NHS Principal

Balancing home-work life with children has never been an easy task. This balance is often made even more challenging by working in a career with odd hours. A leadership position in education creates another set of challenges to maintaining this equilibrium. 

Newtown High School principal Dr. Kimberly Longobucco has been principal for eight years, but had her first child, named Brooks, two years ago. 

Adjusting to a work-home balance may be difficult, and may even take years to adjust to. There are hiccups and mistakes throughout the process.

Mothers in administrative roles on online discussion platforms  such as Reddit, report they feel like a “passive mother” and that they aren’t in their life as much due to their work, or physically with their family, but responding to work emails and phone calls. This feeling is both common and confusing.

“You’re not always good at it. And sometimes some things fall through the cracks, and there is a  birthday party this weekend or I need to buy a gift for somebody. You need to figure that out,”  Longobucco said.

As a high school principal, there are events that Longobucco has to make an appearance at for her work. This causes arrangements for her son to get challenging.

“Sometimes the nights are difficult. I have to make arrangements for him to be with somebody if I have to go to a concert or a board meeting, or a scholarship event,” Longobucco said. 

Longobucco’s work routine has changed since becoming a mother, from being able to work at home after school to picking up her son from daycare. 

“I used to go home and work right after school, or I would stay here really late and finish things. Now, having my son in a daycare that actually closes, I have to pick him up. Sometimes I look at the time and it's 4 o’ clock, and I have to go,” Longobucco said.

Time management is a key factor for working mothers, let alone anybody with a career. 

“Knowing where we are at specific times during the day is crucial for naps or other things he might need. It’s more time management and building our calendar that works for my husband and I. Before I had Brooks, I was able to do whatever I needed to, wherever I needed to do it,”  Longobucco said.

A great support system is essential to have as a working mother. This can include supportive partners, friends, or even co-workers.

“I feel very lucky to work with a lot of great people. Brooks hangs out with the athletic teams and with the music department and with whatever function is happening.  He's very happy to be run-round and hang around here. I also think it is a cool environment for him to grow up with too.” said Longobucco.

The amount of working mothers at Newtown High School can provide an enduring  environment and a sense of comfort. 

“I think we have a good support group of us here who can talk through all of that together and we’re lucky because most of our kids are together at the daycare. Our kids get to grow up being friends, and we are already friends, and being able to support each other through being working parents.” said Longobucco.

There are over 24 million working mothers in the United States with children under the age of 18.  Dr Kimberly Longbucco is among that statistic and still maintains her administrative role at Newtown High School.