Name: David Moffa

Title: Principal

Organisation: Holy Cross Preparatory Academy

As the school principal at Holy Cross Preparatory Academy, I lead a collaborative learning community that recognizes and values the inherent potential of each individual. I have been in a leadership role within the same school since 2018, gaining valuable experience as we continue to evolve together. I hold professional certifications in PA and NJ, and a Master of Science (M.S.) focused in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Joseph's University. As a leader, I focus on developing and implementing effective teaching strategies, analyzing and utilizing relevant data, and empowering all stakeholders to shape a positive school culture. I believe that strong interpersonal relationships are the foundation of any successful school, and that every student has an incredible ability to learn. My mission is to create a space where their growth can flourish, and where they can develop the skills and confidence to pursue their goals.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Educational Leadership!

I hope David's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as an Educational Leader?

Setting boundaries is the biggest challenge, especially when first beginning the journey as an educational leader. As a Principal I have to wear so many hats and get involved in so many facets of the school that at times it can be overwhelming. It is easy to begin to think that you have to be "on" 24/7, but that quickly leads to burnout and other mental stresses. Over time, I have learned that having the discipline to disconnect for periods makes me more effective, not less effective, in my role.

2. How did you become an Educational Leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

When I started in Education I was a Social Studies teacher at a public school in Philadelphia. From there I continued on to a private school close by, still sticking with my role as a 9-12 grade Social Studies teacher. Quite honestly I did not see myself moving into an administrative or leadership role, and loved my time in the classroom. However, as time went on I began to find myself falling into small leadership roles around the school, and enjoying the opportunities to work with my colleagues in that capacity. I worked to get my licenses for administration while I continued in the classroom, and then was presented with a unique opportunity to take a role as an administrator at a school that was going through a sort of rebirth as it transformed from a diocesan Catholic school to an independent, private school. That role allowed me to learn so much, as it was all hands on deck and I was able to be involved in every element of school leadership. I had great mentors and role models in the building to learn from, and I continued to grow within the same school as I became the Assistant Principal and then eventually took my current role as Principal.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Most days of the week I am up by 5:30am, and often head to the gym to swim or go for a run before the work day starts. Getting a workout in early helps me get my brain active and makes me feel ready for the day. I'm then at work by 7am and able to address emails from the night before prior to the students coming in. I always head down to the school entrance at 7:40am with our Dean of Students, where we supervise the students as they come in, getting to say good morning or see how they're doing. Once classes start at 8:00am I head to the Main Office, where I am able to spend the first hour or so of the day working on whatever project needs my attention at the computer, whether that is student schedules, parent communications, newsletters, policy updates, etc. After that hour I make sure to take a walk through the school on both levels, that way I can get an idea of what is going on in the classrooms, at times popping in and out based on what is happening in the lesson. After this point my day can take many twists and turns, as any educator will tell you, since often we deal with unexpected problems or issues. I generally build time into each day to have white space to work on whatever I deem important, often 30 minutes to an hour, and apart from that chunk my day into meetings with other administrators or teachers and classroom visits. Our school day is from 8am-2:30pm, and I generally try to leave by 3:30pm each day. Of course, I am often returning for evening events or other campus activities, but those are not considered part of my regular work day. Once I leave campus I make a point to disconnect. I spend time with my kids at home, where I'm usually running one of their soccer practices, making dinner, and enjoying family time. We value that time as a family, and I try my best to be present with my wife and kids when I am "off the clock," which is something I learned needs to be purposefully prioritized. On a good day once the kids are in bed I have time to sit and read, watch a game or show on tv, and be in bed by 11pm.

4. What's a recent lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of as an Educational Leader?

As an leader, you cannot take things personally. You are never going to please every person all the time, and in fact many of the decisions you make may cause people to get upset. However, the best thing to do is acknowledge those feelings, recognize their presence, and give the person space to feel that way without getting defensive or trying to prove a point. As long as you act with compassion and integrity, and follow the appropriate processes, then you can be confident in your response to any situation.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your journey as an Educational Leader so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted you?

Essentialism by Greg McKeown had a big impact on me. The book does an incredible job of outlining how to reframe the busy, hectic world that we all live in so that we can navigate it with purposeful action. As an educational leader, there is often so much noise, so many people calling for our attention, that we can get lost in all the chaos. The lessons in this book really help call me back to focus and keep me moving forward positively.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young educator who aspires to be an Educational Leader, what would you say to them?

Never stop evolving and learning. You are going to make mistakes. You are going to do things in your first year or two that you will look back on and laugh at because now they seem so clearly wrong. Be willing to admit that, learn, and grow. People will respect you for it and be happy to follow someone who has the integrity to admit errors, but also inspired to follow someone who is seeking to push their own boundaries.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as an Educational Leader, so far?

In my first year as Principal I connected with an individual that was an alumni of the school who was now growing in the world as a personal coach and keynote speaker. His passion for the message he was conveying was inspiring, and he agreed to speak to our faculty at a PD day. The reaction from the staff was amazing to see, as he got everyone laughing, learning, and growing together. We were then fortunate to bring him back in the Spring to speak to our student body as a whole, and again I was so appreciative of the way he was able to get a positive message across to our students, one that I thought was so valuable for them to hear. It was a great example to me very early on that my role as a leader was going to be to get the right messaging at the right time to the students and staff that I serve, but that I didn't need to be the one delivering that message (nor should I be, most of the time). I've kept that notion with me as I continue in this role, trying my best to find the most effective ways to build our school culture via different avenues of leadership beyond my own office.