Mr. Samuel Karns
Principal, Todd Elementary School
April 2024 - What I Love About Being a Principal
Being an Elementary School Principal is by Far One of the Greatest Jobs in the World
I love that I get an opportunity every day to demonstrate servant leadership and serve as a
role model for our future generation to look up to. One of the things I love the most about being a
school principal is the opportunity to support the “whole” child by meeting our students, families, and
the community where they are. Through this lens, I can prioritize and focus on addressing not
just my students’ academic needs but also their social, emotional, and physical well-being so that our students can reach their highest potential.
My journey as a principal is filled with memorable moments of joy and gratification daily because I get
to witness and be a part of the growth and achievements of our students, staff, and families. One
of my favorite times this past year was when Anthony Espino, one of our 4K students, wanted to be my
twin for our spirit week by dressing up like me. He even had his principal badge on and was ready to
lead the school. Memories like this remind me why I cherish the platform I have been blessed with as a
school principal to positively shape the minds and inspire the lives of those I get to connect with.
Building Relationships with Students, Staff, and Families is at the Heart of What I Do
I believe that establishing trust, respect, and empathy is foundational for meaningful connections that will support the academic, social, and emotional growth of all members in our school community and Beloit. Every day, I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels heard, understood, valued, and connected.
I love starting my day by walking through every classroom and greeting all our students and staff with fist bumps and high fives before the day begins. We then follow that up with music and positive morning announcements to begin the day strong. I want to be in the action, so you will find me interacting closely with students and staff throughout the day. During 2nd grade recess, I usually officiate a soccer game, and during 5th grade recess, students request me to quarterback for them during football. I have also recently started working in a small group with some of our Kindergarten students to help them grow in their foundational reading skills.
I believe that One of my Key Responsibilities is Serving as the CEO (Culture Energy Officer)
I want to create a positive school culture through establishing solid connections that foster a sense of belonging and inclusiveness among students, staff, and parents. This is something you will feel the moment you step into our school and even as you walk through our hallways, where there is tons of student work and multicultural artifacts. We love organizing events and programming that bring our school community together by embracing our diversity with celebrations like Hispanic Heritage, Read Your Heart Out, Asian American Pacific Islander Day, and many other diverse opportunities. This has created a sense of belonging, unity, and pride across our school enhancing everyone’s overall educational experiences.
Aspiring to Engage Everyone
One of my aspirations as a school leader is to maximize my platform to engage with our families by
involving parents and guardians in their child(ren)’s educational journey. I have adopted the phrase coined by Hamish Brewer, a tattooed skateboarding principal, “We don’t just enroll students; we enroll families.” This statement truly resonates with me philosophically as a leader because we must work with our families to create a supportive network that encourages academic achievement and personal growth. We do this now through our family nights, literacy nights, math nights, wellness nights, family carnivals, and many other school-wide events.
I mentioned earlier that I get to start my day by welcoming students and staff and starting our day strong. At the end of the day, I serve as our crossing guard and help with the car rider dismissal line. Rain, snow, or shine, I enjoy this time because I talk with families about their child(ren)’s progress and how their day went.
Collaborating with Community Partners Brings Me Joy
Another area in my role as a principal that brings me great joy is collaborating with community partners to meet our students and families' needs better. Working closely with teachers, support staff, and the wider community allows me to build off the strengths and gifts each person brings to the table to leverage those strengths for our student's learning and well-being. I am passionate about connecting the dots with our stakeholder groups, especially when it comes together to support our kids. Last year, we came together as a community to serve over 400 students by providing them with immunizations, vision screening, dental assessments, haircuts, and school supplies, and we had over 25 resource providers for our families so that our students were ready to return to school to learn. We are already in the planning stages for a second year.
Our Todd Elementary Team is Awesome!
Ultimately, what I love the most about being a principal is the role and opportunities I get to help shape the future. Our team at Todd is amazing, and the staff’s passion and dedication help motivate me to show up every day and be the best version of myself for kids. I love my staff, the kids, our families, and this community. Through educational experiences, inspiration, motivation, and guidance, we empower students to reach their greatest potential, pursue their dreams, and make a positive impact in an ever-changing world. By instilling character traits of perseverance, courage, creativity, and responsibility, we equip our students with the tools they need to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to society. It is a privilege and a joy to be part of their journey towards a brighter and promising future.
