The Principal's Field Manual

The School Principal as the Organizational Leader
William A. Sommers - Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
The Principal's Field Manual
May 2009 | 176 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452273037
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781412971164
Available from January 0001

Description

"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.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Figures

Very Quick Reference

Very Quick Reference

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

Introduction

  • The Framing Model - Facets of Effectiveness
  • Two Fundamental Techniques

Less Quick Reference

Less Quick Reference

Leadership

  • Communications
  • Dialog
  • Trust
  • Collaboration/Teamwork
  • Fire Fighting
  • Culture

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Leadership

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Leadership

Mission

  • Mission
  • Metrics
  • Organizational Values

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Mission

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Mission

Strategy

  • Scenario Planning
  • Systems Thinking
  • Decision-Making / Problem-Solving

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Strategy

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Strategy

Organizational Structure

  • Project Management
  • Change
  • Conflict Management/Resolution
  • Policies, Procedures, and Professional Judgment
  • Competencies and Position Sketch

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Organizational Structure

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Organizational Structure

People

  • Personal Values
  • Data, Information, Inferences
  • Managing Staff
  • Followership
  • Influence and Political Savvy

Ten Rules/Guidelines for People

Ten Rules/Guidelines for People

Conclusion

Conclusion

Glossary

Glossary

Appendix 1. Principal Responsibilities

Appendix 1. Principal Responsibilities

Appendix 2. Operating Styles

Appendix 2. Operating Styles

Appendix 3. Project Charter Sample

Appendix 3. Project Charter Sample

Appendix 4. Capacity to Act Assessment

Appendix 4. Capacity to Act Assessment

Appendix 5. Position Sketch

Appendix 5. Position Sketch

Appendix 6. Newmann’s Model

Appendix 6. Newmann’s Model

Appendix 7. Decision Requirements Table

Appendix 7. Decision Requirements Table

Appendix 8. Uncritical Inference Test

Appendix 8. Uncritical Inference Test

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

Description

"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.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Figures

Very Quick Reference

Very Quick Reference

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

Introduction

  • The Framing Model - Facets of Effectiveness
  • Two Fundamental Techniques

Less Quick Reference

Less Quick Reference

Leadership

  • Communications
  • Dialog
  • Trust
  • Collaboration/Teamwork
  • Fire Fighting
  • Culture

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Leadership

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Leadership

Mission

  • Mission
  • Metrics
  • Organizational Values

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Mission

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Mission

Strategy

  • Scenario Planning
  • Systems Thinking
  • Decision-Making / Problem-Solving

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Strategy

Ten Guidelines/Rules for Strategy

Organizational Structure

  • Project Management
  • Change
  • Conflict Management/Resolution
  • Policies, Procedures, and Professional Judgment
  • Competencies and Position Sketch

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Organizational Structure

Ten Rules/Guidelines for Organizational Structure

People

  • Personal Values
  • Data, Information, Inferences
  • Managing Staff
  • Followership
  • Influence and Political Savvy

Ten Rules/Guidelines for People

Ten Rules/Guidelines for People

Conclusion

Conclusion

Glossary

Glossary

Appendix 1. Principal Responsibilities

Appendix 1. Principal Responsibilities

Appendix 2. Operating Styles

Appendix 2. Operating Styles

Appendix 3. Project Charter Sample

Appendix 3. Project Charter Sample

Appendix 4. Capacity to Act Assessment

Appendix 4. Capacity to Act Assessment

Appendix 5. Position Sketch

Appendix 5. Position Sketch

Appendix 6. Newmann’s Model

Appendix 6. Newmann’s Model

Appendix 7. Decision Requirements Table

Appendix 7. Decision Requirements Table

Appendix 8. Uncritical Inference Test

Appendix 8. Uncritical Inference Test

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

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The Principal's Field Manual

The School Principal as the Organizational Leader


May 2009 | 176 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 28/04/2023 9781412971164 $39.95
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412971157 $84.95
Lifetime 28/04/2023 9781452273037 $36.00

"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.


Table Of Contents:

  • List of Figures
  • Very Quick Reference
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • Introduction
  • The Framing Model - Facets of Effectiveness
  • Two Fundamental Techniques
  • Less Quick Reference
  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Dialog
  • Trust
  • Collaboration/Teamwork
  • Fire Fighting
  • Culture
  • Ten Rules/Guidelines for Leadership
  • Mission
  • Mission
  • Metrics
  • Organizational Values
  • Ten Guidelines/Rules for Mission
  • Strategy
  • Scenario Planning
  • Systems Thinking
  • Decision-Making / Problem-Solving
  • Ten Guidelines/Rules for Strategy
  • Organizational Structure
  • Project Management
  • Change
  • Conflict Management/Resolution
  • Policies, Procedures, and Professional Judgment
  • Competencies and Position Sketch
  • Ten Rules/Guidelines for Organizational Structure
  • People
  • Personal Values
  • Data, Information, Inferences
  • Managing Staff
  • Followership
  • Influence and Political Savvy
  • Ten Rules/Guidelines for People
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
  • Appendix 1. Principal Responsibilities
  • Appendix 2. Operating Styles
  • Appendix 3. Project Charter Sample
  • Appendix 4. Capacity to Act Assessment
  • Appendix 5. Position Sketch
  • Appendix 6. Newmann’s Model
  • Appendix 7. Decision Requirements Table
  • Appendix 8. Uncritical Inference Test
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"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
"Principals, regardless of the hat being worn—instructional leader, process manager, school administrator, or organization CEO—will find a treasure trove of tools, processes, models, assessments, and much more. This compendium of ideas represents 'just in time' applications to the authentic, day-to-day realities of the practicing site administrator."
Karen M. Dyer, Director, Education and Nonprofit Sector, Center for Creative Leadership
"Leadership is partially about skill and personality, and a whole lot about values. This book takes all the elements of a leader’s journey and provides useful tools for both day-to-day and long-term success. It is simple to use, easy to follow, and actionable."
Alex C. Cirillo, Jr., Vice President, 3M Community Affairs, 3M Foundation

Recommendations