(Originally posed on DCulberhouse.) By David Culberhouse How Do You IGNITE Your Leadership? Burn your bridges… Or Burn your boats… Two very different ways that leaders create and ignite influence in their organizations and with those they lead. One leaves you with an isolated feeling, while the other has a collaborative tinge to it. And […]
The Primary Role of the Principal – Sam
Originally posted on School Administration Mastery. In a few days, I’ll be interviewing for a position as Principal in my district. It’s a pretty big step for me, and I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m beginning to consider the possible questions that I’ll be asked, and one question in particular comes to mind – at […]
What I Have Learned as a Principal – Dav
(Originally posted on A Principal’s Life.) By David Ellena Today, I had one of those rare moments where I actually sat at my desk and ate lunch. Now, I ate while I was signing checks and about 8 dozen other documents that need an original signature, but still it was a rarity. As I was […]
Poverty and the Public School Crisis-Whe...
(Originally posted on The Principal’s Perspective.) By Dr. Latoya Dixon I saw this poem this week and it immediately gripped my heart. I got one of those choking feelings, when you feel there is something stuck in your throat but you know there is not. It’s been floating around Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram this past […]
A Leader’s Most Important Tool? Their St
(Originally posted on Front Office Leadership) By Jeff Krieger Can meaningful leadership exist without quality communication? Do great communicators always provide great leadership? What comprises a great communicator to you and your campus? Should communication be a priority for campus leaders? Why all the questions about communication? The above is meant to illustrate the […]
Why I Want To Be Invisible – Walter Kozl
(Originally posted on Servant Principal.) By Walter A. Kozlowski Principals should be visible. This seems to be an agreed upon ideal, to which I also subscribe. However, there are two things I know about being visible as a school leader. First, I will never be able to be as visible as I want to […]
Top Ten Things to Not Forget as a Princi...
(Originally posted on Love the Learning.) By Jessica Hanson Embarking on a new journey to become the principal of an elementary campus has already had it’s highs and lows and I haven’t even started the school year yet. I have already been faced with tough decisions that required me to “Move people’s cheese” and “Dip […]
Using the Formative Assessment Process W...
(Originally posted on Habits of Reflective School Leadership.) By Dan Fowler As a FAME (Formative Assessment for Maryland Educators) Leader at the district and school level, I have found, and believe, that the formative assessment process is one of the single most important things that educators can do for their students. The statement “formative assessment […]
Principals and Other Humans – Bjorn Paig
Originally posted on Skins of Ill Shaped Fishes.) By Bjorn Paige It was simpler as a teacher. In my thirteen years in the classroom making meaningful connections with students was my first priority. Sure, we had books to read and papers to write, but I knew that kids don’t learn from teachers they don’t like […]
Building Positive School Culture: 20 Ide...
(Originally posted on Principal Matters.) By William D. Parker School or work environments are like home environments–it doesn’t take long to figure out if you are in a happy, productive place or not. Last week I was in Oklahoma City for a meeting with OASSP, the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals, when we were […]
Gathering Feedback from Staff for Person...
(Originally posted on A Principal’s Life.) By David Ellena As we approach the end of the school year, my thoughts inevitably begin to turn towards the next school year. It is like this every year. I start to look at what went well, what didn’t go so well and things I want to focus on […]
Key Practices of High-Performance Instru...
(Originally posted on Eduleadership.) By Justin Baeder What does it mean to be an instructional leader? Too many definitions contrast instructional leadership with “mere” management, as if the management work that administrators do isn’t related to teaching and learning. I believe that it’s all connected, and that an effective instructional leader is also an effective […]
On Becoming a School Leader – Steven Web
(Originally posted on ASCD EDge) By Steven Weber School leadership has changed over the past twenty years. The role of a building principal is similar to the combined roles of a chef, architect, tightrope walker, public speaker, supervisor, investment broker, and pilot. As a chef, the school leader stirs the right ingredients and takes risks, […]
Surviving Tuesday – Walter A. Kozlowski
(Originally posted on Servant Principal.) By Walter A. Kozlowski My wife and I usually do not see each other on Tuesday. In fact, we rarely even get a chance to talk. Her shift begins an hour before my day at school ends. I leave the building with barely enough time to pick up one […]
The Corrosive Side of Leadership – David
(Originally posed on DCulberhouse.) By David Culberhouse “Is the question being asked: Whose fault was this? If so, your culture is one that vilifies failure. Failure is difficult enough without it being compounded by the search for a scapegoat.” -Ed Catmull ‘Creativity, Inc.’ If we are going to build up the capacity for more creative […]