During his mods off from teaching, music director Dan Briggs struggles to study and complete assignments for his own classes. In addition to his extensive workload at school, Briggs is facing the task of earning his master’s degree.

Briggs is working on completing an internship in administration as part of his master’s program at Johns Hopkins University. This January, Briggs intends on taking his principal certification test.

Briggs hopes to graduate in May with his Master of Education degree with a specialty in administration and supervision before attending doctoral programs the following year. Principal Paul Barker is mentoring Briggs in his studies.

Briggs attends weekly meetings with the “core” team consisting of Barker, Vice Principal Gary Scholl, and the deans. In addition, he attended the pre-school retreat and has spoken to the Academic Council, all a part of “getting his feet wet in the job,” said Barker. Briggs is also chairing the School Improvement Team, which will create a report of how the school meets its goals.

His job is to complete “a lot of leadership jobs,” said Barker. Briggs is required to complete 200 hours of administrative activity.

Barker said, “Briggs is a good candidate for an administrative position. Look at how he has handled the music department — with energy, burn, and good humor. He is in command of a very large program, with 120 kids in his homeroom.”

According to Barker, there is a lack of interest among the faculty in administrative positions because of the time commitment. “If you ask most teachers in the school ‘Would you like to do what Mr. Barker or Mr. Scholl does?’ The answer is hell no. It’s a heck of a lot of hours,” said Barker.

Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl described his own job as “a huge undertaking…It’s a tough job; you’re under fire every day.” With the responsibility of “troubleshooting problems” that affect administration, faculty, parents, and, most importantly, students, “It’s impossible to please everyone.”

Scholl also explained that being an administrator requires a balance and good perspective. But the most important quality of a leader is service. And with so many people affected by every decision, there are “lots of masters” to serve.

However, Briggs is not the only faculty member interested in a potential administrator position. Foreign Language department chair Danica Zavodny received her Master of Education Administration degree from the College of Notre Dame in December 2008.

Like Briggs, Zavodny had to intern at JC. “I had to observe teachers, attend meetings, work on curriculum, and accumulate 350 total hours of internship,” Zavodny said.

As part of her administrative preparation, Zavodny worked on researching for and implementing the new advisory program in lieu of homerooms that will be put into effect next year.

Zavodny, however, did not immediately search for a job to put this degree into use. “I would like to be an administrator at some point,” said Zavodny, “but the students are the most enjoyable part of my job. It’s difficult to think about leaving the classroom. However, if the opportunity arises here or at another school that interested me, I would pursue it.”

Briggs, on the other hand, fully intends on seeking out administrative jobs next year after so much preparation and schooling. However, he said, “If I get a job here, I’m staying here. I certainly love this school very much.”

While he pushes forward in advancing his career, Briggs admitted that he will miss being a full-time teacher. “There will certainly be a part of me that will not be replaced. My time spent with students will be reduced,” he said.

Scholl confirmed this time commitment: “I go to a lot of meetings every week- more than I would like.” Scholl also explained that his time gets “so bound up” the only chance he has to see students is during his Anthropology class, which is 1/5 of his heavy workload.

Still, Briggs said, “Although there is an intangible quality of being in the classroom that just isn’t the same in an office, I still hope to interact with students on an equally beneficial level.”

At twenty-five years old, if Briggs were to be hired for an administrative job at JC next year, he would be the youngest administrator ever at the school.

He admits that sometimes his youth is frustrating. Employers historically value experience which Briggs cannot necessarily provide. “It’s a struggle, wishing you were older and trying not to wish your life away,” said Briggs.

Briggs said, “I have a lot of energy and passion for job [administrative work].”

Charlotte Hagerman can be reached for comment at [email protected].