Q&A: Sandy Anderson, Principal of Fairview Elementary

When Sandy Anderson does her first morning announcements as principal of Fairview Elementary School this fall, she’ll sign off with “Make it a great day or not. The choice is yours, but remember, there are consequences to all of our actions, choices, and words. So be kind, do your best, and I love you.” 

It’s her signature ending. That last part is, while perhaps nontraditional, important to her ethos.

“I think it's important for our kids to hear that. Not only do their parents or family members love them, but there are people at school who love and care about them too.” she tells Williamson Scene.  

Anderson most recently worked as a principal of a Texas elementary school and before that served as a teacher and as an administrator in Washington. One of her goals for this year is to learn the name of every student and staff member. She spoke with Williamson Scene via phone about the year ahead. 

Williamson Scene: What are some things that you learned at your previous positions that you hope to apply here? 

Sandy Anderson: I learned, most importantly, relationships matter. Relationships matter with families, with teachers and staff, with our students. When there are positive relationships, and when we seek to understand and we assume positive intent, then I think collaborative conversations and decisions can better happen, and ultimately those are designed to improve student learning and student success in our schools. 

Having taught in various schools and states, what remains true about the qualities that make someone a good principal? 

I think there are several characteristics of what makes a good principal, and one of those is being able to establish foundational relational trust. Being personable, really listening, listening before responding … seek first to understand, then to be understood.

It is really easy in this line of work to try to do everything alone. Sometimes the principal is viewed as the superhero of the building with all the answers, and that's just not the case. I think when principals can be open-minded and humble and listen to all of the perspectives that impact a decision — I think that's helpful too.

What are the biggest joys and also then the biggest challenges of being in this line of work? 

I think the greatest joy in this work comes from being around the kids when they experience joy in learning. Learning is a core value of mine, and so I love to learn, and I love to be around people who love to learn.

On the staff end, what brings me joy is when they experience success, and they've come up with a way of doing something or teaching a kid who has been really hard to reach, and then all of a sudden it makes sense. 

I think what is challenging at times, specifically now, is the amount of screen time that we're competing against. School is very different now than it was when I went to school, and the way many of our teachers went to school. There's some great needs with some of our young population right now, with mental support and health support, and so we’re just trying to find the real time support that's going to help a kid thrive. It's a puzzle, but I love a good puzzle.

Being new to Williamson County, what have you learned about the area so far? 

We have a very tight-knit community, a very welcoming and supportive community. There are people here to help you at the drop of a hat. I've been very welcomed and well received — so has my family. We've just been made to feel very comfortable here, and I love that about this town and smaller towns in general. I think sometimes that's a trademark of smaller communities is this desire to help people. 

There's a lot of pride here. There's a lot of pride in who they are, who they were, and where we're going. I know Fairview Elementary is very important to the people in this community, and having a good leader and someone who will attend events and be present is very important. I’m ready. 

What do you want parents to know about you? Teachers? Students?

What I want parents to know about me is: I think we have the same goal in mind as the success of their children, and so establishing a collaborative partnership is really important to me. If parents have questions or concerns, I invite them and encourage them to reach out and schedule time so that we can sit down together and troubleshoot and problem solve.

I want staff to know that I've got their back. I love teachers. They are the heartbeat and the heart of this school, and not just teachers, our support staff, our custodians, our secretaries, our lunch ladies, everybody that you can think of. It takes a village to raise kids, and I love being part of this village.

I think what I want students to know about me is that I'm a pusher. I'm gonna push you to do and be your best because I love you.