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…

This reprinted newspaper article describes a typical crisis-ridden day in the life of a dynamic female elementary school principal who was formerly a teacher and knows each student by name. This principal views her job as a sacred trust performed in a caring, child-centered environment where bad kids are nonexistent. (MLH)

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…

This digest of assertiveness training research advises principals of their professional rights and recommends assertiveness techniques for maintaining authority over manipulative staff while preserving a collegial relationship. Such techniques as broken record, fogging, negative assertion, and negative inquiry are illustrated. (MJL)

Integrated software is available to help with many of the small- to medium-sized school's management tasks requiring data analysis. Typical integrated programs include spreadsheet, database, graphing, and word processing components and cost less than the price of all the components purchased separately. (PGD)

The Pyramid, Railroad, and High Performance theories of leadership are inappropriate for school settings. At root, school leadership is about connecting people morally to each other and to their work. The work of leadership involves developing shared purposes, beliefs, values, and conceptions associated with teaching and learning,…

One principal's solution to low staff morale illustrates guidelines for improving teacher committee productivity through teamwork and shared leadership. (MJL)

Grounds prognostications for the principalship on significant schooling trends. The future of schools depends on changing "outside" economic, societal, and political forces. Like most businesses and organizations, the education industry is becoming more communication- and service-oriented. Principals will need to act as social and organizational…

Although the principal of a new school must tackle curriculum planning, staffing, and community relations, the greatest challenge is making sure the building opens smoothly and on time. A principal must be a key planner, an events coordinator, a good communicator, a maintenance supervisor, and a visionary leader. (MLH)

After listing 20 desirable character traits for the principal, the authors detail more than 50 functions and competencies of the principal in the areas of the learning environment, student learning needs, the instructional program, staff development, community resources, building management, and financial management. (Author/JM)