking
to Angie, in the nearby ladies’ room:

“I can’t believe that Megan is now our school principal. We have been with
ITS University for several ages before her, yet she was the one chosen to
lead?! Yes, she was good at teaching the kids but she was just 28 years old
and she was only working here for 5 years. What does she know about the
school operations? What does she know about leading this academic
institution!? Sounds like she was chosen out of admiration of the school
president”

Megan sadly and deeply sighed upon hearing those words coming from the people
who once praised and commended her for her teaching approaches. She, somehow,
doubted her credibility as a young principal. And she pondered on self-reflection: “Am I
not worthy? Do I really deserve where I am right now?”

The newly appointed principal is an Education graduate major in English Language at

the Big University. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Management and
Doctor of Philosophy in Education both at Press University. Ever since young, her
ambitions were to become the best possible teacher and to provide children with positive
learning experiences. Megan’s career achieved that and much more as she grew from a
promising young teacher. Throughout her teaching career, she was able to exemplary
blended the traditional and the innovative approach to teaching which earned her
admiration and commendation from both her students and colleagues. Having received
JEFTHY T. BALUG, LPT
MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
A CASE SUBMITTED FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE ORGANIZATION
 GRADUATE SCHOOL
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

many positive messages and feedback from her colleagues, Megan made friends at school,
and credited her many friendships and accomplishments for helping her to develop a
positive self-image.

An enthusiastic professional, Megan earned commendation as the most outstanding

student teacher. Her classmates as well as her critic teacher always described her as
hardworking person, crediting much of her successes to her high level of energy and her
passion for teaching. Early in her career, she changed her entire classroom into a learning-
center approach. She then had to learn more about the approach to keep it operational by
reflecting on and learning from her own practices. Soon after she began, the positive
effects of her innovation on learners drew her colleagues' attention. When they told her she
was doing great things for students, she gained additional confidence from their support.
The positive beginnings Megan experienced led her to believe that she had something to
offer, and then she would become involved in leading projects within the school.

She would typically tell Billy, her principal, what she had planned about her strategies
and how she would go about it. She would then get on with the student activities. Although
Megan worked with Billy for only a few years, she stressed the positive effects Billy’s
influence had on her professional development. Billy was also helpful to Megan by
encouraging her to work with curriculum consultants. Megan worked extensively with the
consultants, and soon became a major figure on the professional development.

Later during her work, Megan encountered Tess, her co-teacher and is also working
with the consultants. Unlike Megan, Tess has been working in ITS University for 19 years.
Megan enjoyed her work with Tess because of her constant emphasis on engaging and
helping others. She commented that Tess helped her learn to network, organize, look after
details, delegate, and invite others to do things. Megan described her learning experiences
as climbing a set of stairs, and that, as she reached one step, she would already be trying to
put her foot on the next so that her skills would continue to grow. She commented, "I saw
that I could do a lot of organizing and delegating despite the fact that I was a teacher rather
than a consultant."

Megan recalled Tess as a very inviting person, who was one of her main supporters,
and who sent many opportunities in her direction. She noted, "Tess always saw the
strengths in people. She would give you all the rope that you needed to go and do the job.
She was truly great at delegating." She described her working relationships with Tess and
her principal, Billy as presenting her with great learning opportunities for professional
growth and development.

JEFTHY T. BALUG, LPT

MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
A CASE SUBMITTED FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE ORGANIZATION
 GRADUATE SCHOOL
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

When Billy talks about his retirement, some faculty members were talking about who
would be the next one to take up his leadership position. Billy, with a smile on his face,
turned his head towards Megan and most faculty members and consultants were all smiling
together and seemed to understand and agree to what Billy means. Megan, however, noted
that Tess and Angie, sitting beside each other were in poker face and does not seem to be
happy with what was going on.

One office day, noticing her hard work and dedication to her job, the school president,
Maggie called Megan in her office, commending her 5 years of excellent performance in
ITS University. The latter proudly stated:

“Thank you so much for the amazing job that you do. Knowing that you
care for our students gives me the confidence and reassurance that our
school will go further with you in the lead. Over the last 5 years, the
teachers and school have made a huge difference to both the students and
the school. And I would like to commend, especially you, for your creative
approaches. Thank you for always doing all you can to bring out the best in
our students. With that, you have also motivated and encouraged other
faculty members to strive.” Another reason why I called for you is that, I
would like to inform you that Billy is retiring soon and he recommended you
to take up space in his position. And I agree with him. I want you to take
Billy’s position after his retirement.”

Despite receiving constant commendation, Megan did not expect to receive promotion
nor messages to undertake leadership or administrative roles until she received this
statement from the school president. For a moment, she was puzzled and ecstatic as she
could not believe hearing it from the school president thinking, he just stayed for 5 years in
ITS University. She was happy with her teaching job along with the curriculum
consultation that she attends to. And now, there is this promotion. After a thorough and
careful consideration, believing that the principal could give her more opportunity to
provide impact compare to her current position, she eventually accepted the offer.

After working as a faculty member for five years and a teaching consultant for more
than two years, Megan became a principal. She described her move into administration,
stating, "It will be a good time to be working as a principal because I had a lot of
opportunities to create to the students, teachers, and the school per se. Megan, however,
sensed that some of her colleagues frowned upon her early promotion. Despite this, she
vows to do the duties with utmost vigor and enthusiasm.

JEFTHY T. BALUG, LPT

MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
A CASE SUBMITTED FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE ORGANIZATION
 GRADUATE SCHOOL
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

One time, the young principal called for a general meeting with the faculty and
consultants to talk about changes she would like to implement for the upcoming academic
year. Most were eager to hear it but some are not. There is Tess, who seemed to have no
interest to whatever transpires during the meeting and Angie who is unreactive during the
meeting and is busy scrolling down on her phone. The young principal, for the moment,
ignored what she has observed and proceeded with the important general meeting.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, she assigned each faculty members and the
consultants with various task that they need to accomplish in two weeks.

When the deadline approaches, most tasks designated were accomplished and were
submitted to Megan’s office. However, upon checking the tasks, two were missing. Megan
found out that Tess and Angie have not submitted the one year curriculum plan for English
9 designated to them. Megan was disappointed and pissed as the unaccomplished tasks is
very important as they are approaching the start of the new academic year. The young
principal gets irritated by the two senior colleagues who do not perform the job assigned to
them. Out of frustration and curiosity, he then contacted Billy, the retired principal whom
he replaced, to know if the two were like that during his term.

“No, they are not like that. In fact, just like you, those two were very active
and would always do the task I assigned to them very well,” Billy stated.
“Is that so?” she said.
“Why do you asked?” Billy wondered.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that, they seemed unenthusiastic lately”, Megan
responded in wonder.
“What is wrong with those two”? Megan asked herself. “Why can’t they
just acknowledge their new principal?”

Megan recalled, “Ever since I became the principal, I often felt ignored by some of my
senior colleagues.” Adding that she heard unpleasant gossip about her and why she was
promoted to principal so quickly. "There were even a few comments that I had gotten the
job because I was a favorite of the former principal” Megan sighed.

There are also instances when the young principal attempts to initiate changes to
meetings and activities but were ignored by her senior faculty members and colleagues.
There were times when she felt her competence is questioned by the seniority. Although
she lamented her struggles with implementing school change, she realized that she
ultimately grew into a stronger, more skilled leader because of them.

JEFTHY T. BALUG, LPT

MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
A CASE SUBMITTED FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE ORGANIZATION
 GRADUATE SCHOOL
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

The young principal’s challenges increased when Tess and Angie have influenced
other several senior teachers and attempted to engage her in a power struggle. She admitted
that she found the uncooperative, unfriendly attitudes of some of the teachers very
unpleasant and that, initially, she felt overwhelmed by the challenges. Megan described
working extremely hard as a young principal to convince and demonstrate to teachers that
"We're all on the same team."

Finally, the young principal has decided to search for a workable solution to the
problem with the school president, who supported her choice of confronting the teachers in
an open discussion. After learning more about the teachers and their unhappiness, Megan
had a very open discussion with them.

One of her dilemmas involved addressing issues of teachers’ competence. She

believed that every child could learn and was entitled to competent classroom teaching.
While the majority of teachers had worked really hard for the students, a small number of
teachers were not. Aside from issues on competence, Megan also addressed extensively her
concern and displeasure on some senior teachers. She expressed her views that, “teachers
will not be promoted based on their seniority but rather than the talents and skills they had
for the positions.” Further, she mentioned of upholding respect towards everybody,
pointing that, “everyone, regardless of the number of experiences in their pocket, is entitled
for promotion as long as they are deserving of it.” Lastly, she emphasized that, “we are not
enemies; we are on the same boat in providing quality education that the students deserve
from this school.” Everyone in the room, including Tess and Angie were shocked with the
firm statement coming from the young principal. The tension is felt in the discussion room.

After expressing her thoughts, Megan asked her colleagues especially the senior
teachers, “Do you have any concerns you want to raise?” However, everyone is quite; no
one has dared raise a question or concern. Then the young principal has proceeded with the
last part of the agenda. She designated another task to everyone as the opening of the new
academic year is about to start in a month. Then, the meeting has ended.

The day after that, the young principal has deeply reflected on how she has handled
the meeting. She thinks she did what has to be done. Now, she is just waiting for the final
academic plan she has assigned to the teachers. She pondered on a question: “Will there be
changes in the performance of the senior teachers, especially Tess and Angie?” “Will I
finally gain the respect a principal must have received from the teachers?” “I think that’s
for me to find out in the coming days.” Megan ended.

JEFTHY T. BALUG, LPT

MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
A CASE SUBMITTED FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE ORGANIZATION