The term "turnaround schools" has become an increasingly important phrase in the education lexicon in recent years. Although it is sometimes used generically when talking about schools that have rapidly and significantly increased student achievement, it often is applied more narrowly to schools in which districts used a strategy of replacing…

Principals are powerful: They are the primary catalysts for creating a lasting foundation for learning, driving school and student performance, and shaping the long-term impact of school improvement efforts. Yet few principals would characterize themselves as powerful. Rather, they're self-effacing, adaptable, pragmatic, and quick to share credit…

Serving as a new principal is not only demanding, it can also be a lonely job. But successful leadership doesn't happen in a vacuum, and principals need to know from their peers best practices about everything from focusing on instruction to planning fire drills. With this in mind, "Principal" magazine created a virtual roundtable--between…

The larger elementary schools become, the greater the principal's challenge. When managing megaschools, principals should set clear priorities, know their limitations, recognize the necessity of scheduling activities, celebrate school size, increase their visibility, provide for stress reduction, request central office support, and share…

Principals can improve their approach to curriculum supervision by applying six supervisory processes (organizing, planning, coping with change, implementing, problem solving, and evaluating) to six curriculum levels (written, taught, resourced, experienced, tested, and ideal) and using three supervisory roles (as monitor, standard-bearer, and…

After being shadowed by her new superintendent for one hectic workday, a veteran elementary school principal learned she had high blood pressure and needed to flex her management style. She was advised to delegate more responsibilities, write about her practice, schedule only half her workday, and provide balance in her life. (MLH)

The most fundamental distinction between public education and the private sector is the way organizational performance is measured. Business success is measured in terms of profit. By contrast, measuring individual public schools' performance is more complex, and budgetary discretion is limited. Critics demanding corporate-style school improvement…

New principals need a game plan for an orderly transition. This article outlines a plan organized by seven significant areas of school leadership: administration, curriculum and instruction, professional development and supervision, staffing, student issues, student activities, and communication with important school constituencies. Being…