The classroom teacher is the most visible person in your child’s life at school, but it is the principal who is responsible for providing a high- quality education for all students there. What makes a great principal? Principals vary in strategy, temperament and leadership style, but the great ones have four characteristics in common. These qualities are noted to pursue excellence at their schools. Let me discuss to you each characteristic on how they meet the real – life challenges of their jobs. First characteristic is great principals take responsibility for school success. Great principals believe that the problems of the school are their problems and they never stop trying to solve them. If a student is having trouble learning, a successful principal knows it is her job to figure out why, whether it is a learning disability, trouble with attendance, or gang involvement. Great principals are also creative in their problem-solving and approach challenges with an entrepreneurial attitude. They find ways to implement good ideas. Second characteristic is great principals lead teaching and learning at their schools. Principals at successful schools understand the strengths and needs of their students and they know what is happening in the classrooms at their schools. These principals play an active role in planning and supporting instruction that is appropriate for their students, and they ensure that school time and resources are focused on student achievement. Principals must also understand what test scores and other data say about their students’ learning and use the information to help teachers set goals and improve instruction.
Teachers across the school coordinated their reading and writing instruction, so that struggling students could receive direct instruction from a literacy specialist in addition to the classroom teacher. Successful principals must constantly evaluate what is working and what is not, and use that information to make improvements. Third characteristic is great principals hire, develop, and retain excellent teachers. One of a principal’s most important roles is ensuring that every student is taught by an excellent teacher. Although it can be time-consuming, principals must actively recruit good teachers to their schools. Principals can visit teacher education classes to find promising new teachers; they can open their schools to student teachers and try to hire the good ones; and they can talk to teachers and other principals to find quality experienced teachers who might be looking for new positions. Principals must also support and develop the teachers they have. Research shows that principal leadership is a key factor in a teacher’s decision to stay at a particular school. Much of a principal’s time should be spent in classrooms observing teachers, complimenting their strengths, and offering specific suggestions for improvement. If a teacher is struggling with a particular issue or group of kids, the principal should be in the classroom as often as possible, watching and helping the teacher develop more successful strategies.
Providing meaningful opportunities for professional development is another way principals can help teachers improve instruction. The principal should make sure that workshops and other development activities are related to the goals of the school and will help teachers better serve their students. Principals must keep good teachers professionally satisfied by showing them that their efforts are valued and supported by the principal and other teachers. Providing time to plan with other teachers is another way principals can support their teachers and treat them as professionals. The last characteristic is great principals build a strong school community. For a school to be successful, the administration, teachers, parents, students and support staff must work as a team. Principals must work with the staff to make school a welcoming place for all students and their families. He/she schedules meetings and events at times when parents are already at the school picking up their children. Great school community is one where students feel safe and know they will be treated fairly. It is the principal’s job to create that safe atmosphere where children can learn.
Excerpt from: GreatSchools Staff
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By: Susana J. Redima | Teacher III | Mariveles National High School – Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan
