The Development Of Professional Expertise Through Reflection In The Principalship

This book addresses the concepts, values, principles, and practices of the principalship. Its five major themes are as follows: (1) toward a new theory; (2) providing leadership; (3) building community; (4) the development of human resources; and (5) the moral dimension. Chapter titles reflect its contents: (1) "Views of the Principal's Job"; (2) "The Limits of Traditional Management Theory"; (3) "A New Theory for the Principalship"; (4) "The School as a Moral Community"; (5) "The Forces of Leadership and the Culture of Schools"; (6) "The Stages of Leadership: A Developmental View"; (7) "Becoming a Community of Leaders"; (8) "Characteristics of Successful Schools"; (9) "Becoming a Community of Mind"; (10) "Layered Standards, Holistic Assessment"; (11) "Teaching, Learning, and Community"; (12) "Teacher Development and Supervision"; (13) "Motivation, Commitment, and the Teacher's Workplace"; (14) "The Change Process"; and (15) "Administering as a Moral Craft." Following each chapter are references. Throughout the book are a number of tables, charts, rubrics, inventories, and questionnaires. Their purpose is to help raise and clarify issues, stimulate thought, encourage reflection, and provide a basis for discussion of concepts and ideas. (Contains a subject index.) (WFA).

Principals navigate the dynamic complexities and subtleties of their schools every day. They promote, facilitate, and lead efforts to achieve both tangible and intangible results throughout the school community. They fulfill a role that includes counseling, budgeting, inspiring, teaching, learning, disciplining, evaluating, celebrating, consoling, and a million other critical functions. As the principalship has evolved and grown, so have the expectations of it. With that in mind, ASCD developed the Principal Leadership Development Framework (PLDF). The PLDF establishes a clear and concise definition of leadership and includes clear targets that support the ongoing growth and development of leaders. Using the Framework, principals will learn to capitalize on their leadership roles: * Principal as Visionary * Principal as Instructional Leader * Principal as Engager * Principal as Learner and Collaborator The PLDF also offers 17 criteria of effective practice that allow leaders to focus on behaviors that have the greatest direct effect on the culture and status of learning and teaching. Coupled with the PLDF are tools for self-reflection that help principals identify and strengthen their reflective habits. Whether you want to develop your own capacities or support the development of a group of principals, assistant principals, or aspiring principals, The Principal Influence can help channel your efforts in ways that promote successful teaching and student learning.

"Jorgenson has designed an amazingly easy-to-use tool that captures the complexity of the principalship in a precise, yet personal manner. This user-friendly resource significantly impacts day-to-day practice." —Christopher Peal, Principal Meadowbrook Elementary School, Novi, MI "An ideal gift for superintendents to give to their principals. It can be used for administrator mentoring, especially for interactive collaboration between colleagues. This book supports the critical survival habit of today′s administrators: reflection." —Rick Miller, Superintendent Oxnard School District, CA Find resilience and optimism in your role as a school principal! Today′s school principals face increasing pressure and new challenges every day. However, by setting aside time for personal reflection and planning, both novice and seasoned administrators can build on their individual strengths and achieve important professional goals. Written in a concise, practical format, A Reflective Planning Journal for School Leaders is part planning calendar, part reflective journal, and part inspirational guide to help principals become focused, proactive leaders. Olaf Jorgenson has organized this step-by-step resource around the school year and offers numerous suggestions, reflective exercises, and features, including: Month-by-month themes that guide individual professional development and reflective practice Advice from award-winning elementary and secondary school principals Space for weekly and monthly planning and goal setting Guidelines for focusing on priorities Tips for increasing parent involvement, initiating change in schools, and making time for professional development Strengthen your professional practice and leadership effectiveness by making personal reflection and planning a daily priority.

This collection draws from the best of the ERS Spectrum principalship literature over the past five years to provide K-12 principals with a guide to reflective practice. The resource provided here is distinctive in the way it addresses the dual roles of the principal--as instructional and managerial leader--in a format that is designed both for individual reflection and growth and for discussion in peer groups and mentoring support. Each article is followed by a series of questions designed for reflection and discussion, to assist principals, whether new or experienced, in examining their progress and goals in the evolving responsibility of leadership.

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.

"Tallerico empowers principals with her view that leaders matter and demonstrates how their influence is expanded when they focus their attention on high-quality professional learning that continuously improves teaching, student learning, and relationships within the school community."--Dennis Sparks, Executive DirectorNational Staff Development Council"Although there are many resources for building administrators to learn models and implementation issues for quality professional development, few I′ve seen have compiled as handy a resource as this one."--Karla Reiss, Founder, Consultant, and Coach The Change PlaceNurture teacher development through focused and realistic approaches! Although school administrators consider supporting and sustaining teachers′ professional development a priority, more pressing day-to-day imperatives often eclipse this goal. Supporting and Sustaining Teachers′ Professional Development specifically targets busy school principals who want practical suggestions for how to balance these everyday administrative tasks while encouraging teachers′ professional growth. Focusing on seven questions selected for their relevance to school administrators, this essential reference summarizes the practical implications of the latest research and theory on the topic of teacher development. Organized around three key elements of current NSDC national standards, this resource for new, veteran, and aspiring school leaders will illustrate how to: Emphasize research and practice Provide rationales that explain and justify the encouragement of professional development Link teachers′ professional development to student learning Interpret national standards for professional development and apply them practically Improve student achievement, retain highly qualified teachers, and ground school practices in sound research by learning how to encourage your teachers while remaining committed to your leadership responsibilities.

Leadership Through Mentoring: The Key to Improving the Principals Confidence and Skill lays out the case for the development of robust mentorship programs to support new school leaders. With principal turnover at an all-time high, it is urgent that schools and districts find ways to help newly appointed leaders grow into effective supervisors, managers, and strategic thinkers who can also find personal and professional satisfaction in their careers. Using examples from several established and successful state programs, Leadership Through Mentoring shows how new school leaders’ effectiveness, vision, and engagement can be grown through intentionally designed and executed programs that offer supportive guidance and wise counsel from experienced leaders. Thoughtfully created and appropriately resourced, such programs can pave the way to longer and more successful principal tenures, which research shows lead directly to significant improvements in schools’ cultures, educational efficacy, and teacher and student performance. This is a book for leaders and governing bodies in all kinds of schools.

"At last we have a book that realistically, empathically, and interestingly describes leadership and the professional development work that needs to accompany it—for principals. It is all here: readings, web sites, theory, practice, helpful forms to use, vignettes of principals. Lindstrom and Speck are both ′insiders′ and ′outsiders′ teaching us in the best of ways how to both think about and act on our new knowledge!" Ann Lieberman, Senior Scholar Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "This is the book to read! I will recommend it to my colleagues the minute it is off of the press. The authors should be very proud of their work and contribution to a pivotal need in the field. Bottom line: It will help improve what we do for children—our ultimate purpose." Becky J. Cooke, Principal Evergreen Elementary School, Spokane, WA Raise student achievement by developing leadership, teamwork, skills, and knowledge in teachers! Individual teachers have the greatest effect on student performance. Principals, as professional development leaders, are in the best position to provide teachers with the professional development strategies they need to improve their skills and raise student achievement. The Principal as Professional Development Leader guides readers through a step-by-step process to formulate, implement, and evaluate long-term professional development. Authors Phyllis H. Lindstrom and Marsha Speck simplify and focus the function of the principal as professional development leader by providing scenarios, processes, context, and content that principals can use to create an integrated, collaborative learning environment. Aligned with National Staff Development Council standards, this user-friendly resource includes Rubrics, worksheets, and surveys Professional development planners Sample forms for classroom visits and observations Calendars of professional development activities Recommended readings and reflective questions In order to improve learning for all students, this unique text provides the strategies, skills, and tools necessary to build the capacity of professional development within the school. The authors supply practical techniques for analyzing student achievement data, evaluating professional development plans, and achieving a culture of sustained improvement.

Strong school leadership is critical for shaping engaging learning environments, supporting high-quality teachers and teaching, and influencing student outcomes. Developing Expert Principals offers a comprehensive research synthesis to understand the elements of high-quality programs and learning experiences that have been associated with positive outcomes ranging from principals’ preparedness and practices to staff retention and student achievement. This book also offers vivid examples of high-quality programs and examines the extent to which principals have opportunities to participate in effective learning experiences. It examines the policies that drive both the development of high-quality programs and access to them, highlighting successful examples across the country. With practical recommendations throughout, this book is a key resource for educational leaders, faculty and scholars of educational leadership, developers of leadership preparation and training, and policymakers who seek to create a learning system that will better serve principals, the staff they support, and, ultimately, all children.