10 Traits of Highly Effective Principals: From Good to Great Performance

230 Pages·2003·4.473 MB·English

by  Elaine K. McEwan

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Copyright © 2003 by Corwin Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McEwan, Elaine K., 1941-
Ten traits of highly effective principals : from good to great performance / by Elaine K. McEwan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7619-4618-7 (cloth) — ISBN 0-7619-4619-5 (pbk.)
1. School principals. 2. School management and organization.
3. Educational leadership. I. Title.
LB2831.9.M42 2003
371.2’012—dc21
2003004595
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
03 04 05 06 07 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Acquisitions Editor: Robert D. Clouse
Editorial Assistant: Jingle Vea
Production Editor: Julia Parnell
Copy Editor: Marilyn Power Scott
Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.
Indexer: Jean Casalegno
Cover Designer: Michael Dubowe
Production Artist: Lisa Miller
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Contents
Preface
Who This Book Is For
Overview of the Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
A Matter of Definition
The Origin of the Ten Traits
The Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals
Chapter 1: The Communicator
Chapter 2: The Educator
Chapter 3: The Envisioner
Chapter 4: The Facilitator
Chapter 5: The Change Master
Chapter 6: The Culture Builder
Chapter 7: The Activator
Chapter 8: The Producer
Chapter 9: The Character Builder
Chapter 10: The Contributor
About the Author
1. The Communicator
Communicator Exemplar: Michelle Gayle
Communicator Benchmarks
1.1 Communicators Attend
1.2 Communicators Listen
1.3 Communicators Empathize
1.4 Communicators Disclose Themselves to Others
1.5 Communicators Get the Whole Story
1.6 Communicators Ask the Right Questions
1.7 Communicators Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say
1.8 Communicators Can Accept Criticism
1.9 Communicators Can Give Correction
1.10 Communicators Communicate Creatively
1.11 Communicators Disagree Agreeably
1.12 Communicators Pay Attention to Parents
1.13 Communicators Connect Emotionally and Professionally With Staff
1.14 Communicators Communicate With Students
1.15 Communicators Can Talk to the Boss
1.16 Communicators Connect in Productive, Helping, and Healing Ways
1.17 Communicators Care Enough to Send the Very Best
1.18 Communicators Know How to Schmooze
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1.19 Communicators Write, Speak, and Teach
Summing It Up
2. The Educator
Educator Exemplar: Jean Hendrickson, Elementary
Educator Exemplar: Alan Jones, High School
Educator Benchmarks
2.1 Educator Principals Believe That All Students Can Learn, and They Develop Programs to Help
Them Succeed
2.2 Educator Principals Provide Training and Support for Teachers
2.3 Educator Principals Create Cognitive Dissonance
2.4 Educator Principals Establish, Implement, and Achieve Academic Standards
2.5 Educator Principals Focus on Instruction
2.6 Educator Principals Model Continuous Learning
2.7 Educator Principals Develop Teacher Leaders
2.8 Educator Principals Pay Attention to What Matters Most
2.9 Educator Principals Create Learning Communities
Summing It Up
3. The Envisioner
Envisioner Exemplar: Larry Fieber
Envisioner Benchmarks
3.1 Envisioners Are Hedgehogs
3.2 Envisioners Feel Called
3.3 Envisioners Have Resolve, Goals, and Lifevision
3.4 Envisioners Can See the Invisible
3.5 Envisioners Know Where They Are Headed
3.6 Envisioners Have Compelling Visions
3.7 Envisioners Can Articulate Their Visions and Then Make Them Happen
Summing It Up
4. The Facilitator
Facilitator Exemplar: Doug Pierson
Facilitator Benchmarks
4.1 Facilitator Principals Bond People Into a Community of Leaders
4.2 Facilitator Principals Tap the Potential of People
4.3 Facilitator Principals Say “We” Instead of “I”
4.4 Facilitator Principals Favor People Over Paperwork
4.5 Facilitator Principals Build Up Emotional Bank Accounts
4.6 Facilitator Principals Cultivate Their Own Well-Being
4.7 Facilitator Principals Value Diversity
4.8 Facilitator Principals Share the “Power Pie”
4.9 Facilitator Principals Accentuate the Positives
4.10 Facilitator Principals Promote Parental Involvement
4.11 Facilitator Principals Celebrate
4.12 Facilitator Principals Spend Time With Students
Summing It Up
5. The Change Master
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Change Master Exemplar: Marjorie Thompson
Change Master Benchmarks
5.1 Change Masters Can Handle Uncertainty and Ambiguity
5.2 Change Masters Respect Resisters
5.3 Change Masters Are Futuristic
5.4 Change Masters Use a Situational Approach
5.5 Change Masters Know That the Power Is Within
5.6 Change Masters Value the Process
5.7 Change Masters Plan for Short-Term Victories
5.8 Change Masters Procure Resources
5.9 Change Masters Trust Their Teams
5.10 Change Masters Are Willing to Change Themselves
5.11 Change Masters Are Motivators
5.12 Change Masters Understand the Change Process
Summing It Up
6. The Culture Builder
Culture Builder Exemplar: Gabe Flicker
Culture Builder Benchmarks
6.1 Culture Builders Understand and Appreciate the Power of Culture
6.2 Culture Builders Know What a Good Culture Looks Like
6.3 Culture Builders Facilitate the Development of Core Values
6.4 Culture Builders Communicate These Values Clearly
6.5 Culture Builders Reward and Cheer Those Who Support and Enhance the Culture
6.6 Culture Builders Build Cultures That People Choose
6.7 Culture Builders Know the Small Stuff Is Really the Big Stuff
Summing It Up
7. The Activator
Activator Exemplar: Clare Maguire
Activator Exemplar: Todd White
Activator Benchmarks
7.1 Activators Mobilize People
7.2 Activators Are Entrepreneurial
7.3 Activators Don’t Wait to Be Told
7.4 Activators Are Risk Takers
7.5 Activators Ask for Forgiveness Rather Than Permission
7.6 Activators Run to Daylight
7.7 Activators Don’t Micromanage
7.8 Activators Make Things Happen
7.9 Activators Are Outrageous
7.10 Activators Are Cheerleaders
Summing It Up
8. The Producer
Producer Exemplar: Dale Skinner
Producer Benchmarks
8.1 Producers Believe That Achievement Is the Bottom Line
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8.2 Producers Never Mistake Activity for Achievement
8.3 Producers Are Data Driven
8.4 Producers Pay Attention to Individual Students
8.5 Producers Have Academically Focused Missions
8.6 Producers Make Research-Based Decisions
8.7 Producers Hold Teachers Accountable
Summing It Up
9. The Character Builder
Character Builder Exemplar: Tom Paulsen
Character Builder Benchmarks
9.1 Character Builders Are Human
9.2 Character Builders Are Trustworthy
9.3 Character Builders Have Integrity
9.4 Character Builders Are Authentic
9.5 Character Builders Are Respectful
9.6 Character Builders Are Generous
9.7 Character Builders Are Humble
9.8 Character Builders Hire Staff Members With Character
9.9 Character Builders Are Consistent
9.10 Character Builders Lead by Example, Not by Exhortation
9.11 Character Builders Seek to Develop the Character of Students
Summing It Up
10. The Contributor
Contributor Exemplar: Lola Malone
Contributor Benchmarks
10.1 Contributors Lead by Serving Others
10.2 Contributors Are Self-Aware and Reflective
10.3 Contributors Are Good Stewards
10.4 Contributors Have Strong Wills
Summing It Up
Conclusion: Personal Observations
Professional Conclusions
How Can You Use This Book?
Resource A: List of Contributing Highly Effective Principals
Resource B: Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals
Resource C: Complete List of Benchmarks
References
Index
Facilitator’s Guide
Who Should Use This Guide?
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How Is the Guide Organized?
What Materials Are Needed?
Materials for Facilitators
Materials for Participants
Study Modules
Introduction
Trait Number 1: The Communicator
Trait Number 2: The Educator
Trait Number 3: The Envisioner
Trait Number 4: The Facilitator
Trait Number 5: The Change Master
Trait Number 6: The Culture Builder
Trait Number 7: The Activator
Trait Number 8: The Producer
Trait Number 9: The Character Builder
Trait Number 10: The Contributor
Conclusion
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To my husband, E. Raymond Adkins
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