Teresa McFarland, Principal at Harmony Elementary is wrapping up her first year as the site’s principal. McFarland was promoted to Principal in January of this year after Principal Alisa Fallon moved to another state. With almost a school year under her belt, she is excited to continue to implement new ideas and programs that will further engage students and staff at Harmony.
McFarland has been in education for over 30 years and has found a true passion in helping students find success. She said her goal is not only for students on campus to be successful, but also for them to be excited to come to school every day. At the beginning of the school year, she asked staff to write down their hope for the 2017-18 school year. McFarland’s goal is to mail staff their card in the middle of the year to continue to inspire them throughout the school year.
McFarland said last year was an important opportunity for her to learn. She was able to gain a true understanding of where students were succeeding and where staff needed to make adjustments to better support students. She also said that last year proved to be the perfect opportunity to build relationships with students, families, and staff members. “As a leader, it is imperative that I have a relationship with the people at my school,” said McFarland. Through the building of these relationships, she has gained valuable insight from staff, families, and even students on identifying needs and interests of students and matching them to resources that meet those needs.
McFarland mentioned that it is an exciting time for students and staff. They began implementing school wide AVID and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) strategies into the classroom to inspire students to begin to think about their futures. The school is also implementing creative and innovative new ways to deepen teacher learning and professional development.
“I want families to want to bring their students to Harmony because they know we provide a nurturing environment and that we are the best school for students to achieve due to the services we provide for their children,” said McFarland.
Congratulations to Teresa McFarland on your almost one-year anniversary as Harmony Elementary Principal. We look forward to the continued success of the students on campus!