Full implementation of the Common Core State Standards for mathematics is still a few years away for many states. But district and school leaders are faced with many decisions now--from curriculum adoption to teacher professional development--that will influence the long-term effectiveness of this bold initiative. School leaders have a significant…

While the four C's--critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication--will naturally fit into a school's existing curriculum, changing the school culture to emphasize these skills takes time and planning. The good news is that school leaders can get started in just a few minutes. In this article, the author presents practical steps…

Schools today require many individuals to work together to attain learning goals since no school functions without broad, active involvement of all community members. In addition, successful school improvement efforts operate well when there is a coherent vision for student achievement. While principals are aware of the need to include disparate…

Reform efforts require stakeholder support, but more importantly, a strong leader to see them through. In this article, the author addresses the importance of strong leadership and the role of principals in effecting change. He describes the success story of Harborside Elementary School in Chula Vista, California as one of a growing group of…

The role of instructional leader is a relatively new concept that emerged in the early 1980s, influenced largely by research that found effective schools usually had principals who stressed the importance of leadership in this area. Instructional leadership reflects the actions a principal takes to promote growth in student learning. The…

Almost daily, residents of Michigan read newspaper headlines announcing another school district laying off principals and teachers to address the ever-shrinking available funds from state government to fund public education. Schools are feeling the direct impact of the mix of financial tsunamis that have hit the Michigan economy. The state has…

Though research tells that principals are key in raising student achievement, principals remain unsung heroes for the nation's children. Because they work on the front lines of education--student by student and class by class--to lead schools in preparing students for successful lives, it's possible to miss the entire significance of the…

After more than 20 years of vague reference to the principal as instructional leader, progress is finally being made, and the specificity and results are truly awesome. In 1989, William Smith and Richard Andrews wrote a monograph titled "Instructional Leadership: How Principals Make a Difference." In their study of 1,200 school…

An important first step in addressing any public health crisis is raising public awareness. However, getting everyone on board to help solve the underlying causes of that crisis is a daunting task. The childhood obesity epidemic poses such a challenge, particularly in terms of how to best engage and assist principals and other school leaders in…

The author suggests five ways in which busy principals can indirectly demonstrate their classroom leadership by encouraging teacher specialization, giving teachers opportunities to present case studies of at-risk students, building a diverse intellectual climate, instituting an idea exchange, and scheduling time for teachers to openly discuss a…

Argues for a redefinition of the role of the principal to provide more time for instructional leadership. Provides examples of redefinition efforts and suggestions. (PKP)

An Illinos study showed that elementary school principals spent only 11 percent of their time on instructional leadership activities. A typical principal's day was characterized by multiple managerial tasks and diverse functions, including clerical, budgetary, and other generalist tasks. To convert principals into instructional leaders would…

Elementary school principals need to realize they can make significant changes in the way science is perceived and taught in schools. Even without a science background, a principal can assume the role of catalyst, participator, instructional leader, advocate, innovator, entrepreneur, motivator, critic, sustainer, or promoter to help teachers…

An educator who has conducted leadership programs for Chinese principals since 1985 examines the changes in that nation's schools over a 20-year period. He finds them making slow progress, thanks in part to educational exchange programs that have given principals the skills and educational foundations needed to overcome entrenched and system-wide…

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…