Partnerships between educational researchers and school-based administrators and educators is imperative to successfully identifying evidence-based practices to improve pedagogy, curriculum, and student outcomes. In this paper, we recognize how being approached by educational researchers can be overwhelming for administrators and educators. We…

Relationships between and among school administrative team members are critical components of school culture. They serve as a guidepost for the behaviors and attitudes of staff and students. To invigorate these relationships, three embodied practices have high yield not only for the relationships among administrators, but also for fostering a…

In 2014 Michael Fullan set his sights on the daily needs of school leaders in his bestselling book "The Principal." This updated edition shows how the principal's role continues to change--alongside our changing world--and how we can embrace the transformation in short order. As crucial in-school influencers of student learning,…

Highly effective principals are critical to their school systems, contributing to both student outcomes and teacher retention. But despite some stabilization during the pandemic, teacher and principal turnover rates are rising again at the district and school levels, especially at high-need schools. And our recent original research underscores an…

Conflict management is one of the most stressful and frustrating aspects of a school leader's job. An inability to overcome conflicting viewpoints, ever more palpable in today's polarized climate, stymies innumerable school reform efforts. Yet, the subject is rarely examined in graduate-level leadership preparation programs or in-service…

To create genuine feedback channels for their work, school leaders have to develop attitudes and structures to encourage conversation. School leaders benefit from feedback--but they are often the last to receive it. Educational consultant Jenn David-Lang argues that opening these channels for communication starts with developing the necessary…

Learning organizations (LOs) serve as an important tool for continuous school improvement. School leaders can shift a school culture from top-down control to a learning-centered environment in which all staff share collective responsibility for improvement. This demands a collaborative culture, ongoing reflection on data to challenge existing…

If there was ever a time to review material selection policy and bring stakeholders into the conversation, the time is now. Kowalski discusses the school librarian as an instructional leader who must keep administrators informed, but also organizational partners, and stakeholders. Teachers, family partners, and student partners are also discussed…

Principals are critical to the effectiveness of schools, especially those serving children with the fewest advantages in life. So how can it be ensured that principals have the skills to carry out this challenging and evolving job? Enter the powerful combination of university principal preparation programs and the school districts their graduates…

School counselors and principals are in natural leadership positions that provide opportunities to influence systemic change. Given these educators' great responsibility of supporting the academic, social/emotional, and college and career development of all students, aligning their efforts toward impacting student outcomes is wise. Current…

"Preparing Leaders for Deeper Learning" spotlights educational leaders as key actors in the urgent task of readying students for college, careers, and citizenship in an evolving world. Marjorie Wechsler and Steven Wojcikiewicz argue that, in response to new understandings of learning and development and emerging societal needs, K-12…

This article details the creation and features of the Aspiring Principals Program, an intentional, mutually beneficial partnership between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Schools have urgent social justice needs that have become evident with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, discussions of racism, and increasing mental health needs of school students. School counselors can work with school principals to use the concepts of social capital and micropolitical theory to facilitate collaborative partnerships…

Principal leadership is a crucial element in high-performing schools. Research reveals that principals are second only to teachers in impacting student achievement at school. Accordingly, how school leaders are prepared has received increasing attention in recent years. Drawing from the findings of recent reports highlighting exemplary programs…

This paper presents a practical training framework for collaboration for pre-service and in-service school counselors and principal training programs, which can serve as a model for other programs to best meet the social, emotional, academic, and career and college readiness needs of P-12 students. The framework includes six elements: 1) effective…