Effective Principalship Is Non-Negotiable

By Ronnie Phillips

What do principals say it takes to be a good principal? All principals want to be effective and to have successful, high-achieving schools. Many principals, however, struggle with how to make that happen. This book offers both broad strategies and nuts-and-bolts techniques to help principals reach their goals. The book demonstrates how important a principal’s leadership skills are to the overall success of a school, and it discusses how a collaborative leadership style can positively impact a school. The book shows how the principal can have an effective school by starting positive routines and practices that include the staff, students, and parents. The leadership style advocated in this book empowers the staff to make significant decisions. Furthermore, this book provides step-by-step guidance for how principals can successfully change the climate of the school, as well as the overall operation of the school. This can lead to an effective school. This book is a valuable resource for educators who desire to become principals and need to know how to start successfully operating a school from day one. It also can benefit educators who are already principals and would like to learn other strategies on how to successfully operate a school. What is unique about this book is that all the strategies come from experienced, successful principals who have worked in some of the most challenging schools in America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781478782698

Ronnie Phillips

Ronnie Phillips is a former principal, superintendent, adjunct professor, and the author of three books.

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The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Effective Principalship Is Non-Negotiable

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2016 Ronnie Phillips

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER ONE

How to Choose an Effective Leadership Style

Authoritarian

Participative

Coaching

Recommendation

CHAPTER TWO

How to Prepare for a Successful New School Year

Before The First Day of School

July/August Checklist for Principals

First Day of School

Principal Success Indicators

CHAPTER THREE

How to Develop a Positive School Climate

School Leadership/Committees

Positive Relationships

Student Expectations

Discipline Procedures

Parental Engagement

Safety of the Building

Principal Success Indicators

CHAPTER FOUR

How to Improve Student Achievement in School

Student Achievement Strategies

Professional Development

Best Practices for Teachers

Teacher Evaluations

Principal Success Indicators

CHAPTER FIVE

How to Have Positive Parent and Community Involvement

Community Involvement

Networking

Principal Success Indicators

CHAPTER SIX

How to Infuse Technology into the Schools

Vision

Goals

Principal Success Indicators

CHAPTER SEVEN

School Leadership Articles

Article: Some Qualities of Effective School Leadership

Article: How to Interview for a Principalship

Article: How to Utilize Staff Meetings to Improve Student Achievements

Article: Authoritarian vs. Participative School Leadership

Article: How to Change the Climate of a School

CHAPTER EIGHT

FORMS, LETTERS, and TEMPLATES

Principals’ To-do List

Opening of School Letters

Opening of School Agenda

School Organizational Chart

Effective School Requirements

SCHOOL MEETING AGENDA

Walk-throughs

Lesson Plan Template

Classroom Observation Template

Individual Development Plan

Basic Guidelines for Curriculum Guides

School Permission Form

Parent/Student Book Contract

Fire Drill Procedures

Lockdown Procedures

Incident Report Form

Emergency Data Sheet

Corrective Action Report

Field Trip Request Form

Absence Request Form

CHAPTER NINE

Principal Characteristics

Summary

References

Introduction

One of the most important factors for success in today’s schools is the effectiveness of the school leader. The strategies and leadership techniques provided in this book can give principals a foundation to do an effective job.

Principals have such a stressful job that finding information to assist them is a very prudent first step for success. Because of their many responsibilities, principals should be constantly trying to find strategies to assist them with their job. Strategies can come from books, magazines, other successful schools, other principals, supervisors, workshops, conferences, and seminars.

Frankly, if principals are going to succeed, they must embrace professional leadership development. Too many people are put into principal positions without the skills to be successful, and no leadership development is provided for them. Ongoing professional leadership development should be high on the priority list for new and veteran principals alike. Effective Principalship Is Non-negotiable provides principals with ongoing professional development. The strategies provided in these pages have been tried and proven and are invaluable resources for principals.

Even though there are many areas of concern for a successful principal, it was decided to focus on the following areas in this book:

•how to choose an effective leadership style

•how to prepare for a successful new school year

•how to develop a positive school climate

•how to improve students’ achievements in school

•how to encourage positive parent and community involvement in school

•how to infuse technology into the school

•a series of articles that provide a summary of important administrative information

•a number of forms, letters, and templates that have been used successfully by schools

All principals want to be successful leaders who operate successful schools. However, that doesn’t happen without planning for that success and having mentors to guide them. Successful principals usually point to those they learned from as one of the reasons for their success. Other reasons include professional development, keeping up with best practices in education, observing successful schools, being part of a network of successful principals, and lastly, having that drive to be successful.

Some principals were fortunate enough to have worked as assistant principals for successful principals. They had the opportunity to learn from someone who is already a successful principal. Unfortunately, far too many potential principals don’t have that luxury. Thus, we have a number of new principals who have not had exposure on how to run a successful school. Some are given the keys to a school and are told good luck. No one has explained to them all the complexities of running a school.

What the education community needs to realize is that being a successful school leader starts well before someone is placed in the position. Providing preparation before a new principal starts is key to enabling him or her to become an effective principal. In addition, effective principals must have that desire to have the best school possible and take the time to find out how to reach that goal. The education community should definitely be concerned about how we prepare people to become principals. This book can be a tool for assisting with the preparation.

What is unique about this book is that all the strategies come from experienced, successful principals who have worked in some of the most challenging schools in urban America. Personally, it gives me a good feeling to be able to share some of the positives I have learned about running a successful school.

In addition, a successful philosophy doesn’t just happen to a new principal; he or she must be willing to attend professional development seminars and leadership conferences, observe successful schools, and read what the research says about best practices and successful leaders. Being a successful principal means you never stop learning and developing your skills so you can be the best leader possible.

Once the principal makes the commitment to be successful, he or she will be able to provide a safe haven for students and an educational environment that leads to successfully educating students. In addition, the principal will be able to provide an enjoyable workplace for the school’s staff. Equally important, effective principals not only transform the school, they also transform the entire neighborhood. That’s why it is so important to be prepared as a school leader and be willing to work with students, staff, and the community. That’s why we need effective principals, and that is why we go into education.

When we summarize how effective principals achieve their success, it all comes down to being prepared, staying organized, working as a team, sharing the decision making, enjoying the job, and effectively communicating with staff, students, parents, and community. Throughout this book, readers can see how effective principals utilize all six of these essentials to be successful.

Effective Principalship Is Non-negotiable is a practical approach to becoming an effective school leader. Readers who take the time to study what’s in between these pages will have a great understanding of what qualities are needed to become an effective school leader and how taking the time to be prepared will take them to even greater heights in the education arena.

The information provided is very important for the success of a school. But some principals believe in a higher power to help them become successful. Because of the many challenges of running a school, sometimes calling on God is the best answer. My first and maybe my best strategy comes from a man who was a new principal at a very challenging middle school in urban American. He decided to put his faith to work at the beginning of the school year. The week before the students were to arrive, he stood outside the front of his building and put his hand on the bricks. He then started to pray for the success of the school for the upcoming school year. God did answer his prayer, and he had a very successful first year. Don’t be afraid to call on the higher power to give you some help with the success of your school.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife for standing beside me throughout my career. She has motivated me to continue to try to improve the lives of students and adults in the educational field. She is an outstanding educator who has always put her students first in her career. I thank God for putting her into my life.

I look forward to publishing this book and providing information that will be helpful to school leaders. The many years I have spent in the education field working as a school leader have afforded me invaluable skills and knowledge that I am happy to share with people in school leadership positions. I have been taught to always give back in life, and writing this book gives me the opportunity to help other principals have successful experiences.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to network with many successful educators who have been a tremendous support to my successes. I would like to mention just a few of them. Many thanks go to former principals Diane Fisher, Alvin Woods, and Carl Stone for their continuous support throughout my career. The many questions they answered when I was in need of help can never be repaid. My success would not have been possible without the support of these key educators.

I am also grateful for the many staff members who have worked for me throughout my career. The success I have had is directly related to those staff members who didn’t mind working as a team, and for that, I am appreciative.

Lastly, I am thankful for the many leadership opportunities that have been afforded me. Those opportunities were a blessing from God, who has always guided my life. Without God, none of my successes would have been possible, and I am forever grateful. Thank you.

CHAPTER ONE

How to Choose an

Effective Leadership Style

Whether you are a new or aspiring principal, one of the first tasks that needs to be decided is what leadership style you will utilize. This decision can make the difference between a successful or unsuccessful school, and whether the staff works with you or against you. This chapter will provide information on three basic leadership styles that have been observed in schools across America. As a principal, you probably will utilize one of these styles or some combination of them to run your school.

Choosing an effective leadership style will be important for a number of reasons, including keeping the staff and attracting new staff. Staff members want to know right away what kind of principal they are working for, and if he or she has a leadership style compatible with them. Those are determining factors for most teachers when deciding to take a teaching position. Convincing current and potential staff members to work in a school goes back to the principal’s leadership style and how the school operates. Other factors like money and benefits also play a role, but once those are resolved, the determining factor is what kind of principal is in charge of the school. Is he or she accessible? Do the teachers have any input in the building? Does the principal have control of the building? What kind of rapport does he or she have with his staff? Teachers always talk and are looking for the answers to some of these questions before they decide to take a job.

If principals know their style of leadership, they can demonstrate it from day one. This can go a long way with helping the staff feel comfortable right away. This, in turn, can lead to a collaborative and cooperative staff at the beginning of the school year. The leadership style that is most highly recommended in this book is the participative style, with some of the coaching attributes. As readers go through this chapter and do more research about leadership styles, they will be able to determine what style they feel most comfortable utilizing. The key is to have a leadership style that both the school and the principal can feel comfortable with, and where the students and parents can see the benefits.

Whichever leadership style they use, effective principals surround themselves with a quality staff that is able to work with their style of leadership. Principals are only as good as their staff, and that staff includes teachers, administrators, and support personnel. Principals should live by the philosophy that says, two heads are better than one, realizing that no single individual can know everything about everything.

The three leadership styles that are most prevalent in our schools are authoritarian, participative, and coaching. The following paragraphs provide a summary of the qualities of these three leadership styles.

Authoritarian

This leadership style is very dominating, and this person makes every decision in the building. Under this style, the leader dictates policies and procedures, deciding which goals are to be achieved and providing input into all activities throughout the school. This kind of leader is concerned with doing everything in the building a certain way. He or she will be on every committee and will be in command of all meetings. Generally, the school is very orderly because of the fear of the leader.

People who work under this kind of leadership all know their role. The leader makes sure everyone knows what is expected of them, and staff members will have little or no input on their role. This is because the leader will dictate all roles in the building.

Procedures in the building will have to be followed by students and staff. Students who violate rules will be punished according to the policies of the school. Staff members have to be very obedient to the leader or risk losing their jobs. Most procedures and rules are crafted by the leader, and he or she doesn’t deviate from them.

Students realize that the school follows definite rules, and the principal seems very strict to them. Students are scared to violate the student code because they know there will be consequences. This can be an advantage for the school because discipline goes straight by the book, and staff, students, and parents all realize that.

On the other hand, staff and parents may not feel they are a part of the school because the leader dictates the operation of everything. The many talents and skills of the staff may not be utilized because of the dominating style of the leader. Staff members normally don’t have a buy-in attitude. Sometimes this leads to tension in the building and staff members leaving the school. Some people, however, like a leader who takes total control of the school. They believe the school will run smoothly because of the strict discipline the leader utilizes, and if something doesn’t work, it isn’t their fault.

One of the major drawbacks of this kind of leadership is lack of buy-in from staff members. Some staff members believe that since the principal is going to make all the decisions, they don’t need to get involved in anything. Others work hard out of fear of losing their jobs. Sometimes this leadership style plays on the fear of the staff, but it may eventually cause resistance. Resistance may come from staff, students, or parents. This is the twenty-first century,