October is National Principals Month, and to commemorate it, a local publication sat down with Westmoor Middle School's Principal, Wendy Gittens. In her interview, she provided insight into the role and influence of a principal, now serving the community since her CCS start in 2018 and in education since 2016. She emphasized, "I think it’s ensuring that the right people are in the right place," laying out the essence of her leadership at Westmoor, as reported by the source, Columbus City Schools.
Under her watch, not only are scholastic benchmarks chased, but also the holistic well-being of students is tended. When reflecting on her most prideful moments, Gittens described seeing students grow as her keystone, warmly recounting students who appreciatively exit middle school's brief three-year tenure, saying, "thank you." "That really warms my heart and makes me come back and do it again," Gittens told the publication via CCS.
Gittens's own motivations are rooted firmly in the soil of her faith, family, and a strong desire to afford opportunities to those most underserved. It's these motivations that drive her both personally and professionally, as found in the insightful discussion. A particular student anecdote encapsulated the resilience Gittens both witnesses and fosters - a high school student, once volatile and now a life-saving emergency flight nurse. "Every time I see him, I just bubble over with joy," she recalled.
To those stepping into their first leadership role, Gittens offers sobering advice drawn from her years of experience. "Be sure that your heart is in it because some days, that is all that keeps you in the seat," Gittens emphasized, according to CCS, shedding light on the complexities and emotional investments inherent in educational leadership. This little person greeting you or telling about their day is the affirmations, she believes, that carve out the meaning in a leader's efforts.
Appreciating Gittens's commitment, the conversation culminated with thanks for her dedication to the growth and maturation of both students and staff she serves. Principal Gittens, through hard work and compassionate leadership, embodies the Columbus City Schools mantra, "Leaders are Grown Here," as per CCS, reflective of the community's nurturing educational environment.
