This is an account of how a principal combines the rational and emotional components of leadership to lead the transformation of a school. The book assumes that schools can transform themselves, but only when those involved in schools develop

Make the most of your time—and your leadership Is your school’s vision getting buried under paperwork? If you spend more time picking up pieces than putting them together, this is your book. Written by seasoned school principals, this plan of action will get you back to the essence of your job: instructional leadership. By using educational technology to maximize efficiency, you’ll improve teaching, student achievement, resource management, and school culture. This comprehensive guide features: Easy-to-follow, single-topic chapters Standards–based scenarios and questions Time-management self-assessments Easily adaptable experiential exercises Strategies for battling the “silent time thief”

Each chapter opens with the big picture of leadership in a school relating to the chapter's topic through a personal example and story. In order for there to be a strong foundation in place so a person can be an effective school leader, he or she needs to reflect on the pillars of school leadership. Each one of these pillars needs to be understood for a person to be able to lead a school and for the ideas in this book to work. This part will reference research relating to the six pillars of school leadership: 1. Vision 2. Relationships 3. Trust 4. Efficacy 5. Student-Centered 6. Instructional Knowledge Chapter sections will follow this structure: The Topic: in heading Ten-Minute Opportunity Ten-Minute Tip Ten-Minute Collaborative Opportunities Principal's Perspective: Each chapter will have a section where another experienced principal shares his or her insight on the topic and how they have found success. The book also includes vignettes, case studies, questions to reflect on, infographics, and checklists.

Being a school principal may be the most challenging job you will experience. It also is potentially both the most rewarding and impactful position you will ever have! The principalship is hard work and the need to stay motivated, encouraged, and inspired is what Inside The Principal's Office is all about. This book was created with you, the reflective practitioner and leader, in mind.In each chapter you will find:A Message- To share and collaborate with one another there is a simple message from a fellow principal or school leader with words of encouragement, inspiration, or challenge.Instructional Leadership- In each chapter, you will find a different reflective question and/or activity for you to consider during the upcoming week. The important thing to remember is that you are responsible for the learning and teaching in your building. You may not be in front of students everyday, but you are the "lead learner" in your building and it is important that you are actively involved everyday.Servant Leadership- Each week there will be ideas for activities that show a leader is trying to help and support. We hope you will use these activities as reminders and that some may become part of your daily routine.What Am I Learning?- Consider this section a personal accountability piece. This may be ongoing, such as a book study or action research project, but it also could be as simple as a quick tweet or blog post you came across that made you curious to learn more.Tell Your Story- Each week, there will be different thoughts and activities designed to shape the way you "tell your story" to others.Celebrations/Reflections- While celebrations and reflections are not the same, each week you will see an opportunity to do one or the other as a way to remember all the good things happening at your school, but also to deepening your learning through reflecting on the week and what went well and what you can improve upon.

Bridge the gap between good intentions and real results Instructional Leadership is one of the most researched and discussed leadership practices, but most school leaders don’t know where to begin or how to balance this role with all of their other responsibilities. Peter DeWitt’s Instructional Leadership provides practical tools for delivering lasting improvement through small, manageable changes over time. This step-by-step, how-to guide presents the six driving forces of instructional leadership—implementation, focus on learning, student engagement, instructional strategies, efficacy, and evaluation of impact—within an easy-to-follow, multi-stage implementation model. It also includes: · Practical strategies grounded in research · "Entry point" sections highlighting the best places to start · Help working with PLCs, faculty meetings, teacher observations, and walkthroughs · Study questions As a leader, you are the guide for your teachers, staff, and students. Let this book guide you to a vision of instructional leadership that really works.

While many books outline the attributes of successful school leaders, few describe how those traits manifest in daily practice. "The Daily Practices of Successful Principals" goes beyond the outward picture of excellence and provides a compendium of daily practices used by successful principals in various settings. Written by former administrators who have walked in your shoes, this handy guide's strategies are based on interviews with successful leaders and are applicable in multiple contexts. Inside you will find guidelines for: (1) Examining your values, educational platform, and personal style; (2) Establishing learning as a common purpose; (3) Identifying and leading school change; (4) Effectively managing staff and student relationships; and (5) Developing teacher leaders. The authors understand that principals are expected to have the patience of Job, the tenacity of Atlas, the compassion of Mother Teresa, and a sense of humor. The recommended daily practices will help you stay focused on the most important things--leading effectively, promoting student achievement, and making a positive difference in students' lives.

Sharpen your instructional leadership skills and guide your school toward equity and excellence for all. Just think about how great schools could be if every instructional leader exercised their influence to create change—maximizing the efforts of others and mobilizing those efforts to work toward a shared goal. How Leadership Works: A Playbook for Instructional Leaders walks educators through the processes of clarifying, articulating, and actualizing instructional leadership goals with the aim of delivering on the promise of equity and excellence for all. Grounded in Visible Learning® research, the exercises in this easy-to-use playbook illuminate the essential mindframes necessary for effective instructional leadership and prompt veteran, new, and aspiring educators to identify challenges and determine next steps. It includes: Ten essential mindframes for leaders, together with the leadership practices that illustrate each mindframe in action Teaching practices, such as teacher clarity or student engagement in learning, that support teachers in delivering quality instruction, along with tools to document the impact of those practices on learning Strategies for leading learning, including establishing school culture, utilizing feedback, and supporting professional learning communities as a pathway to building collective teacher efficacy. Tools for applying the principles of change, conducting an initiative inventory, and implementing and de-implementing initiatives Exercise-by-exercise, educators and front office staff will deepen their knowledge, frame their priorities and practices, and gain new tools for supporting the instructional focus and initiatives designed to support learning at your school.