Principals, Do This for a Huge Boost to Your School Culture -Walk Around
Summary: CT sits down with William Nee, principal of Oakland Unity High School in Oakland, California, for an in-depth discussion on “active supervision” in school leadership. Rather than adopting a traditional, office-bound approach, William spends most of his school days on his feet, actively engaging with students, staff, and the school environment. This episode explores William’s philosophy and the real-world practicalities of his “mobile office” approach, his focus on relationships, and the outcomes his school has achieved.
Key Takeaways:
- Active supervision is a proactive, intentional strategy that involves moving around, scanning all areas, and frequently interacting with students—whether in classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, or transitions.
- Prevents and addresses behavioral issues, reduces challenging behaviors, and increases on-task and positive behavior.
- Fosters student safety by monitoring all students, anticipating risks, and responding quickly to prevent injuries or unsafe situations.
- Builds stronger relationships between staff and students through regular, informal interactions, encouraging positive feedback, and providing timely support when needed.
- Increases student engagement and learning assistance by identifying students who need help and offering immediate, developmentally appropriate feedback and redirection.
- Promotes a positive school culture by reinforcing expectations, prompting appropriate behavior, and delivering corrective actions as needed—all in a fair, consistent, and relational manner.
- Effective in all settings and age groups, including classrooms, outdoor play, transitions, and after-school activities, and is adaptable to different levels of risk and student independence.
- Requires minimal resources but yields significant benefits, reducing disruptions and increasing safety with simple strategies like proximity, scanning, and regular student check-ins.
- Staff training and intentional setup are essential—active supervision works best when the environment is organized for visibility, staff are positioned strategically, and everyone understands their role in supervision
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Active Supervision
00:57 Meet Principal William Nee
01:12 The Oakland Unity High School Story
03:11 The Evolution of School Discipline
04:42 The Power of Active Supervision
05:49 A Day in the Life of Principal Nee
08:29 The Importance of Presence
09:36 Lessons from the Hallways
13:59 Building Relationships and Community
16:36 The Impact of Active Supervision
17:39 Engaging with Students in the Hallway
18:41 Balancing Administrative Duties and School Culture
19:35 The Importance of Being Present
21:30 Tools and Techniques for Effective Supervision
23:18 Adapting Leadership Styles Post-COVID
25:54 Focusing on Academic Results
31:06 Advice for Implementing Active Supervision
Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung
Connect with William Nee: linkedin.com/in/william-nee-a16b00233
Whether you're currently wearing the principal badge, aspiring to the big chair, or teaching while secretly taking notes on what you'd do differently, Principal Office Hours delivers actionable strategies you can implement faster than a student being sent to detention.
Subscribe now and join the faculty lounge conversation that's too real for the school board meeting. New episodes drop every week.
Warning: May cause spontaneous leadership growth and occasional inappropriate laughter during staff meetings.
