Handheld Mania

Do the terms handheld, PDA, and Blackberry mean anything to you? I know we have all heard of these things, even if we have never personally used one. You know those kids who can eat supper and text about 70 words a minute, all without looking directly at their phones? What about the people who appear to be talking to themselves until you see the bluetooth device jutting from their ear? This may soon be your principal. The handheld market has brought about many possibilities to the principal as the school leader and manager. For example, crisis management can be made easier through the storing of student information and emergency contact information. The key to success for principals, regardless of the role they are playing, is in information accessibility. And now, forgive me for being somewhat cliche, it is quite literally at our fingertips. With just the push of a button or, better yet, a key, the principal can retrieve most of what is needed. In the future, please do not be alarmed if you see your friendly neighborhood administrator checking his PDA, texting away on one cell phone, and apparently talking to himself with some strange growth hanging out of his ear.