Position Management: How to Empower Your Principals

Field Trip Podcast

Welcome to the third episode in a short series on workforce oversight in school districts! Once again, we welcome Frontline Education’s Mitch Welch and Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Business Services at Pearland Independent School District.

This conversation is all about empowering principals. With the right processes, workflows, and technology, you can enable them to make changes to staff positions seamlessly and efficiently and ensure that any changes are communicated back to the central office. This leads to greater principal involvement and autonomy, fostering a culture of buy-in and collaboration in making personnel decisions.

They explore:

• The innovative transition from paper to digital: Sundie describes the shift from a manual, paper-based process to a sophisticated digital system, leading to a seamless, paperless workflow that empowers campus-level autonomy.

• Autonomy at the campus level: By entrusting campus principals with the authority to manage positions, including hiring and adjustments, districts can foster a sense of ownership and expedite the decision-making process.

• Creating a Culture of Success: Creating a process that prevents errors and allows for informed decision-making can help school districts not only streamline administrative tasks but also build a culture where staff feel supported and empowered. The system's success lies in its ability to promote dialogue and reflection, leading to a positive work environment and a collective focus on the district's goals.

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

00:00 - The Importance of Principal Involvement

02:42 - The Journey from Manual to Digital Processes

04:50 - Empowering Principals with Autonomy

06:47 - The Role of Compliance and Control in Position Management

09:56 - The Impact of Effective Position Management

10:49 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Related Resources

• eBook: Position Management Playbook for School Districts: How implementing a position management plan strengthens district-wide efficiency for HR, IT, Finance and Payroll.

• Case Study: From Stacks of Paper to an HR Management System: Why the Iron County School District Human Resources Department chose Frontline HRMS, and how they’re using the system to bring all employee information into one place, save time on contract renewals and forms, and make reporting a breeze.