Navigating The Principalship

In Navigating the Principalship, James P. Spillane and Rebecca Lowenhaupt look at the major challenges of the principal position, examining how new principals adapt to the role, set an instructional agenda, and build cooperation and collaboration. They focus in particular on the dilemmas that mark the principalship—the inevitable, complicated conflicts that arise from a clash of worthwhile values and resist simple solutions, such as - Addressing the demands of various internal and external stakeholders - Accomplishing seemingly limitless tasks in limited time - Sharing leadership duties while maintaining ultimate responsibility for the school and everyone in it - Creating a safe space for teaching and learning while building bridges to the outside world - Balancing work life and home life Based on original research conducted with new principals in an urban environment, and rich with authentic voices discussing real conflicts and proven strategies, this book presents pragmatic ways to manage the most difficult parts of the job. Use it to spark both reflection and action and chart a course for effective, rewarding school leadership.

This text offers guidelines, checklists, advice from other principals, and reflections intended to make a principal's day on the job run more smoothly. Several themes are stressed throughout the book: school administration as a human-relations enterprise; increasing awareness of the principal's socialization process; the leader as a lifelong learner; viewing the school as an ecosystem; purposeful visibility; organizational/ethical alignment; celebrating student and faculty achievements; and the principal as a leader of instructional leaders. The text is divided into two parts. In part 1, "The Challenges and Problems Facing Rookie and Veteran Principals New to Their Schools," such topics as the loneliness of the principalship, the time juggernaut, expectations of the instructional leader, the complexity of relationships, and management concerns are addressed. In part 2, "Finding Solutions to the Challenges and Problems," the areas covered include becoming a lifelong learner, human relations and authentic communications, honoring the veteran staff, balancing leadership and management, and implementing a proactive behavioral program. (Contains an index and 89 references.) (RJM)

/*0205457231,Sergiovanni, The Principalship 5e*/The Principalship focuses on how school leadership is based on reflective practice and moral authority. This book continues to emphasize school culture, standards, building community, and providing a moral basis for leadership as a means of navigating through contextual issues and constraints that principals routinely face. This edition aims to inform future principals about the decisions they will make about their practice and how those decisions will affect students and teachers. Extensively updated with new emphasis given to diversity as a part of community building, school character as an important ingredient in school effectiveness, new definitions of school effectiveness, and a new view of the process of change. The book's trademark emphasis on reflective practice is maintained and opportunities for reflection are provided throughout the book. The link between organizational character and school effectiveness is explored and emphasis is given to how organizational character can be established and maintained.

This volume originates from the International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP), a collaborative project representing nearly a decade of research on principal preparation in countries throughout the world. The authors examine the dynamic changes that are affecting the way principals work and transforming the world of educational leaders.

The second edition of The Principalship from A to Z provides a set of tools that can be used immediately to improve your leadership practice. Organized into 26 chapters—one for each letter of the alphabet—this book covers the most important and prevalent issues and skills for leaders in today’s schools, including matters of limited funding, juggling social media, teacher evaluation, student achievement, school safety, and collaborating with parents. This accessible guide offers specific strategies that will help you navigate the complexity of your job and help you to become a more effective principal. Topics new to this updated edition include: A renewed focus on student learning as the first priority of a principal and updated strategies for becoming a powerful instructional coach Information about restorative justice practices and other disciplinary approaches Timely new chapters on motivating teachers and students, using social media, and handling limited resources Updated resources at the end of each chapter For both new and experienced leaders, you’ll find this book to be full of practical templates and strategies to implement immediately. Many tools are available as free eResources from our website, www.routledge.com/9781138899568.

The latest leadership textbook from respected author team Kaplan and Owings explores how principals can effectively build a culture around student achievement. Introduction to the Principalship helps aspiring principals understand how to develop a vision for improvement, make decisions and manage conflict, build teachers’ capacity, communicate, monitor the organization’s performance, and create a school climate of mutual respect. This important book provides readers with various leadership concepts to inform their practice, as well as the cognitive and practical tools to evaluate and prioritize what leadership actions to take. Each chapter offers opportunities for readers to create personal meaning and explore new ways of doing leadership to advance a positive, person-focused environment. Providing both the theoretical framework and skills for effective practice, Introduction to the Principalship addresses the issues most urgent and relevant for educational leadership graduate students learning how to build a school culture that promotes every student’s success. Special Features: • Learning Objectives—chapter openers introduce the topic and initiate student thinking. • Reflections and Relevance —interactive exercises, role plays, class activities, and assignments help readers think about content in personally meaningful ways, facilitate understanding of chapter content, and help transfer leadership thinking to action in their own schools. • ISLLC Standards—each chapter is aligned to the 2015 Interstate School Leadership Licensure Standards. • Companion Website—includes links to supplemental material, additional readings, and PowerPoints for instructors.

Principals are today’s newest superheroes, and every superhero needs a mentor. Daresh and Alexander offer encouragement in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of leadership. Discover how to: Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan Work effectively with the greater community and parents Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture Don’t just survive. Read this guide and thrive!

Using a strong social/historical foundation, this book deals in plain English with the real tasks facing any principal. It is designed to provide starter ideas and activities for projects, research, and discussion. It also deals with current issues while providing a thorough legal and organizational base. This book provides readers with topics that address real, current issues principals face daily and includes information on collaborative ventures with community agencies, full-service schools and evaluation as affected by the standards movement and high stakes testing. Coverage also includes teacher morale, gay rights, and pressure resulting from mandated testing. For professionals in the position of school principal.