Influential Woman · Education

Vanessa Hernandez

Assistant Principal, Garland Independent School District

Garland, TX

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction Degree University of Texas at Arlington Degree Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Degree 2024 Cert Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction Cert Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Her Story

About Vanessa

I've dedicated nearly 20 years to education, beginning as a classroom teacher for 18 years before stepping into my role as an assistant principal, where I'm now completing my second year. What inspired me to enter this field was a deep need to help in the community. My day-to-day work involves dealing with behavior situations that arise, but I believe it's really more about building relationships with students. The biggest challenge I face - and I don't think it's a negative thing - is being able to maintain relationships with the parents of students in a positive way, because we're all part of the same team. Sometimes when I have to make phone calls about discipline issues or behavioral issues, that breaks a risk in the relationship I'm trying to build with the parents, because nobody likes to hear that their baby is having a hard time in school. I make it a habit to be as transparent as possible without being rude or condescending towards parents. I take written notes of conversations and read them back to them, so that I'm showing that I understand their point of view. I constantly remind them that maybe some things are happening at school that wouldn't be happening at home, but the fact is, behaviors do arise when kids are in larger groups around other children, and so I just try to be as empathetic as possible. I never have enough hours in the day to get everything done - every to-do list is already a part of tomorrow's to-do list.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Vanessa

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I feel like it's most important to be adaptable, because no day is like any other. It's very important to be able to adapt to certain situations, or to be flexible.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I think it's very important to start where you are, and grow from there, and build on your own strengths, and follow what's in your heart, and what's your conviction, and grow from there.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think that the biggest challenge that I have - but I don't think it's a negative thing - is being able to maintain relationships with the parents of the students in a positive way, because we're all part of the same team. Sometimes when I have to make phone calls about discipline issues or behavioral issues, that breaks a risk in the relationship that I'm trying to build with the parents, because nobody likes to hear that their baby is having a hard time in school. I just never have enough hours in the day to get everything done. I feel like every to-do list is already a part of tomorrow's to-do list, that I just don't have enough time to complete everything.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I like to be as transparent as possible without being rude or condescending towards parents. I make it a habit to take notes as parents have issues, and to take written notes of the conversations, and read them back to them, so that I'm showing that I understand their point of view. I just try to be as empathetic as possible with parents. I feel like it's really important to have things that provide you personal fulfillment, and that's what I see with my reading, because I'm able to travel to many places through the characters' perspectives, or to have a vacation while I'm at home whenever I'm reading different stories.

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