By Lily M., Seventh grade student, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a school principal? Principals have a very important job, and their work became even more complicated after the pandemic hit. Today, many students are back in school, and their principals are hard at work, making sure the school day remains safe and as normal as possible.
For Dr. Robyn Blum, principal of Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation, one of the most exciting parts of her job is working with the faculty. “The biggest part of my job at KSDS is to work with each of our teachers, to see the wonderful things that they bring to their classrooms, to talk to them about their lesson plans and how to help each student achieve all that they can,” Blum said.
One of Blum’s responsibilities is to serve as a role model for community members. She said an important aspect of being a principal is understanding that every person in every situation has lots of perspectives. “I treat all people with respect, to hear their ideas, to involve others and to work with others,” Blum said.
Blum did not always want to become a principal. Growing up, she loved school and education, and anything she thought of had to do with teaching. “I started as a teacher at Krieger Schechter and then took on more responsibilities. It just kind of happened,” Blum said.
Blum has been the head of KSDS middle school for six years. Before that, she served as assistant to Rabbi Stuart Seltzer at Chizuk Amuno’s Rosenbloom Religious School. Then she started teaching at KSDS in 2006. This is her first year as KSDS K-8 principal.
Blum’s typical day as a principal is very busy. She arrives at school between 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. She drops off her things in her office and then responds to emails from teachers, students and parents. She then greets students as they come into the building.
The rest of her day is spent in classrooms, meeting and interacting with students. The most challenging part about Blum’s job is balancing all the things that go on in the school building. She says it’s like juggling balls. There are a lot of balls in the air. “There are students and parents and teachers and details and communication. I have to keep that all balanced so I do not let a ball drop and so I don’t miss anything. That’s the most important part.”
Orly Mondell, vice principal of Parkville Middle School and parent of a KSDS seventh grader, also juggles many different balls for her job. As 2015-2016 teacher of the year in Baltimore County, Mondell is responsible for student discipline, school testing, attendance rates and planning for the math/science/technology magnet program. Her responsibilities include taking care of 1200 students.
Mondell did not plan on becoming a principal. But because she did well as a teacher, she was asked to pursue the job of a principal as “a line of work outside of teaching.” She has served as a principal for four years at Parkville Middle School.
The best part of her job is watching students learn and grow, Mondell says. She also likes working with teachers, seeing their plans for student success. Currently, the most challenging part of her day is transportation because of serious issues with bus driver shortages. Therefore, her day is spent monitoring bus transportation for 1,200 students. “Sometimes I get home at 5:30 when the [school] day ends at 3,” Mondell said.
A typical day for her starts at 5 am when she wakes up. By 6:20, she’s at school waiting for buses from 7:45 to 8:30. From there, her time is spent meeting with students, working with teachers, visiting classrooms, and overseeing testing and lunch in the cafeteria.
Despite the long hours of hard work, Mondell said she loves her job. She is passionate about working with the students and teachers and witnessing the growth in those around her.
Both Blum and Mondell work endless hours to ensure that their schools run smoothly and safely. These women are great role models for our community. They balance their jobs, families and other responsibilities like true professionals.
Lily M. is a seventh grade student at the Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation.
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