There are dozens of books and hundreds of resources that address the issue of character development in students: how to raise them to be good people, how to teach them to be good citizens, how to help them to make good decisions. Little is written, however, about the character development of principals and school leaders, whose behavior is a model…

According to Jay Worona, general counsel for the New York State School Board Association, "Balancing safety and student constitutional rights is not easy. It has to be a careful balance. School officials must be prudent and not overreact. But one part of the equation has to be paramount. And safety should be the primary concern"…

Assistant principals are in a precarious position. Although assistant principals are relied on to take over when the principal is out of the building, they are often viewed simply as disciplinarians. To change this perception, the author has learned that he needs to pave his own way by implementing activities and procedures that let others know…

With the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the focus of the principal's role is providing instructional leadership in the school. However, one of the first things a school community expects from the principal is that management issues--particularly for special events that occur every year--are successfully administered and organized.…

In this article, the author reflects on the ability to have schools that can develop students for the 21st century. He states that despite the constant search for reform solutions, the future of school improvement depends on people, not programs. Schools must hire excellent teachers and strive to make all teachers as good as the best teacher in…

The tendency to view science as specialized and inaccessible is common. As a result, many people do not persevere in trying to understand it. Although administrators give it a nod in terms of being important, they often see it as something for students who have certain kinds of intelligence and, unlike reading, accept less-than-deep understanding…

Personalizing education means going beyond structural changes and changing how educators see their students. It means knowing students' stories. The personal stories of students are powerful; educators must devise ways to gather and share those stories to benefit student learning. Principals and assistant principals can help ensure that there are…

In May 2000, 35 principals from across the nation met to define their role in implementing rigorous academic curricula to promote student achievement. Their observations concerning effects of school climate, resources, staffing, equal access, professional development, sustained leadership, and program assessment are discussed. (MLH)

A recent survey found that 67% of principals believe that school of education leadership programs are out of touch with what it takes to run a school district. Only 4% praise their graduate studies, and a majority say that mentoring and guidance from people they work with has the greatest benefit for them. In this article, the author asked three…

In this article, the author explains her decision to return to the classroom as a teacher after serving 15 years in public school administration. As an administrator, she found her greatest joys in transforming faculty meetings into learning situations, talking with teenagers about their success; facilitating the processes of learning; and sharing…

With the advent of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), graduation rate accountability has become the educational law of the land, a small part of it at least. Some uncertainty continues to persist around key issues like exactly how to calculate graduation rates and how much weight should be placed on graduation versus test scores when attaching…

Many students drop out of school because they feel that they are unteachable and unliked by administrators and teachers. Teachers may not be aware of how they send negative messages to at-risk students. The solution can be found in improving relationships between at-risk students and school staff members. This approach is often overlooked by…

"Turning Points 2000" places more emphasis than the original volume on teaching and learning and the principal's role in focusing reform efforts on improving curriculum, assessment, and instruction. Teachers and administrators must strive to create a developmentally appropriate and intellectually challenging instructional program. (MLH)

In the interview process, every aspiring principal naively speaks of assuming the role of instructional leader. The candidate has read the right books, taken the right courses, and attended every possible workshop to prepare for the day when he or she would become captain of his or her own ship. However, it does not take long for principals to…

An African-American student protest against a Hispanic-American celebration was resolved using mediation as a teachable moment. This scenario underscores "Leading for Diversity" study findings: proactive school leaders contain and prevent interethnic violence by building a strong foundation of respect and understanding across lines of…