Beginning the Principalship
Purchase
Description
The Ultimate Resource to cultivate self-awareness and excellence in Today’s Principals
A commitment to continuous improvement paves the road to true leadership. New and veteran principals who understand this will translate thoughts into sound decisions and inspire a vision that can nurture others. They will drive progress and invite innovation. These are today’s newest superheroes, leading by example and cultivating greatness in others.
But every superhero needs a mentor. In this updated bestseller, Beginning the Principalship, Daresh and Alexander offer intensive encouragement and help in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of school leadership. The strategies and cases included here will inspire all school leaders and nurture their passion for the immense responsibility they have undertaken.
Practical Questions, Points to Ponder, and numerous examples in every chapter help foster reflection and collaboration to build a shared vision for campus improvement. Plus, discover how to:
- Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school
- Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal
- Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school
- Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan
- Work effectively with the greater community and parents
- Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture
Don’t just survive your years as principal. Read this guide and thrive!
“Novice and seasoned principals, and new and seasoned administrators would really benefit from reading this book for skill building and improvement. Each chapter provides a wealth of information and has a space to record one’s own plan for self-improvement.”
Delsia Easley, Principal
Gadsden City Schools, Gadsden, AL
“I am disappointed that I didn’t own this book when I started as a principal. This book would have answered some of my pressing questions and guided the work I did my first few years. I will recommend this to any friend or colleague starting a new principalship.”
Kelly VanLaeken, Principal
Ruben A. Cirillo High School, Walworth, NY
Contents
Introduction
- Plan for the Book
- A Word of Caution
- Suggested Readings
A Framework for Understanding the Beginning Principal
- Case Study: I’m Not a Politician
- Case Study: To Go or Not to Go
- Case Study: Figuring Out the Papers
- Balance is the Key
- Suggestions for Improvement and Professional Development
- Suggested Readings and References
PART I: Self Awareness
- Affirming Your Ethical Stance
- Returning to Elijah’s Dilemma
- Knowing the Difference between Right and Wrong
- Foundations of Ethical Judgments and Behaviors
- References
- Reviewing Personal Values
- Case: Because It’s Important to Me
- Case: But What About the Children?
- What Do You Do with the Platform?
- Your Personal Platform
- Being a “Boss"
- Others’ Perceptions
- So What Do You Do?
- Strategies to Reduce Isolation
- Easing into the Principalship as an Assistant
- Your Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings
- A Personal Leadership Checklist
- Critical Leadership Skills
- Your Personal Plan
- References
PART II: Socialization
- Seeing Your Invisible Heroes
- Office Workers
- Custodial Staff
- Food Service Workers
- Building a Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings and References
- We’re All on the Same Side: Home-School-Community Relations
- Traditional Functions of Home-School Relations
- Fostering Effective Two-Way Communication as Relational Trust
- Utilizing Community Resources
- Your Personal Plan
- References
- Learning Your School’s Culture
- Don’t Just Look…See
- Listen… Don’t Just Hear
- Celebrate the Past
- Develop an Action Plan
- Others’ Expectations
- Critical Skills for Beginning Principals: A Survey
- So What Does this Mean?
- Your Personal Plan
PART III: Technical and Managerial Skills
- Understanding the Environment of Accountability
No Child Left Behind
- What Happened with NCLB and Where do we go from Here?
Additional materials
Description
The Ultimate Resource to cultivate self-awareness and excellence in Today’s Principals
A commitment to continuous improvement paves the road to true leadership. New and veteran principals who understand this will translate thoughts into sound decisions and inspire a vision that can nurture others. They will drive progress and invite innovation. These are today’s newest superheroes, leading by example and cultivating greatness in others.
But every superhero needs a mentor. In this updated bestseller, Beginning the Principalship, Daresh and Alexander offer intensive encouragement and help in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of school leadership. The strategies and cases included here will inspire all school leaders and nurture their passion for the immense responsibility they have undertaken.
Practical Questions, Points to Ponder, and numerous examples in every chapter help foster reflection and collaboration to build a shared vision for campus improvement. Plus, discover how to:
- Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school
- Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal
- Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school
- Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan
- Work effectively with the greater community and parents
- Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture
Don’t just survive your years as principal. Read this guide and thrive!
“Novice and seasoned principals, and new and seasoned administrators would really benefit from reading this book for skill building and improvement. Each chapter provides a wealth of information and has a space to record one’s own plan for self-improvement.”
Delsia Easley, Principal
Gadsden City Schools, Gadsden, AL
“I am disappointed that I didn’t own this book when I started as a principal. This book would have answered some of my pressing questions and guided the work I did my first few years. I will recommend this to any friend or colleague starting a new principalship.”
Kelly VanLaeken, Principal
Ruben A. Cirillo High School, Walworth, NY
Contents
Introduction
- Plan for the Book
- A Word of Caution
- Suggested Readings
A Framework for Understanding the Beginning Principal
- Case Study: I’m Not a Politician
- Case Study: To Go or Not to Go
- Case Study: Figuring Out the Papers
- Balance is the Key
- Suggestions for Improvement and Professional Development
- Suggested Readings and References
PART I: Self Awareness
- Affirming Your Ethical Stance
- Returning to Elijah’s Dilemma
- Knowing the Difference between Right and Wrong
- Foundations of Ethical Judgments and Behaviors
- References
- Reviewing Personal Values
- Case: Because It’s Important to Me
- Case: But What About the Children?
- What Do You Do with the Platform?
- Your Personal Platform
- Being a “Boss"
- Others’ Perceptions
- So What Do You Do?
- Strategies to Reduce Isolation
- Easing into the Principalship as an Assistant
- Your Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings
- A Personal Leadership Checklist
- Critical Leadership Skills
- Your Personal Plan
- References
PART II: Socialization
- Seeing Your Invisible Heroes
- Office Workers
- Custodial Staff
- Food Service Workers
- Building a Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings and References
- We’re All on the Same Side: Home-School-Community Relations
- Traditional Functions of Home-School Relations
- Fostering Effective Two-Way Communication as Relational Trust
- Utilizing Community Resources
- Your Personal Plan
- References
- Learning Your School’s Culture
- Don’t Just Look…See
- Listen… Don’t Just Hear
- Celebrate the Past
- Develop an Action Plan
- Others’ Expectations
- Critical Skills for Beginning Principals: A Survey
- So What Does this Mean?
- Your Personal Plan
PART III: Technical and Managerial Skills
- Understanding the Environment of Accountability
No Child Left Behind
- What Happened with NCLB and Where do we go from Here?
Additional materials
Beginning the Principalship
A Practical Guide for New School Leaders
October 2015 | 224 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/01/2025 | 9781483380117 | $41.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/01/2025 | 9781483380124 | $38.00 |
The Ultimate Resource to cultivate self-awareness and excellence in Today’s Principals
A commitment to continuous improvement paves the road to true leadership. New and veteran principals who understand this will translate thoughts into sound decisions and inspire a vision that can nurture others. They will drive progress and invite innovation. These are today’s newest superheroes, leading by example and cultivating greatness in others.
But every superhero needs a mentor. In this updated bestseller, Beginning the Principalship, Daresh and Alexander offer intensive encouragement and help in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of school leadership. The strategies and cases included here will inspire all school leaders and nurture their passion for the immense responsibility they have undertaken.
Practical Questions, Points to Ponder, and numerous examples in every chapter help foster reflection and collaboration to build a shared vision for campus improvement. Plus, discover how to:
- Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school
- Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal
- Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school
- Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan
- Work effectively with the greater community and parents
- Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture
Don’t just survive your years as principal. Read this guide and thrive!
“Novice and seasoned principals, and new and seasoned administrators would really benefit from reading this book for skill building and improvement. Each chapter provides a wealth of information and has a space to record one’s own plan for self-improvement.”
Delsia Easley, Principal
Gadsden City Schools, Gadsden, AL
“I am disappointed that I didn’t own this book when I started as a principal. This book would have answered some of my pressing questions and guided the work I did my first few years. I will recommend this to any friend or colleague starting a new principalship.”
Kelly VanLaeken, Principal
Ruben A. Cirillo High School, Walworth, NY
Table Of Contents:
- Introduction
- Plan for the Book
- A Word of Caution
- Suggested Readings
- A Framework for Understanding the Beginning Principal
- Case Study: I’m Not a Politician
- Case Study: To Go or Not to Go
- Case Study: Figuring Out the Papers
- Balance is the Key
- Suggestions for Improvement and Professional Development
- Suggested Readings and References
- PART I: Self Awareness
- Affirming Your Ethical Stance
- Returning to Elijah’s Dilemma
- Knowing the Difference between Right and Wrong
- Foundations of Ethical Judgments and Behaviors
- References
- Reviewing Personal Values
- Case: Because It’s Important to Me
- Case: But What About the Children?
- What Do You Do with the Platform?
- Your Personal Platform
- Being a “Boss"
- Others’ Perceptions
- So What Do You Do?
- Strategies to Reduce Isolation
- Easing into the Principalship as an Assistant
- Your Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings
- A Personal Leadership Checklist
- Critical Leadership Skills
- Your Personal Plan
- References
- PART II: Socialization
- Seeing Your Invisible Heroes
- Office Workers
- Custodial Staff
- Food Service Workers
- Building a Personal Plan
- Suggested Readings and References
- We’re All on the Same Side: Home-School-Community Relations
- Traditional Functions of Home-School Relations
- Fostering Effective Two-Way Communication as Relational Trust
- Utilizing Community Resources
- Your Personal Plan
- References
- Learning Your School’s Culture
- Don’t Just Look…See
- Listen… Don’t Just Hear
- Celebrate the Past
- Develop an Action Plan
- Others’ Expectations
- Critical Skills for Beginning Principals: A Survey
- So What Does this Mean?
- Your Personal Plan
- PART III: Technical and Managerial Skills
- Understanding the Environment of Accountability
- No Child Left Behind
- What Happened with NCLB and Where do we go from Here?