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Best Practices of Award-Winning Secondary School Principals

By: Sandra Harris

Foreword by Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals

Learn successful practices from the "best of the best" to become an exemplary secondary school principal!

Effective principals inspire, motivate, understand, manage, and transform schools into successful organizations where powerful teaching occurs and all students learn. Over 100 of the best field-based practices of award-winning secondary school principals are examined to help school leaders everywhere succeed in making their schools the best that they can be. Aspiring, new, and veteran secondary principals will benefit from:

Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them
Recommended reading list
Reflection and insight from successful principals
Internet resources to further research

Full description

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Product Details

Grade Level: 6-12
ISBN: 9781412925051
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2006
Page Count: 256
Publication date: May 18, 2006

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Description

Learn successful practices from the "best of the best" to become an exemplary secondary school principal!

Using recent survey results from 34 award-winning NCLB blue-ribbon secondary principals across the nation, author Sandra Harris examines over 100 of their best field-based practices to help school leaders everywhere succeed in making their schools the best that they can be. The chapters in this unique collection are organized around six themes to help secondary school principals learn from their peers successful strategies centered on leadership, shaping campus culture, communicating for collaboration, curriculum and instruction, school improvement plans, and personalizing the learning environment. Aspiring, new, and veteran secondary principals will benefit from:

Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them
Recommended reading list for effective principals
Reflection and insight from successful principals
Additional resources to further extend best practices

This invaluable resource covers the most current research, ideas, and strategies to help secondary principals become exemplary school leaders and create a thriving school environment

Key features

Descriptions of best practices and ideas for implementing them

Recommended reading list for effective principals

Reflection and insight from successful principals

Additionalresources to further extend best practices

Author(s)

Sandra Harris

Sandra Harris is currently associate professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where she teaches classes in social justice, action research, and other administrator preparation courses in the doctoral program. Formerly, Harris served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in public and private schools. Her scholarship agenda includes administrator preparation, K-12 peer harassment, and building relationship-oriented, socially just school environments. Harris publishes and presents at regional, state, and national conferences on these topics.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Gerald N. Tirozzi

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Contributors

Introduction

1. Leadership

Leadership Actions That Build Exemplary Schools

Leadership: Tim's Top 10 Tips

Two Essential Leadership Qualities

Good Leaders Ask Good Questions

Leadership Best Practices: In Retrospect

Snapshots

Summary

Leadership Reflection

Additional Resources

References

2. Shaping Campus Culture

Trust Is the Foundation

Team Thornton

Influencing the School Culture

Shaping a Demographically Changing High School

Theme-Based Education: The High School's Mantra

Developing a Professional Learning Community

Shaping Through Professional Development

It Takes a Village

Guaranteeing a Better Future for the Entire Community

Shaping a Culture of Leadership in a Rural School

Three Ways to Improve Student Achievement

School Vision and Strategic Planning Are Exciting

Golden Opportunities

Snapshots

Summary

Shaping Campus Culture Reflection

Additional Resources

References

3. Communicating for Collaboration

Communicating for Collaboration With Faculty and Other Educators

Communicating for Collaboration With Students, Parents, and the Larger Community

Summary

Communicating for Collaboration Reflection

Additional Resources

References

4. Curriculum and Instruction

Build Curricula to Fit Student Needs

Closing the Achievement Gap

Standards-Based Curriculum

Supporting Standards-Based Programs

Challenging Curricula

Freshman Induction and Looping Improve Performance

Looping Aids Accountability

Team Looping Shares Responsibility

The Role of Technical Arts

CRISS-CROSS Professional Development

Different Instructional Methods Improve Learning

Differentiated Instruction Opportunities

Academic Celebrations

It's Not Your Mom's Detention Anymore: A Study on the Effectiveness of Walking for Fitness as an Alternative to Traditional Afterschool Detention

Snapshots

Summary

Curriculum and Instructional Programs Reflection

Additional Resources

References

5. School Improvement Plans

School Improvement Improves Us All

What I Wish I Had Done Differently

Everyone Is Accountable for All

TEAMS Target Improved Student Learning

Using Breaking Ranks II for School Improvement

New Teacher Mentoring Program

How We Use Data Assessment

Using Assessment Data

The School Improvement Plan as a Living Document

Improving Academic Rigor

Five-Minute Classroom Walk-Through

Teacher Observations

Know Your Facility Better Than Anyone

Nurturing and Sustaining Best Practices for School Improvement

Snapshots

Summary

School Improvement Plans Reflection

Additional Resources

References

6. Personalizing the Learning Environment for All

What Is and What Ought to Be

A Welcoming Environment

What Every Principal Needs to Know About Students

Building-Based Intervention Team

Providing Individual Attention for At-Risk Students

Freshmen Transition Program - A Bridge to High School

Transition Class

Strategies for a Low-Performing High School

ESL Students and Reading

Find an Advocate

Improving Reading Skills

Individualized Graduation Plan

Double Promoting Students

Snapshots

Summary

Personalizing the Learning Environment for All Reflection

Additional Resources

References

7. Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom Reflection

Reference

8. Recommended Reading List

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