Are You Sure You're the Principal?
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Description
"For those aspiring to be school principals, this book brings into focus the realities of serving in a leadership role. A must-read for tomorrow's principals!"
—Gerald Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals
"Villani offers stories and vignettes that capture the deepest questions and concerns faced by new and aspiring principals and reminds readers that they are not alone."
—Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director
National Staff Development Council
A wealth of leadership craft knowledge from a principal who has "been there"!
Establishing collaborative relationships with staff, building trust, and fostering a climate of mutual respect are goals that principals strive for on a daily basis. The second edition of Are You Sure You're The Principal? helps school leaders build upon these authentic leadership qualities by combining practical advice and theoretical insight with no-nonsense leadership and reflective strategies to improve principals' professional practice. Ideal for new and experienced school leaders, this resource discusses how to balance listening and leading, work through conflict, be a mentor, and seek out advisors for guidance and support. This second edition is updated with:
- A new chapter on career fulfillment
- Advice on evaluating goals, preferences, and opportunities
- Study guides related to each chapter for group or individual professional development
Through personal stories and commentaries, the author provides a mentor-in-a-book that helps principals feel more supported within the school community.
Contents
Foreword by Roland S. Barth
Foreword by Roland S. Barth
Preface
Preface
About the Author
About the Author
Introduction
- 1. Are You Sure You're the Principal?
- First Impressions
- Larger Than Life
- The Look of Leadership
- A Little Respect
- 2. Working Through Conflict
- Saving Face
- The Pain of Ostracism and the Power of Understanding
- Knowing When to Hold and When to Fold
- What's Worth Fighting For
- Diversity in the Principal's Office
- Establishing Credibility
- Lessons Learned
- 3. Communicating Who We Are and What We Believe
- Using Symbols to Convey Values
- She Smiles Too Much
- Being Clear
- Expressing Outrage
- Telling Our Truths
- How We Are Known
- Accepting Ourselves
- 4. Building Community
- Making All Students Feel Part of the Community
- Acceptance Based on Being
- Hiring New Teachers and Promoting Teacher Development
- What We Have in Common
- Lonely at the Top
- Sharing Leadership: When and How
- 5. Advisors, Mentors, and Allies
- Demonstrating Caring
- Seeking or Accepting Support
- The Serendipity of Mutual Mentoring
- Passing the Torch and Sharing Its Light
- 6. Reflecting on a Career: Committing to Pursue Professional Passion
- Am I in the Right Place Doing the Work I Want to Be Doing?
- My Choices and Yours
- People Whose Work Is Featured in the Sudy Guides
- Study Guide for All Chapters
- Study Guides for Individual Chapter
References
References
Index
Index
Description
"For those aspiring to be school principals, this book brings into focus the realities of serving in a leadership role. A must-read for tomorrow's principals!"
—Gerald Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals
"Villani offers stories and vignettes that capture the deepest questions and concerns faced by new and aspiring principals and reminds readers that they are not alone."
—Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director
National Staff Development Council
A wealth of leadership craft knowledge from a principal who has "been there"!
Establishing collaborative relationships with staff, building trust, and fostering a climate of mutual respect are goals that principals strive for on a daily basis. The second edition of Are You Sure You're The Principal? helps school leaders build upon these authentic leadership qualities by combining practical advice and theoretical insight with no-nonsense leadership and reflective strategies to improve principals' professional practice. Ideal for new and experienced school leaders, this resource discusses how to balance listening and leading, work through conflict, be a mentor, and seek out advisors for guidance and support. This second edition is updated with:
- A new chapter on career fulfillment
- Advice on evaluating goals, preferences, and opportunities
- Study guides related to each chapter for group or individual professional development
Through personal stories and commentaries, the author provides a mentor-in-a-book that helps principals feel more supported within the school community.
Contents
Foreword by Roland S. Barth
Foreword by Roland S. Barth
Preface
Preface
About the Author
About the Author
Introduction
- 1. Are You Sure You're the Principal?
- First Impressions
- Larger Than Life
- The Look of Leadership
- A Little Respect
- 2. Working Through Conflict
- Saving Face
- The Pain of Ostracism and the Power of Understanding
- Knowing When to Hold and When to Fold
- What's Worth Fighting For
- Diversity in the Principal's Office
- Establishing Credibility
- Lessons Learned
- 3. Communicating Who We Are and What We Believe
- Using Symbols to Convey Values
- She Smiles Too Much
- Being Clear
- Expressing Outrage
- Telling Our Truths
- How We Are Known
- Accepting Ourselves
- 4. Building Community
- Making All Students Feel Part of the Community
- Acceptance Based on Being
- Hiring New Teachers and Promoting Teacher Development
- What We Have in Common
- Lonely at the Top
- Sharing Leadership: When and How
- 5. Advisors, Mentors, and Allies
- Demonstrating Caring
- Seeking or Accepting Support
- The Serendipity of Mutual Mentoring
- Passing the Torch and Sharing Its Light
- 6. Reflecting on a Career: Committing to Pursue Professional Passion
- Am I in the Right Place Doing the Work I Want to Be Doing?
- My Choices and Yours
- People Whose Work Is Featured in the Sudy Guides
- Study Guide for All Chapters
- Study Guides for Individual Chapter
References
References
Index
Index
Reviews
May 2008 | 152 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/02/2026 | 9781412958158 | $37.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/02/2026 | 9781452295404 | $35.00 |
"For those aspiring to be school principals, this book brings into focus the realities of serving in a leadership role. A must-read for tomorrow's principals!"
—Gerald Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals
"Villani offers stories and vignettes that capture the deepest questions and concerns faced by new and aspiring principals and reminds readers that they are not alone."
—Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director
National Staff Development Council
A wealth of leadership craft knowledge from a principal who has "been there"!
Establishing collaborative relationships with staff, building trust, and fostering a climate of mutual respect are goals that principals strive for on a daily basis. The second edition of Are You Sure You're The Principal? helps school leaders build upon these authentic leadership qualities by combining practical advice and theoretical insight with no-nonsense leadership and reflective strategies to improve principals' professional practice. Ideal for new and experienced school leaders, this resource discusses how to balance listening and leading, work through conflict, be a mentor, and seek out advisors for guidance and support. This second edition is updated with:
- A new chapter on career fulfillment
- Advice on evaluating goals, preferences, and opportunities
- Study guides related to each chapter for group or individual professional development
Through personal stories and commentaries, the author provides a mentor-in-a-book that helps principals feel more supported within the school community.
Table Of Contents:
- Foreword by Roland S. Barth
- Preface
- About the Author
- Introduction
- 1. Are You Sure You're the Principal?
- First Impressions
- Larger Than Life
- The Look of Leadership
- A Little Respect
- 2. Working Through Conflict
- Saving Face
- The Pain of Ostracism and the Power of Understanding
- Knowing When to Hold and When to Fold
- What's Worth Fighting For
- Diversity in the Principal's Office
- Establishing Credibility
- Lessons Learned
- 3. Communicating Who We Are and What We Believe
- Using Symbols to Convey Values
- She Smiles Too Much
- Being Clear
- Expressing Outrage
- Telling Our Truths
- How We Are Known
- Accepting Ourselves
- 4. Building Community
- Making All Students Feel Part of the Community
- Acceptance Based on Being
- Hiring New Teachers and Promoting Teacher Development
- What We Have in Common
- Lonely at the Top
- Sharing Leadership: When and How
- 5. Advisors, Mentors, and Allies
- Demonstrating Caring
- Seeking or Accepting Support
- The Serendipity of Mutual Mentoring
- Passing the Torch and Sharing Its Light
- 6. Reflecting on a Career: Committing to Pursue Professional Passion
- Am I in the Right Place Doing the Work I Want to Be Doing?
- My Choices and Yours
- People Whose Work Is Featured in the Sudy Guides
- Study Guide for All Chapters
- Study Guides for Individual Chapter
- References
- Index