What Every Principal Needs to Know to Create Equitable and Excellent Schools


Book Description

School leaders who succeed at creating a high-achieving learning community must also be committed to creating an equitable environment for all students. In this new book, key scholars across the content areas show how to put into practice a commitment to equity and excellence across the Pre-K12 spectrum. Readers learn directly from experts in each of the content domains (literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, music, early childhood, special education, English language learners, world languages, and physical education) how a commitment to social justice and equity can be grounded in core subject areas, why each has a place in the school, and what they need to know and do in each subject area. This book is a critical instructional leadership resource for new and veteran principals who want to see all students succeed. Contributors: Antonio J. Castro, Julie Causton-Theoharis, Virginia Collier, Katherine Delaney, Catherine Ennis, Virginia Goatley, Beth Graue, Rochelle Gutirrez, Kathleen A. Hinchman, Anne Karabon, Christi Kasa, Dave McAlpine, Mitchell Robinson, Victor Sampson, Sherry A. Southerland, and Wayne Thomas




What Every Principal Should Know About Instructional Leadership


Book Description

Inspire schoolwide instructional excellence! Among the numerous factors that influence student learning, quality instruction is at the heart. However, in the face of administrative duties, logistical tasks, and disciplinary responsibilities, many principals struggle with how to efficiently and effectively fulfill their critical role as the school′s primary instructional leader. This concise yet comprehensive guide outlines an easy-to-implement blueprint for spearheading instructional excellence to bolster student and teacher performance. It offers a proactive approach for setting and attaining high academic goals and boils down the best practices for enhancing teaching, curriculum, supervision, assessment, and professional development. From the latest research to real-life scenarios, this first volume in a seven-part series shares tangible strategies for mentoring and meaningfully engaging teachers to maximize instructional prowess and student achievement. Highlights include: "Before We Get Started" questionnaire and response analysis Case study and accompanying reflective questions "What You Should Know About" section framing each chapter Self-assessment resource for determining effectiveness of instructional leaders 26 best practice behaviors for principal leadership




What Every Principal Should Know About School-Community Leadership


Book Description

Harness your community′s powerful resources to support achievement! Every school exists within the broader context of its community. By tapping into the wealth of resources that abound beyond campus grounds, principals can weave a tightly knit safety net that buoys student learning. If the adage "It takes a village to raise a child" is true, then certainly raising schoolwide achievement is largely dependent upon the active involvement of local businesses, organizations, institutions, and parents. Cultivating strong alliances with community members entails a systemic, goal-centered outreach program-and this comprehensive guide outlines proven, practical strategies for effectively launching, implementing, and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships. It highlights straightforward best practices for: Reaching out to parents, including specific involvement activities; Building community relationships that support school initiatives, plus tips for leveraging the media; and Closing the achievement gap through community resources and reforms. This fourth volume in a seven-part leadership series features: Insightful questionnaire and response analysis Case study with reflective questions "What You Should Know About" sections framing each chapter Self-Assessment resources "In-basket Simulations" exploring real-life examples




Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership


Book Description

Updated Edition of Best Seller! "You won′t find a more practical, detailed guide to improving school effectiveness than is contained between the covers of this book!" Leonard O. Pellicer, Dean School of Education University of La Verne La Verne, CA "Few books on school leadership have effectively brought together the best of educational theory and practice for school administrators as Elaine McEwan′s Seven Steps to Instructional Leadership." Michael Pladus 1999 MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year Have the courage and the vision to lead your staff to achieve their highest instructional goals! Make a substantive impact on the lives of your students and your staff. This practical, hands-on guide can help you become a more effective instructional leader. Here are research-based activities to help you lead your staff though McEwans′s seven steps: Establish, implement, and achieve academic standards Be an instructional resource for your staff Create a learning-oriented school culture and climate Communicate your school′s vision and mission to staff and students Set high expectations for your staff and yourself Develop teacher leaders Develop and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, and parents Integrate these seven steps into your daily behavior. Chapters on each step include research data, discussion and advice from instructional leaders, and practical suggestions from dozens of leading principals that you can use right now in your own school. Use the Instructional Leadership Checklist to: Assess your current level of instructional leadership Find out how your staff thinks you′re doing Set goals for improving your instructional leadership practice Evaluate your progress toward your goals Attaining a new and higher level of instructional leadership will make a difference for each person in your school. Staff, students, and parents will get the message that all students matter. Everyone will start expecting that all students can learn, and your school will achieve its mission—improving education.




The Principal’s Playbook on Instructional Leadership:


Book Description

Every principal and instructional leader—no matter what level—needs a playbook for instructional excellence. Josh Mclaurin, an instructional and educational leader with decades of experience at various levels, explains how instructional leadership impacts student learning in this handbook for instructional excellence. Learn how to: • increase student achievement; • execute a turnaround at a struggling school; • teach the right things in the right ways; • change teaching methods based on learning styles. The author also highlights how to teach children in a virtual environment, which has become increasingly important amid COVID-19; ways to motivate unmotivated students; and tips on hiring and retaining great teachers. Other topics include working with instructional leadership teams, increasing student engagement, and making constant improvement a priority. Great coaches have a playbook that details every play in the offense or defense. The Principal’s Playbook on Instructional Leadership: 23 Things That Matter Most for Improving Student Achievement provides the playbook for instructional excellence.




What Every Principal Needs to Know About Special Education


Book Description

This book is written as an easily accessible guide for headteachers and other general education administrators who administer and/or interact with special education programmes and services in their schools. The book is designed to provide basic foundational knowledge of special education that every headteacher needs in order to lead effectively, as well as examples for how to create effective special education. In this era of universal accountability for improving student achievement and school wide improvement planning, it is imperative that headteachers understand fully the key components of special education. Headteachers may need basic legal and/or procedural information, but more important are the understandings about who gets into special education as well as current thinking about how to educate children with diverse disabilities.




Coach It Further


Book Description

Practical strategies for building coach-leader relationships Leadership is complex work. High quality leadership coaching is one of the most effective methods of professional development for leaders. Coach It Further uses a narrative format to illustrate the important aspects of leadership that leaders and coaches can work on together to achieve their shared goals. It includes: Authentic stories from leaders and students The Collaborative Leadership Growth Cycle, which provides leaders with a starting point and specific steps to take to reach their goals Strategies for the four priorities research shows school leaders are most concerned about: collective efficacy, communication, student and family engagement, and political climate Reflection questions for leadership coaches to use with their leader-coaches Whether you are a seasoned coach, a leader looking to be coached, or a leader looking for guidance on how to coach burgeoning leaders among your staff, this book will build your confidence and provide you with valuable insights and strategies. Offers a model of how educators can engage in the art of leadership coaching. School administrators will connect to the realistic, varied, and detailed examples illustrating the complexities of leadership. Here you will find thoughtful insights and practical suggestions for improving the quality of leadership coaching in your practice. –Jenni Donohoo, Best-selling author and Professional Learning Facilitator A must-read for school leaders and leadership coaches. You will connect to the real struggles of a principal learning to be coached. This book is chock-full of research, tips, and examples to help you improve your self-efficacy as a leader. –Jessica Johnson, School Leader Co-Author of The Coach Approach to School Leadership and Breaking Out of Isolation




What Every Principal Should Know About Operational Leadership


Book Description

Filled with best practice examples, resources, reflections, self-assessments, and implementation ideas, this guide shows school leaders how to improve their school management skills.




The Aspiring Principal 50


Book Description

So, you want to be a principal? Are you a new principal who could benefit from the wisdom of a successful four-time principal? Could you use help preparing for a school administrator job interview? Then this is the book for you. In The Aspiring Principal 50, school leadership expert Baruti Kafele presents reflective questions aimed at assisting both new and aspiring school leaders as they work to become effective school leaders and consider making a leap to a leadership position, respectively. This book will help aspiring principals determine whether "The Principal" is truly who they want to be and help new principals grow and thrive in the principalship. Additionally, the book contains an entire chapter devoted to preparing for the school administrator job interview. Kafele infuses the book from beginning to end with succinct advice on everything from remaining focused on the principal's number one priority—student achievement—to addressing maintenance concerns, managing budget allocations, and ensuring that the school's website puts the school in the best possible light. With The Aspiring Principal 50, you can increase the likelihood that your tenure as principal will be a successful, beneficial, and healthful one.




Leading for Professional Learning


Book Description

Support teachers with more effective instructional leadership Leading for Professional Learning offers field-tested guidance to help school leaders more effectively support teachers’ professional development. Leadership is crucial to professional learning, providing the necessary systems and structures that enable teachers to improve their own practice and in turn, improve student learning. With an illustrative case study, this book provides invaluable guidance, packed with practical tools, processes, and expert advice. Because each school differs in terms of strengths and needs, this book steers away from prescriptivism and shows you how to construct a support plan tailored to your unique context. Specific teaching and leadership frameworks guide you through the process of examination, discovery, and execution, equipping you with the necessary tools and insight you need to make positive changes for your teachers – and ultimately, your students. A must-read resource for principals, administrators, and other school and district leadership, this book helps you set your school on the path to continuous improvement. Determine your school’s professional learning needs Leverage existing support structures for the greatest effect Understand the role of leadership in sponsoring and following up on professional learning Ensure intentional changes in teacher practice and student learning Empowering teachers to improve their craft goes beyond merely offering opportunity; it requires collaboration with teachers every step of the way, a deep understanding of how best to support professional learning, a clear set of goals for both individual sessions and an overarching mission, and the necessary technical and relational support required to see these opportunities through. Written by experts from the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership, Leading for Professional Learning provides real-world advice that has been proven effective in school districts across the nation.