Strategies to Lead Schools for Student and Teacher Success
The classic personal guide for principals, updated to address today's challenges As the leader and decision maker in your school, you know that the buck stops with you. But when you're faced with issues that are unfamiliar or simply overwhelming, where can you turn for advice and experience? For over a decade, the answer has been The Principal's Companion. Pam Robbins and Harvey B. Alvy's comprehensive classic remains a standard reference for principals of all experience levels, providing a wealth of ideas, techniques, and reflective opportunities. In the fourth edition, new and updated content is delivered in an ultra-efficient format tailored to principals' busy days. Topics range from big-picture considerations to specific tactics and strategies, including: The principal's many roles Critical skills for effective leadership Honoring the school's mission Working together to build a learning community Starting effectively and staying the course With an eye towards the future, The Principal's Companion can be referred to over and over again to ensure the school's most important executive is a strong anchor for educational success. "This has always been one of the books I recommend to principals, and the latest edition makes it even more important and helpful to principals who face one of the toughest jobs in education today." -Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director Learning Forward "Robbins and Alvy's ability to explain the sophisticated and complex landscape of today's connected schools in a manner that is easily understandable to both a new leader and a veteran school leader is masterful. They truly understand the role of today's school leader in the classroom, the school, and the community." -Joshua Garcia, Deputy Superintendent Tacoma Public Schools, WA
"An extensive and comprehensive resource for aspiring as well as practicing school leaders at every level. For aspiring school leaders, this book provides a multifaceted look at the complexity of school organizations. For practicing school leaders, the design of the content, the broad array of useful information, the action checklists, the quick-read guidelines, and the extensive references provide readers with a useful guide." -Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director National Association of Secondary School Principals An original, proven approach to help you meet challenges head-on! Research has shown that effective school leadership is a key factor in promoting high student achievement. This very practical, easy-to-use reference draws from leadership lessons learned in both education and business. Written as a field manual for "school CEOs" to facilitate understanding and operating a school as an organization, this book is designed for easy access within a unifying framework to enable flexible use for busy principals. Based on the Organizational Effectiveness Model, the manual offers a blend of background knowledge and practices that are immediately useful, in the context of five elements that are essential to all organizations: Mission, including the central importance of useful metrics Strategies, such as the value of seeing the whole system Structure, including skill with conflict management People, highlighting the usefulness of political savvy Leadership, including the fundamental importance of trust Filled with practical strategies and tools, The Principal's Field Manual is an invaluable resource for helping both new and experienced administrators better understand and effectively operate the school as a vital and dynamic organization.
"An extensive and comprehensive resource for aspiring as well as practicing school leaders at every level. For aspiring school leaders, this book provides a multifaceted look at the complexity of school organizations. For practicing school leaders, the design of the content, the broad array of useful information, the action checklists, the quick-read guidelines, and the extensive references provide readers with a useful guide." -Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director National Association of Secondary School Principals An original, proven approach to help you meet challenges head-on! Research has shown that effective school leadership is a key factor in promoting high student achievement. This very practical, easy-to-use reference draws from leadership lessons learned in both education and business. Written as a field manual for "school CEOs" to facilitate understanding and operating a school as an organization, this book is designed for easy access within a unifying framework to enable flexible use for busy principals. Based on the Organizational Effectiveness Model, the manual offers a blend of background knowledge and practices that are immediately useful, in the context of five elements that are essential to all organizations: Mission, including the central importance of useful metrics Strategies, such as the value of seeing the whole system Structure, including skill with conflict management People, highlighting the usefulness of political savvy Leadership, including the fundamental importance of trust Filled with practical strategies and tools, The Principal's Field Manual is an invaluable resource for helping both new and experienced administrators better understand and effectively operate the school as a vital and dynamic organization.
"Lockwood identifies a substantial resource in the effort to increase student learning. In this book, she provides an enormously useful range of strategies to design, implement, and evaluate afterschool programs. Clearly written, well organized, and enormously practical, this volume should be in every school's professional library." -From the Foreword by Kent D. Peterson "This book clearly outlines ways in which the connections between afterschool programs and the regular school day can be strengthened and the ways afterschool programs can be implemented to increase the academic achievement of students." -John C. Hughes, Principal, Public School 48, Bronx, NY "The examples accurately reflect the principal's role in school management, and the clear, step-by-step presentation is better than any book or planning guide I have read." -Catherine H. Payne, Principal, W.R. Farrington High School, Honolulu, HI Build a strong afterschool program that increases learning while incorporating standards! Based on an AASA/Mott Foundation study, this concise yet comprehensive guidebook offers a step-by-step process to help principals and administrators build a successful and sustainable afterschool program. The author discusses how to integrate standards and incorporate a high-level curriculum and provides profiles of programs that have improved achievement, particularly for students who are at risk. School leaders will find checklists, planning worksheets, evaluation tools, and surveys, plus guidelines for: Developing a parent and community base of support Hiring staff and obtaining volunteers Getting funding and grants Collecting and evaluating program data
"Lockwood identifies a substantial resource in the effort to increase student learning. In this book, she provides an enormously useful range of strategies to design, implement, and evaluate afterschool programs. Clearly written, well organized, and enormously practical, this volume should be in every school's professional library." -From the Foreword by Kent D. Peterson "This book clearly outlines ways in which the connections between afterschool programs and the regular school day can be strengthened and the ways afterschool programs can be implemented to increase the academic achievement of students." -John C. Hughes, Principal, Public School 48, Bronx, NY "The examples accurately reflect the principal's role in school management, and the clear, step-by-step presentation is better than any book or planning guide I have read." -Catherine H. Payne, Principal, W.R. Farrington High School, Honolulu, HI Build a strong afterschool program that increases learning while incorporating standards! Based on an AASA/Mott Foundation study, this concise yet comprehensive guidebook offers a step-by-step process to help principals and administrators build a successful and sustainable afterschool program. The author discusses how to integrate standards and incorporate a high-level curriculum and provides profiles of programs that have improved achievement, particularly for students who are at risk. School leaders will find checklists, planning worksheets, evaluation tools, and surveys, plus guidelines for: Developing a parent and community base of support Hiring staff and obtaining volunteers Getting funding and grants Collecting and evaluating program data
"This handbook synthesizes the best of educational research in an easily accessible format. Educators will find it an effective roadmap for leading their schools to organizational excellence, effective instruction, and optimum student achievement." -Brenda P. Dean, Assistant Superintendent Hamblen County Schools, Morristown, TN "The author clearly makes the case for the principal to be THE instructional and curricular leader of his or her school site. Principals who embrace this CAN and WILL make the difference for students!" -Marianne L. Lescher, Principal Kyrene Elementary School District, Tempe, AZ Practical guidance for spearheading curriculum development and change This comprehensive guide walks principals through the curriculum development and renewal process with encouragement, hitting the hard issues of doing more with less, integrating technology, overcoming resistance to change, and improving student outcomes. The authors incorporate the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) and the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) standards for principals as they relate to curriculum leadership. Highlights include step-by-step guidance for: Developing a culture that is conducive to curriculum advancement Working collaboratively with personnel Integrating state and national standards into school curriculum Maximizing professional development opportunities Connecting curriculum to instruction The Principal's Guide to Curriculum Leadership is ideal for practicing and aspiring public and private school administrators. Special features include discussion questions, case studies, activities, specialized curriculum models, resources, and references.
"Schneider and Hollenczer fully understand the principal's critical role as a community relations expert. Establishing good communication is hard work and does not happen automatically-Schneider and Hollenczer get it! This book must get to every university preparation program in the country." -Theodore Creighton, Executive Director National Council of Professors of Educational Administration "This is a timely and informative book that offers knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the turbulent waters of school administration in the 21st century. It's a must-read for those who would be effective school leaders focused on continued school improvement." -Walter H. Warfield, Executive Director Illinois Association of School Administrators Develop successful communication strategies that yield real-world results! Today's school principals are expected to be instructional leaders. They know the importance of working closely with teachers, parents, and community members as partners in transparent organizational settings where communication is rapid, on-demand, and two-way. This indispensable text shows practicing and aspiring principals how to manage that communication so that everything else they do has a chance to work as planned. This resource helps readers to: Discover a variety of successful communication frameworks Contend with greater outside access to school data Implement dynamic communication that reaches all school stakeholders This must-have resource is part of the Leadership for Learning initiative of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).
"Schneider and Hollenczer fully understand the principal's critical role as a community relations expert. Establishing good communication is hard work and does not happen automatically-Schneider and Hollenczer get it! This book must get to every university preparation program in the country." -Theodore Creighton, Executive Director National Council of Professors of Educational Administration "This is a timely and informative book that offers knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the turbulent waters of school administration in the 21st century. It's a must-read for those who would be effective school leaders focused on continued school improvement." -Walter H. Warfield, Executive Director Illinois Association of School Administrators Develop successful communication strategies that yield real-world results! Today's school principals are expected to be instructional leaders. They know the importance of working closely with teachers, parents, and community members as partners in transparent organizational settings where communication is rapid, on-demand, and two-way. This indispensable text shows practicing and aspiring principals how to manage that communication so that everything else they do has a chance to work as planned. This resource helps readers to: Discover a variety of successful communication frameworks Contend with greater outside access to school data Implement dynamic communication that reaches all school stakeholders This must-have resource is part of the Leadership for Learning initiative of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).
"An excellent tool for aspiring principals as well as those who find it uplifting to be reassured that they are doing the right thing." -Gerard Dery, Principal Nessacus Regional Middle School, Dalton, MA "This book serves as a valuable tool for districts seeking to enhance the skill level of their principals and would be ideal for professional development." -Carolyn Banks, Regional Director of Teacher Education University of La Verne A comprehensive guide to building successful relationships with all school personnel! Inspiring faculty and support staff to perform their best is a key factor in developing a school culture that helps students thrive. This resource provides principals with the policies, procedures, and techniques to lead and manage school personnel and create an effective work environment. The authors provide real-world scenarios and practical strategies to help define the principal's leadership role and strengthen personnel management skills. The book also offers reflective exercises in each chapter to assist administrators in evaluating their own schools and practices. Based on ISLLC and ELCC standards for school leadership, this book covers: Shaping school culture to promote shared ownership of the school's vision Recruiting, selecting, and retaining qualified personnel Effective communication and conflict resolution Handling challenging situations such as supervising marginal employees and addressing grievances The Principal's Guide to Managing School Personnel is an indispensable reference for managing one of your school's most important resources: your staff.
