Take Five with Sara Haas: School Principal at Brighton Park Elementary

Take Five is a series that highlights some of the many members of the CPS community who are going above and beyond for our schools. If you know someone who is making a difference, nominate them to be featured here.

This week, as part of our District’s celebration of Principal Appreciation Month, we are excited to spotlight Principal Sara Haas of Brighton Park Elementary. Dr. Haas has been a CPS educator for nearly 20 years, and has served as the principal of Brighton Park Elementary for more than a decade.

Dr. Haas was drawn to education at a young age, inspired by her mother and grandmother, both of whom were teachers. After becoming an educator herself and participating in a pipeline program for urban education in the Little Village community, Dr. Haas sought to impact students beyond just one classroom. She made the decision to pursue school leadership, eventually earning her principal endorsement through the Chicago Leadership Collaborative. 

At Brighton Park, Dr. Haas juggles many responsibilities to ensure the school day runs smoothly. But her favorite part of the day is the time she spends talking to families, interacting with students in classrooms, and supporting teachers. 

“I'm very involved with our climate and culture team and our community school team. A lot of time is spent thinking about what kind of support our school community needs, and putting them at the center of everything we do,” says Dr. Haas. “Brighton Park is a small school, and I love that, because we all get to intimately know our students and their families.”

What are your goals for this school year? 

We're working on giving our students more opportunities to take on leadership roles. Examples range from leading morning announcements to helping clean up in the lunchroom and making sure that recess is safe so that students feel like this is a place that belongs to them. We're also working on strengthening instructional practices that will give students ownership of their learning

It's also a very challenging time in the city of Chicago, especially in neighborhoods like Brighton Park, which are composed largely of Latinx communities. At this time, we are prioritizing the physical and emotional safety of our students and their families and responding to what our kids need from us as adults and what our communities need from us as educators.

What does your leadership look like outside of Brighton Park? 

I'm honored to be a part of the Principal Advisory Committee, representing other network principals’ advisory committees. This role allows me to share insights with the District on what our students are experiencing and what our schools need in order to be successful. I’m also a part of the district’s School Leaders Care Team and the Executive Fellows program. School leadership is such a crucial job, but it can also be lonely and isolating, so providing that support for fellow school leaders has been something that is really important and exciting for me. As an executive fellow, I’ve also been able to connect with and learn from amazing leaders throughout our district while elevating my experiences as a building leader to the District level. 

How would you describe your leadership journey?

My journey through school leadership has been ever-changing. I began my career as the principal of Brighton Park before the pandemic, served my community during that time, and am now helping them navigate recent changes in our city. Despite the challenges, serving this school community has been very rewarding and fulfilling for me. 

What brings you back to Brighton Park year after year? 

The kids and their families are the best. Again, I like that we're a small community and that we have a wonderful partnership with our community organization. I'm really proud of our work in supporting our students and their families, and partnering with different community organizations and even different schools in the community with the wraparound services we provide. I know that students are deeply cared for when they're in our buildings, and I know that families are valued and supported. It's a wonderful little community we have here!

What is your message to school leaders in celebration of Principal Appreciation Month?

Principals are just the best! I believe it's the hardest and most important job in the District. It can be lonely, but just over the last several years, I have seen principals and school leaders come together and support one another. I'm incredibly proud of the work we all do, and it's definitely worth it.