Principal Howard Weiner’s day begins at 4:30 a.m. sharp with the ringing of his alarm. From the moment he leaves his house at 6:15 and takes a 30-mile drive to Miami Palmetto Senior High to the time he returns, totally exhausted, Weiner is constantly on the go.
“I usually get home around 6:00 p.m. on average nights,” Principal Weiner said. “However, if there are any activities, such as the Homecoming football game, I won’t see the front of my door until as late as 11:00 at night. That is a 17-hour long day.”
With so much occurring throughout that 17-hour day, Weiner efficiently treads water to keep from drowning in his paperwork. Even though Weiner’s agenda seems to overflow with appointments, he never feels very overburdened or too overworked.
“It’s all about organization; it’s about knowing what you have to get done and doing it in a timely fashion,” Weiner said.
Students and teachers spot Weiner in hallways and classrooms around Palmetto doing his demanding job – juggling important issues concerning the budget, personnel, the energy plans and physical management. However, Weiner’s job entails more than what meets Panthers’ eyes, more than what gets listed under his job description.
Whether because they find comfort around Weiner’s affable personality or because they really trust his status as the principal – the leader of the building – people receive counseling and mentoring from Weiner. This unofficial counseling and mentoring consumes a major chunk of Weiner’s personal time.
“Although I’m not a licensed clinician or a person that has a background in psychology, people feel comfortable opening up to me,” Weiner said. “I try to act as a mentor to them.”
As one can see, Weiner has many tasks preoccupying him throughout the day, allotting little personal time. Nonetheless, Weiner professes to relieve stress by fishing. Weiner travels on Saturday mornings to fish off a Dania Beach pier.
“I’m not interested in even catching any fish,” Weiner said. “I like to go out there and just sit with my iPod, listen to some Springsteen, and kind of commune with nature, just relax.”
Weiner must alter his mindset and become [what individuals perceive as] a superhuman principal in order to work under the restraints of Florida statutes and school board policies. This misconception of Weiner as some kind of “greater being” can be attributed to his “principal” title.
“Never confuse the title with the person,” Weiner said. “I’m just like everybody else. I have an awesome responsibility, I have good days, I have bad days, and I have emotions, just like everybody else. I’m just a regular guy.”
Weiner may not be a superhero, but it remains indisputable that Weiner truly spearheads the school to success.
“I try to be a role model for people,” Weiner said. “When we’re in a crisis situation, I make it a point to stay as calm as I can. People look at me for guidance.”
With all of the tasks he efficiently completes and rationally deals with, Weiner makes it obvious that he truly loves his job through his dedication, consistency, and his own true words.
“There’s a sign on my wall that says ‘choose a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life,’” Weiner said. “I have lived that philosophy ever since I entered the field of education 20 years ago.”
